How is weight loss for people over 50?

[NM Sunshine 1]

PHYLLSER Hi

Green- I was just reading about Thermage. It is a nonsurgical cosmetic treatment that uses radio waves or something to firm up loose skin. I am awed by what it does.

Mistymoon-<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>

It’s a really good thing that they could reverse that surgery you had. I think they still do stomach stapling . I think the lapband is by far the best choice. You’ve got your weight down 13 pds. CONGRADULATIONS!!!! I’m at day 17 until surgery. Mine is on Sept. 11 with DR. Gonzales in TJ. I’ve never been on an all liquid diet but I think I will begin mine today so I Can lose some pds before I go in. I forget your surgery date, is it Sept 5?

Betsyjane – I have Osteopetis , wonder if that is caused by my weight?

[DynamoMini 1]

Hi Everyone,

Schemgie - Wow! Congrats on your weight loss. What are you eating?

BJean - how are you doing? I'm with you. I didn't like Curves, but it might be a good place for some to start. Small group, social, quickly changing activities, all women... Personally I like the gym. I can go to class or do my activities on my own. My trainer has recently moved, so I want to continue with her, but feel a dilemma. Can I afford to belong to two places? I don't know. She will have to lower her fees, because I would miss the gym a lot. Unless I can get a few people to join the other smaller gym where she works, I think I'll stay where I am and pay through the teeth... is that the expression?

nicknaknut - hi, you have to come to our Red Robin group on the 11th. We are all Dr. K's patients and support each other once a month. I hope you'll consider it.

Currently I am fighting with my band. It tells me I have eaten to much, I PB, then try and eat some more. Is this abusive? I don't know why I think I have to fight the information it is giving me. What's the deal?

[Oregondaisy 2,020]

I am 50, 5'3" tall and was banded on May 17, 2007 and so far I have lost 65 lbs.

Can you share what you have done to lose so quickly? I was banded

at the end of Dec. and it's coming off very slowly. I was on a very

long plateau until I put myself back on the liquid diet and now I have

finally lost about 3-4 lbs.

You were banded 5 months after me and have lost about 25 more lbs

than me.

Do you have a tight fill and can only eat a tiny bit of food?

Are you just lucky that you don't have a slow metabolism like I do?

[Betsyjane 2]

Hey Cheri....I was a fast eater too. I found that at first I had to make eating a ritual, kind of honoring the food and my body. I had to eat without the TV on, use small dessert plates, tiny utensils, and then before taking the first bite, take a very deep breathe and let it out to calm myself. Then I could do it, eating mindfully, kind of like a meditation. Shoot...I've eaten in a trance in front of the TV my whole life, so going into a trance in order to actually focus ON food turned out not to be as big a leap as I thought. I don't have to do all of that stuff now, but at the very least, I do take that big breathe and center myself before I eat. Kind of puts everything right.

[crabcake 0]

Hey Cheri....I was a fast eater too. I found that at first I had to make eating a ritual, kind of honoring the food and my body. I had to eat without the TV on, use small dessert plates, tiny utensils, and then before taking the first bite, take a very deep breathe and let it out to calm myself. Then I could do it, eating mindfully, kind of like a meditation. Shoot...I've eaten in a trance in front of the TV my whole life, so going into a trance in order to actually focus ON food turned out not to be as big a leap as I thought. I don't have to do all of that stuff now, but at the very least, I do take that big breathe and center myself before I eat. Kind of puts everything right.

I too have that problem. If I don't focus entirely on what I'm eating and slowly chewing every bite I put in my mouth, well, I can pretty much promise you I'll end up in the b'room pb'ing! Ugh!

I have to say though I think I've figured out one reason I've always eaten so fast. When I was little I vividly remember my mom having to coax me to eat (no joke!!!). There were too many other things going on that I wanted to be involved in. So...I learned to wolf my food down and then I could go back to what I wanted to do. Now, most of the time since I have to eat slower, I get bored w/ the food before my meal is done. I wish this were true for everything I ate (like desserts!), but it is for many things and the band is helping me re-learn how to eat.

[Betsyjane 2]

I get bored with food too sometimes! I am so surprised....and I'd like to cultivate that habit a bit more! Sometimes it seems like food is hardly worth the effort. But then sometimes that stupid old head gets involved and says....I didn't eat much...I'm sure I must still be hungry...er, ...for ice cream!

When I get short term discouraged, I remember that the weight is still coming off, I no longer need diabetic meds, my osteoporosis has reversed, I can see my feet, and I can cross my legs!

[crabcake 0]

But then sometimes that stupid old head gets involved and says....I didn't eat much...I'm sure I must still be hungry...er, ...for ice cream!

When I get short term discouraged, I remember that the weight is still coming off, I no longer need diabetic meds, my osteoporosis has reversed, I can see my feet, and I can cross my legs!

Yeah, it always seems to be the sweets that the head wants huh? But you're right. I just quit a 3rd high bp med, so I really can't complain. I figure even skinny folks have problems w/ the sweet tooth, so I'm not really any different than them (oh, well besides the 70+ pounds!). :confused:

[mistymoon 0]

NM Sunshine Yes mine is Sept 5th with Dr. Ortiz. You said you were going to try a liquid diet? ??? Doesn't your Doctor require you to lose weight before the surgery? It is my understanding that by losing before surgery you shrink the liver thereby making it easier to place the band.

BetsyJane After my previous surgery - I remember when I first crossed my legs I was on the phone with a friend - I shrieked OMG!!! She thought I had had a heart attack or something but it was the first time in more years than I can remember - What a great feeling. Enjoy.

As far as eating too fast goes my problem is not being aware of my eating. This was pointed out to myself a few weeks ago when my Hubby brought home a chesse danish for himself and a Bear Claw (Almondy and very sweet) for me. Later on when he asked where his danish was I realized I had eaten it not even realizing it was not my bear claw!!!! WOW! That was the beginning of my decision to do the lapband. With my previous surgery I did lose all my weight and kept it off until I had to have it reversed. Now 20 years later I am back to square one and have to learn to eat all over again.

[crabcake 0]

NM Sunshine Yes mine is Sept 5th with Dr. Ortiz. You said you were going to try a liquid diet? ??? Doesn't your Doctor require you to lose weight before the surgery? It is my understanding that by losing before surgery you shrink the liver thereby making it easier to place the band.

my doctor only had me drink liquids the day before. all these doctors are different!

[green 6]

PHYLLSER Hi

Green- I was just reading about Thermage. It is a nonsurgical cosmetic treatment that uses radio waves or something to firm up loose skin. I am awed by what it does.

Mistymoon-ffice:office" /><O:p></O:p>

It’s a really good thing that they could reverse that surgery you had. I think they still do stomach stapling . I think the lapband is by far the best choice. You’ve got your weight down 13 pds. CONGRADULATIONS!!!! I’m at day 17 until surgery. Mine is on Sept. 11 with DR. Gonzales in TJ. I’ve never been on an all liquid diet but I think I will begin mine today so I Can lose some pds before I go in. I forget your surgery date, is it Sept 5?

Betsyjane – I have Osteopetis , wonder if that is caused by my weight?

Yep, my cosmetic cat does thermage and a bunch of other stuff. In fact he has pioneered a number of techniques which are now used. The thing is that I am a very, very lazy grrl when it comes to self maintenance grrly work. This is why I opted for the band instead of a personal trainer and a life time of maintenance work even though I fell within the lower BMI category. The band has worked out well for me. I now have a good BMI - 23.8 - and, thanks to the band, my appetite is under control. My contribution to this project has been that I have made it my business to learn how to eat carefully and healthily.

With respect to the face lift biz, most of my friends are absolutely against this stunt. They figure that I am in the the way of being a very goodlookin' woman and so they simply don't get it. I have tried to explain to them that a full-Monty face lift is strenuous, I will be under the slice 'n' dice for 7 hours, and so one simply cannot leave these matters until one really does need 'em.

Green does want the face work and she is far too lazy to engage in one of those deals where you are required to to keep on going back. Do it, sez Green, and then leave her alone. Shit! Green doesn't even enjoy having her hair done.

[crabcake 0]

Yep, my cosmetic cat does thermage and a bunch of other stuff. In fact he has pioneered a number of techniques which are now used. The thing is that I am a very, very lazy grrl when it comes to self maintenance grrly work. This is why I opted for the band instead of a personal trainer and a life time of maintenance work even though I fell within the lower BMI category. The band has worked out well for me. I now have a good BMI - 23.8 - and, thanks to the band, my appetite is under control. My contribution to this project has been that I have made it my business to learn how to eat carefully and healthily.

With respect to the face lift biz, most of my friends are absolutely against this stunt. They figure that I am in the the way of being a very goodlookin' woman and so they simply don't get it. I have tried to explain to them that a full-Monty face lift is strenuous, I will be under the slice 'n' dice for 7 hours, and so one simply cannot leave these matters until one really does need 'em.

Green does want the face work and she is far too lazy to engage in one of those deals where you are required to to keep on going back. Do it, sez Green, and then leave her alone. Shit! Green doesn't even enjoy having her hair done.

green...i am sooo w/ you! i'm just lazy, lazy, lazy!!!

[nan42 2]

My BMI is 31 and I am having surgery in Oct. Nice to hear your story I have like you have not been able to loose but am not real bis but I am not happy. So you have lost with the band? Any problems? Advice?

[NM Sunshine 1]

Mistymoon

The doc put me on a pre-surgery diet. It’s a liquid diet, but cottage cheese is OK. I’m suppose to begin it 8 days before surgery. I just thought I’d get at it now. I hear that the fatty liver can be an obstacle during surgery. I am trying to lose weight. I want everything going for me. My BMI is 36.7

Crabcake

You’re right, the docs are all different.

Green

I think the Thermage is permanent and there’s no cutting of skin. I’m afraid I’m too old for it. It works best for younger women. I’ve seen pictures on the net of women who have lost a lot of weight and they are left with saggy skin. I’m most concerned about my face aging a lot when I lose the weight.

[DynamoMini 1]

I don't know anyone who works harder at their looks than us here at bandland. So, why shouldn't people go for a face lift if it makes them feel good. I for one, will do whatever it takes, once the weight is gone to help myself feel great. Don't worry about the skin. Because of my weight, my face and neck look younger skin wise but not energy wise. Really look at women your age and see the lines and wrinkles. We have covered up all sorts of crevases with fatty tissue, so it will go away and we can get it surgically fixed, just like our sisters. I have heard good things about that thermage, but hear you have to go back every couple of years. A face lift is supposed to be good for ten years or so. By then maybe I won't care as much.

Hugs to all of you,

Michelle

[Linda51 0]

I am pretty sure you do have to do a one year time frame but if you travel a lot you can go to those too as a guest. Thanks again for the support.

Linda51