CaliforniaCandy

Hi! Can I join? I'm 55, female, and have completed all of my per-requisites for surgery except the 6mos with an RD. I have 2 more visits which will wrap up in early February. I hope insurance will allow RNY upon re-submission. I was rejected the first time.
I'm 5'4" at weight 227.2lbs this morning. My highest weight is 325lbs. I had a recent regain from 250-287 last year and have been dieting since May. Since May, I've lost about 60lbs. It's been very difficult.
I am a 6year survivor of a late stage hormone positive (obesity mediated) breast cancer. I'm on a drug that is a metabolic chemo to prevent recurrence and will be on it another 3-4 years. I have degenerative disc disease, chronic bursitis in both hips, arthritic bone spurs on my spine and hips, neuropathy from chemo in my chest/feet/hands, Fluid around my heart and a fibrous mass on the pericardium from radiation. I have secondary lymphedema in my left arm, chest, back and neck from the surgeries and removing all of my lymph nodes. I also have GERD, pre-diabetis, asthma, and high blood pressure with 3 medications (and it's still over 140/80). I just found out I have low thyroid and am on medicine. I live with constant pain (a 6/7 out of 10) and sleep only in about 2 hour stretches. For the first time in many years, I'm exercising daily and pushing my body to build muscles and improve my balance.
Good gawd, I sound like a broken down mare who needs to be led off behind the barn and shot! ROFLMAO! I'm rolling the dice and betting that there's still a little life left in this pony and the weight loss will help reignite the spark!
Welcome to the boards, candy. It's a fun place and many of us are hangry--so there's occasional drama to keep it spicy! LOL. I'm looking forward to getting to know you all better! Congrats to you big losers!!! You inspire me!

@CaliforniaCandy et al
you are all embarking on a wonderful trip
in WLS land!! we are alllll very smart people,
as we made the wise decision to have WLS!!!
i will Celebrate my 6th year surgiversary tomorrow!!! (12/15)
the sleeve and i are quite the happy, good lookin', cute, couple
I will be 64 years YOUNG next month (1/12)
many of my physical problems have improved. dosages lowered.
i still consider myself at GOAL, but i am now 8.4 lbs over (pleases don't tell
anyone else!!) no doubt in my mind, i'll nip those excess lbs in the bud before
you can say, "I have the cutest 3 grand-kids in the world!!" present
company excluded of course! LOL
come and join me, the more the merrier!!
good luck to all of us "mature" adults
i am enjoying being a successful, sexier, sultrier "smaller" sexagenarian!!!!
kathy

food okay. Water okay.
My surgical pain was only an issue for less than two days.

I thought it would be good to have a thread for the senior set to help encourage each other during our journey.
I'll start:
My name is candy - I kid you not - and I'm 64. I have my orientation with Kaiser on 1/6/18 with a phone appointment with a surgeon the next week, 1/13/18.
I'm very excited to start my wls journey. I'm 5'7", current weight 220, BMI 34.5.
I have degenerative disc disease exacerbated by my weight. I also have GERD, general arthritis, costochondritis (inflammation of the rib joints in my chest), arthritis at the site of back surgery, Type 2 diabetes, peripheral neuropathy in my feet. There could be more but that's all I can think of at the moment.
Let me know who you are and how old with all your stats. Maybe we can be a support group.
Candy
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I'm so happy you've been able to get off your meds. I understand all the meds you were on. I'm there.

Are you having any problems or has it been a smooth transition? I'm hoping you had a good post-op adjustment.

Keep us updated.

Candy

Congratulations on your surgery and especially the reduction of your blood pressure meds. That's awesome!

And your joints improving - spectacular!

How are you handling your food and Water intake? Your surgical pain should be easing, right?

Keep up the good work and let us know how you're doing.

Candy

I thought it would be good to have a thread for the senior set to help encourage each other during our journey.
I'll start:
My name is candy - I kid you not - and I'm 64. I have my orientation with Kaiser on 1/6/18 with a phone appointment with a surgeon the next week, 1/13/18.
I'm very excited to start my wls journey. I'm 5'7", current weight 220, BMI 34.5.
I have degenerative disc disease exacerbated by my weight. I also have GERD, general arthritis, costochondritis (inflammation of the rib joints in my chest), arthritis at the site of back surgery, Type 2 diabetes, peripheral neuropathy in my feet. There could be more but that's all I can think of at the moment.
Let me know who you are and how old with all your stats. Maybe we can be a support group.
Candy
Sent from my LG-V410 using BariatricPal mobile app

I thought it would be good to have a thread for the senior set to help encourage each other during our journey.
I'll start:
My name is candy - I kid you not - and I'm 64. I have my orientation with Kaiser on 1/6/18 with a phone appointment with a surgeon the next week, 1/13/18.
I'm very excited to start my wls journey. I'm 5'7", current weight 220, BMI 34.5.
I have degenerative disc disease exacerbated by my weight. I also have GERD, general arthritis, costochondritis (inflammation of the rib joints in my chest), arthritis at the site of back surgery, Type 2 diabetes, peripheral neuropathy in my feet. There could be more but that's all I can think of at the moment.
Let me know who you are and how old with all your stats. Maybe we can be a support group.
Candy
Sent from my LG-V410 using BariatricPal mobile app

Aww thank you babe! Yes I would always see people post and I was so embarrassed. I didn't even want to open up about having surgery or going through it. I took private progress pics along the way (every month) so Thursday I may toughen up and post them lol! [emoji173]️[emoji173]️[emoji173]️[emoji173]️

I thought it would be good to have a thread for the senior set to help encourage each other during our journey.
I'll start:
My name is candy - I kid you not - and I'm 64. I have my orientation with Kaiser on 1/6/18 with a phone appointment with a surgeon the next week, 1/13/18.
I'm very excited to start my wls journey. I'm 5'7", current weight 220, BMI 34.5.
I have degenerative disc disease exacerbated by my weight. I also have GERD, general arthritis, costochondritis (inflammation of the rib joints in my chest), arthritis at the site of back surgery, Type 2 diabetes, peripheral neuropathy in my feet. There could be more but that's all I can think of at the moment.
Let me know who you are and how old with all your stats. Maybe we can be a support group.
Candy
Sent from my LG-V410 using BariatricPal mobile app

Yesterday was the 1 year anniversary of my surgery. Feeling great not only physically but mentally as well. Still have a way to go but the goal is within sight.

I'm 8 months post op and super thankful that I had this opportunity to improve my health. This surgery has given me so much I couldn't be happier with where I'm at. Goal weight is so close I can see the light at the end of the tunnel!
December 2016: 311lbs, Size 24/3X
December 2017: 190lbs, Size 12/L

1 year post op Dec 6. 132 lbs lost 

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I took up swimming (after 25 years without it) in 2015.
I was nine months shy of retiring work and 22 months away from my (then unplanned) weight loss surgery.
I swam two hours before work most weekdays (and often, 2-3 times per week, went back for a relaxing slower 90 minute swim after work). Three hours Saturday and another 2-4 hours on a Sunday.
Post retirement, I swam 13 days per fortnight for 3-4 hours each morning.
Now, post-WLS, I am back doing 3.5 to 4.5 hours almost daily. Have only missed two days in two calendar months.
Gotta say, it's improved lung capacity, general endurance ... and it's had a positive effect on adult fun with my wife.
I could not be any more positive about swimming as an improver of life. (Best part is the suspension of almost all joint pain while in the water!) RECOMMENDED!

Great Challenge! My top 10 dreams I want to come true!
1. Have my husband of 31 years be able to pick me up for the first time in our marriage and have him excitedly carry me to bed (for the 1st time ever!)
2. Go to Ireland on a driving/walking tour.
3. Take brand new beautiful family pictures where you can see my whole body, not just my head.
4. Shop successfully and happily at Victoria Secrets.
5. Fly home to NJ and go to the Family Christmas Breakfast and just watch their faces!
6. Get into that sized 10 button up jeans that I have had for 12 years and never been able to wear.
7. Put on ANY pair of jeans without having to lay down on the bed to zip them up.
8. Join Zumba
9. Learn to Salsa.
10. Go to church and THANK GOD that the girl I knew I could be has finally come out of hiding. Give Him all the Praise!

1. Buy new wardrobe that looks good - check
2. Feel more comfortable in the world - check
3. Wear heels and cross my legs - check
4. Retake lots of cruise pictures - check
5. World's longest zip line over Water - check
6. Have more energy than my Husband - check
7. Be able to wear normal sized bracelets, rings and knee socks. And normal width shoes - check
8. Not have to worry about how I am going to loose weight - check
9. Feel in control of my eating habbits and my health - check
10. Feel like I am no longer restricted in life due to my weight - check

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So happy today! First small goal has been met! My highest weight was 320, surgery weight was 310 and today a week after surgery I’m under 300! Weighing in at 298! I know I have a long way to go but Not seeing a 3 infront of those numbers has been so meaningful!

This is the southerner in me, but grits are on our my surgeon's list for pureed food. I just got quaker instant grits, heated it with Water, added a half scoop of unflavored GNC Protein Powder and 42g of fat free cheddar cheese. I then divided it into 2 oz servings and stored the leftovers.
Cheesy grits were amazing after a week of liquids!

I would take that with a grain of salt. I mean yeah I guess it's possible in some cases, but I didn't get above 500-600 calories for at least six months. No stalls, no nutritional deficiencies or bone loss. Muscle gain. I met my Protein goals starting week 3. I started running week 4. I ran a half marathon month 8. Yoga 4x per week.

And now at four years out I eat well over 2000 calories per day to maintain at a size 4.

Definitely! I am LOVING me some cocoa wheats and sugar free oatmeal....I found the little pouches in apple cinnamon and maple flavor. I thin them with Premier Protein, too....more bang for my buck spacewise. I also put caramel permeir protien in my Decaf coffee....not bad!! Have to try cream Soup yet...having a little greek yogurt after I finish this shake:) Feeling blissed out and high energy. Got 10,000 steps today and feel great:)

Had an interesting talk with my dietitian today. She is hell bent that we work up to 1000-1200 calories per day as soon as possible. I'm on week two...she doesn't expect me to get there until week five or so, but encourages me to try.
I asked, Why not take advantage of the natural desire to eat fewer calories and....you know....lose a little more weight?
And what she said kinda floored me.
She said that prolonged low calorie diets will switch your metabolism to a starvation mode where body processes are slowed, energy is conserved and *gasp* YOU STOP LOSING WEIGHT. Worse, you can lower your metabolic set point to sluggish starvation levels.
She goes...I know, I know...seems counterproductive, doesn't it? After a lifetime of being heavy, someone's telling you that you have to eat more to lose weight...but it's true! 60-80g of Protien, and 1000-1200 calories. Both are equally important if you want to lose weight and set yourself up for a healthy metabolism later. Balance your diet. Protein absolutely, but fruits, veggies, healthy fats, and Healthy low glycemic complex carbs, too. Balance is important for good metabolism for life. You can lose weight fast on all Protein, but you can create a healthy metabolism that lasts a lifetime with balance.
She also said that diets under 1000 calories are correlated with nutritional deficiency, bone loss, more hair loss, and muscle loss. Ouch.
So yeah....eat Bubbalah...eat.... Seems absolutely unreal.
On the plus side, I found a comfort food I absolutely love that's legal:
Cocoa wheats thinned with chocolate Premier Protien. Slides down easy...and the energy lasts.

Absolutely beautiful! So glad you uploaded pics. Good work!

Great progress! You look fab!! Keep up the good work.

Totally-tentative-doesn’t-really-count-kind-of-tentative date of Dec 28. [emoji4][emoji119]