How is weight loss for people over 50?

[BJean 16]

Indio: My DH has a theory about fat people. They have learned to be very efficient beings. They can think up all kinds of ways to keep from having to move much. They are very creative when it comes to housework, walking, parking their cars, getting on an elevator instead of taking the stairs, etc.

I started paying attention to myself and also started watching my slender friends. They all move more than I do. They are constantly up and moving around picking things up, rearranging this or that, cleaning their closets, changing the sheets, parking way out in the parking lot so they can "get some exercise" and the list goes on. Meanwhile I'm being a couch potato, putting off everything and planning my next meal. Thinking about an art project that would be so much fun, but planning another meal. Knowing a room would look better if I got off the couch and started painting, but instead I just think about it and go to the store to buy good things to eat. Lands it's overwhelming to think about all the "head" stuff that I need to work on. :phanvan

[crabcake 0]

What is it with the head hunger thing.

Part of it (at least for me) is that sugar is so addictive! It's like smoking (for me)...once you have the habit of smoking a cigarette w/ a cup of coffee, every time you have coffee, you think about a cigarette. Now that I've quit (whoo-hee! :whoo:), I've turned my addiction to sweets. Well, that's not exactly true...I always had that addiction, now it's just worse.

I tried the Sugar Busters diet years ago and it really helped. Whether you follow that diet or just try to cut back on the sweets, it seems the less sugar I eat, the less I want. I say this after I just had my evening 'fix' of ice cream! :faint:

[IndioGirl55 32]

Indio: My DH has a theory about fat people. They have learned to be very efficient beings. They can think up all kinds of ways to keep from having to move much. They are very creative when it comes to housework, walking, parking their cars, getting on an elevator instead of taking the stairs, etc.

I started paying attention to myself and also started watching my slender friends. They all move more than I do. They are constantly up and moving around picking things up, rearranging this or that, cleaning their closets, changing the sheets, parking way out in the parking lot so they can "get some exercise" and the list goes on. Meanwhile I'm being a couch potato, putting off everything and planning my next meal. Thinking about an art project that would be so much fun, but planning another meal. Knowing a room would look better if I got off the couch and started painting, but instead I just think about it and go to the store to buy good things to eat. Lands it's overwhelming to think about all the "head" stuff that I need to work on. :phanvan

Bjean - your dh is so right - i went on a cruise with my sis in feb and her room was all the way on the other side of the ship - i think i went there 2 twice - once walked all the way from my room and the second time we were at tha casino which was close to her room - we normally met in the middle (she's not fat but has lung problems).. This is one reason i did this - is because i don't want to be limited in the rest of my life. I too avoided anything that had to do with phyical activity. If it requires alot of walking -- i wouldn't do it.. even right now i could be at the gym working out - but no here i sit at the computer - I did go this morning and walked 1.75 miles. - but i don't have a dh (put on 20lbs after we broke up - and I thinks that's cuz we were always on the go and on the go i don't think about food) and now have nothing to do execpt watch tv - read and be on the computer - ya i could be changing my sheets, cleaning my bathroom etc - but that requires work... These are things that i have to work on myself... My hardest thing will/is the exercising.. I just don't like it... cuz its hard... The eating isn't too bad for me (so far)... I don't think i am in banders hell. I do get full fast - but sometime can eat more than a cup of food at one sitting -

3/4 mash tatoes - 1 cup squah... I am just now of soft food having ck cook in cream of ck Soup (healthy request) and 1/2 rice.. but I know by 9 i will be looking for food.

I guess we really are all in the same boat - it's all about our food & non-moment... That's why we got fat in the 1st place... We just have to surrender that we can not eat like we use to (there is not amount of talking ourselves out of this - skin people do not eat like us (for the most part) and that we must park at the far end of the parking lot and walk...

[IndioGirl55 32]

I'm still in the "mushy" stage and I'm amazed at what I can puree in to baaby food consistency.... and it still tastes pretty good. This weekend I had salmon/mashed potatoes/green Beans and the same combo with a few chunks of BBQ ribs instead of the salmon. Put it in my Magic Bullet and add a little BBQ Sauce and/or milk. Eating 1/2 cup servings 4-6 X a day.

Phyl

Sounds like you are doing Great !!!!! When do you move to soft?? I am there as of yesterday - had a stuffed bell pepper for dinner last night - but guess what i made for lunch "Navy Bean Soup" After all that Soup i at that 1st week - i never thought i would eat soup again - but this is a tad diff - is has the beans and little ham too.. Wasn't total liquid..

[IndioGirl55 32]

I don't do the flat dumplings. Mine are large and very fluffy. Melt in your mouth - not chewy.

Btw, remember that we are supposed to realize that there are NO BAD FOODS.

Indio I think you're right on about the head hunger issue. I am one of those people who has started obsessing about my next meal. I haven't been able to decide if it is because I am too restricted or not restricted enough. Or if it is simply that my head is so used to thinking up good things to eat that I have reverted to that since I've been so restricted that I can hardly eat some of the time.

Bjean - had those fat fluffy round dumpings in beef stew as a kid.. OMG sounds good haven't had them in years - my family (son & grandkids) is/are/was picky eaters so i don't make things like beef stew.

This being overly restricted scares me - I could use maybe just a tad of a fill - cuz i think i am eating too much but turely i am eating 1/4 of what i ate before..

[IndioGirl55 32]

Part of it (at least for me) is that sugar is so addictive! It's like smoking (for me)...once you have the habit of smoking a cigarette w/ a cup of coffee, every time you have coffee, you think about a cigarette. Now that I've quit (whoo-hee! :whoo:), I've turned my addiction to sweets. Well, that's not exactly true...I always had that addiction, now it's just worse.

I tried the Sugar Busters diet years ago and it really helped. Whether you follow that diet or just try to cut back on the sweets, it seems the less sugar I eat, the less I want. I say this after I just had my evening 'fix' of ice cream! :faint:

Crabcake - was is sf ice cream or lite or was it the real thing..

I am with you on the surgar - if i don't have it i don't miss it - but get me started and i will wipe out a whole bag of reese Peanut Butter cups..

My addiction - cuz i just can't have one - they just keep tasting better and better until they are all gone... I don't get a sugar high - it makes me sleep...

[LadyHR 0]

Sweets have always been my downfall. I hope this doesn't tempt anyone but this is what I have been doing since I was able to go on solid food. I have two dark chocolate Hershey kisses at night when I start "wanting" something sweet. So far I have never gone beyond just two and I tell myself that based on a recent study that dark chocolate has some health benefits! I also take my chewable Fiber and my Calcium chew at night so they even feel like a treat! I hope I will be able to contain myself in the future but I really haven't been tempted by sweets. (I do miss my Diet Coke though!).

[IndioGirl55 32]

Sweets have always been my downfall. I hope this doesn't tempt anyone but this is what I have been doing since I was able to go on solid food. I have two dark chocolate Hershey kisses at night when I start "wanting" something sweet. So far I have never gone beyond just two and I tell myself that based on a recent study that dark chocolate has some health benefits! I also take my chewable Fiber and my Calcium chew at night so they even feel like a treat! I hope I will be able to contain myself in the future but I really haven't been tempted by sweets. (I do miss my Diet Coke though!).

:clap2::clap2: Ladyhr - Now that's will power - If someone left a chocolate cake on my counter in would be gone in a couple of days... Even right now that i am so motitivated - i would have to throw it away to keep from eating it... I went to a wedding saturday and had 2 bite of cake and gave the rest to my boss - if it had sat infront of me i would have eaten it all. I keep forgeting to get the calicium chews - they are great - infact i keep forgeting to take my vitimans... uph i don't want to lose any hair it's thin already....

[crabcake 0]

Crabcake - was is sf ice cream :confused: or lite :confused: or was it the real thing..

I am with you on the surgar - if i don't have it i don't miss it - but get me started and i will wipe out a whole bag of reese Peanut Butter cups..

My addiction - cuz i just can't have one - they just keep tasting better and better until they are all gone... I don't get a sugar high - it makes me sleep...

Unfortunately, we were out of sf/lite...so....it was the real thing! :eek: Honey's bad about bringing home the good stuff!

I'm right there w/ you on those Reese cups! I could eat those 'til I foundered! :hungry:

LadyHR, I'm going to try this...IF I can keep them from the dh. We'll see if I have the willpower that you do! Maybe it would be enough to satisfy my sweet tooth.

[Oregondaisy 2,021]

I have a sugar free fudgesicle in the evenings. I do crave something sweet in the evenings. Sugar free popsicles are 10 calories and I enjoy them, and the fudgesicles are 40 calories. They hit the spot!

[bgdcpa 0]

Hi!

This thread is very interesting to me. I just turned 60 and 3 weeks later got my band. I was a 33.5 BMI and it scared me to think they wouldn't put the band on. I have "watched" my weight for decades and it has worked to maintain, but to lose weight? Forget it! I decided I had had it--60 or no. I want to keep my knees in good working order, keep ME in good working order and yes, I want to look good.

I have lost 8 pounds and get my first fill tomorrow! When I get discouraged I remind myself I don't have that much to lose --30 pounds would be terrific and I'd take 40--but not much over that. .. I'm pretty muscular and happy (over all) not being a string-bean. I also tell myself I am 60 and therefore. . .my metabolism isn't that brisk.

It is great to hear from other older bandsters. I think we should all pat ourselves on the back for keeping on it. Incidentally, I too have done weight watchers and found it too slow (mostly because my portions were too large! couldn't help it). But weight watchers WITH a band .. .that's good eating. Sorry to go on so. Just so glad to talk to those with similar goals, issues and chutzpah!

Deb:D

Who did your banding.. I am looking for a doctor in Dallas that will perform the surgery with a bmi of 32...

[BJean 16]

I didn't realize that some of you are so soon post-surgery or haven't had surgery yet.

If you get a fill where you are really restricted, it is much harder to leave the sweets alone - for me, anyway. That's why getting a fill is such a big decision. Too restricted and it's difficult to eat real food and not restricted enough, you can eat anything in any quantity. So finding a happy medium is the trick.

Any little gimmicks you can use to keep you on track are great!

[IndioGirl55 32]

I didn't realize that some of you are so soon post-surgery or haven't had surgery yet.

If you get a fill where you are really restricted, it is much harder to leave the sweets alone - for me, anyway. That's why getting a fill is such a big decision. Too restricted and it's difficult to eat real food and not restricted enough, you can eat anything in any quantity. So finding a happy medium is the trick.

Any little gimmicks you can use to keep you on track are great!

Bjean - Ok I understand (some times i am blond:rolleyes:) - since you can't eat regular food (to restricted) you compensate by eating sweets (not restricted enought). Yes i am still a band baby.. 3 weeks out today...

:confused:

[BJean 16]

Yes, Indio that's right.

I just got back from a meeting with my dietician. There were three other people there who have been banded about the same amount of time that I have. We are all struggling with the same problem. I was supposed to get a fill, but dietician and I decided that I should wait another week because I am still not able to eat everything in regular amounts.

I used to read about people who would eat sweets and cheeseburgers and fries and stuff like that. I didn't understand it. I wish I still didn't! I don't know of a sure-fire remedy yet. Although everyone saysthat exercise is the only way to get over this hump. :bounce:

[Devana 0]

Indio: My DH has a theory about fat people. They have learned to be very efficient beings. They can think up all kinds of ways to keep from having to move much. They are very creative when it comes to housework, walking, parking their cars, getting on an elevator instead of taking the stairs, etc.

I started paying attention to myself and also started watching my slender friends. They all move more than I do. They are constantly up and moving around picking things up, rearranging this or that, cleaning their closets, changing the sheets, parking way out in the parking lot so they can "get some exercise" and the list goes on. Meanwhile I'm being a couch potato, putting off everything and planning my next meal. Thinking about an art project that would be so much fun, but planning another meal. Knowing a room would look better if I got off the couch and started painting, but instead I just think about it and go to the store to buy good things to eat. Lands it's overwhelming to think about all the "head" stuff that I need to work on. :phanvan

You know, I think he's right on about this. One of the final deciding factors for me getting the band was watching a documentary about three people who lost large amounts of weight and managed to keep it off. The show stated that only 4 to 5% of people manage to keep the weight off and I just knew that I wasn't one of that small percentage. Anyway, one of the things that stood out about these three people is that they did just what you described, found little ways to move more. They park a little farther away, sweep a little more often etc.

I currently suffer from an economy of movement. However, I did walk for an hour this morning, for the first time in the year I've been banded. I've walked shorter distances, but I know the magic time for weight loss is 45 to 60 minutes of brisk walking and I just haven't done it till now.

So here's to my hour walk tomorrow. For sure. Absolutely. No excuses.