shortgal

Sorry Ladies, it appears all the best losers on this thread are MEN! Unfortunately, what they are sating is true for MEN. Lower calories, increase exercise, weight falls off. Not so true for women.... sigh.... Sorry to be the downer today. I have no restriction, I'm starving all the time and my daily calories have crept up to 1100 to 1200 this week. Unless I stay between 800 and 1000, weight does not come off me and I'm not confident the next fill will get me restriction! UGH... I'm in bandster hell!

Well, you've had great weight loss without doing pre-op. I was self pay, too!:angry

Easiest way I know is to drink the Ispopure CLEAR protein drink. Not a shake, it's clear. Not everyone likes it, but there are several flavors to choose from. Alpine punch, Apple melon and pineapple banana, blue raspberry, Grape, Orange. Really cold over ice was best for me. 40 grams of protein in one bottle, even just little sips all day and you'll get in a lot of protein. Don't want your hair to fall out, right?

INDIO: My next appt is for my third fill! The first one they told me it just "primes" the band and not to expect anything to happen/change and it didn't. Second fill, I was hopeful, but I can eat a lean cuisine and a yogurt and still be looking for more! Definitely, no restriction. I do have to eat more slowly of course and for those getting stuck, I've found that the first several bites are the most important to go slowly with and then everything else goes down a little easier. I know all things we get used to change at each fill and we have to re-adjust again. I was walking three miles a day about 4to 5 times weekly before the surgery, had the surgery and then it got cold here In the NE and I stopped. It should be mild tomorrow, so I do plan to walk. I'm pretty good ONCE i get into a routine, but in this weather, it's hard to predict the frequency I can get out. drosati1: Nice weight loss in a short time. Does that include a pre-op diet? I didn't have to do that and then I was grateful, but now I realize it would have been a nice head start. Oh well, can't look back, right. Our new over 50 thread has already taken off nicely!

Ok, so the original question was "how is weight loss for people over 50?' Right now for me the answer is "turtle like, slow". I'm at a stand still (yeah, I know that's better than gaining) have no restrcition and 10 days away from Dr's appt, where I will be begging for a fill. I have been living off willpower for most of the time after surgery and well now "mr. will power" is tired of supporting me. Unless I keep my calories intake closer to 800, i don't lose. For a while "Mr. Will" was keeping me close or under 1000, but lately is climbing and now I'm closer to 1100 and 1200 is knocking on my door. AND I joined the November Nymphs Valentine's day challenge to lose! Ok, prayer chain, please... that I can keep my calories under 1200 daily until my next appt adn that I get a fill at next appt AND (ok sorry to be greedy with the prayer thing but one more) that I get SOME restriction with the next fill. I have been such a good girl and really need this one!

I think I'm losing kind of evenly all over, altho I was always a size bigger on bottom than on top. I know my butt is smaller. :clap2: But even after only losing 18 pounds, my legs look awful. I know they will need PS. My neck, before banding had a turkey waddle :eek:and that's getting worse and we don't even want to talk about the "overhang" known as my belly.:faint: I was self pay for the band when ins. was dragging their feet and that was my PS money, so we'll have to figure something out later. First things first. Lose the weight. Opps, I got that wrong... first things first, GET RESTRICTION, then lose weight, then maintain weight, then get PS on something, then get more PS on something else..... OMG, I can't even think of all this right now and it's making me hungry!:hungry:

Ok, I'm in, but no way can i keep up with your impressive double digt expectations. I'm on the slow losers thread, have no restriction and after six weeks ready to eat a house! so if I make the six pound loss, I'll be thrilled!

You'll get tired of them fast once that's about the only thing you can have right after being banded. But now that I just drink them occassionally, I like the Alpine Punch, the pineapple banana and Apple Melon. I've never tried the Blue Raspberry and don't like the grape. I think almost everyone can find one or two flavors to choose from. I prefer it really cold over ice.

Wow! 100 pounds is incredible. That's like a whole person! You must feel and look great. Job, well done!

I had no idea a wallet card was available. I will definitely get one. We are traveling to France in April and I don't know how much familarity they have with lap bands. I will discuss my situation carefully with my Dr. before I leave and avoid fills before. We fly at least twice a year. I did not know about the band and flying prior to being banded. So glad I have this info before I take my next trip. Thanks for your reply.

Let us know how you make out after your PCP apt on the 8th! Hoping all goes smoothly for you. Well, I'm several days past last fill and after a couple days of full liquids, I'm back on soft food and I don't think this fill will last me very long. I can tell I have a band as I have to chew food well or I get that lump feeling and have to wait before continuing. But I am not feeling full very long after eating or maybe I just need to learn to understand what "full" really feels like. Everything is very new and it's hard to understand the difference between our "old" feeling of belly full and the new feeling of "pouch" full. The no drinking with meals thing is hard is follow. Even if I don't drink with the meal, I wish I could drink at the end of the meal. I find I'm watching the time right now when I finish, so I'll know when it's an hour and I can drink. I know down the road, I will break that rule if we go out to dinner, as I will occassionally want to enjoy a glass of wine with dinner. I will have to be diligent not to break this rule often. It's like a baby learning to walk!

I think it depends on how far past post op, a person is. I am still getting fills and after them I'm told to be on "full" liquids for two days. So Protein shakes are still part of my diet. I think as I get closer to goal, my food intake will gradually go back to "regular" food. I might still occassionally have a Protein shake or Meal Replacement bar even long term post op.

Week 1: Clear Liquids Week 2: "Full" liquids (which are just thicker like Protein shakes) Week 3 pureed foods ( you could protein in a blender and drink it. Yuck, I stayed on full liquids. Week 4: Mushies: scrambled eggs, cottage cheese. I followed the first two weeks fairly strictly, Third week I stayed on full liquids a few extra days and then one or two meals a day, I started to slowly add things like tomato Soup, scrambled eggs. By week four, I has turkey meatloaf, mashed potatoes, green Beans eaten very slowly and well chewed. At almost seven weeks out and just after second fill, I still eat mostly soft food and still drink a meal here or there, to get my protein in. My diet right now consists of mainly, Protein drinks, soft lean cuisines ( like meatloaf) scrambled eggs, salmon, turkey meatloaf, green beans, some Soups and yogurt. I am careful right now since I just got a fill and trying to figure out what my band will tolerate right now. I also track my calories and protein daily.

Many of us understand the frustration of following a long insurance process only to be denied. My own experience was 9 months and after all that time trying to get approval, I ended denied for covering the surgery. I self paid instead. I also agree it is frustrating to see people with low BMI's ( and my definintion of low is under 37 getting approval and some of those over 40 are getting denied. Some of your medical problems would not be considered co-morbidities. Having a problem sleeping, is not the same as being diagnosed with sleep apnea (a co-morbid) and sleep apnea is not treated with sleeping pills. Depression and anxiety are not considered co-morbids either. Generally, HBP, diabetes, sleep apnea are the main considerations as I understand. I agree that insurance companies should have standardized requirements for WLS. Until you are back working and have insurance again, I suggest you stay on your own diet, as you are now. Once you can't handle the liquid diet anymore, get yourself to WW and try to prevent yourself from gaining again and pleasse consider at even remaining at one weight and not going up is a victory. If down the road you end up with the surgery, either covered by ins or by self pay, you will be that much closer to your final goal of a healthly weight. One other suggestion. If you can, start walking. It will lift your spirits and lessen your depression.

Your Dr. will/should advise you on what to eat once you're approved for surgery and have a surgery date. Some have a two week Optifast type diet, some have a low calorie, low fat diet. Most of these are designed to shrink your liver. It makes the surgery safer for you (and helps the surgeon) if the liver is smaller. If you are just seeking insurance approval and still looking for the right Dr. and don't have a surgery date, then I would suggest either weight watchers or south beach diet.

I'm only 6 weeks out and I've had small servings of potatos. I often eat Lean Cuisines for lunch and some of them have potatoes. I've had mashed and small red potatoes steamed. Just watch how big it is and how much you put on top. enjoy!

In the first week, I was told to have one to 2 oz sips every 15mins. I think they just want you to start slowly, not chug down oz through the band at one time. They had me sip small 1 oz cups of Water in the hospital to get used to how small 1 oz is at a time. I had no appetite for the first few days anyway and getting in all my Fluid was actually hard. By the fifth day, I was taking 2 oz slips slowly but more continuously. I don't see how you would get all the Protein in you need in each day if the directions are 2 oz every hour.

From what I understand it takes a long time to deplete B-12 levels and awhile to get them back up. The first month I had shots every week and then went to twice a month for a month or two and then went to monthly. Because it's a slow gradual process, I don't think you'll notice a fast difference. At least I didn't.

There are CLEAR Protein drink for the time period that you are on clear liquids. Isopure CLEAR Protein Drink, comes in different flavors and is available at GNC stores. 40 gms of protein in one bottle. Great for first week AND after fills ( when you're on lquids and still trying to get all the required protein in.

I'd take 10 pounds in 3 or 4 weeks anytime! Look at your average weigh loss over a longer period of time. Does it average the 1 to 2 pounds a month we are told to expect? Start counting your calories, just for a week, to see where you stand ( you say you're not counting) and be sure to add up the amount of Protein. After protein and veggies, add carbs that are Fiber rich only. Look for a high fiber Meal Replacement type bar, that will get your system moving. I am having a constipation problem and have started searching for way to get more fiber in. I really think protein rich diets need fiber. I just started a thread about ways to get fiber in and I've had some great suggestions. It's under the pre-op and post op question section. And at 53 pounds lighter, your body now needs even less calories to continue to lose at the same rate as before. At eight months out and a 53 pound loss, that is approx 6 pounds per month. Seems good to me.

You just need to relax and be sure you are getting Protein in. You were banded 3 weeks after me and you have lost about the same amount in that time. You're doing great. Hang in and practice more willpower for the next few weeks. You can do it. Even if you get a fill, it might not do anything for you and they won;t want to fill too much at one time. This is a 10 steps forward, five steps back, process. Be sure to get your protein in (add one Isopure clear a day) to get 40 grams and continue to monitor your calories. I believe willpower is necessary for a long time with the band process and it's ability to help us from overeating will come later. I feel the same way, though. I am anxious to get the weight off, but the band is NOT gastric bypass, we do not drop 10-15 pounds in one month like they do, but in the long term, weight loss after several years tends to be similar for both groups. We both have to hang in!

My husband bought the Kashi and he tends to buy things without looking at nutrition label. I always look at that before I start using a new product, too much can be hiding in foods that are supposed to be healthy. Thanks!

The OTC cough RX for diabetics usually say "DM" on them.

So encouraging to hear that some of you can tolerate popcorn nuts, apples. I'm hoping I'm one of the lucky ones that can tolerate these foods down the road. At six weeks out I have restricted myself to easy to eat foods and avoided foods that I fear I'll have problems getting down. I have tried a little cereal to help, that was just before my recent fill and haven't been ready to re-try it. I used to eat Raisin Bran years ago, but changed to a lower carb cereal ( Special K Low Carb) and recently bought one of the Kashi cereals to try ( Go Lean). I have to check the nutirtion labels for how much fiber and then experiment with how much daily fiber "moves" things along. It's not the "quantity" of evacuation, but rather an issue of how frequent ( 5 days is too long) or how difficult it is to pass once I'm ready to go. (Hope I said that delicately enough) Thanks for some great suggestions!

Blood work several years ago indicated my B-12 was very low, so I started getting injections (monthly) at my Dr's office and still get them after several years. I find if I skip a few months, it goes right back down. From what I've read some people do not raise their levels with pills/vitamins,( they are just not absorbed by some people unless their injected) so you should try the pills for six months and then have your levels checked again. I keep wondering if there isn't a correlation between my acid reflux and my b-12 levels, so now that my hiatal hernia was repaired, I guess I'll be able to see if there are changes in my b12 levels.