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My name is Steve. I am 61 years old and was banded on 9/14/13. I have been reading posts now for two weeks and have hesitated to "tell my story", don't know why. I feel a little out of place - there are very few men posting and I am older than most. :) However, I started at 314 pounds over a month ago - the fattest I have ever been! I'm not heavy, I am fat. I have had heart problems, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. I have been taking a lot of pills for a long time and am hoping this will help me get rid of most of them. I have sleep apnea as well and have hopes that I might be able to put away my bi-pap machine when I lose enough weight. I always used to be able to lose weight, but like most people I have never been able to maintain for longer than a year. After I graduated college way back in 1974, and stopped being as physically active as I was then, my weight has been a problem. I have tried almost every diet known to man. spent a ton of money, and finally gave up. My insurance just approved lap band so I decided to give it a try. After jumping through all their hoops I was finally able to start this process. I was at 282 the day of my surgery and am now down to 269, so something is working - although I am still on liquids; start week two today where I can add in some Soups. (I have never looked more forward to a bowl of Tomato Soup in my life - even if it is made with water!) I do not feel hungry at all and am no longer in any pain - except when I turn over in bed too suddenly and stretch everything a little. At the risk of sounding a little gross, I have had a couple of bad bouts with diarrhea. I'm encouraged but still haven't gotten to even the mushy food stage yet so I have a wait and see attitude. My wife and I walk ever day - at least a mile. I have no recent pictures of myself because I have always been too embarrassed to have my picture taken but I said I was going to keep a photo log of this journey so I need my wife to take my picture today. I am committed to making this work, enthusiastic, but also a little scared because this is such a huge change in the way I eat. Only time will tell.

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Welcome and congratulations!

You will fit right in here- no reason to be hesitant! We're all walks of life and age here. You'll find people in their teens all the up into their 80's. All are welcome :)

It sounds like you're off to a great start. Keep coming back and let us know how you are!

Best wishes.

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As Missy said, welcome, welcome, welcome. Sounds like you are off to a great start and not to worry, there's quite a few men on this site who post regularly...and likely lots more who just lurk without posting at all.

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Welcome to our group Steve.. There are lots of very helpful people here.. You are not as old as me.. I'm 66 and had my lapband in January 2013... I have lost over 50# and I feel like a new woman.. I had diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and generally felt terrible... at almost 200 lbs and 5' tall on a good day I had to do something or risk losing my mobility and/or my life... I am very happy I did it.. My Dr. took me off of all of my meds..

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Well Steve even if we r here to help and support each other on this site and if you need to ask questions from other men don't be afraid to ask there is a site on here called mens room I think so you can go there also just post questions on here cause there is a few men on here that have posted even to just to post on how they r doing so let the healing, support and questions and likes begin,as bandsters we all had to start somewhere or we wouldn't be here so let your journey begin and good luck sounds like your off to a good start tho by making the choice you did.

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Welcome and good luck on your journey. Looking forward to hearing how you are doing.

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Welcome Steve. Even though you may feel in the minority here on the boards, one of the most inspirational posters on this board for me has been B-52. I believe he's 60ish and has been extremely successful with his weight loss! I'm not sure how to look up specific posters on here, but I'm sure you'll run across him eventually.

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    • LeighaTR

      Four days post surgery. I am sipping as fast as I can and getting NO WHERE near the goal of 60 - 80 grams of protein or the 64 oz of liquids. I just feel FULL. I don't know if it can still be the gas build up (I would think by now that would be gone) but it is a struggle to drink. And so far I have not had the nausea or spasms and don't want to wander into that territory by pushing too hard with liquids. I about passed out today as it was my most "strenuous" day. Went from second story to basement for shower and I was sure I was going to pass out. Looking back on my last few days I have had a total of less than 1000 calories. Am I just not getting enough nourishment in me? Once again a friday where I can't get ahold of the doc until Monday rolls back around so I am hoping maybe someone here has some experience on how to keep energy going. I do have fibromyalgia too and that may be where some added fatigue comes into play. How did you all fair with the goals the week after surgery?
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Doughgurl

      2 days until I fly out to San Diego to have my Bypass Surg. in Tiajuana Mexico. Not gonna lie, the nerves are starting to surface. I don't fear the surgery itself, or the fact that I'm traveling alone, but its the aftermath that I'm stressing about the most, after this 8 week wait. I'm excited to finally be here, but I am really dreading the post surgical chapter. I know its going to be tough, real tough and I think I'm just in my head to much now that the day i here. Wish me luck, Hopefully I'm one of the lucky ones, and everything goes smoothly. Cant wait to give an exciting update,. If there is anyone else have a June bypass or even a recent one, Id love to have someone to compare war stories with. Also, anyone near San Antonio Tx? See ya soon with the future me. 💜
      · 3 replies
      1. Phil Penn

        Good Luck this procedure is well worth it I am down to 249.6 lb please continue with the process..

      2. Selina333

        I'm in Houston so kind of near you and had the sleeve in Dec. Down 61 lbs. Feeling better. Was definitely worth it. I hope the everything is going well for you. Update us when you can!

      3. Doughgurl

        I am back home after my bypass surgery in Tiajuana. I'm post op day 4. Everything went great! I guess I'm one of the lucky ones who have not encountered much pain at all, no nausea thus far and I'm having no problem keeping down broths and water. Thank you for your well wishes. I cant wait to keep up this journey and have a chance at better health and simply better quality of life. I know there will be bumps in the road ahead, and everything won't be peaches and cream, but at least I have a great start so far. 😍

    • LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
      · 2 replies
      1. Selina333

        I'm so happy for you! You are about to change your life. I was so glad to get the sleeve done in Dec. I didn't have feelings of regret overall. And I'm down almost 60 lbs. I do feel a little sad at restaurants. I can barely eat half a kid's meal. I get adults meals often because kid ones don't have the same offerings at times. Then I feel obligated to eat on that until it's gone and that can be days. So the restaurant thing isn't great for me. All the rest is fine by me! I love feeling full with very little. I do wish I could drink when eating. And will sip at the end. Just a strong habit to stop. But I'm working on it! You will do fine! Just keep focused on your desire to be different. Not better or worse. But different. I am happy both ways but my low back doesn't like me that heavy. So I listened (also my feet!). LOL! Update us on your journey! I'm not far from you. I'm in Houston. Good luck and I hope it all goes smoothly! Would love to see pics of the town you go to for this. I've never been there. Neat you will be traveling for this! Enjoy the journey. Take it one day at a time. Sometimes a few hours at a time. Follow all recommendations as best you can. 💗

      2. Doughgurl

        Thank you so much for your well wishes. I am hoping that everything goes easy for me as well. We don't eat out much as it is, so it wont be too bad in that department. Thankfully. Also, I hear you regarding your back and feet!! I'd like to add knees to the list. Killing me as we speak! I'm only 5' so the weight has to go. Too short to carry all this weight. Menopause really did a doosey on me. (😶lol) My daughter also lives in Houston. with her Husband and my 5 grand-littles. I grew up in Beaumont, so I know Houston well, I will be sure to keep in touch and update you on my journey. I may need some advice in the future, or just motivation. Thank You so much for reaching out, I was hoping to connect with someone in the community. I really appreciate it. 💜

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

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