How is weight loss for people over 50?

[NM Sunshine 1]

I sure hope I feel some restriction even before my first fill.

I'm self pay so I'm going to Dr.Gonzales in TJ, Mexico on Sept 11. He does all the fills and other stuff for free. A air ticket to SanDiego is cheaper than going to a doc here in USA.

[DynamoMini 1]

Here is the site that I found an interesting article. It sure applies to my eating. Hope it helps.

http://www.calorieking.com/library/articles/Is-Your-Inner-Child-Making-You-Fat_cGlkPTEzLDY2JmFpZD04ODQ.html

[NM Sunshine 1]

DYNAMO thanks will check out that article

[crabcake 0]

Here is the site that I found an interesting article. It sure applies to my eating. Hope it helps.

Thanks for posting this. Very interesting and sensible!

Well, I'm due back at the doc's office next Monday for another fill. I dread it, 'cause depending on how well my scales and theirs cooperate, I've only lost a couple of pounds since my last fill 5 weeks ago! I know I haven't been exactly wonderful during that time, but I've given it a pretty good try. I know...2 pounds is 2 pounds, but as we all know, the scales tend to be temperamental and they could flip 2 pounds above what I weighed last time too! I'd sure like to be able to change my ticker. It's been stuck in the same place for a long time now!

Ok, I have NO idea what's going on w/ this stupid formatting! It looks fine when I type it out, but when I preview it, it's strung out beyone the screen!

[kedasmom 10]

Hello, Went to see my regular doctor today. He was pleased with the weight lose(28lbs.). I'm thrilled, I'm off toprol xl (1 of my blood pressure pills) and lipitor. I wanted off the zoloft but he wants to wait on that. He reminded me that the "Holidays" are only 3 months away, and since I have in the past turned into a basket case during food holidays, I guess it's best to wait till I see how I handle this year. Okay

have a good day

Bonnie

[nicnaknut 0]

Hello all... That is interesting about the fills and not being exact... I can understand the contributing factors such as bloating an Constipation, but it seems as though the Dr would know how many cc's he put in the syringe and put through your port....

NM Sunshine.... I think you will have a little bit of restriction after your surgery due to swelling from the band placement and incisions... Depending on how fast you heal I guess determines how fast the swelling goes down and you lose the temporary restriction.... Keep up the strength with the pre-op diet and you will do ok. Sometimes it just takes a little longer for the weight to come off... I had to chuckle about the pushing the cart all over Wally World but cannot walk or stand on our own for long cause I am the exact same way... However, for exercise it might help if you did go cruising around Wally World every day or every other day for awhile... I'm thinking that I may try that since I don't stay in one place long enough to join a gym...

crabcake.... Good luck on your fill and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the scales will tip down so you can change your ticker...

Dynamo.... Thanks for the link, I will be sure to check it out.. Good for you on your 3rd fill, it sounds like you may have reached your sweet spot....

kedasmom.... Congratulations on your 28 lbs weight loss and getting off of one of your BP medications.. That is great!! I sure can relate to you and the food holidays. I am already starting to stress out about Thanksgiving... I will be a month and half post surgery and wonder if I will be able to have any turkey, dressing and pumpkin pie.... I worry that I will get the PB's just when I am starting to enjoy the good food... Plus I haven't seen all my kids and grandkids for 6 months and I want to be with them and have a great time like we do every year and not get sick from eating too much or to fast...

Lots of good wishes to everyone for a good weekend...

[DianaOH 0]

Hi all, I just posted for the first time last night in the beginning stages of this forum. I was reading and found this one!! I can only say thank you to whoever started this one! Makes me feel a lot better now that I know I am not the only one in their 50's doing this. I will be 51 in October. I have been over weight as far back as I can remember. I have tried hundreds of diets..and I dont think I can try another one!! So when I decided to at least look at surgery I knew I wanted the RNY. I didnt want to hear anything else. Until I did the research and found that the rate of problems was huge with that. So, I then checked into the LapBand. I was amazed at what I found. My BMI is very high 57.2 and I am at 365. This is the largest I have ever been..and I dont want to die like this!!

I keep reading in here about the slow weight loss with the band. I know I need the slow loss. But does it really matter if you lose it slow vs fast on your skin condition? I have visions of myself looking like a pair of stretched out nylons!! That really scares me the most. I know the working out part will be difficult as I dont do that now. I want this so badly that I know I have to workout!!

I have already seen the surgeon (Dr. Givens in SC). I start my tests this coming week. I am scared but yet excited. I have only been married 2 years and I have his support as well as my son's support. I know I need more support now than ever before. Thank you for being here for me and for everyone else!!

I hope I didnt ramble too much!

Diana

[momlambert 77]

Welcome, Diana. Good for you for taking control of your weight and your life. It's a journey--good luck to you! Let us know when your are scheduled. Thanks for posting!

[smallbodytobe 0]

I am going for my surgery on Friday, 14 September. I am 51. Any helpful hints???

[green 6]

Hello DianaSC from Green. I am really pleased that you have discovered this site and have found this thread. LBT is a very valuable resource for all of us because we can share practical info and provide each other with emotional support as well. (LBT has become my hobby and my life support system over this past year since I was banded and I don't know whether I would have fared anywhere near as well without it.)

As you obviously know, the lapband is the least invasive WLS which you can undertake to have. This is one of the reasons why we bandsters tend to think that it is the best. It is a reversible, not permanent surgery, for many of us it is so uncomplicated as to be only day surgery, and the band itself is adjustible. The fact that the band is adjustible is a wonderful thing; as we lose weight our interior organs lose weight, too, and the band can be tweaked to accomodate this loss. This is very, very cool technology, I think.

I also like your attitude towards weight loss. I believe that the healthiest way to lose weight is to lose it slowly. This allows your body, your internal organs and your skin, to adjust and this is very important to your health. I also suspect that a slower weight loss permits your metabolism to reset itself. From all that I have read about fast weight loss, yo-yo dieting and that kind of thing, it seems that this sort of extreme messing around with your body can be far more risky that simply being overweight.

You are undoubtedly aware that the band blocks you from eating large portions of food. It also seems to press upon the I'm hungry nerve and thus you will feel full after eating your tiny snack. Your own role in this weight loss procedure is to follow the bandster rules. Because you will be unable to eat very much it will be up to you to learn how to eat healthily in order that you don't rob yourself of your daily nutritional needs. You will need to learn that you must eat Protein first and then follow this up with vegies/fruits. You are going to have to cut out sodas and other forms of empty calories and you will have to get into the habit of chew, chew, chewing before swallowing a mouthful of food. Speed eating is no longer an option for the banded one. Pukage/PB will follow ASAP. This is because the band constricts the amount of food which can pass through the G.I. tract. All of this is part of the learning curve of course. You will quickly pick up this info. I know that I did.

As for the slow weight loss...those of us who start with a higher BMI usually do experience much faster weight loss results than the lower BMI gang. Welcome aboard and all the best from Green. :kiss2:

And don't even worry about the exercise thing at the moment. You can get into that later on. I was low BMI and had a torn rotator cuff when I started my weight loss journey. Now I have a BMI of 23.8. :eyebrows:

[DianaOH 0]

Hi Mom and Green~

Thank you both for the kind words and much needed support. This IS where I belong. I look forward to chatting and most posts!

Diana

[mistymoon 0]

Hi All!

Well, I'm home - got in late last night as our plane was redirected because of fog. Fun Fun Fun. Hours on plane and in airport then 2 more in car riding to fogged in airport where my husband waited to drive us the 1/2 hour home. I'm tired lol. Surgery went very well. The Dr. thought that it would take about 2 1/2 hours instead of usual 1/2 hr because of my previous WLS. It only took 1/2 hr so I am hoping he will refund part of the extra 5000.00 he charged me. What do you think of my chances??

I am a tad sore, very purple in places and gassy. yuck. I gained 3 pounds since surgery but I am sure that is from holding in all that gas on the plane. lol It certainly can't be from what I am eating. I don't feel hungry often and when I do I find that warm broth soothes the tiger. I know I missed a lot whie I was gone so I am going to go back and read your posts. Can't wait to see how everyone is doing.

Nance

[momlambert 77]

Hi All!

Well, I'm home - got in late last night as our plane was redirected because of fog. Fun Fun Fun. Hours on plane and in airport then 2 more in car riding to fogged in airport where my husband waited to drive us the 1/2 hour home. I'm tired lol. Surgery went very well. The Dr. thought that it would take about 2 1/2 hours instead of usual 1/2 hr because of my previous WLS. It only took 1/2 hr so I am hoping he will refund part of the extra 5000.00 he charged me. What do you think of my chances??

I am a tad sore, very purple in places and gassy. yuck. I gained 3 pounds since surgery but I am sure that is from holding in all that gas on the plane. lol It certainly can't be from what I am eating. I don't feel hungry often and when I do I find that warm broth soothes the tiger. I know I missed a lot whie I was gone so I am going to go back and read your posts. Can't wait to see how everyone is doing.

Nance

Welcome to Bandland, Nance! Congrats on the surgery and good luck on your road to recovery. Walk and walk and the gas will dissipate more quickly. Good luck!

[ingyrob 1]

Hi I am new here. I am from the United Kingdom, I am 63 in October and was banded on 21.06.07. Since I started down the road to WLS on 04.06.07 I have lost 47lbs. Like lots of people here I am hoping that if I lose weight it will extend my life. I also wanted to lose weight as I amgoing on holiday fro two months to Australia and I wanted to be able get my bum (behind? Ass?) into the aircraft seat as it is about 24hrs away. I still have a lot more weight to lose - at least 100lbs. It has been really good and interesting reading all your posts.

I have not yet had a fill. This is because I am losing weight well without one, however I do not feel much restriction, except if I try to eat to fast. I have had about 3 PBs all fromeating too fast. I have a feeling that my weight loss will slow up soon and then my dietician will put me forward for a fill.

I have self funded my operation because it is very difficult to get banded on the National Health Service and with Private Medical Insurance. It bugs me a bit because I pay into the NHS and into Private Medical Insurance, but cannot get help from them.

I am rwally pleased with the band though, even if it has not yet stated working for me

Good Luck to everyone with your weight loss

[cathie 0]

Hey Southern gal---I too am in the early planning stages and am also new to this post site but I love it. Can anyone tell me how long this takes if you are not self-pay? I started my LB journey August 17 and done the psych and nutrionist and all the paper work but am waiting for approval from my insurance co. Anyone else have Cigna? I'm jealous that most of you are already banded. I'm 57 and my Doc won't do it if you are over 60. I live in Clearwater, FL