How is weight loss for people over 50?

[NM Sunshine 1]

Denise

drowning while asleep had to be frightening. I am able to get Water, and Soups down. So I think I am OK. The pain is still there but it is growing less. I'm researching erosion and slippage to get a feel for any warning.

[Forestcat5 1]

This is my first post about myself. I'm scheduled to have surgery Dec. 20th. Started Optifast last Thursday and all I can think about is eating and all the food I will be missing. I believe I'm thinking about food is because I'm hungry all the time. I also have loose stools from the drinks and today I have a headache that will not go away. I wanted this surgery and have been reading all the post for four months. I have spent hours researching lap band surgery. I live in SD and I was going to have lap band surgery in Mexico but could not find a doctor that would be a fill doctor for me. So I'm going to spend extra money I don't have and have Dr. Reynolds in Mitchell, SD perform the surgery. Also since I'm hungry I think about if I'm going to be able to handle all the food I currently want to eat because I can't have it. Anybody else experience the feelings I'm currently having? Does it get easier doing optifast or do I have ten days of hunger to deal with as I work? Linetta

Linetta -

Hang in there! I also got a headache when I began the Optifast. I believe it's from sugar withdrawal. Does your Dr allow you to have other liquids while you are on the Optifast? I was allowed to have broth. The pre-op diet and the few weeks after the surgery are "challenging" to say the least! And not too far down the road we WILL get to eat those foods we are dreaming about, just in much smaller amounts - and we will be full!!!!

You have begun a wonderful journey that will result in better health and a better quality of life. You can do this!!!!!!

[NM Sunshine 1]

Linetta

It's that full feeling that you get once your fills are at that 'sweet spot' that is so great. You don't crave the food cause you're satiated.

I consider the Lap Band a gift I gave myself. It really feels that way.

[Oregondaisy 2,021]

That's good news Sunshine. It sounds like it's beginning to loosen.

I had a great weight loss during my time of being overfilled. I had some taken out, then waited a month. I was still pbing almost every day so I had more taken out. I haven't lost anything since then, and I have a fill on Wed. I probably should have just stayed on liquids or Soups till it loosened, but I was really tired of throwing up.

That's good that you're researching erosion and slippage. I am sure it happens when you're too tight for too long. Like I said, there was a thread here called "I have to sleep sitting up" The lady was too tight for about 6 months. That is not good. I slept sitting up for one weekend and it was enough.

[IndioGirl55 32]

This is my first post about myself. I'm scheduled to have surgery Dec. 20th. Started Optifast last Thursday and all I can think about is eating and all the food I will be missing. I believe I'm thinking about food is because I'm hungry all the time. I also have loose stools from the drinks and today I have a headache that will not go away. I wanted this surgery and have been reading all the post for four months. I have spent hours researching lap band surgery. I live in SD and I was going to have lap band surgery in Mexico but could not find a doctor that would be a fill doctor for me. So I'm going to spend extra money I don't have and have Dr. Reynolds in Mitchell, SD perform the surgery. Also since I'm hungry I think about if I'm going to be able to handle all the food I currently want to eat because I can't have it. Anybody else experience the feelings I'm currently having? Does it get easier doing optifast or do I have ten days of hunger to deal with as I work? Linetta

Linetta - You and I were/are lucky as we only had 7 days of pre-op diet where some have 2 full weeks or more... My diet was oatmeal, shake, and this awful tomatoe Soup (that's all they had) and some good Protein bars... Well I just could not do it - so I called the doc and asked if I could have a small piece of baked fish and a little salad for dinner - (i was going to do it anyway but did want their permission too) they said yes I could. Plus I had a colonoscopy 4 days before surgery so I had 2 days of that 7 that I was on Clear Liquids only - the day before surgery wasn't hard cuz I was nervous and for me nervse kill my appetite..

I hope that you understand that this is only a tool - you are in for a lifetime lifestyle change - 75% of the work is up to you and the band will do the other 25% - You have to change your eating from what it is now to a healthy low fat - low sugar eating plan and add exercise into your life.

I am so very happy to be banded - and for an old lady :pthink i have done pretty well - but I choose to eat very healthy 98% of the time and I exercise usually 5 days a week

We all think we are going to miss the foods that we ate pre-banded -but you know what - I really don't - when I do allow myself a treat - it's never as good as i remembered... And you can eat those foods every now and then - they aren't gone for life ...

Good Luck !!!! You can do this .... You will feel so much better once your weight comes off you won't miss the food as much as you think

[NM Sunshine 1]

Denise

Last night I thought I begin into the mushie stage so I ate a piece of banana. Ate very slow and chewed until it was mush in my mouth. I must have eaten several bites when I felt very full. An hour later, I started on my chopped up pills. Got them down and a few minutes later I began sliming and then threw up the medicine. So I'm going back to chicken broth today.

Think I just have to take it slower. I slept flat on bed fine.

[Oregondaisy 2,021]

Sunshine, I really hate it when I throw up my pills. I usually do if I try to take them the day after a fill. I finally learned to take them with warm Water, very slowly. I take one, and drink a lot of warm water, and wait awhile before taking another one. The warm liquids is supposed to open the band.

I think as long as you are not experiencing any kind of heart burn,

you'll be okay. The band should loosen up because you will lose fat around your stomach.

When you try mushies again, you could try warm very thinned down oatmeal. Make sure it's very watery

oatmeal. Thin it down with milk and then microwave it so it's nice and warm. Then go at it very slowly. Take a bite and wait awhile.

I usually use the weight control oat meal and only dump in half a package.

[NM Sunshine 1]

Denise, thank you so much for the information. I was wondering why it was so much easier to take somthing warm rather than cold. It opens the band, great. This morning I drank 1/2 cup of Tomato Soup for Breakfast and for lunch ate 2 tsps of yogurt. With the yogurt, I recognized a sensation of pressure in my lower esphagus or pouch and stopped.

This must be all about learning how to eat & drink with band restriction. I'd never really had this before so the eating rules didn't mean much to me cause they didn't make a difference.

Because I had a gurgleing feeling and froth coming up last night, I set up my bed in our 'old man' couch (it has recliner seats). In the middle of night, I felt fine so went and slept in regular bed.

I cannot imagine how that poor woman who had to spend 6 months sleeping in a recliner did it.

BTW got it on the oatmeal.

[Oregondaisy 2,021]

Yes, it makes a huge difference when you have a tight fill. The funny part is, it's such a fine line between being too tight and being so loose that you can eat practically anything you want.

I told him to take out the smallest amount possible, and went from throwing up nearly every day, sliming on a Protein Drink , to being able to eat bread. Not that I want to eat bread, but I did it just for a test.

[LindaE 0]

Hi everyone, This is Linda E. I was banded 9/11/07 Im down 34 lbs. My doc. says Im doing great and wont give me a fill. Im not feeling hungry at all. Heres my problem. Help!! I want to eat more than 1/2 cup servings. I dont know why. Im completely satisified when I eat 1/2 cup of food at a meal I just want more. Can any one give me advice? Im eating healthy food staying away from carbs and no sugar or soda. I never feel full and I dont push myself to over eat to see if I can feel full. However I have been cheating and eating more than a 1/2 cup serving. Usually just an extra tbs. I want to not blow this.I want to keep dropping the pounds. I did great on thanksgiving and I hope to do good on my b-day (dec. 15th) and christmas. this really is a food temptation month. The problem Im having Is all in my head. Thanks for letting me sound off here. I LOVE THIS WEB SITE!

[NM Sunshine 1]

Hi everyone, This is Linda E. I was banded 9/11/07 Im down 34 lbs. My doc. says Im doing great and wont give me a fill. Im not feeling hungry at all. Heres my problem. Help!! I want to eat more than 1/2 cup servings. I dont know why. Im completely satisified when I eat 1/2 cup of food at a meal I just want more. Can any one give me advice? Im eating healthy food staying away from carbs and no sugar or soda. I never feel full and I dont push myself to over eat to see if I can feel full. However I have been cheating and eating more than a 1/2 cup serving. Usually just an extra tbs. I want to not blow this.I want to keep dropping the pounds. I did great on thanksgiving and I hope to do good on my b-day (dec. 15th) and christmas. this really is a food temptation month. The problem Im having Is all in my head. Thanks for letting me sound off here. I LOVE THIS WEB SITE!

I think you are doing fantastic with your weight loss just the way you are doing it right now. I not worry at all about a few extra TBS or so, even a half cup more.

You were banded on exactly the same day I was and I have only lost about 10 pounds. I'd be jumping for joy if I'd have lost 34 pds by now.

BTW actually my weight loss is weirdly low. I've been unable to take anything but Soup for past week and very little at that. Today my scale says I gained a pound! I'm keeping track of every single calorie next few days to try and figure out what is wrong.

[IndioGirl55 32]

Hi everyone, This is Linda E. I was banded 9/11/07 Im down 34 lbs. My doc. says Im doing great and wont give me a fill. Im not feeling hungry at all. Heres my problem. Help!! I want to eat more than 1/2 cup servings. I dont know why. #1 Im completely satisified when I eat 1/2 cup of food at a meal I just want more. Can any one give me advice? Im eating healthy food staying away from carbs and no sugar or soda. #2 I never feel full and I dont push myself to over eat to see if I can feel full. However I have been cheating and eating more than a 1/2 cup serving. Usually just an extra tbs. I want to not blow this.I want to keep dropping the pounds. I did great on thanksgiving and I hope to do good on my b-day (dec. 15th) and christmas. this really is a food temptation month. The problem Im having Is all in my head. Thanks for letting me sound off here. I LOVE THIS WEB SITE!

Hi Linda -

#1 this is head hunger and we all suffer from it

#2 I have always eaten until I feel full and at 2 months it was more than 1/2 cup of food - I eat between 1 - 2 cups of food per meal - and if it's soft stuff it goes right through and I am hungry within and hour so I eat more veggies - I'm a WW girl as I think their eating plan is the most balanced.

The band is the tool to help you control your protions and i bet even 2 cups was a lot less per meal than what you ate before -

How many calories are you consuming daily - must not be much with only 1 1/2 cups food daily - I have cup oatmeal a.m 1 3/4 Soup lunch (today really stuffed) dinner 4 oz fish 1/2 c rice and 1/2 cup veggies and about 200 for Snacks this evening...

You are doing great - Welcome

[luvsrocks 0]

Phyllser! Down 50+ lbs! Congratulations! I know that was a few days ago, but I'm trying to catch up with everyone....haven't been on in a few days. Good job!

[luvsrocks 0]

Hi guys! I'm still catching up and wanted to respond to the Oprah show about "transfer addiction". I did not see it, but unfortunately, my DH & Brother both saw it sometime during the night while I was peacefully sleeping. DH never watches O. Both are supporting me, but do not like the idea of WLS, so this did not help. I found myself, once again, defending my decision & trying to explain it. You know what? DH could lose 30/40 lbs, but my B is morbidly obese & I couldn't even make him understand. They both say, that I'm obcessive about food....when you can't eat, you're going to do something else. Your life works, why do you want to change it? My response...."because I believe with all my heart this is the tool I need to change my long time bad habits." There is nothing else I can say to them. But...I agree, O is definately one sided on this subject.

That said, I did a thread search on "obcessive behavior" and did find a few threads to read through.

Thanks everyone. I enjoy this connection with you.

Carol

[DynamoMini 1]

Hi Everyone,

Yes to mind hunger being a trigger. I am changing, not quickly, but changing, nevertheless, a lifetime pattern of stuffing, then starving to "make up" for the guilt of stuffing. My eating has never been normal. My thoughts about food have never been normal. It is my challenge to address my eating behaviors. Currently, I am logging my food, and trying to go with five - 300 calorie or less feedings (three meals with two snacks). I eat much more Protein, shy away from, but still crave carbs and chocolate. Yes, I can use substitutes. No, even though I feel full after 3 oz of chicken, it isn't the same chemical rush that I used to experience with high carb and fat foods. So be it. I am sad that my life has changed by missing the rush or sugar high, but so happy to be living a more realistic and healthy way. I deserve a healthy life. We all do.

Hugs I love being connected to all of you,

Michelle