Queen of Crop

@Livvsmum....any regrets so far? I'm scheduled for Feb 8....a little nervous but so looking forward to finally having this done. Any tips of what to do or not to do?

Happy to now be on this thread....I'm scheduled for this surgery on Feb 8....I'm 62 years old and although my stomach doesn't hang over, it really bothers me. I'm not having a vertical incision, only a horizontal one...but I'm happy to know about the tape...I'm assuming you also wore the compression garment? For how long may I ask?

@sotiredofdiets.....Great name! Good for you for making this decision....and this really and truly is a different way to lose weight, it is not a diet; it is the best shot most of us have. Keep us posted and you will find you will get a lot of support and great information here.

Thanks b-Ed57! Very excited for you! An entire new life awaits you!

@ Jintycb...thanks for the wonderful update on your life...and congratulations on your sleeve! My first year was surreal for sure. My blog is just a few chapters that I took from the book, but my book is a week by week account of my first year...in some ways I sort of miss that exciting time in my life. But look at us!!!! At our age and feeling so fabulous. @ Ginamaria....I am so sorry for your diagnosis; good for you for coming here because support is what it's all about and I know you will find it here. You sound like a very positive upbeat person and I have a feeling you will be able to add the well-earned title of SURVIVOR to your list of accomplishments. I must say though reading your post validated one more time that we all need to live life to the fullest EVERY SINGLE DAY because you never know when it will change. I know I am. Thank you both for writing to me. It means a lot.

Thanks b-Ed57.....wow....you are in for such a great year ahead...and trust me, my life became a DREAM life at age 59 and yours can too! How fun! Keep up posted on how you to do and thanks for reading my book! So happy it inspired you...that was one of the main reasons for writing it.

Thanks for the link Heidi...I'll check it out when I have time! Zoe

Hi...I am 62 years old, sleeved at 58 years old and I just had my 4 year surgiversary. I reached my goal weight of 139 exactly one year after being sleeved (lost 84 lbs) and have been at goal for 3 years with a bounce of a couple of lbs up and down. My daily diet now is about 1300 calories that I eat, or 1600 if I have wine which I do several nights a week. I usually have Greek yogurt with fruit and a little granola for breakfast, or my favorite corn crackers (not rice crackers!) with cheese or salmon. Lunch is always a small salad with 2 corn crackers. Except for Monday and Thursdays (my NO WINE NO COOKIE DAYS) I always have a coffee and a cookie in the afternoon. Dinner is chicken, fish, maybe meat but not so much, and a vegetable. More if we are entertaining. If I gain some weight I do the 5:2 diet for a week. (If you don't know it, just Google it). Hope that helps! I love my sleeve and I love my life.

Four years ago today I had no idea how my life was about to change. On October 28, 2011, at age 58, I was wheeled into an operating room in Frankfurt, Germany, and like many of the readers here, a big part of my stomach was removed and a huge hope for the future replaced it. My hope for a healthier life — where I looked and felt better, had more energy, and could move easily — not only came true but far exceeded even my wildest dreams. It seems only appropriate on this anniversary date that I look back on these last four years and tell others how grateful I am to have had this shot at such a magical life. I know there are still many people who read my blog who have not yet had the surgery, and it’s important to me that this might be the push they need. That this is not just another diet that will last a few months. I’m living proof that you can have this surgery and four years later live life as a normal-weight person without dieting. You can read the rest here: www.queenofcrop.com And good luck to all the new people here!

Four years ago today I had no idea how my life was about to change. On October 28, 2011, at age 58, I was wheeled into an operating room in Frankfurt, Germany, and like many of the readers here, a big part of my stomach was removed and a huge hope for the future replaced it. My hope for a healthier life — where I looked and felt better, had more energy, and could move easily — not only came true but far exceeded even my wildest dreams. It seems only appropriate on this anniversary date that I look back on these last four years and tell others how grateful I am to have had this shot at such a magical life. I know there are still many people who read my blog who have not yet had the surgery, and it’s important to me that this might be the push they need. That this is not just another diet that will last a few months. I’m living proof that you can have this surgery and four years later live life as a normal-weight person without dieting. I am now 62 and living a dream life....if you are interested in reading more, go to my blog www.queenofcrop.com Life can be great when you are in your 60's!

Hi Heidikate...do you have a website for your products? Would love to see it. And keep us posted on your doctor visit and surgery date. You will do just great, I'm sure of it. And I think writing about your progress weekly is a great idea; it's so interesting now to look back over that surreal year! But you know what? I feel more ME now than I ever did as a heavy person.

@ Heidikate.....you will be so once you are on your way....every day is like a new gift! Please keep us all posted on your surgery date and progress, and when you get over to this side of the pond, look me up!

HI everyone....thanks LainieG for the nice compliments on my blog and book! And THANK YOU for starting this very popular thread! I don't really post on the blog any more but I will post something in the coming week...why? Because next week will be exactly 4 years ago that I had my surgery at age 58! Yesterday I turned 62....but! I feel like I am 40! It took me exactly a year to reach my goal weight and I have been at goal since then...I am happy to say when I weighed myself yesterday I was at 139 lbs....the same weight I reached at goal. I love my healthy life and I have been told many times that I have been an inspiration to others...and that feels GREAT! If someone would have told me that I would be living a dream life and happier than I have ever been at age 62 I would have thought they were nuts; but I am happy but most of all healthy! Now, I must go to the gym!

What an interesting thread! Today is my 62nd Birthday! I had my sleeve done exactly 4 years ago this month and have been at goal weight for 3 years. This surgery changed my life, as it has done for so many others. But unlike most of you, I do not have children or grandchildren (by choice...long story). I have been happily married for 24 years, but my husband and I live a poly amorous life style and we have never been happier our my lives. I have met really interesting people on this forum and have been grateful for all of the followers of my blog, some who have become friends. I grew up in San Francisco, lived in Hawaii for 10 years and for the last 3 I have lived in Amsterdam and have no desire to return to the US at this point. I have an unusual life, but I have an extraordinary life that works for me. I am thankful every day to be living a healthy life and it would never have happened without the surgery, and maybe even without this forum, as it was here that I found the support I needed to make that first step.

Hi Heidi...so at age 54, (and for the rest of the people here who are in their 50's and have not yet had the surgery) I can tell you that you are still SO young to have this done! Seriously, it was exactly 4 years ago this month that I had my surgery at age 58. I turn 62 on Tuesday...and I am happier now than I have ever been in my entire life! And the surgery is mostly responsible for that... Also my move to Europe (I live in Amsterdam, one of the greatest cities in Europe) also helped me change my life. Even though I grew up in San Francisco (a wonderful place) and lived 10 years in Hawaii (not so bad) I can say I don't miss the US at all. But then, I don't have children or grandchildren and relocating to another country does make a big difference when you have close family. Heidi, please tell me if you have your surgery scheduled? And thank you for buying my book...I wrote it in hopes that I might inspire others and so far that seems to be the case! Zoe

Hi Heidikate...my book is called Queen of Crop...I had surgery 4 years ago this month and I can tell you it has saved / changed my life. Sorry, but I just don't believe diets work for most people. I was 58 when I had my surgery, only sorry I didn't do it sooner. You can buy my book here: https://www.createspace.com/5130620%C2'> or go to Amazon for the Kindle version. I think (I hope!) you will be inspired. You don't say how much you weigh or how tall you are, but I started my journey at 233 lbs, and I am 5'3". I have now been at my goal weight of 139 for 3 years and I am living a dream life. Good luck and keep us posted!

Two things....first @ Mokee....you just had major surgery! So of course you cannot move a lot; I was SO tired the first few months...I would eat two teeny bites and then have to go lay down....but I'll bet you are getting stronger EVERY day. And how far could you walk before you lost 33 lbs? You have made a major, positive change in your body and your life....and every day gets a little better. @ Outrigger42 I was 58 when I had my surgery...I am almost 62, have been at goal for over 3 years and have been living a life I never dreamed about! In fact, I completely reinvented myself. Find another surgeon....(MHO). You are NEVER TOO OLD TO GET HEALTHY and live the life you always imagined!!!

HI VSG ann...oh yes, we have both been hanging out here for a while, haven't we? What a journey...and you and I started and ended at about the same weight...good for us! And oh yes, please please come to Amsterdam! I have met several people from the forum and it's always such a wonderful connection. And life is to Celebrate our achievements....someone asked me the other day to name my top 5 peak moments in my life; and having this surgery and getting healthy of course was one of them! Hope to see you on this side of the pond!

Thank you Linaka! I was only one year older than you when I had my surgery, I am now almost 62 still at goal and living a dream life...(that would not have been possible without this surgery). The honest truth, my life is better is than any dream I ever had...I should write a book POST op....any way, very nice of you to make that comment; I put a lot of effort into that book in hopes that it would do just that; inspire others. Keep me posted on your progress.

I am 62, had the surgery at 58 and I feel like I am 40 years old. This surgery changed my life! If you think you are too old, THINK AGAIN!!! If you are in a stall, OK, they happen. It doesn't mean you are stopping losing weight...and let's face it...look at all the weight loss numbers on this thread alone!!! When was the last time we all lost this much weight. Yes, our age make our recovery and exercise a little different from the 30 something's out there, but they won't be moving as much as they are now when they are 60 either...no matter what their weight. I am going to self-promote my book here (honest, I'm not in this for the money...I will never make enough to cover what I put into it...) But reading someone else's blog is what got me through all these things...and since I am older, I think if you took a look at my book (which chronicled the first year of my surgery every Sunday at age 58, I think you will be inspired. MY LIFE HAS NEVER BEEN BETTER!!!! You can check it out on https://www.createspace.com/5130620%C2'> It's called Queen of Crop (and Alex Brecher has ok'd the fact that I can tell you about this on the site; he has read it and knows it will inspire others.) Good luck and you are never too old to have the healthy life you deserve!!!! Queen of Crop www.queenofcrop.com

I am actually writing a new book! And I had the same problem...so I am using the same trick I used for Queen of Crop....I pick one day a week (Sundays is my day) and I write only on that day. I did that with QoC because I was writing a weekly blog. My new book is called THE SOFTER SIDE OF MEN...and the only way I could seem to be consistent was to pretend it was a blog. So try that! Would love to read your story. There are not enough books out there on this topic. www.queenofcrop.com

Ah! Thanks Inner Surfer Girl! Now I know....and thank you for posting a review....I really appreciate that!!! Aloha! Queen of Crop

Hmmm, I think you must not have your signature line turned on as the link is on my signature (just curious if you can see that? I think many people do not have it turned on)..but thanks for asking! The best place to buy it is here: https://www.createspace.com/5130620 You can go onto www.queenofcrop.com to get a sample of it. I have it in hard back and Kindle edition. Happy Reading...I think (I hope!) it will be inspirational! Let me know what you think... Queen of Crop

So sorry to hear about your set back Justaboutme.....hang in there and at least you will have time to learn from us Vets and a few others....I am the same height as you but probably much older; still, it is a very exciting adventure! If you have a chance read my book (not trying to self-promote, but it honestly will give you some information on what to expect during your first year).

How exciting for you Laura!!! Welcome! I was 58 when I had my surgery (4 years ago) and had similar stats as you. I lost 83 lbs within one year and my life has never been the same...you are in for a GREAT adventure!!! Congratulations.