Queen of Crop

Hi ladies....well, I had surgery almost 4 years ago, was at goal after my first year, BUT, my boobs were so pathetic, they not only looked like party balloons (a week AFTER the party!) BUT, one was twice the size of the other....they were bordering on being freakish...so at age 59 I had a breast reduction and lift done (as my doctor said...I had 'plenty of material to work with!' and I have had beautiful, perky breasts (size 36 B or maybe C) for the last couple of years. I HAVE ZERO REGRETS!!!! I was in the hospital for one night only, recovery was simple and I have never looked back; in fact, I cannot even imagine living with those two horrible appendages! We have all gone through so much to love our bodies...why not go all the way? Now I am 61 and this winter I am gong to have my stomach done. I can't wait!

Checking in from Amsterdam...just wanted to say welcome to Lag4ahealthierm....don't ever let go of your dreams...after my WLS almost 4 years ago (at age 58!) I moved from the US to Amsterdam....also had a husband that was thin and didn't have weight issues but was behind me 100% I have never looked back and have been at goal weight for 3 years....I traveled for a year within 3 weeks of surgery so my only resource was this forum and it rocks! Good luck! And keep us posted.

Wow, I was so sad reading this post. But please don't give up. I don't see you as failing as much as I see you trying...and most of us here know, that although this surgery isn't perfect, it is our best shot at getting healthy again. So I admire you for coming back here and trying to solve your own personal mystery. It sounds to me like you need some expert advice. Perhaps by going on to the forum about complications might help you find the right person. Good luck to you.

@ ProudGrammy...I think we are the same person! Same height, same starting weight, same surgery year, same weight now (I am also about 6 lbs more than I want to be) and I had zero, nada, no follow up. I had the surgery and 3 weeks later continued my year of travel. This board saved me!!!! But it all worked out so no complaints!!! And now I am getting so many nice comments from new people on my book, it makes me happy that I am inspiring others to go down this path....

That's interesting; I wonder why the link didn't show up. Let me try again.... http://5daypouchtest.com http://thefastdiet.co.uk/ And yes, I pretty much am on the 5:2 plan forever, but as I said, I am FAR from perfect, so sometimes it just ends up being a no wine, no cookie day and I try to eat lighter on M and Th!

Here is the video on the 5:2 But the easiest thing to know is that you pick two days a week (mine is Monday and Thursday) and you eat 500 calories that day. It's really easier than you think. Helps you keep your restriction and it's only one day! Sometimes if my life is hectic (a lot!) I will at least always do a "no wine, no cookie" day two days a week and just try to eat much lighter. For th 5 day Pouch Test, go here.... Again, I'm no star (but I have been at goal for 3.5 years) so sometimes I just do 2 or 3 days.....Good luck!

Love hearing all the good news....as for hunger out this early, try starting the 5:2 already and get in the habit of it; it really does help. And LainieG...sorry I can't help with the ticker problem, but thank you for reading my book; it makes me so happy to know that others are being inspired by it; and for all your ongoing encouragement! You are really special!

Same here; no advice and I don't really have any follow up doctors. I get most of my advice from here! But at 3.5 years out I am still at goal...and I can tell you, just do the 5:2 or 5 day pouch test (with my social life I can usually only make it 3 days) but I can tell you, after just two days my restriction is back! Grateful for that. I do want to lose 5 lbs before the end of the year because I want to have some extra skin removed from my stomach. Good luck!

I was 58 when I had my surgery (almost 4 years ago) and I had no problems at all! (Except for the problems I had because of my weight and those all went away!). It took me a couple of months to get my energy back but all in all, it was easy. And now I feel like I am 20 years younger! You are in for a great adventure! Welcome to this wonderful group!

I love belts these days!!! And bracelets! I could never wear them before....YAY for us!!!

Bufflehead is correct; and so are you. There is no way you cannot lose the weight at the activity level and calories you are eating. But it doesn't come off like clockwork; it takes it's own little time because indeed your body is adjusting and healing and doing what it needs to do to keep your organs working. As for the protein; you're doing fine; yes you should be getting a bit more especially at this stage while you are healing; so you may want to go for a Protein 'shot' (as in a shot glass) once a day. Good luck and when you check in next time, you will be feeling better. AND BTW, when was the last time you lost 19lbs in 2 weeks??

I used to pee 10 to 20X a day and get up 2-3 times a night! Since my surgery almost 4 years ago, I NEVER get up in the middle of the night and pee 3-4 X a day max. One of the delightful little surprises of losing 85 lbs....but here is a TIP OF THE DAY FOR ALL THE FEMALES OUT THERE!!!! DO YOUR KEGELS! I don't drive any more because I live in Amsterdam and bike everywhere, BUT! For many many years, I would do my kegels when I was at a stoplight while I was driving; it became automatic and I think it has helped me. Good for my sex life too! But seriously; it's a muscle and needs to be exercised; it will only get worse as we get older if you don't start.

I am almost 4 years out and although I have to work at staying at goal I have been at goal since 1 year out. I just want to say that as I was walking home from the gym the other day and marveling at my good life, I never in my wildest dreams thought at age 61 I would be happier than I have ever been. And it would not have happened without this surgery. I am grateful every day.

Welcome Housecalls! I was 58 when I had my surgery 3.5 years ago...have been at goal weight since one year out...lost 85 lbs PLUS I also lost the control that food had over my life. I feel like I am 45! And you will too....It isn't always a picnic but it's the absolute best shot most of us had at getting our life back!

This is not uncommon Lainie....just keep trying a few things here and there and eventually your sleeve will tolerate almost anything. I usually always ate a soda cracker with every meal; it helped keep my stomach settled. But enjoy this stage for what it gives you...weight loss! Sort of wish I had that back at times to be honest.

I think reading anything and everything (including this forum) and finding support where you can (support groups can be great) are a good start. If you can find some information on how to love your self that might help; it sounds like you are punishing yourself, but look how far you have come. And you are so tall that that you are not that far from your goal. As far as plastics go (I hate that word BTW) just do one step at a time. And if you want/need to have the surgery to make you feel better then find a way. Lucky for us, there are solutions to these problems. Good luck and good for you for coming back. Keep us posted⁄

LainieG...my apologies! I'm really confused...you responded to someone who was in trouble (previous page) but it looks like it was you who wrote it...it didn't seem like you, but well anyway, I obviously am very confused! Mea culpa!

LainieG....sorry to say this to you, but you should NOT be drinking any carbonation right now...and later only occasionally. It is not good for your stomach while it's healing and can possibly stretch it. I am 3.5 years out and prefer fizzy water to flat water...I recently had a friend visiting me (my bariatric nurse when I was sleeved!) and she asked me WHY I was drinking that! She said it is not good for those of us who have had this surgery, so please try to give it up. Like BellaLuce4, I gave up diet coke many years ago and truly do not miss it. I had one a couple of years ago when I went back to the US and almost gagged. Go off of it cold turkey and you will see. There are some things you will not have to give up later on, but this is not one of them.And you are so early out, you need to treat your sleeve very gently right now and not mess with it while it is healing. Sorry, I know this is not what you want to hear, but we want you to be successful.

Just checking in with all the other VIPs here....am trying to be better about being on the forums that make sense...and low and behold, I found out I am a VIP! How cool is that. I am 3.5 years out, still at goal, but having to work at it. I saw a saying the other day that summed up all of us here: YOU ARE ONLY ONE DECISION AWAY FROM CHANGING YOUR LIFE. And I would say we all made a very good decision! Thank you Alex for providing this supportive and informative forum for all of us. Life is good!

I love that line Lisapunkinhead!....I bought myself 10 years! So so true....I was 58 years old, and am now almost 4 years out and I feel like I am in my 40's so I may have bought myself 20!..(I am now 61)....I don't think we are ever too old to get healthy....YAY for us!

Welcome back and thanks for the update...we all knew you would sail through....and NOW the best is yet to come!!!! YAY!!!!! I 'came' out of the closet this weekend with a very close friend...it was a little hard, but he had seen my Queen of Crop book (that I had left out by mistake) and went 'what is this???" So it was time...turns out, it was a complete non-issue for him and he said it made me even MORE interesting! Gotta love it. In fact, he said, who is the person on the left? (MY BEFORE PHOTO!!!)

To peteyrulz ....once your family sees how much happier and healthier you will be, they will come on board....and Shustar....good for you at 62! I will be 62 in October and NEVER been happier....and I am almost 4 years out from my sleeve. Rock on....

I KNOW WE ARE ALL EXCITED FOR LAINIE G!!!! TODAY IS THE DAY.....Can't wait to see what happens in the next year....WE ALL ROCK!

I thought I had seen a forum for the Sleeve to ByPass...I know others have done this. And what you might not know is that the sleeve originally came about as the first step to the bypass....when the doctors realized that just having the sleeve was effective for many people, it became a stand alone surgery. But for some people, they need more to realize the maximum benefits. You may just want to Google, Sleeve to ByPass...I think it is more common than you realize. Good luck and hang in there!

Thanks LainieG! Hope my book continues to give you inspiration like you have given us....we are all so excited for your journey....don't forget to take those Before and After photos! You won't be sorry. Just imagine how great you are going to feel by the end of the summer!