So here I was, sitting in a room with about a dozen other people, sitting around a conference table discussing the effects on the weight loss surgery community of the forthcoming sale of the company (or division of the company) that makes the medical device that I chose as my weight loss surgery tool almost nine years ago. Can YOU picture that and what it would be like? If you knew that half of the people in the room also had LAP-BANDS and the rest were divided between those that had other surgeries and those that worked in the industry would you be able to picture that? Nope, I didn’t think so. It really was difficult for me to wrap my head around two concepts:
My input was being requested- LAP-BAND was being sold by Allergan
This was the third year I had been invited to attend the Patients Executive Council meeting and I was honored because all of those around me were people I highly respect. Besides the good folks from LAP-BAND who support so many of the groups that represent this industry including The Weight Loss Surgery Foundation of America and the Obesity Action Coalition as well as little old Banded Living and Obesity Help and Lap Band Talk and Fit and Flourishing and Band Together just to name a few….oh wait...those folks I just mentioned were some of the folks also attending the meeting along with Yvonne McCarthy aka Bariatric Girl, Karin aka Lap Band Gal, and Amy Workman aka Once Upon A Time...In The Land Of Cheese And Sunkist… Wow, what a group with Bo representing Obesity Help, Kristy Kuna representing OAC and Wendy Campbell and myself representing ourselves, WLS Success Matters and the Weight Loss Surgery Foundation of America.
WOW, when I think about it - here’s what was represented in that room - ALL OF YOU! Over 750, 000 Lap Bands worldwide, and who knows how many (I don’t) Bypass and VSG people as well. Lots of Power and influence in that room all around….Guess what? Everybody was just a human being. Each one of us, unless we’re having a REALLY bad day, put our pants on one leg at a time and tie our own shoelaces as well. Imagine that!
Why were we all locked in a conference room with nothing but all of the coffee, tea selections, water, diet soda and healthy snacks a human being could desire for hours on end?....uh oh, I left out the cappuccino or lattes on request…don’t want to forget anything now. It was torturous as you can tell.
I left out our rooms….or should I say villas or mini suites…there was no choice. The resorts in the Phoenix Scottsdale area just do not offer plain old fashioned rooms…Mine had a lovely living room/sitting area with a desk with all of the outlets necessary for anyone’s electronic devices, sofa and flat screen TV, IPod dock/stereo system, a wet bar, Keurig coffee maker (thank you at 5 am) and a well stocked mini-bar which I only looked into once and then studiously avoided. I immediately spread out my suitcase full of snacks which included shaker, protein powder, protein bars, jerky and almonds on the counter so I would reach for ANY one of those instead of the contents of the mini-bar…no silly, it wasn’t the alcohol, it is always the chocolate that tries to call to me at 2 am but I refuse to listen…
Next was the dressing area with a full sink and counter, a claw foot tub and a separate WC (that’s toilet for anyone not in the know) and large separate shower with all of the towels, soaps, lotions etc that one could possibly use in two nights. I promptly adopted one of the cozy spa robes and set up my make up case and flat iron there on the counter...I use a lot of space...after all, I am 64 and have to work very hard to look younger, at least 62.
Finally the sleeping area. A large, king size raised bed covered with comforter and tons of fluffy pillows was the dominant piece in this room. Along with an armoire that housed yet another flat screen TV (should I want to run between sets for some unknown reason), a chair and curtains that really did block out the sun since we were in Arizona where the sun shines probably 364 days a year and it is strong for at least 363 of them. If I had been able to sleep in past 5 am I might have enjoyed them. This was a business meeting so the opportunity did not present itself. I beat the sun each morning by at least an hour after sleeping peacefully on the wonderful mattress surrounded by all of that pillow fluffiness and made a cup of coffee or two before I hit the gym.
Ah, the gym…oh no, the fitness center. I stand corrected. Each morning I had to pass through the swimming pool area to reach the fitness center and stopped for a moment to stare longingly at the pool. When I realized I was shivering because it was about 45 degrees out and I had on an exercise top and no jacket I hurriedly made my way to the door of the fitness center and left the pool to be outdoors all by its lonesome. A fun time on the treadmill was had by all.
Then it was back to the room, shower, get dressed and off to the meetings.
Briefly, I am totally unfazed by the sale of the Lap-Band division. I am confident that I will have support for my band in the coming years. More on that later.- I’ve used more than enough words for now.