Sooverit!

Well I'm thrilled that now at age 50 and 40 lbs lighter nothing can and should stop me from doing what I want to do in this world! But with a more conscious wiser smarter brain (than when I was in my 20/30s I can take yoga w/o worry about all that excess stomach getting in my way! I feel so much younger. I don't have to worry about anything except if I choose to. Heres to making positive changes!

Sorry about the hernia but good they can fix it when they "go in" . You will be fine...and it will all be worth it as it has been for thouands of others who have gone before you. I think this device is an amazing and I feel grateful every day that I have been fortuntate enough to find it and get it. Good for you and best of luck!!!

Oh how many times my brain confused being tired with hunger not to mention bored, angry, sad and a dozen others I can't recall right now. The band has helped me to sit with them and not run to food for escape. I was surprised you were able to eat pretzels ...or enough to cause you guilt. They tend to expand in me and cause a stuck incident for me so I have learned through much trial and error to stay away from those water retaining trouble makers. Wish you luck....but mostly I wish you self forgivness....you are human and have every right to feel sad and if pretzels were your only vice during this dark time in my opinion your doing better than me! best to you in 2010! wow

Ha ha ...like your poll. I hated CIGNA so much. I went through a year of hoops for them and they turned me down...3x ....the universe stepped in and I found a low BMI study and the cost was 1/2 of what it would have been to pay out of pocket in NYC. It turned out I had money that was lost in an Investment fund from my deceased parents ....the money I came up with was exactly what I needed. It was nothing short of a miracle. I did forgive my insurance company though because they fools paided for all the tests I had to see if I qualify ...either way the band has been a gift to me and I would pay out of pocket for it again.

I wish you luck....this will all be worth it...you lost so much weight already...just remember to take it easy post op keep your eye on the prize and communicate with your fill doctor! You'll be fine and be here in Jan 11 praising the band!

....sorry meant to add that the difference with the band is I feel like I have more control and I eat sweets but much less...I give in to my craving for icecream about 1x a week or less...used to be a daily fight. You'll see the exercise will change things....my doc said that some people eat less of one fat and make up for it eating other fats just in different forms...I feel this is where I am at...and theonly thing left to do is be more active. Best to you in 10

If you are filled as much as you can, I have noticed that i I have a sweet craving I go for fruit as much as I hate fruit it does fill me up super fast and make me too full for sweets. That is the beauty of the LB it works if it is full enough and the foods I don't like do fill me up. It's almost like a diet pill to eat fiber foods. Have you checked to see if you might need a mini fill? Before the band when I started eating anything my insulin would spike (in my opinion) and it would be like an alcoholic with alcohol and I would get hungry and couldn't stop. This halloween was a horror ....I ate my daughters candy and couldn't stop like years before ...

Can you identify just one of those bad habits? Like I would eat after 8pm and my PA told me in their house they have a rule to stop eating after 8. this helps with the reflux. For me if I am active and exercise for 45 mins plus yoga ...the scale moves ...if not it isn't budging. It's strange how with the band I only lost less than 37 pounds which I am VERY grateful for but after that loss the ONLY thing that makes a difference is increasing my activity! I got as low as 204 a few weeks back and thought I'd make it to the 100s or onederland but not in the cards for 09 hopeully in 10 I will get to the 100s. after 45 it's a whole new game....sending you good wishes for 2010...you can do it!!

I can eat what ever is on top of the pizza but never the crust! Just like when I was doing ATkins only now I have no choice! Love my band!

Stoma smaller in morning?

Shrimp, moist chicken, eggs, tofu, beans, you'll find out..best to you.

I can't believe it's going to be a year on December 1st that I've been banded. Actually no I can believe it. It's been a ride but worth the weight loss, though only 40 pounds, for someone at this age (50) I would have gained weight this year also. Best to everyone...

yes its going to be a year on December1 that I've had the lap band. My personal goal was to get through the operation and see food for what it is and not. i think losing 40 lbs as i've done changes how you react to food physcially and mentally. i am no longer raising my insulin over the roof and eating completely out of control Phycially Im in a better place I can do more yoga and I feel stronger and more in control. THe loss stopped my hormone symptoms almost dead. Do I weight 100 lbs no...am I phycially perfect at age n 50 prob not but i'm better than the woman I used to be..

So true Jolly green...you rock btw. The thing I LOVE about my band at the age of 50 is. That by now (I was banded last December) I would gained all the weight I lost back and some. Even though I've lost only 35 or so I would definenitly have GAINED by now! We must not forget that. i know I would have passed 250 by now and knowing that I can get a fill to counter act this.....well it really is a miracle! I just don't know why people suffer so much with there weight when there is a solution now! :scared2:

KIdding aside ...there was a post or I read in a med journal about a new lapband that is being designed to be filled over the phone! Honestly the doctor can send a signal....I've only had 3 fills and I wouldn't want any more I know you can't get to many more than that. So I don't get it...unless you have 100s of lbs to lose then the fat pad around the stoma would change i guess.

Just discovered the joys of CHili...I have to start making my own though in a slow cooker. I usually use the Hormel pop in micorwave numbers which are actually good! Greek yogurt with fruit at bottom...tho getting weary of them. cheese .....and not the low fat kind. I should curb this but I eat so little now I think I can afford the calories. :tongue2:

In my opinion weight loss after 50 should be doubled. To lose 40 lbs after 50 is like losing 80 in your 20s & 30s. I COULDNOT lose anything after age 45 even though I ate 1/2 of what I used to and work out daily like an athlete...all I got was burned out knees! Then I started consistenly (thanks to menopause) gaining about 5 lbs a month. Not only have I stopped gaining but I lost 40! I think it's a miracle to lose this now. Be grateful for the lose and more will follow....what we put our attention on grows!

Good for you BAND GROUPIE!~ I was the same weight as you and 5 8 1/2 and 50! Isn't it great going into this decade without the dread of getting bigger ...It's not easy being tall and BIG..there is not hiding! The advantage to being a "lightweight" bandster (HA) was that NO one only a few notice my 45 lbs weight loss! I do and I'm at that point in my life where my opinion of myself matters most anyway... how freeing.

Pizza? wow I can eat the top of a pizza only but I too can eat the rest but much less. Salmon and Spinach still can't do and they are so healthy :biggrin: My band is a real snob...."she" loves really gourmet foods in little doses. I love my band and how it puts the cabash on power eating ...except for ice cream ...

NSV- non scale victory = "My clothes fit better but the scale doesn't notice" - My cholesterole is down 20 pts,, I can do a yoga pose I couldn't do 5 months ago, I feel so much more confident, etc., etc...the list goes on and the scale doesn't budge. Scales are an inaccurate way of moderating health and fitness!!!!

Hi Kay I know how you feel ...cooking has taken on a new meaning. It's more an art now. I used to cook and yeah I would interrupt the flow my tasting eating eating...now I cook and play with the dish without tasting and make it more visual. I enjoy cooking more now almost like if I can't eat than I will make sure others do. Sometimes I am so tight at night I can't eat what I cook. I am learning to save myself a plate and re heat it for lunch the next day...hopefully not for later in the night. though:scared2:

Oh yikes...you reminded me! When I get a fill I do feel the liquid going down and it freaks me out. I have to close my eyes when I get a fill and grin and bear it. I love my fill doc and she makes it as relaxed as possible but those 5 seconds are like chauk on on board!::

I say in this case ....losing weight the big American past time...and everyone is an expert...Keep it to yourself. No one except close family needs to know, unless you feel comfortable telling them and could use the support~!

Yes! NOw that I am losing weight I can feel the "port" which is about 6 inches north of my belly button just under the surface of the skin. I think I know just where it is so I can "feel"it more than someone who touched me but wasn't me such as a bfriend or husband...no worries tho. This is the least of it. Worry more about the things that follow ..such as getting the proper fills and unfills and when you are filled enough eating slowly and chewing carefully and learning the food you can not tolerate. !

R E L A X...if you lost weight this easily you wouldn't need the surgery ....don't let them play with your mind....