How is weight loss for people over 50?

[debi717 0]

Hi, Gerbera.

I have 5 days until surgery. My date is February 12. Almost here! Definitely I'm having mixed emotions. I feel like a human see-saw. One hour I'm thinking all kinds of positive thoughts -- I'm going to feel good, look good... next hour I'm down on myself for having to resort to WLS to get rid of this weight and worried that I'll fail. I'm feeling like a crazy woman! I think my husband will be happy to be rid of me for a couple of days.

Now, that said, I know that I have a far greater chance of success to get this weight off by getting the lapband. I sure haven't managed it on my succession of diets. I have co-morbidities chasing me and my quality of life has gone down dramatically with these last 50 lbs. I've gained. The statistics for losing weight and keeping it off when you have more than 50 lbs. to lose are so NOT in my favor that I can't believe I even let myself think I could lose this 150 lbs. without surgery.

I think I'm just scared. It helps to read about the satisfied cusomers and positive outcomes. I know there are some people who haven't been thrilled with their results, but like the statistics, I'm going with the majority and assuming I'll be one of them.

I'll tell you though, as soon as I can have mushies, I'm have pureed meatballs and Pasta. Amen. (:

[debi717 0]

Gerbera, almost forgot -- thanks for the info on the Ab Twist. I'm going to give it a try. Walking and some other mild exercise is a good place ot start. I know I can... I know I can... I know I can...

Debbie

[Gerbera 0]

Hey again Deb

Yes you can, you can, you can walk and lose 150 pounds, now I have to convert that to know what it is in kilos, so I have a real grasp of how much it is Ok I worked that out..... it equates to 68 kilos. I have/had 60 kilos to lose, so it's only 8 more than me :girl_hug: YOU can do it.

You have a much better chance at losing it with the band. I failed at every crazy diet I tried. Well they all worked for a week or so LOL. I've already lost 12 kilos of my 60, thats a 6th of the way. I very rarely look at HOW MUCH I have to lose, I just take each day and each week as it comes :girl_hug: I'm averaging 1 kilo = 2.2 pounds a week at the moment. If everday I thought about that I had 60 kilos (now 48) BIG SMILE:) I couldn't do it, I would be exhausted and feel defeated before I started.

I'm sure you will be releived when the 12th comes. I cried I think for about 2 hours at home before I went to the hospital on the day of surgery. And trust me those tears were a mixed bag of emotions Fear, releif, excitement YOU NAME IT!!

I'm going away tomorrow for a few days, heading to the beach for a few days of relaxation and sunshine. I'll be back before you go in for your surgery, but just in case, you don't get into the forum. I wish you every success with your surgery/recovery and look forward to catching up and hearing about how it all went and how the weight loss goes on your return.

I was on liquids for almost 6 weeks, each Dr will advise their patient of something else. BUT just think ONLY 6 weeks max till you can have that mushy meatball and Pasta :girl_hug: YOU GO GIRL!!

Right now, I'm discovering a whole lot of new Protein foods YUM!

I am sooooo loving what I'm eating at the moment and with my fill just last week, I couldn't be more satisfied.

CHEERS to Happy Healthy Eating :girl_hug:

[kedasmom 10]

Hi deb717, My date is the same as yours Feb 12th.

My friends and family keep asking if I'm getting scared. No, I just wish I could have done it without WLS. I feel like I'm cheating. I know I'll still have to work at weight lose but I'll have something to help me now. So I'm going to think positive and work hard and pray that after 30 pounds or so I'll be able to walk with out my knees screaming at me. Take care

[Gerbera 0]

Hi deb717, My date is the same as yours Feb 12th.

My friends and family keep asking if I'm getting scared. No, I just wish I could have done it without WLS. I feel like I'm cheating. I know I'll still have to work at weight lose but I'll have something to help me now. So I'm going to think positive and work hard and pray that after 30 pounds or so I'll be able to walk with out my knees screaming at me. Take care

kedasmom: All the best to you with your surgery and future weight loss.

May the Angels be with you

I've lost close to 30 pounds and my knee and my back love me

People are starting to really notice my weight loss now BIG SMILE! I finally got around to wearing something they hadn't seen before and even I admit I looked nice

CHEERS to Happy Healthy Future's

[mfw1941 0]

I have to jump in here with my comments. I went through much of the same agony and self doubt as many of you are describing. I am self pay, so I had the additional guilt of spending the money. Although it is my money, that I earned and I can chose to do with it as I wish.

I finally came to the realization one day, that it was mostly because I felt like I was taking the easy way out and blaming myself because I did not have enough self control. In thinking this through I finally decided:

1. What is wrong with the easy way if it is available? Why do we feel that we have to make things hard to make it worthwhile. Sometimes it isn't necessary to make things hard to make them worthwhile. And, by the way this is not necessarily easy, there is still a lot of work involved. This is not magic.

2. Face it ladies, this is a MEDICAL, as well as a social condition over which we do not have control. If self control and determination could do this, we would have all suceeded long ago.

3.The medications that I take are a tool also, and do I feel guilty because I take them? No, because they are saving my life. This will save my life also.

4. Last time I looked I was the only one in my shoes, so why did I care what they thought. "They" whoever they are, should not be in control of my life and decisions.

So I quit beating myself over the head about this and made the decision to go ahead and do it. I am still new, but honestly believe this is saving my life.

Best of luck to each of you in your journey toward making your decision.

Mary

[green 6]

I never felt guilty about it. I felt fortunate that I was able to take advantage of modern technology for a situation which I was unable to control on my own. I viewed, you see, my weight gain as being akin to having diabetes or from suffering, as I do, depression. Now, depression runs in my family and is a genetic thing. We all know that obesity is a result of overeating plus genetics plus the modern lifestyle. In the case of some of us there are further complicating factors.

I am really happy with this technology. I have lost weight and I feel much better about myself even though I am still not a Hollywood grrl.

And I paid for myself; it was money well spent.

[debi717 0]

Thank you, Mary & Green, for sharing your perspective on this.

I think so many of us have been taught to "put your nose to the grindstone", "pull yourself up by your bootstraps", "get off your dead a_ _ onto your dying feet". There's even the more recent Nike mantra, "just do it".

I don't know why needing intervention to lose weight feels like a character flaw, but in some odd way it does. We don't frown on a patch that helps people quite smoking. Washing machines and dryers, dishwashers and microwaves are tools that make our lives easier and most of use wouldn't want to be without them. However, being overweight seems to be an issue of self-control and that makes it feel like going outside oneself for help is a cop out. The head says that's ridiculous, but the heart and, yes, even society, makes it feel wrong.

I'm sure I'll get over it when the pounds come off and I'm feeling better, but I certainly identify with the self doubts people feel.

Debbie

[bluehill 0]

I feel like I've spent my entire adult life dealing with weight issues. I have tried dozens & dozens of ways to lose weight. Twice I was successful, via liquid diets. And both times I was unsuccessful in maintaining that weight. In fact gaining back +50 lbs. The LapBand is my savior because it completes the other half of the equation. I can lose weight AND I can maintain that weight. LapBand is a lifetime tool.

[Gerbera 0]

I have to jump in here with my comments. I went through much of the same agony and self doubt as many of you are describing. I am self pay, so I had the additional guilt of spending the money. Although it is my money, that I earned and I can chose to do with it as I wish.

I finally came to the realization one day, that it was mostly because I felt like I was taking the easy way out and blaming myself because I did not have enough self control. In thinking this through I finally decided:

1. What is wrong with the easy way if it is available? Why do we feel that we have to make things hard to make it worthwhile. Sometimes it isn't necessary to make things hard to make them worthwhile. And, by the way this is not necessarily easy, there is still a lot of work involved. This is not magic.

2. Face it ladies, this is a MEDICAL, as well as a social condition over which we do not have control. If self control and determination could do this, we would have all suceeded long ago.

3.The medications that I take are a tool also, and do I feel guilty because I take them? No, because they are saving my life. This will save my life also.

4. Last time I looked I was the only one in my shoes, so why did I care what they thought. "They" whoever they are, should not be in control of my life and decisions.

So I quit beating myself over the head about this and made the decision to go ahead and do it. I am still new, but honestly believe this is saving my life.

Best of luck to each of you in your journey toward making your decision.

Mary

AMEN! Who said the so called hard way was better anyway?

We all tried the hard way for years I don't feel the slightest bit guilty for the money or the surgery. This is going to save my life and give me a better quality of life

[Gerbera 0]

I never felt guilty about it. I felt fortunate that I was able to take advantage of modern technology for a situation which I was unable to control on my own. I viewed, you see, my weight gain as being akin to having diabetes or from suffering, as I do, depression. Now, depression runs in my family and is a genetic thing. We all know that obesity is a result of overeating plus genetics plus the modern lifestyle. In the case of some of us there are further complicating factors.

I am really happy with this technology. I have lost weight and I feel much better about myself even though I am still not a Hollywood grrl.

And I paid for myself; it was money well spent.

I was a HUGE take out (Takeaway) food buyer before my surgery, do we count the money wasted on all that food? Is that ever considered? How much do we spend on eating out, pizza, KFC, hamburgers, sweets etc in a year, lets add that up. I'm actually saving money having spent this money on the surgery

[zevesther 0]

I am 50, and 4 weeks post-op and have lost 33 lbs. Keep it up!

[kedasmom 10]

I just came in from driving bus, the kids, the noise and the others drivers out there, yuk!:faint: Then I go on my computer and all is forgotten. The posts on feeling guilty, were perfect, just what I needed to read about. I hadn't thought about WLS in the same way I do my pillls for blood pressure, depression and what ever else I have to take them for. Most definitly to save my life. Thanks

[Oregondaisy 2,021]

Gee, All of you are doing so well! I haven't really lost anything since I went off liquids after the first 4 weeks. I get my first fill on Monday, but I have heard that he hardly puts anything in there for the first one. I want to start losing again!

[mousecrazy 2]

I am 51, and have had my lapband for about a year and half. I doubt that age is a problem in and of itself; at least, it hasn't been for me.

I also would like to add that I do not see lapband surgery as the "easy way" to weight loss. Even with the lapband, there is a lot of work involved...it certainly no magic bullet. If it was that easy, then I don't think there would be so many people on here for support...they would just be sailing through their weight loss journey's.

I say this to help those of you who are suffering with guilt for taking the supposed "easy way" out...it is not. You have chosen a tool, a much, much better tool than the silly diets, the pills, the crazy scams, and the snake oil we have bought into in the past.

I hope this will give at least one person a clear conscience! And good luck and happy weight loss to all!