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

Green: Though it might be a few long weeks, it is only weeks and I'm sure you'll be happy about it in the long run and you'll be enjoying your new look for a long time to come!

Green: I always enjoy reading your posts. I appreciate your personal bits a lot and I can really relate. Plus the humor is definitely a bonus!

Like I said I do envy your ability to get and pay for the facelift. Have you ever seen one done? I have seen parts of it done but I kept my hands over my eyes during the more gruesome parts. It is amazing what they can do. If I were at my goal weight and had the dough lying around, I believe I would definitely do it.

I had an 80 yr. old friend in Orlando and she told me once that she'd had 3 face lifts. She said that I should have one as soon as I felt ready. She never regretted having done any of her cosmetic surgery. She was a tennis nut and her exposure to the sun caused deep wrinkles very early on. Her bottom line on this was: you only live once and life flies by so fast that you should live every moment to the fullest.

Reminds me of that Peggy Lee song, "Is That All There Is?" I didn't understand it when I was younger but now I sure do!

karey: That is some very exciting stuff your kids have going on! You must be popping your buttons! I will definitely check out your daughter's website.

Thanks for the info on Puddin's possible procedure. I'll see if I can track it down.

Green: I always enjoy reading your posts. I appreciate your personal bits a lot and I can really relate. Plus the humor is definitely a bonus!

Like I said I do envy your ability to get and pay for the facelift. Have you ever seen one done? I have seen parts of it done but I kept my hands over my eyes during the more gruesome parts. It is amazing what they can do. If I were at my goal weight and had the dough lying around, I believe I would definitely do it.

I had an 80 yr. old friend in Orlando and she told me once that she'd had 3 face lifts. She said that I should have one as soon as I felt ready. She never regretted having done any of her cosmetic surgery. She was a tennis nut and her exposure to the sun caused deep wrinkles very early on. Her bottom line on this was: you only live once and life flies by so fast that you should live every moment to the fullest.

Reminds me of that Peggy Lee song, "Is That All There Is?" I didn't understand it when I was younger but now I sure do!

Thanx for the really kind remarks. As it happens I really enjoy reading your posts, too! So there!!!

And No, I have never, ever watched surgery of any sort. Green is a real sissy grrl. She has never cleaned up vomit or changed a diaper. Ugh! Indeed there was a time when she was boasting about having never changing a diaper to one of her work mates. He had young kiddies and was only semi-amused. He squinted at her and said: live long enough and you'll be changing your own diapers! Ugh!! He does have a point.lol

That adult diaper changing comment from your co-worker is not funny.

I resemble that remark. :rolleyes

I am so glad we have a thread for us over 50!! I am 5`4", 243#, 57 yrs. I need knee replacements, have high blood pressure, and sleep apnea. I was wondering if this was even feasible at my age. You have given me hope!! I am just begging this journey. Sharon l.

Sharon L: Yes honey, there is lots of hope! I'm 5'1.5" and started this journey at 220. Six months later I weigh 178. Still have lots to lose, but I have a big chunk gone. I need both knees replaced, high BP, Cholesterol, Triglycerides, etc. I wasn't diagnosed with sleep apnea, but my husband couldn't get any sleep in the same room with me because I was working so hard to breathe at night.

Btw, I am older than you - and not just by a year or two. Keep doing your research and learn all you can, listen to the doctors and then make a decision. You may choose to go read the section at Lap Band Talk where people are having problems and it is good to know what complications could happen. You must realize though that most of the people here wouldn't trade their band for anything! I'm one of them.

I am so glad we have a thread for us over 50!! I am 5`4", 243#, 57 yrs. I need knee replacements, have high blood pressure, and sleep apnea. I was wondering if this was even feasible at my age. You have given me hope!! I am just begging this journey. Sharon l.

Welcome to the site, Sharon L. You will find it very, very informative. Remember that your lapband doc won't operate if he feels that there would be a serious risk; this is because no doctor wishes for a tragedy to happen during his watch. He will make a thorough assessment of your health before he begins to cut. Doctors sometimes require that their patients do some dieting first in order to get themselves fit for the operation. The operation itself is an easy one to recover from.:biggrin1:

Like BJean, I have lost a bunch of weight that didn't want to leave before I got the band. I was 200 and going up and now I weigh 170. I was banded last September at the age of 57.

Sharon: Weight should help you with all of the mentioned health problems. Just pick a very conservative surgeon who will watch out for all your special needs. I wouldn't trade my lapband for anything either!

Sharon, Welcome! You sound a bit like me! i am 54 with bad knees, apnea, and a history of blood clots in the lungs, and started at 337lbs.

13 and a half months later, i am down 100 lbs, I can climb the stairs and walk like a normal person and do much of what i used to do and i am in the middle of a 2 week retest for my apnea and so far it looks like I might be free of the ball and chain. But most improtant to me is i have regained my joy of life and feel great! There are many of us over 50 here. Good luck!

Hi everyone- Just wanted to say that after a " little " nerviousness I went thru with it on 3-21 and am happy to join all of you who have had this done. I have to admit that while I was lying in recovery I said more than once " what have I done " but now know that I made a very good decision. I want to lose this weight and look and feel much better. Other than pain around the port sight ( especially when getting out of bed, etc. ) I feel ok. No gas pains, just a lot of stomach rumbling, passing gas and burping --- this is normal, right ? Please let me know if you have any suggestions or ideas for a good recovery. Thanks in advance to all of you.

Anne

Anne: Congratulations on your successful surgery. Welcome to bandland!

Yes, the port site soreness is normal - at least it was for me. It took a while before I was ready to sleep on that side. The burping and some bloating is normal too. I did it so much that I thought the Protein Shake was to blame. My dietician said that it definitely should not be the problem and I thought she must be just too busy to deal with it. However I listened to her, kept taking it and it went away. I can use it now with no adverse effects. So the tummy rumbling and all that is just part of the process.

My best to you in your journey to better health! I hope you find this forum as much fun and help as I have.

Hi! Butterflylover. Glad to hear that you are happy about your Lapband. I'm 64 yrs old and waiting anxiously to have it done. I've finished my physc evaluation and am going on Wed. to have the medical tests done. I'm nervous and excited all at one time. Just want to hurry up and get it over. I know it is a good thing to do. Will be looking forward to getting support from you and the others. Good luck.

Anne: Congratulations on your new lapband! I know how you were feeling in recovery because I felt the same way. I kept thinking why didn't I give Weight Watchers one more try? Don't be surprised if you have more of those feelings and maybe a little depression while you adjust to your new band life. It takes a while to make the necessary adjustments and to get your band adjusted so that you feel full, etc. Right now just follow your doctors guidelines and stages for your band. You'll lose some weight on the liquid diet. Remember when you go on to blended foods that you can blend soups and casseroles, etc. It's not so bad. It's really an exciting adventure. I would definetly do it all over. Please post any questions or problems that you're having and there will be lots of people willing to help you. Good luck and speedy recovery!

karey: I think Weight Watchers works for some people. For chonically overweight or obese people who have been that way for a long time, I don't think it or any of the other calorie restrictive diets work - not without some help. Otherwise why would so many of us go on them, lose weight, go off the diet, regain the weight, go on them, lose weight, go off them, regain the weight, etc? Even Weight Watchers is a place that for most people it only works as long as you're going to the meetings, counting points or calories, and all just according to their plan. We need a way to change our habits for life. If it was as simple as a diet, most of us would have been able to do it.

With the Lap Band, we still have to do careful planning of meals and be aware of what we put in our mouths. It is just a tool, and we still have to do the work ourselves, but it is a tool that helps us all the way. I know you must be really happy with your band Karey because you've had fabulous success. Just remember that it is YOU who did the work!