That's great! I had a 15 pound weight gain and have managed to get 8.2 pounds off. Here in Philadelphia is warm and humid and the weekend shows some rain. Since it is my weekend off I plan to go camping for some rest and relaxation with a little hiking thrown in for good measure.

Everyone have a great Friday and weekend.

Hi,

Thought I would update about my life, good and bad things.

In August, I went kayaking for the first time. It was really fun and enjoyed it. Also went to a Christian music festival and went by myself until the people I knew showed up. It's hard for doing things by myself so I consider that a win and I enjoyed myself.

Finally getting some help with binge eating but this week was hard on me, my SIL was diagnosed with liver cancer in June and she passed away on Tuesday so my eating been out of control. Starting tomorrow I will get back to my plan and do better.

Hope everyone is doing good.

I really miss the action on here, so I hope people come back and start posting.

Yvonne

i had the Lap Band procedure many years ago, and at the time, had over 100 pounds to lose - although I initially lost some weight, I was unable to lose all 100 pounds. At the time, my internist suggested RNY; however I was too afraid - I now have even more weight to lose, and my internist is again suggesting RNY - with removal of the band - I am over 55 years of age - I feel like a failure, and with my weight still on and age creeping, I am beginning to somewhat panic - as said, my internist is again encouraging me to seek RNY - she does not see my age as a barrier - however, I'm still concerned - would so love to hear success stories from those have had RNY over 55 (I'm 58) -- thank you so much --

Regain can happen. 5 lbs here, 5 lbs there. And before you know it - you are up 20-30 lbs. you did not gain all the weight in just a few months or a year. It just piled up, year after year, little her, more there.

A year post op RNY I lost bit too much and I had some complications so at one time I had a problem eating enough to gain. So I stopped tracking, I started drinking wine with my dinner. Way too much wine. But wine helped me get more food in me without being in pain after. I stopped just moving around (exercise). And gradually, over 2 years, I gained 35 lbs. 10 of it was on purpose - the rest - just came along. But I still was "normal" size 8-10-12. Hardly "a big person". But my back went out again... and my doc told me to lose 20 lbs. So I did. Losing the regain was a very hard work. And long. But I have my tool, and the pain was the motivation I needed.

So - now I am back to "skinny" but still with back pain, issues. Stuff happens. My weight and couple of car accident probably contributed to the herniated disks. Things like that happens to skinny people as well.

At least now - the pain can be better controlled. Except I can't take NSAIDs (Advil, ibuprofen, etc) and need to deal with the root cause - the spine.

But i am no longer told - lose the weight the back gets better. As you know there is obesity prejudice in medical field.

"I am tired all the time" - "Because you are heavy, lose weight."

My back hurts - "Because you are heavy, lose weight."

"I have allergies" - "Because you are heavy, lose weight."

etc etc..

do I regret RNY? Yes and no. Yes - because I had it very late in life so my body was already damaged - but RNY makes some condition worse. (i.e. food allergies, intolerances) ;

No- because now - I am " a Skinny *****" they have to deal with me and my conditions.

I.e. like Adrenal Deficiencies - that I probably had before RNY and I was "treating" that with coffee and sugar. The "pick me up stuff" when you have no energy to keep going, but you have to.

it is easier to deal with age related stuff when I am no longer size 20 but size 6. Even spinal injections are easier for docs to do, MRI - no problem with space in the machines. etc etc.

but - WLS- is just a tool for us - if you are dedicated - and plan to be dedicated - you will lose weight.

if you are very dedicated - you will keep it off. IMO _ losing weight is easy - with or without surgery. keeping it off is much easier post op RNY than it was ever for me. But I had to completely change what I eat. How much - as long as I make good choices - my pouch limits my qty.

I have a few friends who still think that the surgery should do more for them - they still eat the same foods as before RNY - just smaller qty. And they regained. Slowly regained. At least 50% of what they lost. Plus - they deal with health challenges post op RNY like vitamin-mineral deficiencies.

if I have to deal with the negative consequences of RNY - I better have something to show for it - like a size 6 body, with a relatively low body fat %.

I worry about older age - and possible nursing home. If I have WLS today -I would opt for VSG. I would gladly "gain" 20-30 lbs in return to a more normal life. Ability to eat "everyday" foods like a bite of pasta or a birthday cake without getting sick.

But - VSG can cause a severe GERD. So anyone who already has that may not be a good candidate for VSG.

Sorry for a long post.

HA ! agree...and thanks so much. I am already starting to work through the food changes and 'thinking' changes needed.