Where are the 50's??? -- all I see is a topic about wrinkles! How has the surgery changed your life?

That's great New_Hope a date plus it works with your mom's needs too...see perfect combination... you are going to do GREAT! cannot wait to watch your progress...

I was sleeved on 4-30 and am 53. I lost 6 pounds the first week and nothing since then. Very discouraging. I have been going through menopause for the last 1 or 2 years. Hot flashes are very mild though so that is good. I've had vertigo (mild now) since surgery and I wonder if that is hormones. Getting in the protein so that is good. Just getting frustrated right now with a plateau at so early a stage. Good luck fellow 50's!

Hi Janet; well that does seem like the lowest weight loss I've heard from the surgery; can we ask your starting weight? Are you in contact with your doctor or a follow up person to see if this is normal? I am a very slow loser but I did lose 18 lbs in the first 3 weeks (I'm 58 years old and went into surgery at 203 lbs). I have lost 73 total, but it has been 1 lb a week for the last 4 months. I've outlined my ups and downs on my weekly blog (link below) that I am doing for the first year; you may want to take a look and see what to expect. But the slow weight loss this early is a little odd. Good luck to you and keep us posted.

Hi Queen of Crop, sounds like you might be a gardener like me. My surgery day weight was 219. I lost 10 pounds pre-op. Then the first week I lost 6 nd stalled since. This Monday will be the month anniversay (give or take a a fe days, I was sleeved on April 30th). I think it is more common than you think if you look at some of the posts on here. I was at the doctor last week and he didn't mention it except to say that when I am able to eat more solid food I should lose more. I wasn't that alarmed last week. Then I weighed on Monday and got depressed. I go for my month follow up on Wednesday so if I haven't lost anything by then I am sure we will discuss it. There is another person on the boards (bless their heart) who is 5 weeks out and has not lost anything! The body is a strange thing. I guess some people have a better capacity to stop the "starvation" process then others.

Cheri, thanks for the support.

Janet, I agree with Queen of Crop. That does seem very slow. Do you have a NUT you are working with? Also, I would be doing a followup with someone to find out what I need to change. Are you getting in any exercise? Getting in all of your fluids and plenty of sleep? Hope you find something to spur you on soon.

Queen, I see you are in Hawaii now. I do envy you all of your great travels.

Queen, I just read your latest blog and couldn't agree more. My hubby is not quite as thin as yours, he is 150 and 5'10. He also seems to be able to eat anything he wants and does not have a regular workout schedule. Just whenever.

I have also been told that you need to eat around 1600 calories to maintain, and will lose if you eat 1400 and work out a little. Nope, I gained. Then everyone said I just was not counting my calories accurately. I weighed and logged every single bite I ate. I can gain on 1200 calories if I don't work out.

My documentation for my surgery states I should be eating about 900 calories until I reach goal, then up it to about 1200 calories to maintain. (If I'm remembering correctly from my reading).

Hey Everyone! It's been over a week since I've been able to get on the boards. Looks like everyone's doing well. I'm now at 2 months post-op and feeling awesome! Down 42lbs and the energy is amazing!! One thing that I've noticed about my weight loss is that the less I eat, the less I lose. When I get in more food, I seem to drop more weight. I know the science behind that is that more of the "right" foods helps out metabolism burn more fat, but somehow my brain just can't wrap around it. I know too, that that also mean staying within a certain caloric/fat/etc., amount, but still, it's hard to really believe. However, the scale doesn't lie. On the days when I forget to eat breakfast, or don't eat dinner because I'm not hungry, then the scale doesn't budge. But when I eat right, the scale moves.

Oh, one other thought. When I eat UNDER my calorie recommendation, I've been told that my body goes into "starvation mode" and hangs on to every single ounce!

Queen, I just read your latest blog and couldn't agree more. My hubby is not quite as thin as yours, he is 150 and 5'10. He also seems to be able to eat anything he wants and does not have a regular workout schedule. Just whenever.

I have also been told that you need to eat around 1600 calories to maintain, and will lose if you eat 1400 and work out a little. Nope, I gained. Then everyone said I just was not counting my calories accurately. I weighed and logged every single bite I ate. I can gain on 1200 calories if I don't work out.

My documentation for my surgery states I should be eating about 900 calories until I reach goal, then up it to about 1200 calories to maintain. (If I'm remembering correctly from my reading).

1600 to maintain......I don't think that would work for me either. My metabolism is so slow, that is one reason I thought this route would be best for me as I need to eat small amounts to lose. I am 3 days out and have no appetite or hunger but know I need to get fluids into me so I don't dehydrate so I am trying to sip, sip, sip and walk, walk, walk.

Well it's nice to hear I wasn't the only one who thought you could lose weight on 1600 calories......just goes to show you how well marketing of these programs work....we all fell for them. On the other hand, maybe people with normal metabolisms can lose weight on that much. I just know at 1200 calories and working out hard for an hour every day is taking about 1 lb a week off of me......thanks for all the validations!

Okay, 50s, I have been trying to RELose 10-12 lbs! Ain't happening. Low carb doesn't seem to work for my body anymore. 2 lbs down 2 lbs up over last month!! I am not exercising so I guess that is the other option. I can't seem to get any to come off now that I have been on maintenance so to speak for over a year ( 2 yrs out). Any thoughts?

Okay, 50s, I have been trying to RELose 10-12 lbs! Ain't happening. Low carb doesn't seem to work for my body anymore. 2 lbs down 2 lbs up over last month!! I am not exercising so I guess that is the other option. I can't seem to get any to come off now that I have been on maintenance so to speak for over a year ( 2 yrs out). Any thoughts?

Have you tried substituting a meal with a protein drink? Or maybe even a couple of meals just to see if that will jump start the loss? That's probably what I would do if all else failed. That, and of course, exercising as you've already suggested. Isn't it funny (well maybe not so funny) that things that used to work, like low carb, don't work now?

I use "My Fitness Pal" and it calculates how many calories I should eat to lose. Right now it's saying 1200 calories, but I typically eat between 800 - 900 daily.

chacha - what is your fitness pal name so I can make you a friend there? Mine is jonitoby.

Okay, 50s, I have been trying to RELose 10-12 lbs! Ain't happening. Low carb doesn't seem to work for my body anymore. 2 lbs down 2 lbs up over last month!! I am not exercising so I guess that is the other option. I can't seem to get any to come off now that I have been on maintenance so to speak for over a year ( 2 yrs out). Any thoughts?

Find a beautiful place to walk, that is close enough so you can do it daily. Don't just walk for the exercise at someplace that might be near by unless you won't walk otherwise.....find a few places that you can walk that actually add to your mental state as well.

There is a college in my town that allows locals to walk their football field/track....doesn't sound very pretty but the whole outside of the track is filled with perennial beds and in the background are these stately brick buildings, the largest with a state capital like dome/cupola. The grounds are meticulously groomed and I just like walking there. I do tend to walk there with someone else but if you find your own "Zen" spots and walk daily, you might budget that last little bit or at least have an enjoyable time.