The Redhead

Here' my info... 1) 47 2) Overweight all my life 3) Lost and gained probably 6 times (major losses) with an average 60 lb loss. 4) Haven't noticed a difference yet with weight loss after lap band surgery but I haven't had my first fill. 5) Lately not really losing... just maintaining and hoping my first fill makes things click.

Hi everyone. :-h I'm curious about something and wondering if how we lose has anything to do with it. I have been overweight my whole life (at times over 100 lbs overweight). But even with the band I'm really having a hard time losing weight. Granted, I haven't had my first fill yet and I know that should make a difference. Also, I'm 47 and I 'think' being over 40 makes it harder to lose weight. I have lost and gained, lost and gained numerous times but can't hold the weight off. So I'm wondering if us 'life-long fluffies' lose slower than those that are 'newer fluffies'. Also, I am wondering if a pattern of losing and gaining makes it harder to lose. So I'm wondering... 1) How old are you? Or age range - [ 0-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40+] 2) Have you been overweight your whole life or did you gain weight as a result of pregnancies, surgeries... or whatever. (You don't need to add the details if you don't want... just whether there was 'an event' that you feel made you start gaining). 3) How many times have you lost and gained (approximate times and how much on average). 4) After lap band surgery has your weight been coming off easier than when you dieted before? 5) What is your average weekly weight loss?

Paula, You're a HOOT!! You're SO funny! I love your posts and I'd love to meet you some time in person. You're doing great on the weight loss! Denise

I'm excited for you Cathy. I'm counting the days too!

I'm scheduled for my first fill on May 29th. My boyfriend and I are going to Vegas on May 26th and popping over to San Diego on the 29th. I'm getting my fill in the afternoon and then returning to Vegas that night for a bit more gambling. We return home to British Columbia on the 30th.

WOW!!! You look absolutely FANTASTIC!!! Keep up the great work! (I'm jealous)!

Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday dear Paula Bee, Happy Birthday to you!

LMAO.... you're too funny!!

I got all the way to Tijuana and realized I left it at home. It was no big deal because I'd already faxed my information to them.

:-h Hey everyone, My name is Denise and I'm 47 years old. I have 2 kids; a daughter 18 (almost 19 and legal drinking age in Canada...groan) and a son 16, that lives, eats and breathes bicycling. They are both super terrific kids and we are all really quite close. I'm a single mom; divorced for almost 5 years. I have a incredible boyfriend that I met just over a year ago through Internet dating. (WOW... can you ever meet some wackos doing that... ) I got lucky when I met my boyfriend though because we 'clicked' instantly. We moved in together 2 weeks later and for the first time in my life I feel like I've met the man for me. Every day we're together gets better and better. In my spare time ( ) I enjoy gardening, going to auctions (my kids tell me I'm auction-addicted), traveling and up to recently... eating. I have had weight problems all my life. At 12 years old I weighed 225. And let me tell you, its HELL being a fat kid in school. I have dieted up and down many, many times and at one point I hit my lowest point of 135 lbs (which didn't last long). I have tried every diet possible. In my late teens (early 20's) I did a weight loss clinic diet that limited you to 700 calories a day. I lost almost 80 lbs in 3 months and also passed out numerous times. Once I started eating again I gained all the weight back. The last time I lost weight (50 lbs) I knew that I would have to keep it off because it was SO HARD to lose it. Of course I didn't keep it off and gained back almost all of it. Every time I have tried to diet since I have ended up gaining more weight than I lost. Last Summer my kids, boyfriend, sister and her husband went camping. There were lots of pictures taken on that trip. Usually I run away when the camera was pulled out but unfortunately (groan) I didn't get away for all of them. When I saw the results I was sick to my stomach. I knew I had to do something now because I'm not getting any younger. After much research I sent an email to the OCC and ... the rest is history. I had lap band surgery on April 10, 2008.

I wore the hospital gown and those gorgeous paper panties... but I had a long soft robe I covered everything up with.

Happy Solids Day Brook! My new mantra is 'small bite, chew, chew, chew, chew, etc.,'.

I'm 47 as well. I knew I had to do something about my weight because it has been an issue for me my whole life. If I didn't do something soon I would be 50 and fatter, 60 and still fatter, etc., ...I may get older, BUT I'M GOING TO LOOK DARN GOOD DOING IT!!!! :lb21: :cheerleader: :lb21: :lb21:

Hi Carrie, You should have been given a pre-op diet (with all the other paperwork) by email when you booked your surgery. I emailed Dr. Miranda once prior to my surgery but other than that I didn't talk to her until my surgery day. Even though you have a low BMI you will still need to do the pre-op and lose weight (actually fat around your liver) prior to the surgery. When you book you usually are told how much you will need to lose. My BMI was also low and I was told to lose 8 lbs. ...though I didn't lose that much. Congratulations on your upcoming surgery day. :lb21: :cheerleader: Denise

Hi Michelle, Great idea! Thanks. =D> I'm going for the gold as well. I'll use my new, barely broken-in treadmill and take my old dog on some short walks around the neighborhood. :lb25:

I remember listening to a radio talk show once about how bad pop was for you, especially diet pop. I quit drinking pop for over a year. It was a bit of a struggle at first but now (before banding) I couldn't drink a whole can of pop at once if I tried. I was just reading something interesting on the net about how diet pop makes us fatter. This is the link... hope it works. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/06/13/...ain701408.shtml

Hi Brook. I've had some solids already but they're not going down so well. Everything seems to get stuck and believe me, that's NOT a good feeling. I'm hoping it gets a bit better as time does along. Although, ...sadly... food is losing some of its romance for me. ...wait... is that a good thing or a bad?

Cinco de Mayo is just a few days away. Who is going to be in Mexico for the celebrations? I think I'll celebrate my 3 weeks post-op by celebrating Cinco de Mayo at home. Bring on the Margaritas... ...easy on the enchiladas... :girl_dance:

Welcome to Bandland and a whole new healthy life!! :lb21: :lb10: :lb24: :lb9: :lb21: :cheerleader: :lb21: :lb16: :lb21:

EXCELLENT WORK MICHELLE!!! You look amazing! Your inches are just melting away! Great work! You are a true inspiration!! :lb21: :lb24: :lb21: =D> :lb21: :cheerleader:

You guys are amazing! What willpower! I couldn't get those things into my mouth without chewing and swallowing them! :lb24: If I lick... I chew, I swallow!

Congratulations Ute! Welcome to Badland! :lb21: :lb10: :lb21: :lb9: :lb21: :lb16:

Come on Michelle. We're all here waiting for you. Let's check it out.

Eating and drinking (anything) at the same time.

Shannon, Congratulations on your incredible weight loss! You're amazing! I'm wondering though... If the saline solution that they use to inflate the band leaks out, where does it go? Hmmm... If I stood on my head after would it end up in my boobs? ...nahhhh... with my luck it'd drop down and go straight to my butt! <just kidding>.