How is weight loss for people over 50? Can we still expect to lose 1 to 2 pounds per week with the band?

Did one of them write a book about it? Are they out of business (so to speak)?

Where do you go to apply? :girl_hug:

No book, and yes they are no longer terrorizing small towns. Life got in the way I guess. However I now declare the "sisters" back in business. It's about time!

green...when were you banded? I see where you say you take lots of Vitamins, have you had a problem with losing hair like some talk about? I am not banded yet, I am playing the waiting game right now. But I was shocked when I saw people talking about losing hair. I just didnt even think about that.

mnkbrly...you and I are the same age and about the same amount to lose. I will be watching your progress. Good luck and let us know what is going on.

take care...Sharon

mnkbrly: Kim, that is. I'm sure you'll do just fine. The closer it gets the less nervous you'll probably become. Let us know how you're doing!

Sharon: you didn't address your question to me, but I started losing hair a few weeks ago. The dietician said that I need more Protein. I haven't been religious about taking my Vitamins either. They also say that the surgery itself with the anesthetic, etc., can cause a loss of hair. But I don't know about that.

My advice is to take your vitamins!! Be sure you get plenty of protein and don't worry! Even if you lose some hair, they promise that it will grow back. (My surgery was in September, like Green's)

Devana: Wanna join the club? You can be our leader and show us how to take a town by storm!

I've read articles about women who buy little travel trailers, fix them up and travel all over, camping out and whooping it up. Sounds like fun, only without the campers and in luxury hotels with spas. Keep the whooping it up part. I remember Green's fondness for a nice Chianti and fava Beans. Oops, make that scotch.

I am having surgery this April 16th and I am 57. I am tired of losing the same weight over and over again. The band will help me not regain the weight in a moment of weakness. My doc is very supportive and has wanted me to do this for a year. I have tried so many other diets, yes they work, but I get "distracted" and binge eat once I have broken my perfect record. I think this will work and I like that I am not rerouting anything. I worry somewhat about the healing process, but then considering the diabetes, high blood pressure and somewhat high cholesterol, healing should be the least of my worries. I have asked many about my age and everyone seems to think banding is a great idea with the right attitude and willingness to change eating patterns. This is a great thread. It is good to hear about others in the middle years.

Smiles and I hope to be 100 pounds down in a year and a half. I think that will be enough time. If I don't make it, some off is so much better. I am sooooooooooo ready to take this extra backpack I've been carrying around off for good.

Dynamomini: Good luck with your surgery. I think you will be happy you did it, although it does take some adjusting, both mental as well as physical.

When I went for a 5 month check with the exercise physiologist, she took my measurements and weight and I had lost 35 lbs. and 36 inches. She said that it was the equivalent of a small child. I thought about it and realized that it was exactly the size of my 4 year old grand daughter! My knees had gotten so bad I really couldn't pick her up or carry her. Can you believe it? I was carrying around my grand daughter ALL THE TIME! No wonder my knees gave up the ghost!

My doc says that it needs to be a 2 year project. It has to go slowly enough for us to change our long-ingrained eating patterns and our thoughts about food. Our bodies also have to adapt. You probably know all about plateaus. One to 2 lbs per week is all that is recommended, so don't have unreasonable expectations. But it can be done and you will be very glad you did!

I am 50 years old and I am glad I stopped to read these posts. I have been heavy all my life and want so badly to get the band! I am going to a seminar tomorrow, I don't know how long the process will take for me to be approved for banding. I weigh 220, am 5'2", everyone says "you don't need to get that done to lose weight--just go on a diet", If it were that easy for me ,I'd have done it years ago. I always eat until I fill full and if the band will be the tool to help me lose weight by eating smaller amounts to be able to feel full, then I feel that it will work for me.

Thanks for all the information.

Dixie

Dixie, you're about the same size I was when I got my band. No one can tell you whether you should get the band or not. NO ONE. You re the one who has to make the decision. If I hadn't had the surgery I have no doubt that I would be just as fat and unhealthy as I was 6 months ago!

Listen to everything they say at the meeting and don't be afraid to ask questions about anything that you are concerned about. Be very objective about the band and about whether you are ready for this kind of commitment to getting healthy and doing the work. This is not like some other types of surgery. You will have to have the determination to make it work. But it is a big step in helping you make it happen.

After the seminar if you want to discuss anything you heard, there are lots of people here who will be happy to tell you about their experiences. We're here for you. Best of everything to you and whatever decision you make.

green...when were you banded? I see where you say you take lots of Vitamins, have you had a problem with losing hair like some talk about? I am not banded yet, I am playing the waiting game right now. But I was shocked when I saw people talking about losing hair. I just didnt even think about that.

mnkbrly...you and I are the same age and about the same amount to lose. I will be watching your progress. Good luck and let us know what is going on.

take care...Sharon

I was banded in September just like BJean. I don't know whether I have had any hair loss or not. My hair is kinda coarse and very thick and it is difficult for to tell if the amount that I shed when washing it is the same old amount or not.:confused: It sometimes looks like I am shedding but I still have lots of it on my head.

I take the Calcium because my spine is thinning.:cry I went through an early menopause and my doc didn't want me on HRT. I take the vita D because we don't get much sunshine up here in Canada at this time of year. And I take the Bs because they are very good for the heart, nerves and general stamina.:eek: And I take the multi in order to get anything that I might be missing. Everything I take except the Ds are in a chewable form.

Dxeln - I had some of the same thoughts, like why couldn't i do this myself, but come to think of it, the band is doing it by myself, too. It is just another step on the road to recovery from obesity.

Best wishes,

I also think that we are an exclusive club. We, over 50, think enough of ourselves and our lives to invest in our healthy future. Good for us!

Denise I'm older than you. I'd rather not state my age print, it's too scary. And I'm on HRT. So don't worry about that stuff. I promise.

Honestly the thing that I think is helping me the most is portion size.

For a while I was having eggs for breakfast, cottage cheese and fruit for lunch and some kind of animal protein, with veggies or salad for dinner. Nuts for snack or a small Laughing Cow cheese wedge or yoghurt. Hmmm. Now that you've made me think about this, I'm realizing how far I have really strayed!

Thanks! You've been a big help. I hope I am helping you a little too. I'd say I eat less than half of what I used to eat.

Keep in touch. I have had 5 fills (I think. It might be 6) and I don't know exactly how much I now have but I know it's over 2.1 - because I've had a fill since I got that. I was worried about getting it too tight, but hey, they can always fix it so I'm over that fear.

Thank you too! That is encouraging. I was really afraid with the HRT I really wouldn't be able to lose. I am looking forward to getting another fill so I can have smaller portions. I know how much I am supposed to eat, but I too usually eat more than I am suppoed to. I look forward to being like some of the other people I have read about on here, that get full from just a few bites.

I am 50 years old and I am glad I stopped to read these posts. I have been heavy all my life and want so badly to get the band! I am going to a seminar tomorrow, I don't know how long the process will take for me to be approved for banding. I weigh 220, am 5'2", everyone says "you don't need to get that done to lose weight--just go on a diet", If it were that easy for me ,I'd have done it years ago. I always eat until I fill full and if the band will be the tool to help me lose weight by eating smaller amounts to be able to feel full, then I feel that it will work for me.

Thanks for all the information.

Dixie

I am 54 and 5'2'' too. I started the day of surgery at 215, so we are really close. It's harder to lose for those of us that don't have as much to lose as some of the others. I have high hopes that this will be the answer for me.

I had to pay myself, so I made the decision and got banded right away before I gave myself a chance to change my mind.

Good luck. I hope you join bandland soon!

Devana: Wanna join the club? You can be our leader and show us how to take a town by storm!

I've read articles about women who buy little travel trailers, fix them up and travel all over, camping out and whooping it up. Sounds like fun, only without the campers and in luxury hotels with spas. Keep the whooping it up part. I remember Green's fondness for a nice Chianti and fava beans. Oops, make that scotch.

Sounds like a good plan to me.:eek: Speaking of scotch, Green currently has a vicious hangover caused by using too much scotch and too many cigarettes yesterday.:cry I'm gonna blame the pain & suffering and the old wino cough on my old university pal.:eek: Yep, he was the one who made me do it!:confused:

Denise: Your post made me giggle. I decided to hurry so I wouldn't change my mind too so I made appointments right after the seminar for the tests and surgery. Then I got cold feet. I read a lot at LBT on the complications that some people had and it scared me. So I was originally scheduled for surgery in July. Then when I cancelled it, I floated along for a while and realized why I had made the decision in the first place. So I rescheduled and had the surgery in Sept. and I'm sure glad I did.