Julie norton

Welcome to the other side ! I wish you good luck. Please keep us updated. I find this to be a very caring and informative community... But always take your doctors advice over ours!

You look like a much healthier version of yourself. Way to go! You must feel so much better daily.

Just know we are a caring group and support each other. I say yes on the counseling and yes on the drugs. You truly need to sleep or you will have serious mental (and health) Issues. There are things that can settle your mind and body while you take a chance to regroup yourself. Please stay as healthy as you can[emoji171]

Thanks for sharing the thread. I also have a difficult time with stress lately Sometimes I'm a bit dizzy because I have forgotten to eat enough. It just gnaws at my stomach. Literally. I'm upset a lot and that is not good. I'm trying to have faith but it wears thin after a bit. Losing my long time husband and my father in the past 2 years, and now my business of 20+ years is changing. A family member is being greedy.... Need I say more? I cry more than I want to. My mind replays scenarios. The only time I'm better is the hour or so I work out. Then it's back to my grinding stomach. Sorry , don't have a solution.... Except a xanex perhaps

I think it is expensive for very minimal results from what I have seen. I believe plastic surgery is the only way to actually remove extra skin... And they may do some Lipo with it for more results.

I echo to check with your doc. I also say keep fluids up and protein. My trick was to drink pedialyte when I got the flu and was down for a few days. I mixed it with water and stayed hydrated... The almost fainting spells were enough to convince me to lay low.... I'm quick to sit these days at first sign of lite headedness. Best of luck

It is such a personal decision. I had one in college and one in high school and I did not tell them. As time went on, they know that I ate very little but always joined them for family meals. We are a close family but I saw no reason to share outpatient surgery with them. It all worked out and no one had to worry unnecessarily.

Please read some of the veterans posts. They have done their program for years and many are very content to keep off so much weight for so long. As never before.truly! They work at it and TRY daily to do their best. Nothing is perfect and some do not reach "goal" but are happy to keep off X pounds for many years. ( that would include me, headed for 10 years and thrilled to be my high school weight.) still maintaining my loss . Do I have brief regains? Yes Do I continue with protein, water and exercise? Every damn week I do all those. Do I have loss when on track ? Yes. I cannot worry about other studies... I'm busy conducting my life in the healthiest manner I know how. Keep trying. It is so worth it! The alternative is living life as a very fat 61 year old, and I'm not doing that.

These stories ring a bell for me. Amazing how life, jobs, kids, yucky marriages, end up with poundage on our bodies. I'm just so glad to be done with the part of that cycle of useless dieting and gaining And now feel (fairly ) successful with living at a decent weight. 27 bmi. Perfect? It is for me, not by some outdated charts. I'm thrilled to live fairly easily at this size and weight and my clothes in my closet fit for once ( instead of range of sizes before) I get after all these years I won't be a size 8 ever and I'm ok with 10-12. I am just making peace with what I have and going on. I don't want to ever feel that struggle of not feeling "good enough" Someone quoted living your "best "life ... One you are happy with and can maintain. Apparently this is where my body will be Thank you WLS

Everyone's doctor and program differs. My doc says 1 gram of protein for every inch you are tall as a minimum. So for example, I'm 5'7". So my protein minimum is set at 67 grams a day. Mostly I'm ok with that. I still have to remind myself not to sit down without water next to me ... And it has been years. I just try everyday.... Really, it's the best any of us can do.... Try!

Thanks. The unfill was successful. I am attempting to not awaken the hunger monster. Just to go on sensibly. Glad I have better nutrition though. That was making me foggy brained after a hard 2 weeks! I really feel better .... Thanks for the well wishes Trying to keep this low point in my weight loss. Lowest in 9 years.... Who woulda thunk? Expecting some rebound, but trying hard to eat normally light

Keep going indeed! This can be an opportunity to stop the on- off dieting and calmly eat well and work your program for a long time... A lifetime if we are so fortunate ! That is the difference to me of WLS vs short term programs. I did this 9 years ago to truly change my life and I'm determined to keep at it. Never perfect. Yet nothing truly is. Just keep trying and the months and years go by. Maintaining and happy and healthy. Hope we all can be

Best of luck! Please take it very gently the first week. It is a bit painful for many, but rest assured it looks and feels good for a long time. Keep posting. I want to know how it is going (when you are up to it). The hard part is over IMO [emoji171]

I second the thought that there is some money involved for exposing their personal life on TV. The move, the apartment, and fairly new vehicles makes me think the production company makes some offer to the participants. The surgery alone is a big cost, and I do not hear insurance woes or details. I was glad to see protein and diet come up, as well as mobility . Those seem to be very important to WLS imho . I watch and there is always something I can relate to!

Really liked this thread! I'm with you Ann... I learn new things all the time... And years out, I find it hard to believe we are all " perfect".... I am happy to say the trips are not so hard these days... And I get up and brush myself off and continue my lifestyle. That's what I take away from all this... Just keep going. Doing the best you can. Know that we all have our great days and not so great days. Perfectly imperfect is what a smart man told me.

I could not have KEPT my weight off without WLS . I could lose it , but it always found me again. I tried for My adult life to succeed.... Felt like a failure. Now going on 9+ years and I would do it again hands down. Everyone needs to make their own decisions, but it would appear you have a golden opportunity to change your size and life.

Wow James. What a difference Hope some other 60s post some pictures!!! Please

Wow. Great job! Enjoy your new life.

So glad I changed my life!!!

We are still here JWMe. This forum is one constant in my life. Let us know how it is going. I care! My band has a mind of its own and has decided it is too tight.... Tried liquids, yogurt, resetting. No go Although I love being in my smallest size pants, it appears an unfill is due and that means more pounds. However it also means not being fearful food won't agree with me.. HAPPY MOTHERS DAY. To each of us. Kids ,dogs ,cats whatever depends on you... It is a special day. Hope you enjoy it. For me. All I want is an unfill weds.

Everyone has their own goal imho .... It could be high school weight... Or just that " I feel normal now" weight. I believe it is whatever you want your image to be in this world. Hopefully it is healthy for your body size. It seems to me to also be dependent on where you started... 200+ start is different from 300+ start and also there are those that start at 400+ all those factors mean to me that we each have a goal to be comfortable in this world in our own skin!

For me personally, I am in maintenance for many years and eat around 1000-1300 calories per day. Some days are a bit lighter. I'm just not really hungry some days, but I do still drink protein drinks. And I do have all sorts of high protein energy bars as an added way to get to my 67 grams of protein. It is water I fall short on sometimes. Every day I try! Some days my band is fussy and I need to let it settle down .... If I eat slowly and small, I'm usually good for the day.

Congrats! What a great feeling. I currently fit in my very smallest pair of pants and it is exciting! When I look at them off of me, I'm still surprised that they actually would fit me. This is from a many moon veteran, Some months( or years) are leaner than others. So thankful for my band. Changed the trajectory of my life.

Thank you for passing along an informative article. I am always curious about long term weight loss. I will be celebrating 10 years post op with my lap band later this year. I find it takes regular dr visits with my bariatric dr, Compliance with my high protein diet and regular work outs to stay the course . I'm wondering about rmr Also. It would appear that 1000-1300 calories a day is my zone to maintain. I don't believe I could adhere to this without my band. I would love to hear from others experiencing years post op.

Thanks for the info! I have been wondering for years why there are so few " where are they now" stories from TBL. (I wondered if they signed privacy contracts) I'm grateful to have WLS as I would be slowly regaining using any other weight loss program.... And probably blaming my willpower. ... WRONG...now I understand in a better way how come diet programs truly do not work long term for about 95% of people. Thanks again... Information is power in my world. FYI. My doctor reported my brm at 1300 calories/ day.