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restarting at 62



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Hello,

I had my surgery in June 2011. I have been in mourning and in therapy since my S.O. committed suicide the day I had my surgery.

Long story, but here I am mentally ready to restart my weight loss journey--at 62yrs old.

Am I too old to start all over?

Is there anyone out there that would be willing to give my badly needed support? I live in RURAL upstate NY and am literally alone.

I made an appointment to see a nutritionist this Tues.. I thought that would be a good place to start, since I have forgotten almost everything that I learned pre-op, and I have a SEVERE allergy to soy and a lesser allergy to all other legumes.

I guess what I really am looking for is a friend or two. I need a friend right now.

Valentina

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I'm so sorry for your loss.

Of course you can start over at 62. There are folks here who had their surgeries later than that. I'm over 60, and I'm preop. You've had your surgery and have healed from it, so you're ahead of the game.

Starting out by revisiting the rules is a terrific idea and a great place to start. Congratulations on getting to this point in recovery from your loss. Now it's time to take care of yourself and the investment in your health you made when you had your surgery. There are lots of friendly cheerleaders here!

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@@Valentina, you've clearly taken great strides in the past several years. You're never too old to start or resume something. To me you are a spring chicken. I was 61 1/2 when I had surgery, and how often do we count the half years?

An R.D. is a great place to start. I hope your appointment is with an R.D. rather than a nutritionist and that the individual is knowledgeable about the nutritional needs and consumption capacity of someone who's had sleeve surgery.

You'll find support here in BP. Another excellent source of support is an in-person, bariatric support group. I urge you to attend the meetings held by your practice and/or others in your area. Most welcome outside patients to the meetings.

Welcome aboard.

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Thank you all! I am beginning to feel the warmth and friendship that I felt when I was on this site back in 2011. There IS light at the end of the tunnel. It's been a long dark journey, but I can see the light peeking through. :)

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Is there a support group for those struggling to hang on?

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Is there a support group for those struggling to hang on?

I found one not too far away and attended my first meeting last week. They only meet once a month, so I'm still looking for another. Thank you for the kind words.

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Not quite sure what you mean by "struggling to hang on." But you can start a thread of any kind and try to attract followers / comments -- that could serve as an online support group.

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@@Valentina, the next time you go out during daylight hours, turn your face upward and feel the sun.

Interesting expression. I literally used to ask God, "How can the sun shine? How can everyone just carry on with their lives. Don't they see that I'm dying?. Am I completely invisible?"

I don't know if you are old enough to remember the song with the lyrics, "why do the birds go on singing? -----------------can't they see it's the end of the world?" That is exactly how I felt.

BUT, now here I am--a wee bit slow getting out of the gate, but watch my stride!!!!

Thank you for your words. They actually had me smiling and humming. Thank you ever so much.

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Thank you for your words. They actually had me smiling and humming. Thank you ever so much.

I'm glad, very glad, and thank you for letting me know. Keep humming. Sing, too. It feels good. It's life-affirming.

Yes, I know the song. It's the one you should sing just for starters.

Edited by WLSResources/ClothingExch

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How are you doing? I'm almost 2 years out. I've gained the last few months after a shoulder surgery. I need help and a friend too.

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I am struggling. I gained about 10 lbs since Thanksgiving. I have a terrible time at night. How about you?

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How are you doing? I'm almost 2 years out. I've gained the last few months after a shoulder surgery. I need help and a friend too.

I am back on track and leaving dust behind!!

Of course, I will be your friend and if I can help you in ANY way, please do not hesitate to ask.

My sleeve is still viable and now that I'm back WORKING WITH "Sleevy" instead of against him, I'm losing weight again.

I had spinal surgery which is limiting my exercising right now, but I am having P.T. in the pool, so for now that is my exercise--and it's a good workout.

Be healthy, and let's keep in touch!!!

Valentina

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I am struggling. I gained about 10 lbs since Thanksgiving. I have a terrible time at night. How about you?

Night time was my downfall. I have to get up every couple of hours to stretch my back and would just "graze".

I moved my bedroom upstairs away from the kitchen. I also take a Greek yogurt to bed with me along with a glass of crystal light.

If you're up and about, come onto this site. If I'm not here, there is usually some other night owl to chat with...

ZZZZZZZZZZ, :)

Valentina

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Is there a chat room?

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    • LeighaTR

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      · 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. 💗

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    • 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!

    • 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. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
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