Hoping and Planning and Wondering...
Thank you. That is very interesting. I am a realtor and thus self-employed. I am hoping that I won't need to take too much time work because if I do I won't be able to afford to eat!
I have surgery many times before (which may make this surgery tougher) so I am familiar with post op pain. A few days with pain killers to get over the hump have worked for me in the past.
I am hoping that I can prepare food for myself preop and freeze it so that there won't be very much prep to do once I am home. I don't think I will have much help at home so I will need to be pretty self sufficient. Something I am used to.
I want to congratulate you, Judy, on your ongoing success. You are an inspiration!
Carol
I have surgery many times before (which may make this surgery tougher) so I am familiar with post op pain. A few days with pain killers to get over the hump have worked for me in the past.
I am hoping that I can prepare food for myself preop and freeze it so that there won't be very much prep to do once I am home. I don't think I will have much help at home so I will need to be pretty self sufficient. Something I am used to.
I want to congratulate you, Judy, on your ongoing success. You are an inspiration!
Carol
Hey Carol! Welcome to OH
i attended the information session in August 2010. I saw the surgeon, dietitian and social worker in the fall of 2010. I had a sleep test in December 2010, saw the surgeon again in January 2011, and had surgery on March 2, 2011.
59 isn't too old. As long as your BMI fits the criteria, and there's nothing in your health history that makes you a risk for surgery, you should be accepted. The Social Worker and dietitian will assess your readiness to change your eating habits.
stick around here to get info, ask your questions, etc.
Welcome!
Monica
i attended the information session in August 2010. I saw the surgeon, dietitian and social worker in the fall of 2010. I had a sleep test in December 2010, saw the surgeon again in January 2011, and had surgery on March 2, 2011.
59 isn't too old. As long as your BMI fits the criteria, and there's nothing in your health history that makes you a risk for surgery, you should be accepted. The Social Worker and dietitian will assess your readiness to change your eating habits.
stick around here to get info, ask your questions, etc.
Welcome!
Monica
CanDoItFour
on 5/21/12 12:12 am - Canada
on 5/21/12 12:12 am - Canada
Hi Carol
I joined the program at 59 and had my surgery 6 months later at TWH. In my interviews I stressed that :
(1) I had many, many years of failed efforts, and I now truly realized that if I didn't do something about my weight ASAP I wouldn't get another chance.
(2) I was in a good place in my life to take on this challenge (reduced work stress, family grown, supportive husband, etc.)
(3) After years of self indulgence with food, I believed I was finally ready to give up my comfort foods and find other ways to cope - because I had to!!!
As it turned out, I not only said it, but it was true too (haha)!
Good luck with everything.
Claire
High Weigh 348
Current weight 140
Surgery 15 months ago
Age - 61 in June 2012
I joined the program at 59 and had my surgery 6 months later at TWH. In my interviews I stressed that :
(1) I had many, many years of failed efforts, and I now truly realized that if I didn't do something about my weight ASAP I wouldn't get another chance.
(2) I was in a good place in my life to take on this challenge (reduced work stress, family grown, supportive husband, etc.)
(3) After years of self indulgence with food, I believed I was finally ready to give up my comfort foods and find other ways to cope - because I had to!!!
As it turned out, I not only said it, but it was true too (haha)!
Good luck with everything.
Claire
High Weigh 348
Current weight 140
Surgery 15 months ago
Age - 61 in June 2012
Wow! Congratulations on your amazing success! I too have struggled for many, many years with my weight and do believe that I am ready for this. The only error I have made is sharing my plans with others, all of whom are slim. I constantly hear "Just don't eat sweets. You should just get out and exercise more".
One thing I have done is to demonstrate to some friends is this. In an attempt to indrease my bone density I purchased a weighted vest. It has 20 little pockets in which a one pound weight fits. I have asked a couple of friends to try on the jacket an the spend a half hour wearing it while doing such things as gardening etc. As I have 100 lbs to lose, I tell them that I am carrying around 5 times what that vest weighs! And, in terms of the eating, I just hope that my sweet cravings disappear. That is a huge downfall for me.
Thanks for sharing!
Carol
One thing I have done is to demonstrate to some friends is this. In an attempt to indrease my bone density I purchased a weighted vest. It has 20 little pockets in which a one pound weight fits. I have asked a couple of friends to try on the jacket an the spend a half hour wearing it while doing such things as gardening etc. As I have 100 lbs to lose, I tell them that I am carrying around 5 times what that vest weighs! And, in terms of the eating, I just hope that my sweet cravings disappear. That is a huge downfall for me.
Thanks for sharing!
Carol
CanDoItFour
on 5/21/12 1:30 am - Canada
on 5/21/12 1:30 am - Canada
What an amazing idea - I bet that made them sit up and take notice!
One of the recurring themes you will see on here is how to deal with others regarding the weight loss surgery decision. Some OHer's are very open, others very private. Some friends and family are marvelously supportive, others are derogatory and dismissive. This is a toughie. My approach was to pick my spots carefully. Some know - lots don't. It' was a hard enough decision to go with the surgery at all; and in my case, I wasn't prepared to deal with the downer of having to debate it with naysayers. This was perhaps selfish on my part, but for me a big part of the mind change required for success was starting to put myself FIRST instead of last. This was a first step. And this forum is my lifeline!!!
As for sweet cravings (my downfall too!), I am managing OK now and the word binge hasn't really been a factor for me since the surgery. The little pouch makes a huge difference of course, but the revised eating plan which emphasises protein (which I used to HATE) really helps tremendously. Now, if I eat a protein bar which is sweet and crunchy when I have a sweet craving, I can manage just fine.
Again good luck. In my opinion - it's definitely worth it.
Claire
One of the recurring themes you will see on here is how to deal with others regarding the weight loss surgery decision. Some OHer's are very open, others very private. Some friends and family are marvelously supportive, others are derogatory and dismissive. This is a toughie. My approach was to pick my spots carefully. Some know - lots don't. It' was a hard enough decision to go with the surgery at all; and in my case, I wasn't prepared to deal with the downer of having to debate it with naysayers. This was perhaps selfish on my part, but for me a big part of the mind change required for success was starting to put myself FIRST instead of last. This was a first step. And this forum is my lifeline!!!
As for sweet cravings (my downfall too!), I am managing OK now and the word binge hasn't really been a factor for me since the surgery. The little pouch makes a huge difference of course, but the revised eating plan which emphasises protein (which I used to HATE) really helps tremendously. Now, if I eat a protein bar which is sweet and crunchy when I have a sweet craving, I can manage just fine.
Again good luck. In my opinion - it's definitely worth it.
Claire
Hi Claire,
I'm thinking of wearing the weighted jacket to my first meeting if that is when they weigh me. That would clearly put me over the BMI of 40!
I just finished a bowl of ice cream and I am feeling like a drug addict waiting to be accepted into rehab!
Thank you, and thanks to everyone for all the support! This forum is wonderful, really wonderful.
Carol
I'm thinking of wearing the weighted jacket to my first meeting if that is when they weigh me. That would clearly put me over the BMI of 40!
I just finished a bowl of ice cream and I am feeling like a drug addict waiting to be accepted into rehab!
Thank you, and thanks to everyone for all the support! This forum is wonderful, really wonderful.
Carol
Hey Carol:
My BMI is 39 also I think. I thought I was 5'7" but when Dr. Hagen measured me he said I was 5'4" so that put me to the 39, now when I when for my last appt with him, it was late in the day, I left my shoes on, my jacket on and I was wearing jeans and I was over BMI 40. I asked what would happen if I lost too much weight on Opti fast and my BMI came too far down and he said that would just make his job easier, so I'm not really sure what my BMI really is today but don't put yourself on a stretching rack to get taller. It might not be in your best interest. I also have severe sleep apnea and hypertension. He told me arthritis doesn't count as a co-morbidity because "skinny people have sore joints also".
Laurie :))
My BMI is 39 also I think. I thought I was 5'7" but when Dr. Hagen measured me he said I was 5'4" so that put me to the 39, now when I when for my last appt with him, it was late in the day, I left my shoes on, my jacket on and I was wearing jeans and I was over BMI 40. I asked what would happen if I lost too much weight on Opti fast and my BMI came too far down and he said that would just make his job easier, so I'm not really sure what my BMI really is today but don't put yourself on a stretching rack to get taller. It might not be in your best interest. I also have severe sleep apnea and hypertension. He told me arthritis doesn't count as a co-morbidity because "skinny people have sore joints also".
Laurie :))
Surgery: June 11, 2012--Dr. Starr--Humber
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