over 55 and banded
i would like to hear from some of you older ladies and gents like myself. I am 56 and am waiting to get an approval from my insurance and hopefully I will be on my way to losing weight.
I would really love to hear how the surgery went for you all, was it really painful, being older does it take longer to heal, and weight loss stories. thanks a lot. Your friend Mae
I would really love to hear how the surgery went for you all, was it really painful, being older does it take longer to heal, and weight loss stories. thanks a lot. Your friend Mae
Hello, this is Sheila in Butler, Al. Age 58, I had Realize band surgery 18 may and so far have lost approx. 40 lbs! I am not hungry, shaky, sick, haven't lossed any hair, etc. The surgery was a breeze, was in one day and home the next. It is a little hard to stick with the two week liquid diet, but I made sure I had plenty of soups, broth, juices, jello, etc on hand. I lost 12 lbs in those two weeks. Also when I got home and the first couple of weeks post surgery...was on liquids, full liquids, pureed foods and then reg. foods. I have not had any problems, but I do try to stick with what the doctor suggested eating, plenty of protien, like chicken and fish. I eat salads, veggies, fruits, even a little ice cream from time to time. I try not to deprive myself too much. I know my weaknesses with certain foods and stay away from them.
I have a protein shake with either half a banana, or frozen strawberries for breakfast, a little thing of cottage cheese, or yogurt for mid morning snak, lunch, I have baked chicken, or will have tuna, or salmon, sometimes even a half of pita bread with turkey and cheese. I drink mostly water, sometimes tea, or juices, but mostly water. I also keep those cheese sticks on hand, makes a great little protien filler in between meals. I eat just about what ever I want with in moderation. I stop when I am full, eat in restaurants, but ask for a to go plate, eat just about a third of my meal and take the rest home for the next day. As for excercise, well I don't do much, I do walk a lot, so that counts for something, work in the garden a couple of times a week, walk around Walmart for an hour once or twice a week, clean house once a week, so I feel I am getting some type of activitiy. I need to start going to the gym where I work to do weights and rowing machine,e tc.
Anyway, I know I am ranting on and on, but hope what I have written is some help. Everybody goes through this surgery differently, main thing is to be open minded, positive and go with the flow. You will do just fine. Again, best wishes with your surgery. Famgirl58
I have a protein shake with either half a banana, or frozen strawberries for breakfast, a little thing of cottage cheese, or yogurt for mid morning snak, lunch, I have baked chicken, or will have tuna, or salmon, sometimes even a half of pita bread with turkey and cheese. I drink mostly water, sometimes tea, or juices, but mostly water. I also keep those cheese sticks on hand, makes a great little protien filler in between meals. I eat just about what ever I want with in moderation. I stop when I am full, eat in restaurants, but ask for a to go plate, eat just about a third of my meal and take the rest home for the next day. As for excercise, well I don't do much, I do walk a lot, so that counts for something, work in the garden a couple of times a week, walk around Walmart for an hour once or twice a week, clean house once a week, so I feel I am getting some type of activitiy. I need to start going to the gym where I work to do weights and rowing machine,e tc.
Anyway, I know I am ranting on and on, but hope what I have written is some help. Everybody goes through this surgery differently, main thing is to be open minded, positive and go with the flow. You will do just fine. Again, best wishes with your surgery. Famgirl58
Thank you for answering my questions Farmgirl58. Sounds like you are doing a great job. I just hope I will too. I am still waiting on a answer from Medicare. I want to do this now that I have heard what you had to say, I am ready to start losing this weight and living again. I would love to lose around 80 lbs or more. I am sure it will make life better and a lot healthier for me. Thanks again . Kenworthlady.
KENWORTHLADY...LET ME GUESS, YOU DRIVE A TRUCK?
I know you will do just fine when all is said and done. Main thing is to be prepared, always have foods on hand you can eat, and try to follow the medical team's advice.
I went to see my surgeon this past friday...he was very pleased with my continued success. I am averaging about 2 1/2 - 3lbs a week. It has been about 14weeks since I started on my journey and so far have not had to have a fill! The longer you can hold off getting a fill the better you will fare. As you are not relying on the band fill to help you lose weight, instead you are relying on yourself to eat better and learn to eat proper food.
I am trying for 50 lbs before my first band fill. He told me I didn't have to come back to see him until October!
This weekend I pulled out some almost new jeans that I bought three years ago and then they were snug, well 4 months ago I could not even pull them together to zip up, to my surprise, when I put them on this weekend, they were loose, to the point Ihd to keep pulling them up! I am going to have to take a couple of darts in the back waist band. I figure I can wear them a couple more months and will have to buy smaller sized jeans. I have not had this experience in a LONG< LONG> time!
By spring I hope to be pretty near my goal weight and am going to have a big clothing sale, as some of these clothes are almost brand new!
Anyway, best wishes and great success. Let me know how you are doing from time to time.
Sincerely, Farmgirl58
I know you will do just fine when all is said and done. Main thing is to be prepared, always have foods on hand you can eat, and try to follow the medical team's advice.
I went to see my surgeon this past friday...he was very pleased with my continued success. I am averaging about 2 1/2 - 3lbs a week. It has been about 14weeks since I started on my journey and so far have not had to have a fill! The longer you can hold off getting a fill the better you will fare. As you are not relying on the band fill to help you lose weight, instead you are relying on yourself to eat better and learn to eat proper food.
I am trying for 50 lbs before my first band fill. He told me I didn't have to come back to see him until October!
This weekend I pulled out some almost new jeans that I bought three years ago and then they were snug, well 4 months ago I could not even pull them together to zip up, to my surprise, when I put them on this weekend, they were loose, to the point Ihd to keep pulling them up! I am going to have to take a couple of darts in the back waist band. I figure I can wear them a couple more months and will have to buy smaller sized jeans. I have not had this experience in a LONG< LONG> time!
By spring I hope to be pretty near my goal weight and am going to have a big clothing sale, as some of these clothes are almost brand new!
Anyway, best wishes and great success. Let me know how you are doing from time to time.
Sincerely, Farmgirl58
Hi Farmgirl58, You are right I did drive a truck, All that truck stop food got the best of me lol. And getting hardly any exercise on top of that.
Sounds like you are doing great. I would be sooooo happy to lose 21/2 or3 lbs a week. I can't wait to get started.
Still waiting to hear from my insurance which is Medicare. Hopeing to be approved. Have all tests and paperwork turned in and just waiting.
I am not driving now so I think once I have surgery I can get control of my weight by having a little help with the realize band.
Wow doesn't it feel great to get a pair of jeans out that were almost to small and now are almost to big. Can't wait for that feeling to happen to me.
I have been buying up jeans that I like that won't fit now, but I am going to have fun making them fit, and I will be so happy to get rid of my fat clothes forever. You know they never do make cute fat clothes anyway. hehehehehe Look like burlap bags or something.
I am excited to know that I can wear cute clothes again, very soon I hope.
You keep up the good work and keep me posted on your progress.
Way to Go your friend Kenworthlady
Sounds like you are doing great. I would be sooooo happy to lose 21/2 or3 lbs a week. I can't wait to get started.
Still waiting to hear from my insurance which is Medicare. Hopeing to be approved. Have all tests and paperwork turned in and just waiting.
I am not driving now so I think once I have surgery I can get control of my weight by having a little help with the realize band.
Wow doesn't it feel great to get a pair of jeans out that were almost to small and now are almost to big. Can't wait for that feeling to happen to me.
I have been buying up jeans that I like that won't fit now, but I am going to have fun making them fit, and I will be so happy to get rid of my fat clothes forever. You know they never do make cute fat clothes anyway. hehehehehe Look like burlap bags or something.
I am excited to know that I can wear cute clothes again, very soon I hope.
You keep up the good work and keep me posted on your progress.
Way to Go your friend Kenworthlady
Hello Kenworthlady...good to hear from you. You sound very upbeat which will be aplus for you when you are banded. I can say it was the best thing I could have done for myself.
As for clothing...not going to buy anything new until around Dec. when I get ready to drive to Virginia to visit family. By then all the clothes I do have now will be WAY TO BIG!! I have about 43 lbs off now...by Christmas hope to have about 55 or so. MOre the better, but will settle for what ever the scales read, as long as it is on the downside. I am hoping to have about 10 more off when I see my doc again in Oct.
Hope you hear from your insurance soon. Keep up the positive thinking...you will do just fine.
I too can't wait to feel comfortable in shorts, tank tops, and bathing suit! I also want to buy a pair of leather jeans! Oh my, my fella would love that! LOl I know, I am being somewhat naughty, but he likes me that way! He is my biggest supporter, every time he comes home, he tells me how good I am looking, which makes me feel good.
Hope to hear from you again real soon....can I put you on my friends list? Farmgirl58
As for clothing...not going to buy anything new until around Dec. when I get ready to drive to Virginia to visit family. By then all the clothes I do have now will be WAY TO BIG!! I have about 43 lbs off now...by Christmas hope to have about 55 or so. MOre the better, but will settle for what ever the scales read, as long as it is on the downside. I am hoping to have about 10 more off when I see my doc again in Oct.
Hope you hear from your insurance soon. Keep up the positive thinking...you will do just fine.
I too can't wait to feel comfortable in shorts, tank tops, and bathing suit! I also want to buy a pair of leather jeans! Oh my, my fella would love that! LOl I know, I am being somewhat naughty, but he likes me that way! He is my biggest supporter, every time he comes home, he tells me how good I am looking, which makes me feel good.
Hope to hear from you again real soon....can I put you on my friends list? Farmgirl58
Hi Farmgirl, sure add me to your friend list, I love friends the more the merrier, right. lol. Wow you are doing great. When you go to Virginia your family has a big surprise in store, they will be soooooooo proud of you, I am.
And don't forget to let some of the skinny girls that hurt your feelings see you now. lol. Who knows you may catch their mens eye, lol. that would be funny. REVENGE lol.
And clothes, I quit buying clothes too. I am gonna not be wearing my fat clothes much longer so why buy more, lol. I will be so glad to give them to someone else.
I too would love to be able to wear tank tops, and shorts, who knows maybe daisy duke shorts lol. And of course the leather jeans, I have a leather jacket to go with them, lol.
How many fills have you had so far, and are they painful?
Sounds like you have a great guy there for support also. That will help you along the way I am sure.
Well I am still sitting by the phone, and watching the mailbox for a word of GO get ur done, lol. I am ready to get started here, just think by next year around this time we will be hotties. lol.
good to hear from you. Keep me posted on your success.
I will let you know when they give me the go ahead. hopefully it willl be soon.
Your Friend Kenworthlady
And don't forget to let some of the skinny girls that hurt your feelings see you now. lol. Who knows you may catch their mens eye, lol. that would be funny. REVENGE lol.
And clothes, I quit buying clothes too. I am gonna not be wearing my fat clothes much longer so why buy more, lol. I will be so glad to give them to someone else.
I too would love to be able to wear tank tops, and shorts, who knows maybe daisy duke shorts lol. And of course the leather jeans, I have a leather jacket to go with them, lol.
How many fills have you had so far, and are they painful?
Sounds like you have a great guy there for support also. That will help you along the way I am sure.
Well I am still sitting by the phone, and watching the mailbox for a word of GO get ur done, lol. I am ready to get started here, just think by next year around this time we will be hotties. lol.
good to hear from you. Keep me posted on your success.
I will let you know when they give me the go ahead. hopefully it willl be soon.
Your Friend Kenworthlady
Hey Kenworth lady...keep the letters coming...anything I can do to help you along with your journey. As for how many fills I have had....NONE so far. The doctor told me the longer I wait for a fill, the better I will do, as it tells him I am learning to eat properly and follow the program, will be more successful in keeping the weight off. So far so good. I did tell him when I got 50lbs off might consider a small fill before the holidays to help keep me in check when I go home to Virginia for Christmas. The holidays are killers for a weight loss program!
As for us being hotties, think they call us Cougars now! Hell, I am almost a young senior, just another year and half will see the big "60", but I sure do not feel like it. I have been working with young sailors for many years, so being around them keeps me feeling young. At least with my tonage off, will be able to keep up with them at work!
Hats off to you....hope you get the word soon to have the surgery. You will be happy you did it. I know I sure am one happy lady these days since my surgery.
Take care....FArmgirl58 (Sheila)
As for us being hotties, think they call us Cougars now! Hell, I am almost a young senior, just another year and half will see the big "60", but I sure do not feel like it. I have been working with young sailors for many years, so being around them keeps me feeling young. At least with my tonage off, will be able to keep up with them at work!
Hats off to you....hope you get the word soon to have the surgery. You will be happy you did it. I know I sure am one happy lady these days since my surgery.
Take care....FArmgirl58 (Sheila)