KarenIn

Welcome! It's been just over a year since I had my lapband surgery. It's the best thing I ever done for myself. Hang in there! All good things take time.

I understand exactly what you are saying. Sometimes I think people give me more creditabilty since I lost the weight. However, just as you said, it may be that I am more confident now. In either case, it sure feels good!

Welcome to the thread. Thanks for the support! I don't know about being an "idol". All I can say is, if I can do it so can you. It looks like you are well on your way. Good luck and keep in touch - there is alot of support here.

I am really CELEBRATING today. It's my one year bandiversary. What a year! I am now down :smile2: 135 pounds, and 25 pounds from my goal. I can't believe there was a time I was hesitant to get the band, it has definately changed my life for the better.

Way to go! Keep up the good work.

Welcome to the "sixties". Sorry to hear about the loss of your daughter. I can only imagine the pain. Hope to hear all your good news as you become a "losser" and are on the road to better health.

Phyl :w00t:Happy Bandiversary! You are doing great, and should be proud of your accomplishment. Also, thanks so much for starting this thread. It sure has helped me along the way to better health to know that I am not alone and to get support from everyone here in my same age group.

I wish you all the best with the knee operation and a quick recovery. Let me know how it goes. Even though my knee feels MUCH better since I lost all this weight, I will still need to have my left knee replaced sometime.

Diana I live in Northwest Indiana - Schererville to be exact. I have a good friend who just spent a week near Santa Claus and loved it. How long ago did you live in Indiana?

Hi Everyone Looks like there has not been much going on with this thread. I just love my band. I really stick to the rules and have lost a total of 130 pounds!!! The last 30 seem a little harder to lose, but I am not giving up!

Diana You are doing great!!! I wish you all the best on the 27th. I remember how nervous I was about one year ago. I really thought about backing out of the surgery. I am so glad I stuck with the lapband surgery. Now one year later, I weigh 130 pounds less, and have so much more engery. Like you, I could barely walk with knee problems and back problems, and thought that I would end up in a motorized wheelchair. Now I am walking around my neighborhood for exercise and enjoying shopping again. Believe me, if I can do it at age 61, so can you. Check out my bandster profile (just click on the words below my name). My only regret is that I did not do this sooner. You got good advise about tracking your food. Also, do some kind of exercise. I used a staionary bike, because I could sit and still burn calories. Also, it was easy on the knees. Keep using this site. You get alot of help and encourgement. There is nothing like keeping in touch with others in the same situation.

Hi Laura I stick to a low carb diet. I don't eat rice, potatoes, or white bread. In general, when I eat grains, I eat whole grains. My normal breakfast is cottage cheese or yogurt with fresh berries, eggs, or steel cut oats with fruit. For lunch I have 1 cup of a low fat entree that I make and freeze ahead of time. I eat mostly low fat dairy and lean protein (turkey, chicken and fish). I stay away from refined sugar almost entirely and most processed food. I find that when I eat my low fat protein I am full, and when I eat sugar I crave more food. I also track everything I eat on sparkpeople.com, which is a free diet website. Good luck to you, and keep in touch

Dian Welcome to our spot on this site. Tell us a little bit about yourself. What made you decide to have the surgery. Does your doc require a liquid diet pre-surgery?

Hi You are doing great with a 25 pound weight loss in four months. It's best to lose from 1-2 pounds a week to stay healthy. My diet consist primarly of low-fat dairy and lean low-fat protein. Normally, for breakfast I have a smoothie made with low fat yogurt, skim milk, frozen fruit and some protein powder. Or, I have cottage cheese or plain low fat yogurt with fresh fruit mixed in. I am loving strawberries and blueberries right now. Sometimes, I have eggs for breakfast. I like to make entrees with chicken breast, lean ground turkey or fish. I make things like turkey chilli and chicken stew in the slow cooker and freezer one cup portions to take to work for lunch so I don't have to run out for fast food which is so full of fat and salt. For dinner I have grilled chicken, salmon or tuna with a vegtable. I love greek salads with feta cheese and low cal dressing. I stay away from carbs. Therefore, I only eat whole wheat bread products, and then only once in a while. I stay away from potatoes, white rice and sugar. I like to use Splenda because it blends well and I can cook with it. I found a get Splenda cookbook. Once in a while I have a sweet treat, but I find that when I eat sugary stuff I crave more food then ever. The key is get your protein, because it keeps you full and helps to keep lean muscle mass. Stick with it and get some exercise - the pounds will come off. Remember, we all loss at our own pace. Keep in touch.

Hi Laura and welcome to the 60 thread!!! I think you will like it here because there is lots of support and help along your journey to a healthier person. If you click on "User CP" at the top left hand corner of this page, and then on edit picture, you will be able to add a picture on your profile page as an atvar. Also, if you click on any of the tickers, you will be take to the tickler site and just follow the instructions there. Please tell us a little bit about yourself. I am soon going to be 62 years old, and am working fulltime. I am a widow and have two children, one boy and one girl. I have three wonderful grandsons that are 17 months old, 4 1/2 years old and 5 years old. I love to quilt; however, I don't get too much time for that hobby. I also love to cook. I have been finding some pretty good heatlhy recipes online and a few good cook books. I follow a low carb diet, and it seems to really work for me. Hope to hear from you soon.

Joann Marie Thanks for your kind words. I see that you are also doing VERY well with your weight loss. Keep up the amazing progress. I love this site because it helps to get encourgement and know that you are not alone in the journey.

Hi Everyone Just dropped by to wish everyone a happy 4th of July holiday! I am enjoying a week of vacation at home, and trying to remember that it is not a vacation from healthy eating. I got my driver's license renewed yesterday, and was so excited to change the weight on the new one! P.S. I added a picture of the new "lighter" me.

Hi Everyone I am glad to see that everyone is doing O.K. I haven't posted in a while. I have been busy this summer, but everything is going well. I have lost 130 pounds!!!! I can hardly believe it, but it's true. I am now 30 pounds from my goal. My doc asked me to come answer questions at a seminar for people thinking of having weight loss surgery. Needless to say,I am thrilled to be asked.

Add me to the list. I still can't believe it myself!!!

Hi, again Glad to see you back! I know that sometimes when we are so busy it is hard to stay on track. I have adopted a new philosophy of " Put Yourself First" since I was banded, and as part of that I try to plan out my eating for the day. Hang in there, and you can get back on track.

Hi Gloria I worried about the same things prior to surgery, and thought I should back out. I think it is normal to have second thougts. You can find my post on this board titled just that. I can tell you that 10 months later I would do it again in a heart beat. I have lost about 125 pounds and feel like a new person. Yes, there was pain for a few days, but the results are well worth it. And, I would do it again in a heartbeat. I tired every diet you could think of, and the band, the support of the medical team and the lapband boards have made the difference for me. You must think of this as a lifestyle change and eat right or you will not loss the weight. You will only get the results that you work hard at acheiving. The lapband is not a magic bullet. Good luck on your decision.

I also agree. You should seek the advise of your doctor. Have you tried calling his office and explaining the issues you are having. Perhaps they will have you come in, or advise you to go to the emergency room. I hope you are feeling better very soon.

Hi Everyone It's been a few weeks since I last posted. I dislocated my right shoulder on Feb. 28th and typing was difficult, and reaching for the computer mouse. I hope everyone is doing well. :welldoneclap: I am thrilled to say that I have now lost 120 pounds, and am 40 pounds from my goal. :grouphug: Happy Easter everyone!