aroundhky

Way to go!! Sounds like your body fat is starting to get low and lean! Last year I noticed the veins in my arms for the first time since I was in college I guess. They are always there some when relaxed, but when I lift....whoa!!! They really pop out when I'm in an intense lifting session. Not to be too crass......but they look like huge, veiny "c*ck arms" when I lift! Actually grosses me out if I look at them too long then.

Not really. But again, I don't think I gave it enough time before my small tub of casein ran out and I failed to buy more. I've been meaning to circle back around to it and use it some more. I think I will try it again soon.

Congrats on having the surgery! I hear ya on the working out and the sense of control it brings! I started lifting a little earlier than I was supposed to. My Dr told me about 4-6 weeks weeks post op, but I started about 2-3 weeks post op. The reason he wanted me to wait was only due to the fact that my abdomen had been cut on and cut through all layers, requiring a slow recovery process and he didn't want me to strain a lot in fear of ripping through the newly repaired (sutured) muscle tissue. So with that in mind, I went to the gym just a couple of weeks after surgery and really doing nothing but going through my lifting motions with no weight for a week or two. By no weight I mean, instead of loading up a barbell with big plates and doing military presses like before surgery, I just used the barbell which I really couldn't even feel. But it helped my muscles know that they were still needed. I did this for a couple of weeks and gradually added a little weight at a time until about 2 months post op it started becoming a real effort to lift. Then about 5-6 months post op after lifting pretty heavy in months 2-5, I was just about back to my original pre-op strength. Just keep in mind, the first few months after surgery are really aimed at maintaining muscle, which is really all you can hope for during rapid weight loss. One the weight loss slows, you can actually add strength/muscle if done correctly and nutrition is optimal. With that said, I would really take into account what your dietician says and TRY to adhere to that. Or at least maybe find out why he/she wants you to wait and then decide based on all of the information that you have. Perhaps they want you to burn as much fat as quickly as you can, because once you start consistent resistance training, the weight loss (not fat loss) slows. Just a few ideas.....good luck!

"It's All New"....from what I've read, whey is a faster digesting Protein, which makes it more ideal for your post-workout shake. Casein is said to be slower digesting.... for whatever that's worth. I've taken casein in the past and usually right before bed since it digests slower. Whether there is any real difference in them, I don't know, just what I've read and heard. You're eating fish several days a week???? Wow! Have enough for me? It sounds like you're probably getting enough fish. Joint popping.....not sure. Maybe Calcium deposits or some arthritis? Does it just feel/sound weird or actually diminish your workouts because there's pain involved? If it doesn't bother your workouts, perhaps it's the calcium deposits. If it hurts, I would get it checked out.

I go for this 1-2 times a week. Usually one can a week works for me. I'll drink half one morning when I just can't get going and finish the other half sometime later in the week or several days later. No carbonation, B vitamins and the whole can has around 30 calories or so. I split it up because I don't want all of that caffeine at once, just half of it usually wakes me up. I'm not really a coffee drinker. They also makes these in lemonade and grape.

Yep, less portions equals saving $$$. I'm all for that! You got that right Globetrotter! Almost impossible to avoid excessive sodium.

Well put! Other than the required mutlivitamin, calcium/with D, and B12, the only other supplements I take are creatine (on and off), whey and fish oil. I would rather get Omega 3's from eating lots of actual fish, but can't really afford that.

I use probably 90% free weights or my own body weight. But a lot of it depends on your goals. If you are into other athletic activities that require functional strength (crossfit, sprinting or track & field events, or other sports), I feel that the free weights are usually your best choice. The better compound lifts use free weights and make you use supporting muscles for balance. But for just pure bodybuilding/physique, yeah, you could build up and add mass to many of your muscles on machines, but probably not all of your muscles. "Vsginnj" makes a good point about the safety that many machines provide as well.

I get that from time to time as well. Not sure, but curious about any ideas someone may have. If it's from a very intense long workout....could it be due to depleted glycogen?

I've noticed the same thing. If I eat anything before noon, it's low carb or a Protein shake. I've noticed if I do that, I don't crave carbs (bad carbs) as much the rest of the day.

"Phoenix"...are you sure that wasn't his "middle leg" you were touching? Way to go "fiddleman".....keep up the good work!!

My Dr told me that at about 5-6 months, the sleeve becomes more "accommodating, like a shoe that is broken in and easier to fit ones foot into". I'm glad you posted since I went through the same thing around the same time. I'm interested in what others have to say.

Hello "jeanne"....what are your goals at the gym? Like do you want to increase strength/muscle.....or improve cardiovascular response? Sorry to hear about the hip.....be careful........that sounds bad.

Looking good! The corset thing....what is that? Is it for the torso/tummy area?

Everybody be cool...be cool..., we'll get through this! 5 pounds just 1 week after surgery sounds like a good bit of weight to me, and probably ideal or maybe even a little faster than some of us (those looking back) would've preferred. Losing more than a pound or two a week is probably too fast in my opinion. Losing weight faster than 1-2 pounds a week will destroy your muscle. Yes, you'll lose some fat too, but the faster the rate over a pound a week or so in a week, the higher percentage of that weight that will be muscle. Of course this early on after surgery it's nearly impossible to slow the weight loss down to just a pound or two a week. I know I lost most of my weight pre-op and the first 2 months after my surgery and I lost it fairly quickly during that time period.....and my old hard earned muscle virtually disappeared. After the 2 month post-op mark or so (when the weight loss slowed), I had to work my a$$ off in the gym to get my strength/muscle back and it really kicked my butt. In my opinion, you are worrying way too much (which was the case for most all of us right after surgery), we've been there and we know the feeling of worrying that the weight is not falling off fast enough. Besides, I would think 5 pounds a week for the first couple of weeks after surgery is probably par for the course. But I don't have any statistics to back that up, I'm just going on my own experience and that of others on this board. Hang in there, stick to your Dr's orders and you'll be fine. Good luck!

My eyes hurt....... .........lots of reading there, but very interesting! Thanks "itstheamarie"!

I have just about all of the complex carbs I can (along with my protein) during the days I workout. Such as green veggies, oats, quinoa and even some brown rice, but mostly I stick with broccoli and oats for my carbs. I have cut out, or nearly eliminated all white bread, pasta and sugar. But that doesn't mean I don't crave it some or fall off the wagon.

I didn't drink Red Bulls, and not a coffee drinker, but I did have my share of energy shots before my sleeve. What sucks are those things are addictive, but I do partake about once a week or so in caffeine. Just this past Friday morning I was having a really really hard time getting myself going. I was in a fog, groggy and completely unable to focus, so I stopped at the store on the way in to work and grabbed a Rockstar orange uncarbonated drink. It only has like 30 calories in a can and since it's not carbonated, it's my caffeine of choice, but I only turn to it when the window down in my truck or a cold shower doesn't help. It also has B vitamins that we can usually use. Just be careful, caffeine can also become a crossover addiction like many other things.

Great job fyre storm!

I can't speak for others, but the fact that I am sleeved is less and less of a consideration each day as I get used to better habits. Not that I forget that I have it, it's just that it's not a constant thought of mine and I don't feel more odd not drinking during my meals now as I felt odd in the past as I was eating everything in sight when out with others. As in......."Are you going to eat that?"

Sure, no problem and thanks for the compliment. I think people still do consider me a big guy and definitely a fitter big guy than I was in the past. As for not reaching goal......there's probably several contributing factors. First, the goal weight number itself was nothing I was really all that on board with anyway. My Dr wanted me to set a weight goal and I did. So that number is not all that motivating for me. I really had no idea what an ideal weight would be for me since I can't really judge it based on how I was 15-20 years and how far off I was from it at surgery. Second, the main goal for me was being healthy and getting off all of my meds. Sure, getting to goal weight would be really nice, and I haven't given up on that, but the pure health aspect of it was my main priority and reason for getting the surgery in the first place. I was on the max dosage for BP meds and my BP was still 165/110 ish....very scary and not able to control with meds. My cholesterol was barely controlled with meds. I am now completely off of all medication......so that goal has long since been reached. There was also the joint and back pain problem I had, which has pretty much been eradicated. I'm much healthier now and I also feel much better, so my main goals have been reached, now I'm really just living and enjoying life.......not concentrating on goal weight. But maybe my Dr would say I should concentrate on it. Third, the muscle/strength issue for me is very important, and I eat to make the most out of my workouts. So I'm not low carbing it like many of the Dr's suggest. I try to stay away from simple/white carbs, but I do make sure I get in plenty of complex carbs (lots of green veggies, oats, some brown rice, quinoa, etc) to go with my lean Protein to help with muscle/strength. Last possible reason is that I've been able to eat a good bit more than most sleevers. Since about 2-3 months post-op, I'm able to eat a lot more than the Dr's said I would. I adhere to never drinking around my meals, get my protein in first and stop a bite or two before I think I'll be full. I still eat a good bit less than I did pre-op, but no where near as little as most sleevers. Example: for the past year, I've been able to eat a whole grilled chicken breast, a cup of broccoli and maybe even a few bites of a fruit and though satisfied, still not full. For the past year, my calories run about 1500-1700 daily and I could easily be over 2000 if I wanted. I'm guessing all of those things have played a bit of a role in my lack of weight loss, not including that I was a low BMI-er (37-38) to begin with. "Jslitzker".........sorry to hijack your thread, so I digress.

Same here.... I was more curious than worried I guess. But still a little worried about not being the "big guy". I had been 6'-3" and around 300 pounds for so long that I thought I might lose my identity or something. Being about a year and a half post-op now, I can say I'm not worried about it all now. First, I haven't lost all that much weight. Second, I'm still pretty strong for a 40 year old, so I think that helps my frame of mind. And third, my "johnson" is slightly longer, or more protruding from my being.....so that's good and perhaps "manlier".

Thanks "Butter"! You seem to be doing pretty darn well yourself....keep up the good work man!

Yeah, depending on how bad the injury is, you may want to rest it and heal for a week or so. If you do, try to engage or take on those feelings of how much you miss it as to not disconnect with the exercise and the great vibes it gives you. Maybe that way when you are healed and ready to get back to it, hopefully you'll really be itching to dive back into the dancing with great anticipation. The "absence makes the heart grow fonder" approach.