massindex

I've done a number of triathlons since getting my sleeve so maybe I can help. Starting with sprints is the way to go. Surprisingly, the swim will be the hardest because of the stretching our of the abdomen and the general issues people have with open Water swimming. It's not like the pool where you can rest or push off from a wall. Only open water practice seems to help. Just set yourself a number of goals (i.e., just want to finish, etc) and starting working at it. Don't over train and don't do a lot of brick workouts (back to back like biking and then running). You need to do some of them but just focus on something like 2 days swimming, 2 days running and 1 day biking, Take 2 days a week off to recover and allow your body to heal. Diet becomes REALLY important. You'll have add some carbs into your diet or you'll hit a wall fast. Water is real important especially leading into a race. You should be hydrating leading into a race for a week but make sure it's not just water, you'll need electrolytes. My routine is: Monday - Open Water swimming 1.5 to 2 miles Tuesday - Running 3-5 miles Wednesday - Open Water swimming 1.5 to 2 miles Thursday off Friday - Running 3-5 miles Saturday - Biking 30-50 miles Sunday off I do some work on transitions like practicing to get out of wetsuit, clipping in and out of bike, etc., as well. Join a Tri Club in your area also. There is a wealth of information people will share with you. Hope that helps and if you have any questions, please feel free to message me.

Wihtout knowing your height / weight and exercise routine, I wouldn't be able to get too detailed. 1,200 to 1,500 calories is quite a bit at this stage. The items you listed run about 950 calories so there must be other items not included here. Take a step back and once or twice a week go to protein drinks and water for the day. Shaking your body up a little can help bring you out of a stall.

Mush some ripe banana and mix it with greek yogurt for the extra potasium and it should help.

You also might want to add a sports drink to your diet, probably one with at least 30 mg of potassium per 8 oz of water.

Very common, especially just after the surgery. Dizziness usually occurs when too much time passes between meals, or is an early warning sign of dehydration. Lack of food or loss of bodily fluid interrupts the body’s physiological process; the electrolytes get out of balance. Increase your water first then look to eat, depending on what stage you are at.

Most of us here are either compulsive or food addicts of one sort or another. That's why we take the drastic step of having permanent surgery to assist us. I replaced my food addicition with an addiction to exercise - healthier but something I still fight with. You've recognized the issue. I had to get the bad things in my house out (I just threw them out one day and told my wife that I can't have them around, I'm not strong enough yet) and make sure that temptation was out of my reach, When I have these issues it's because I don't have the right choices near enough to me. I make sure that I have lots of cold water and flavored waters in the house as well as the right items to eat in the house, especially protein. For me, that snack choice is beef or turkey jerky. It's expensive but it gets me through the difficult times, it's low in calories and high in protein. Keep working and remind yourself that it's one day at a time, just like any 12 step program.

I had the same thing about one month out. You didn't do anything wrong. Avocado is a good fat and shrimp is a perfect protein. 22 pounds in 6 weeks is great. Keep rocking your sleeve!

Sorry, I wasn't meaning to make you feel bad. I'm dealing with a niece who had the operation before I did and her BMI is still in the upper 30's two years later. She justifies her choices along the way after we looked at two weeks worth of choices she made. It was still on my mind and you didn't deserve that. I think we want everyone to succeed here and a little apple juice now and then isn't going to hurt anyone.

It's also used in ice cream yet somehow we don't blame it for that

Don't discount wha he is saying though. This is a permanent step, there is no going back. I chose it because I was out of options and I needed to make permanent changes that only the surgery could do. If the diet, training and supplements can make the lifestyle changes you need to make your life better, then go that route. This is the tool that got me to make the changes I needed so ultimately it was my right choice.

Not really quiet. Just can't get a word in sometimes...

The simple explaination is water or any other drinks taken during meals dilute digestive enzymes and stomach acids. These are essential to helping break down the food and absorb nutrients. Additionally. since it's harder to break down the food, the stomach may produce more acids, which could result in heartburn or acid reflux. A lot of people here mention that they have heartburn / acid reflux and this is one of the causes.

I too am over 50 and I enjoy your telling it like is. This is just a tool. If we make the right decisions, it helps. If we make the wrong decisions, it's useless. Keep it up. You body is eating away the fat and you are seeing NSVs. Sounds like a success story to me.

You can get sweetness from something like Crystal Light or Mio without the calories of a fruit juice. Remember the choices you make determine the success of your operation. It's not given that you will succeed unless you make the right choices.

There are a lot of things in this world we can control and even more that we can't control. Those fears are very normal. Be at peace with your choices and know that those that you have put your faith in also want the best for you.

I have a couple 100 calorie Smart-Pop bags a week now that I'm on maintenance. Most people find that they can eat most of the things they had pre-surgery once they reach their weight loss goal. This sleeve is just a tool and it helps us break bad habits. I eat entirely different now and I forced myself to stop those bad habits. I've eliminated breads, rice and most pastas (still do whole wheat once a month or so) and I've just learned to not miss it. Instead, I look at certain items as rewards for good behavior, like after a hard workout, instead of trying to help me feel better when I'm down. I don't mourn food loss but I celebrate my new thin, healthy self instead. It's changed my thinking 180 degrees.

I'm glad you spoke up, CrazyCatLady. When I said it's major surgery, I meant that it's not for everyone and this is something everyone should consider when thinking about it. If it was easy or perfect, why wouldn't everyone do it? It's not something we can do over, after all. If we set unreasonable expectations at the beginning then there will be more dissatisified VSGers. I only meant to say that everyone's recovery is not the same nor are the results the same. I'd really like to see how you feel in 6 months. I'm hoping you that you will feel differently but that's not to minimize what you are feeling now. I wish you the best.

You're just 6 weeks after major surgery. You've had a few issues but I'd like to hear back from you after 6 months.

If you fall below 40 BMI, they likely would deny you coverage. If an insurance company can find a reason to deny you, they will. For my wife, it was 35 (I'm self-pay so it didn't matter but I was 50+ anyway). We kept her at that weight until the day of the surgery just to make sure it wouldn't happen.

Could I eat a 6" subway? Maybe... I don't eat bread since the sleeve so I wouldn't try it. I eat more now than before and pretty much anything I want. My self-control is much better, not perfect but definitely better.

I'm a little more than 15 months and I'm at maintenance. I'm 6' 4" and started at my highest at 427 lbs, now I weigh 192 lbs. Probably some more out there with similiar numbers.

Great attitude. Rock your sleevina!

Absolutely, without hesitation.

That's what it is for! Really good for biking!

i second the motion on the anti-monkey butt powder. It's good stuff.