FinallyFit50s

I need advice! I went to see the plastic surgeon on Wednesday for consult on TT, thigh lift and breast lift. At my consult we discussed everything, brachioplasty, 360 lift, etc., spending almost an hour with pictures, and questions answered. Getting a breast lift would have to be done later and I'm not too concerned with my arms at this time. I have Hidradenitis Suppurativa, sweat gland abscesses on my upper thighs, groin and under my arms. Had them so long that I just deal with them unless they get too infected and I need to go on antibiotics. I also had twins by c-section with a vertical scar, so my stomach looks like a front-butt. I was surprised to hear back from the surgeon on Friday with some news on insurance. He had submitted paperwork for another patient with similar condition to the same insurance company. The good: Due to the severity of my hidradenitus, my insurance should cover plastics to removie the areas affected. They will also cover a panniculectomy. The not-as-good: Being covered by insurance, I cannot get a full thigh lift, nor can I get a TT with abdominal placating. By using insurance, I cannot do these add-ons and would need to do additional surgeries. Both surgeries would take care of the major problem, and not the full aesthetic. I'm thankful for having insurance that covered my wls and now will cover some plastics. My question, has anyone else gone this route with a panniculectomy? How pleased were you with the result?

I like the Quest cheese protein chips. I eating a bag of the sour cream and onion flavor. Not bad. Only need half the by to satisfy my crunch need. S for the price, they are cheaper on Amazon, as are most Quest products.

@@Dee951 I think @@reallyrosy has a point. Is your goal weight one that your surgeon gave you, or you yourself? On another topic, one woman took a year and a half to reach her goal. She had a bunch of stalls but kept at it. I know that I get caught up reading the ticker tapes with folks that lose all their weight...sometimes a 100+ pounds in under a year. My goal weight is 148, my surgeon thought 150. I have been 161 since last November and held fairly stable. My surgeon now believes I am at my correct weight. For now, I will just work on staying at this weight. But I really would "like" to get under 148. The main thing is that I feel fabulous! I'm able to go up and down the stairs without stopping and all of my comorbiditities have corrects themselves. One day at a time.

I also bring ziplock bags of varying sizes. The snack size are perfect for packing Protein powder and nuts. The quart size are great for left overs to munch on cold, and the gallon size are great for things that get messy and you don't want them ruining your stuff. @@Athenyx I'll be taking a couple of days for myself. I like driving around and being alone. It gives me time to think and explore at my own pace. If I feel like hitting a flea market or staying all day in a museum, I can in peace.

@@OutsideMatchInside So true with the vulgarities! @@CowgirlJane I get THE biggest kick out of your adventures! What sites are you using? I'm on POF, and was thinking of trying Our Time...see if that helps me get away from the 50+ set that want 35yo or have babies themselves...meanwhile... My gf had gastric bypass yesterday in upstate NY, I'm going this weekend to keep her company. While I'm there I'm going to work on my POF guys. I have responded to a few, but haven't really been making an effort. Think it's time. The dating exploits I've read in here make me want to go out and experience the fun

http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/southwest_quinoa_cakes.html The link did not work...hope this is it????

@@Athenyx I flew from NY to Beijing via San Francisco 8 weeks after my sleeve surgery with my mom and sister who only knew I had my hernia repaired. I wore compression hose, and tried to get up at least every couple of hours. I also did some leg excercises in my seat. Per my surgeon, I also took a coated aspirin tablet. As for food, I packed Protein shakes, Protein Bars, nuts and GenPro-unflavored protein powder that I could add to any drink. One tablespoon has 30 grams of protein. Although I suggest unless it is a thicker type of food/drink, to only use a teaspoon at a time. I also bring an empty Water bottle, I have a Brita one with a filter, you can get water from the drinking fountains, soda machines or some airports have the filtered water bottle fillers. My last trip I was able to fill it a few times as the flight attendants came by with water, so I was good between flights. Good luck with your trip. I'm going to AZ next month for a few weeks to visit friends and do some exploring. I love to just drive and find new places...

@@salmon77 As someone who has dealt with this issue and broke the cycle with my own daughter, I'll put in my two cents worth. SELF-CARE. By that I mean that you will need to do what is right for you. Be it by having some distance from your mother, seeking therapy (professional or girlfriends) or having a discussion with her. You need to decide what is right for you, and that is to also be willing to know that whatever you do decide to do, you feel comfortable with. For me, there was and is no use in trying to discuss things that have hurt me with my mother. I have explained things until I was blue in the face to no avail. Actually at one point, she made me feel like it was my imagination!!!! What I have done is to learn to love my mother AS SHE IS. That means that when she brought up my weight or body, I would change the subject EVERY time. I will not debate, argue, agree or anything. I will simply discuss something else as if my mother had never mentioned anything. My mother does not "know" about my surgery, I feel she suspects it, but I won't discuss it. It took me years to realize that the mother I wanted, yearned and dreamed of was NEVER GOING TO BE. I'm 51 and my mom is 71, while my weight was always in the forefront, as a teenager, and into adulthood, it isn't any longer. I realize now that I'm blessed to still have my mom. My mom is proud of me for so many of my other accomplishments. As for my body...it's mine, and not up for discussion. I pray you find a peace for yourself and in your dealings with your mother.

I am sooooo following this thread!!!! First off, thanks for all the great advice. I'm 51 and have been planning on a TT since I had my third child at age 22, and she was born 15 months after having twins. I'm meeting with the plastic surgeon this Wednesday. I've been watching videos, looking at magazines and researching all this for almost three decades. I originally only wanted the TT, but now that I too have the deflated fun-bags, we shall see what the surgeon has to say. I already love my body shape, have realistic goals and am so excited to start this next process. Good luck!!!!!

Twinings has a Girl Scout cookie tea...just saying...(I'm hibernating....told daughter if she brings them here...!!!)

@jaimielogical You look fabulous!!! @@Rvamom I'm one year post op and this was the best thing I ever did. I researched wls for YEARS. I believed that I wasn't "fat" enough, or that if I tried ONE more time, I could do it myself. I did Weight Watchers, Nutrisystem, liquid diets, low carb, high protein and a bunch of fad diets. I found myself losing weight at first then putting not only the original weight, but 5-10 pounds more each time. When I decided to go through the process, I had emailed a gf about my decision to go through with it. She said she couldn't imagine going through it, you guessed it. After seein how well I've done (and spending vacations with me witnessing my eating), she's having surgery on Thursday. I resent her the original email last week, how a year makes a difference! Good luck with however you decide. Research...get informed. Have questions ready.

I used Chia seeds to fortify my protein shakes, helps keep me full longer. Also, you can make a wonderful chia seed pudding that is filling and tasty. As for quinoa, Costco has a great quinoa and brown rice mix that is helahth, tasty and quick to make. Microwave the packet and it's done. Regular quinoa, I make in the rice cooker and use it as a cereal with applesauce. Apple pieces, or craisins. Delicious, filling and keeps you sated until lunch or for an afternoon snack.

Didn't even realize until I looked at the pic again, the brand is Explore Asian...

I too love sausage! I've had no problems with Pasta, bread, potatoes or rice. Before surgery, my NUT had me get black bean pasta from costco. It does NOT taste like pasta, but for some reason, I really enjoy the chewy texture. It has half a days worth of Fiber and lots of Protein. I top it with zucchini, chicken and yellow squash with a bit of butter and chicken stock. It's filling and gives me plenty of "chewing". Also from Costco, chicken, Apple and red pepper sausage. VERY GOOD! It has a lot of flavor and just enough zing!

After reading this, I was trying to figure out exactly what I eat in a day. I've been maintaining my weight for 4 months now and my surgeon feels that I'm where I should be for my frame and height. I don't count calories but try to keep my protein intake in mind when I eat. Im doing the March exercise challenge, so I'll be keeping a better count starting tomorrow. It'll be interesting to find out EXACTLY what I've been doing....

@ My best friend is the same height as youand having gastric bypass 3/3 in Buffalo, NY. I can't wait for her to join me on the "losing bench". I'm going to spend some time with her next weekend. I remember how much support I received from this online community and a friend I met it group. Good luck...counting down the days, I bet!!!

@@LisaGB Congratulations!!! Sounds like your life has really turned around in so many directions. Living in NY is great for the walking. Enjoy your new life and body!!!!

@@CowgirlJane (thanks for the compliment) and @@OutsideMatchInside -the laying down pic isn't one I use for online. My jerk guy story: I dated a guy for a few months. He will would call me all times of day and night, was great conversationalist. We'd get together for Breakfast or lunch mostly as my kids were still around. Had THE most romantic date of walking in the park one afternoon. I had this gut feeling that something just wasn't quite "right". I broke things off. A friend did some digging for me and compiled a dossier....this azz wipe's wife was a DOCTOR! She was in residency, so she work d all kinds of weird hours. And I used to go to his job and everything! What's makes this worse, my gf was dating this guy who KNEW all along that my azz wipe was married, and knew that if I knew I would not have dated him. Damn bro code...Worse, the azz wipe had started talking to another woman as things were winding down, and she Not only KNEW he was married, but also knew that I DIDN'T know! How screwed up is that? I worked with guys most of my adult life, I could get a read fairly quickly...this one was just too bizarre.

I was writing my last pages in a journal I started in Nov 2014 doing a recap of sorts. After doing a lot of thinking the last few days, I realized that you have to put some serious effort into online dating. I have a bunch of guys who have "liked" me...and a few emails. One thing that POF does that irks me, they now have it set that you have to have a subscription to see who likes you. But you get emails that state so-and-so likes you. So I decided that I am going to get a new notebook for dating. I'll write down the guys screen names from my email and look them each up. I'll add notes as I go along. Since I'm not even in my 40's any longer, I need to figure out more of what I'm looking for. So, I'll make myself take some time each day, or every other day and try this out. If I can play on FB for over an hour, why not look at profiles? Here are two selfies. The flower in hair one is a few years old, but I use it still. I like to have shots with my hair curly, straight, no make-up...etc. I haven't changed much, my face is thinner...but if people from high school come up to me out of the blue saying I look the exact same.... As for having others take my picture, I usually dislike how I look. I know that I take great shots for folks as they always end up using my pis for their FB and dating profiles...go figure.

@okpirate @@CowgirlJane You two slay me!!!! I dated a guy who was 10 years older and was a blast. He had the stamina for EVERYTHING! Too bad he was not in his "right" place for the relationship. @@OutsideMatchInside I dated a guy who was in his early 20's when I was in my late 30's. Have no idea what I was thinking. My parents would ask what I was packing for HIS school lunch when. I was making my kids lunches. Lol. I just don't know. I've been out of the dating game for over five years. I buried my head in getting my undergrad degree and grandchildren. I'm starting grad school in June. I'd like to get some dating fun in before the crazy summer begins. Right now it just seems like sooooo much work.

I definitely NEED to be in! TravelerCookie@gmail.com. 3x a week and 3 hours. Thank you! Weight 161, goal 1 pound a week.

I'd "like" to get married for the last time. However, being 51 with grown kids, and retired, puts me in a very weird category. I get guys over 60yo saying they are 40-something, 50-somethings with pre-teen children or the other 50-somethings that want 30yo's. Never mind the 40-somethings who haven't a clue. I'm active, reasonably attractive, love life and like to travel, why can't I find men that who take the time to make sure their profile shots don't resemble mugshots??? I deleted my Match profile. Still playing around with POF, and a friend site, and eHarmony netted me a big fat -0- and was a waste of money. My gf joined OurTime for the over 50-sect...thoughts?

Perhaps you need to UP your calorie count for awhile. Shake things up a bit. In a week I'll be one year out. I have warbling between 165-172 since last November weigh-in. I went to Las Vegas a week ago and didn't track anything. Came back home and started doing no sugar, or junk food etc. I also did not weigh myself when I came back until today. My weight today is down 10 pounds from the week before the trip. I have renewed energy and feel much better. I know I was obsessing over the numbers on the scale. Just a thought, talk to your NUT about it.

I am very excited for 2016. I was accepted to grad school for social work with the goal of being a therapist. It's more than a bit scary as I navigate how I will pay for this, How I will manage the heavy clinical load and my son getting married the first weekend after I start classes. I've decided that this is TOTALLY the year of me! I'm cleaning and clearing out the old and unhealthy...thoughts, things and people. I finally have a good group of supportive people in my life. I'm making better choices daily and intend to continue doing so. As for my personal life...I have dealt and understand the mistakes I've made in past relationships. I am ready and open to be back on the market. Bring it on!!!!

I LOVE my foodsaver its been a lifesaver with the left overs!