Hey 50 & over gang We have a new spot

[Elayne 0]

A week tomorrow!

And travelling deeper into one-derland

My highest pregnancy weight was 182 -

Gee I wish I were that "skinny" again.

[lynnt1215 1]

Sorry to be absent so long, I had emergency surgery on March 13th for a ruptured appendix and the recovery has been long and slow. My band surgeon did the honors (he also does general surgery). He told me a lap appy usually takes him 20 minutes, mine took three hours to "dig it all out." Followed by massive amounts of antibiotics in and out of the hospital. I asked for and got a hefty unfill at my postop visit as I could barely eat. I still tire very easily and have to be careful not to overdo it.

I can't go back and read all I missed. Has anyone heard from Katydid?

Sorry to hear about your ordeal, very glad to see you are on the mend.

by the way, love your new pic :smile2:

[Katydid 0]

Sorry to be absent so long, I had emergency surgery on March 13th for a ruptured appendix and the recovery has been long and slow. My band surgeon did the honors (he also does general surgery). He told me a lap appy usually takes him 20 minutes, mine took three hours to "dig it all out." Followed by massive amounts of antibiotics in and out of the hospital. I asked for and got a hefty unfill at my postop visit as I could barely eat. I still tire very easily and have to be careful not to overdo it.

I can't go back and read all I missed. Has anyone heard from Katydid?

Hi Orea15,

Thanks for asking about me. I'm back on deck but unfortunately still having problems. I go for blood drainage under a scan at the hospital in the morning. I'm hoping that will get rid of the painful stabbings and the soreness.

My goodness, you've had a rough trot too. Thank heavens you have a good surgeon taking care of you. I think it's harder to handle pain as we age, (me anyway). The tiredness takes a long time to go. I'm ready and waiting for the burst of energy to appear.

Best wishes,

[deedee16117 0]

Help!

Is it possible to not eat enough? I have been at the same weight for three months now. I have had three fills and the last one in December was a rough one, but now it seems to have eased up and I have been able to eat. No weight loss though. I was in for a checkup in March and my doctor wasn't happy with the three pounds in three months that I lost at that time. He said that he feels I am too tight because I am finding it easier to eat everything but hard Protein. I can eat it but actually lose interest in it. I am not and never have been a big meat eater so it's not that appealing to me. Seafood is out because I am allergic to it. We have been doing this "biggest loser" contest at work and since it started 7 weeks ago, I am the only one not losing - it's either up or I stay the same each week. Those around me think that I am not taking in enough calories. I pulled out my old WW book today and checked out the points and have journaled what I will eat today. I admit that I am not good at keeping a journal of my food, even though everyone says it is very important. I will continue to see how that goes. I have increased my exercise to the point where I feel I am doing all that I can do but something is holding me at this weight and I just don't know what it could be. I am starting to get sooo frustrated. This is how it used to be when I dieted before the band. I don't want to regret this move. I know it's a tool and I am really working with it but not getting very far. I was banded 8/25/08 and only lost about 40 lbs. (none of that lately). Any suggestions please????

Sandi

[orea15 0]

Katy, I'm so glad you made it through your surgery. Yes, we both had quite a time of it. I still have pain in the appendectomy area. I hope it goes away soon.

On the bright side, I actually cooked today for the first time in about a month. Progress.

[Great2BThin 5]

Help!

Is it possible to not eat enough? I have been at the same weight for three months now. I have had three fills and the last one in December was a rough one, but now it seems to have eased up and I have been able to eat. No weight loss though. I was in for a checkup in March and my doctor wasn't happy with the three pounds in three months that I lost at that time. He said that he feels I am too tight because I am finding it easier to eat everything but hard Protein. I can eat it but actually lose interest in it. I am not and never have been a big meat eater so it's not that appealing to me. Seafood is out because I am allergic to it. We have been doing this "biggest loser" contest at work and since it started 7 weeks ago, I am the only one not losing - it's either up or I stay the same each week. Those around me think that I am not taking in enough calories. I pulled out my old WW book today and checked out the points and have journaled what I will eat today. I admit that I am not good at keeping a journal of my food, even though everyone says it is very important. I will continue to see how that goes. I have increased my exercise to the point where I feel I am doing all that I can do but something is holding me at this weight and I just don't know what it could be. I am starting to get sooo frustrated. This is how it used to be when I dieted before the band. I don't want to regret this move. I know it's a tool and I am really working with it but not getting very far. I was banded 8/25/08 and only lost about 40 lbs. (none of that lately). Any suggestions please????

Sandi

Well, what are you eating? Since your band is tight and you don't tolerate hard Proteins good, it sounds like you could be too tight. Are you compensating by eating lots of slider foods? Sliders are things that go easiely down the band but don't keep us full for long. It's very easy to take in too many calories that way. Unfortunately things like ice cream, Cookies, chips, etc. are all sliders and go down the band real easy. Have you ever tracked on a website like www.mydailyplate.com? I have used it a lot and it calculates your calories and protein grams, why don't you give it a try to be sure you are getting in enough protein, etc? Are you exercising? Are you drinking with meals? Are you eating more than 1/2 to 1 cup at a time?

[Apples2 19]

Orea...sorry to hear of your troubles. Happy to hear you are back home and recovering.

Katy...hope you get that spurt of energy soon. You deserve some normalcy in your life for once.

[Oregondaisy 2,021]

Hi Orea and Katy, I am glad to hear from both of you!

I hope you are both feeling much better soon.

Dee Dee, Long has given you good advice. You do need Protein to lose weight, and white carbs will slow down the weight loss. Things like noodles, potatoes, rice, etc will stall weight loss.

There is a slow loser thread where you could get some ideas, but you do need to eat hard protein which will

keep you full longer and not eat in between meals, plus exercise!

[deedee16117 0]

Well, what are you eating? Since your band is tight and you don't tolerate hard Proteins good, it sounds like you could be too tight. Are you compensating by eating lots of slider foods? Sliders are things that go easiely down the band but don't keep us full for long. It's very easy to take in too many calories that way. Unfortunately things like ice cream, Cookies, chips, etc. are all sliders and go down the band real easy. Have you ever tracked on a website like www.mydailyplate.com? I have used it a lot and it calculates your calories and Protein grams, why don't you give it a try to be sure you are getting in enough protein, etc? Are you exercising? Are you drinking with meals? Are you eating more than 1/2 to 1 cup at a time?

Thanks Long

I haven't been eating slider foods. Breakfast is usually scrambled eggs or oatmeal. lunch is a salad with some chicken in it or a baked yam w/sugar free Syrup and cinnamon, an apple, a few rice cakes at night as a treat with a little Peanut Butter. dinner is usually chicken or a steak with vegs and salad. Sometimes a sugar free pudding or some almonds, that I bake in the oven with splenda and cinnamon (gives them a nice taste) That's pretty much what I eat - I might mix it up a little but that's it! Instead of oatmeal sometimes I have cream of wheat - that also could be my dinner at times too depending on the day that I have had. It seems like the episodes of getting foods stuck are getting fewer and fewer but still no weight loss. My choices are somewhat limited but that's OK because I used to eat those same foods but just added a lot of junk with it. Oh, sometimes I will have Pasta for dinner but it is always wheat pasta, which I have been eating for years since being diagnosed with diabetes. I really don't think that I am eating too much of the wrong things but the weight just hasn't been coming off. I did keep a journal today using the old WW points criteria and got to my point range with dinner with maybe a few left for an apple or pudding this evening. What am I missing?

Thanks

Sandi

[Oregondaisy 2,021]

Are you exercising? Most of us in our 50's have to exercise to lose. Our metabolism slows down.

[dixiedoo 0]

I am sorry to be a bit graphic here, and this is not weight related, but I wanted to warn those of you who have pets. Please, please,please DO NOT LEAVE YOUR PAPER SHREDDER ON THE AUTOMATIC STARTER. I work at a vets office and have just seen pics of a dogs tongue that had been shredded in the paper shredder - very upsetting. :eek: The dog was sedated and his poor tongue repaired, but let me tell you, you do not want this to happen! Only turn your shredder on when you use it, then turn it off. Think about how easily this could happen with a curious pet - this dog was a lab and we all know how hyper and curious they are. Anyway, just passing this on..(have posted in powder room also.)

[deedee16117 0]

Are you exercising? Most of us in our 50's have to exercise to lose. Our metabolism slows down.

Yes walk on the treadmill in the morning 2 miles at least - if weather is nice at lunchtime we walk another mile or so and if the weather isn't nice (I live in Pittsburgh and it's always a gamble about the weather) a couple of us do a walking tape at work and then again when weather is OK I will take the dogs for a walk after dinner. I think I have been doing the right things but I will continue journaling and see if I can discover anything strange but I'm thinking maybe the doc is right and I just can't eat enough but I am eating and I am not hungry. I actually think I am at the "sweet spot" just not so sweet waiting for that scale to change. A little frustrated for sure.

Thanks

Sandi

[orea15 0]

I'm no specialist, but I would journal every bite to see if too much is getting through, and I would try changing my diet to mostly lean Protein and produce. My body is extremely efficient at turning most "pure" carbs to fat. And maybe change up your exercise routine? Try some more aerobic stuff, or something that will build muscle.

Good luck!

[grandmax19 0]

Indiogirl - You look fabulous! What an inspiration!

My weight loss has slowed down to a crawl - 1/2 to 1 pound a week. It fluctuates up and down constantly, which drives me crazy. In 4 months, I have lost 25 pounds. I certainly expected it to be a lot quicker, and I didn't expect to still be hungry. I somehow missed the information that until you hit that sweet spot, you are still dealing with your same appetite. I am not there yet, despite 4 fills. I have 1.9 cc in a 4 cc band. Despite the doctor telling me that I'm restricted, I am not. I had restriction the first 4 week post-op, and I couldn't eat much. Now, I can almost eat what I did before.

You've encouraged me. I'm going to do better with keeping my food diary, and I'm going back to the doctor in 2 weeks for another fill.

[IndioGirl55 32]

Help!

Is it possible to not eat enough? I have been at the same weight for three months now. I have had three fills and the last one in December was a rough one, but now it seems to have eased up and I have been able to eat. No weight loss though. I was in for a checkup in March and my doctor wasn't happy with the three pounds in three months that I lost at that time. He said that he feels I am too tight because I am finding it easier to eat everything but hard Protein. I can eat it but actually lose interest in it. I am not and never have been a big meat eater so it's not that appealing to me. Seafood is out because I am allergic to it. We have been doing this "biggest loser" contest at work and since it started 7 weeks ago, I am the only one not losing - it's either up or I stay the same each week. Those around me think that I am not taking in enough calories. I pulled out my old WW book today and checked out the points and have journaled what I will eat today. I admit that I am not good at keeping a journal of my food, even though everyone says it is very important. I will continue to see how that goes. I have increased my exercise to the point where I feel I am doing all that I can do but something is holding me at this weight and I just don't know what it could be. I am starting to get sooo frustrated. This is how it used to be when I dieted before the band. I don't want to regret this move. I know it's a tool and I am really working with it but not getting very far. I was banded 8/25/08 and only lost about 40 lbs. (none of that lately). Any suggestions please????

Sandi

Sandi Yes it's possible to not eat enough - During my weight loss phase I ate 800-1200 calories and varied them - I track my food religiously !!! You say what you are eating but not how much - or how may calories you are consuming a day - Kick up the exercise either length of time or intensity - I did that also every few weeks increase my speed - incline and length of time that I would work out - when you weigh 200 you burn like 300 calories walking 2 miles at 3.0 speed and no incline - but when when you weight 138 and walk 3 mile on a 4 incline you burn maybe 280 calories.. (not exact just example of why you have to up your exercise)

Katy, I'm so glad you made it through your surgery. Yes, we both had quite a time of it. I still have pain in the appendectomy area. I hope it goes away soon.

On the bright side, I actually cooked today for the first time in about a month. Progress.

Orea - Hugs GF glad you are on the mend...

Indiogirl - You look fabulous! What an inspiration!

My weight loss has slowed down to a crawl - 1/2 to 1 pound a week. It fluctuates up and down constantly, which drives me crazy. In 4 months, I have lost 25 pounds. I certainly expected it to be a lot quicker, and I didn't expect to still be hungry. I somehow missed the information that until you hit that sweet spot, you are still dealing with your same appetite. I am not there yet, despite 4 fills. I have 1.9 cc in a 4 cc band. Despite the doctor telling me that I'm restricted, I am not. I had restriction the first 4 week post-op, and I couldn't eat much. Now, I can almost eat what I did before.

You've encouraged me. I'm going to do better with keeping my food diary, and I'm going back to the doctor in 2 weeks for another fill.

Grandmax19

Thanks I feel great...

I am at my sweet spot and have been since 1/08 and haven't had a fill since then. I still deal with hunger everyday - I don't find that the band takes away my hunger - and it does nothing for my head hunger issues.

What are you eating?? Last night for example I had 3 oz of steak - then yellow crooked neck squash and rice - I was still hungry after I ate my dinner - but it really was head hunger and wanting the taste of the food - as I was putting the leftovers up I kept eating the squash - it tasted so good.

I am a big big advocate of tracking - I did it for a solid year and exercise is key too. Also varying your calories - cuz not matter what - weight loss is all about calories in vs calories burned.

And your weight loss is not at a crawl either - I had weeks that I only lost 1/2 a lbs - but what counts is the average - it all adds up.. 25/5 = 6.25 a month which is very good - the average weight loss for a bander is 1 or 2 lbs a week so you are doing great - give your self credit

Positive affirmations !!!!