Hey 50 & over gang We have a new spot

[lynlynkr 0]

Elayne, do you still have suicidial thoughts?

[phyllser 3]

I see the challenges and work you people are meeting.

My own weight loss goal seems so small in comparison.

I hope that I can match your spirit and "can do" attitude.

I've been battling this for close to 19 years after gaining 80 pounds in 1 year. The weight leveled off at 220 and stayed - never growing, never waning.

Each year I become more withdrawn and more unhealthy.

My beautiful children have grown up into wonderful people and I just Can't conquer my 0 self-esteem, humiliation, and all the other things that go with obesity.

Counselling, friendship, scolding, logic, bike-riding, dog-walking, the Bean, Total Gym, Pilates Performer . . ad nauseum.

Diabetes II, arthritic knees, sleep apnea, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, bone loss, suicidal thoughts - I'm sure you've all heard it all.

But finally - a catalyst that beats them all -

My eyesight is at risk.

:cool:

Now I'm MAD!

Good and mad!

and that's GOOD!

You obviously have the determination and the motivation do do this. You're going to be crossing those things I put in red up there off that list one by one!! I promise! I've eliminated one cholesterol med and one of my two BP meds is now half the strength it was. I hope to get off the CPAP machine eventually, and get my knees fixed! Then I'll race ya!!

Elayne: You are doing all the right stuff and time will fly for you once you get your date. I love your weight loss ticker!

Phyllser: You are helpful and inspirational....thank you for your great posts!

To everyone: this is my best support group; I get online before school and after I get home every day. I love reading all your posts, sharing in your successes, commiserating with your challenges (we all seem to go through similar things, don't we?), and absorbing all the great information you all impart.

I've been going out with friends a lot lately. I never knew I loved broiled fish this much. Now if only the scale continues to go down....

Nancy

Thank you, Nancy! You're so sweet for saying that.

I have grown to love fish so much that sometimes I eat it three times a day!! I had baked halibut for dinner. It was sooo good! Wish I could join you all in FL!! DH & I have a very favorite fish place in Palm Springs when we go south for the winter!

[Elayne 0]

Elayne, do you still have suicidial thoughts?

I'm Bipolar and have been going for the combination psychiatrist/therapist sessions for years and years - even before this 80 pound gain.

I'm on meds and the "thoughts" are unfortunately part of the territory.

(workin' on it - still workin' on it)

[Great2BThin 5]

Good evening. Well.....I got my bike today!!! I opted for a cheaper one at Walmart, it's still a Schwinn and very much like the one I liked at costco, but I wanted to be sure I liked it and would use it a lot before I invested too much money. My son works there and even bought it for me, good thing as he busted up his old bike we had here. DH & I were going to ride together but now we are back down to one bike. He may still get one though, he told me to check some garage sales even tomorrow.

Well I sure need that fill on Monday. Either that or I am having real head hunger issues or a combination of both. I ate 1 1/2 Cookies today!! GRRR I don't even care that much for them. It's taking more to get me full and I find myself thinking of food all the time. I have hardly given it a second thought til now. Not sure what's going on. I hope the fill helps.

I heard from a friend today who had bypass surgery last Nov. she had said she'd never do a band because you lose faster with bypass and didn't want anything foriegn in her body. She's down 64 lbs and hasn't lost for 10 weeks and is beginning to eat 'normally' already. I'm down 40, banded only 5 weeks and can get a fill as I can eat 'normallly' so it just reinforced that I did choose the right surgery for myself. She has started working out and going to support groups so I hope we can encourage each other on.

[carolynfletcher 0]

Where does everyone get those cute ticker trackers?

[phyllser 3]

Where does everyone get those cute ticker trackers?

tickerfactory.com

There is a tutorial with pictures, but I can never find it when I want to reference it to someone!

[carolynfletcher 0]

Thank you. I will give it a try

[carolynfletcher 0]

ok I have the ticker tracker, now i have another dumb question how do i put it on my page??????????

[phyllser 3]

ok I have the ticker tracker, now i have another dumb question how do i put it on my page??????????

First, on the ticker site, right click to "copy" the bbc code.

Okay.... on the thin blue bar above, click on Quick Links. Then scroll down to "edit Signature". A box will pop up where you can format a signature that will show up on every post. "Paste" the bbc code in that box and add anything else you want to add.

[Charlene K 1]

Good evening. Well.....I got my bike today!!! I opted for a cheaper one at Walmart, it's still a Schwinn and very much like the one I liked at costco, but I wanted to be sure I liked it and would use it a lot before I invested too much money. My son works there and even bought it for me, good thing as he busted up his old bike we had here. DH & I were going to ride together but now we are back down to one bike. He may still get one though, he told me to check some garage sales even tomorrow.

Well I sure need that fill on Monday. Either that or I am having real head hunger issues or a combination of both. I ate 1 1/2 Cookies today!! GRRR I don't even care that much for them. It's taking more to get me full and I find myself thinking of food all the time. I have hardly given it a second thought til now. Not sure what's going on. I hope the fill helps.

I heard from a friend today who had bypass surgery last Nov. she had said she'd never do a band because you lose faster with bypass and didn't want anything foriegn in her body. She's down 64 lbs and hasn't lost for 10 weeks and is beginning to eat 'normally' already. I'm down 40, banded only 5 weeks and can get a fill as I can eat 'normallly' so it just reinforced that I did choose the right surgery for myself. She has started working out and going to support groups so I hope we can encourage each other on.

Glad you found a bike that will work for you. CONGRATS! on losing to the 40 mark. One of my best friends is also having bypass while I have lap-band. I am confident I made the right chose for me. I hope to be able to say I have dropped 40 after 5 weeks.....quite an accomplishment! Keep on keeping on!

[Skinny Grandma 0]

Hi,

I am hoping to turn into a skinny Grandma. I had lapband surgery yesterday. I am having pain today when I get up off a chair or bed and when I change position. I have no pain when standing up or walking. Is this the gas pains they talk about? If so what's best for relief. I tried Tums with no results. Thanks

[Lizalee 1]

HI

I was talking to somebody in my office -- I've finally told them about my band, since everybody was thinking it anyway I learned -- and her husband is thinking of bypass. I told her about the band, but her mother had bypass 8 yrs ago without complications and has done well, so they want to go that route, although they do plan to ask the doctor about both procedures.

Anyway, she said that her reading into both procedures showed that the Lap band "doesn't work forever, like a bypass."

Just wondering, have you heard that? It almost sounded like after a while she thinks you take them out....??? The studies I've heard is that when you compare long term weight loss over several years, the Lap band is only a 5 - 6% less total weight loss than the bypass....but those statistics - if I'm remembering correct - go out maybe 5 years?? In the end, he will choose the procedure that fits his needs and lifestyle - so it doesn't matter - but I was just curious on what you all know!

Thanks!

[Great2BThin 5]

HI

I was talking to somebody in my office -- I've finally told them about my band, since everybody was thinking it anyway I learned -- and her husband is thinking of bypass. I told her about the band, but her mother had bypass 8 yrs ago without complications and has done well, so they want to go that route, although they do plan to ask the doctor about both procedures.

Anyway, she said that her reading into both procedures showed that the Lap band "doesn't work forever, like a bypass."

Just wondering, have you heard that? It almost sounded like after a while she thinks you take them out....??? The studies I've heard is that when you compare long term weight loss over several years, the Lap band is only a 5 - 6% less total weight loss than the bypass....but those statistics - if I'm remembering correct - go out maybe 5 years?? In the end, he will choose the procedure that fits his needs and lifestyle - so it doesn't matter - but I was just curious on what you all know!

Thanks!

Lizalee, the study my surgeon showed (he performs both procedures so I wouldn't think would have a bias) showed that after 2 or 3 years both procedures were equal in weight loss, bypass had a quicker loss in the beginning. And I thought then later on the band was more effective as you could always keep restriction, bypasses often stretch it back out. But not sure on that second part. Anyway I never heard that bypass was 'forever' vs the band. Personally I think either procedure is fine and whatever is going to work best for a person is the best one. Though there are a lot of bias' out there about one vs the other.

[debsta 0]

and it's so GREAT to see that there is a place to go and talk to "fellow-bandees". After reading some of the postings, I have a question........

what does PB stand for? I'm guessin it has to do with regurgitation, but have never heard the term before.

I am so excited to begin this awesome journey. At 57 years old, I have yo-yo'd with my weight all of my life. Now, I am looking forward to much better health and longer life with the lap-band. It's going to be a whole new way of life for me!!

Please say a prayer and wish me good luck, too! Thank you!!:cool:

[Charlene K 1]

Lizalee, the study my surgeon showed (he performs both procedures so I wouldn't think would have a bias) showed that after 2 or 3 years both procedures were equal in weight loss, bypass had a quicker loss in the beginning. And I thought then later on the band was more effective as you could always keep restriction, bypasses often stretch it back out. But not sure on that second part. Anyway I never heard that bypass was 'forever' vs the band. Personally I think either procedure is fine and whatever is going to work best for a person is the best one. Though there are a lot of bias' out there about one vs the other.

My son had lap-band and my daughter in-law had gastric bypass. They both lost 120lbs in a year. My son quit getting fills and gained half of his weight back and my daughter -in-law has maintained her loss. The difference I see is with lap-band you have to maintain it with fills. Both required eating right and exercising. They are both tools.....one is more permanent than the other. I personally don't like the risk of losing so many nutrients with bypass. I am too old to suffer bone loss or memory loss. I don't know what the stats are on that.....it is just how I feel about it. So, on Wednesday I will get my band.