aroundhky

Sex? What is that??? : ) From my experience, this is usually exercise for me. So I just went with the my doctor's recommendation on when I could return to "physical activity" and exercise. Same approach, maybe ease into it and build up from there.......

Always good to get a combination cardio/resistance training in. I do a good bit of walking, hoping to get more into jogging as I lose weight. I loved lifting weights before surgery and still enjoy doing it now as well. Don't underestimate the cardio effect of lifting weights. Always ease into it if you've not lifted in a while and then once you're into for several weeks, you can raise the lifting intensity and really get the heart rate up by lifting as well as cycling and running. Whole body lifts such as dead lifts, power cleans, etc really get that heart pumping! If you've never been in to lifting, that doesn't mean you can't do these lifts. Lighter weight and more reps are just fine, you don't have to pile on a bunch of weight. Kettle bells are good to use for these type lifts as well. http://www.sparksportconditioning.com/why-olympic-lifting http://weighttraining.about.com/od/techniquesandstrategies/a/weights_cardio.htm http://www.livestrong.com/article/119187-cardio-weight-lifting-weight-loss/

You look great! Redheads!! ; )

Sounds like a good plan! I think having any exercise plan that is safe is good. I think the main thing is exercising regularly, and having a plan to help you stick to that, whatever the plan, is the main thing. It's good that you have resistance training in the mix. Being female and also not being able to load up on tons of calories will keep you from "bulking up", which I know a lot of women are worried about. If you stick to resistance or weight training, it will surely help tone you in the long run. Congrats on the weight loss and good luck with your workout!

I'm a little over 6 weeks out (sleeved Nov 3rd). I weighed 292 at pre-op appt and within those 2+ weeks on the liquid diet I lost down to 276. In the 6 1/2 weeks since surgery I've lost down to 259 (another 17 pounds). I had surgery on a Thursday and was back to work that next Monday for a half day, then full days starting that next day. I felt great, so I went for it. I started working out a little less than 4 weeks after surgery and in full exercise mode now. I do feel hungry fairly often the past 2 weeks or so. I can eat at least a half cup of food and often able to eat 3/4 cup depending on what I'm eating. It's a little more than I thought I would be able to eat 6 weeks after surgery, but still a lot less than I could eat before surgery. Other than that, I really don't have any complaints.

I just had my surgery 6 weeks ago and I've weighed 4 times since then. The day of surgery and about once every 2 weeks. I think it helps me in ragards to stalls. If I'm in a stall and weigh every day, it would drive me nuts. I just try to keep doing what I'm supposed to be doing as far as diet and exercise and I know I will steadily lose weight. I wish you the best in transitioning to weighing once a month, I need to do that myself soon. I say..... don't worry about the scales, just get out there and live life and just check in with them every once in a while! : )

Yeah, that was my favorite too. Just got back from the gym, and drank a Gatorade with unflavored unjury. Got the dextrose sugar and Protein in. Gotta tell ya, after a hard workout, I'm not craving a bunch of sweet drinks. I could just go for Water, but I need the dextrose and protein and I think it will help me get my strength back.

I've been back to the gym for a few weeks now and it's been six weeks since my surgery. I also have a lot of fat to lose, but want to keep or build back up muscle and strength. I've avoided simple carbs and sugar for the most, but still take some in with my Protein after my workouts, which is essential to recovery and will not be stored as fat, goes directly to the muscles. Here's some articles I found that may be helpful. For the non-diebetics, adding simple carbs like dextrose (glucose) may actually help with our workouts if taken right after the workout and only right after. Just some thoughts....... http://ezinearticles.com/?Weight-Loss---Fruit,-Weight-Loss-and-Your-Post-Workout-Meal&id=1498771 http://www.livestrong.com/article/326506-how-to-lose-weight-faster-after-weight-training/ http://www.intense-workout.com/post_workout.html

True, good workout will help and also help you just feel better.

I was sleeved on Nov. 3rd, and started lifting lightly about 3 1/2 weeks post op. I've built that up slowly since and just started giving a bit of effort in the weight room this week. All is well so far for me. But I would surely go with your doctor's recommendation. He knows exactly what you've had done. Better safe than sorry. But those for couple weeks after surgery were frustrating because all I wanted to do was get back to lifting, but wasn't allowed yet.

Yes, I think and have been told that building some muscle will help with sagging skin. Also, the best time to take carbs are right after a workout, because your glycogen (spelling?) has been depleted during a workout, so taking in carbs, along with Protein helps your muscles to rebuild and must be done pretty soon after a workout. I've been back at the gym for a couple of weeks now lifting and it helps me to feel great! I would just caution you to maybe not weigh yourself constantly. I weigh about once every 10 days or so. If you hit a stall (which will be temporary), weighing everyday or every other day will just drive you nuts during the stall. Good luck!!

I've noticed mine starting to slow down as well. Had my surgery Nov. 3rd and it's a really slow loss the past 3 weeks or so. Maybe a pound or two. I'm also able to eat more now and I've been working out in the gym the past 2 weeks as well. I'm trying to tell myself to just stay the course, which I will and make sure I do. Also, I'm now making sure I don't weigh myself more than once a week because I don't want to be obsessed with just the number (pounds). I can easily let that get the best of me and I will not let that happen. I don't know if this is the answer, but it's my plan. From what I've read on here, just stay the course, keep track of calories and don't obsess with the pounds. Good luck!

Holy wow!!!! 98 pounds is A LOT of weight loss, and in only 3 MONTHS!!!! Awesome!!!!

Congrats VFB!!! I know contantly sipping on Water and walking as much as possible really helped me!

I was sleeved on Nov. 3rd. I lost 14 pounds on my pre-op, but along with a lot of muscle. : ( I've lost 17 pounds since my surgery and I'm back at the gym now exercising regularly and lifting wieghts again, but VERY weak, so I'm easing back into it. I've tried the unjury unflavored and seems to be worth using. As far as what I'm now eating, I'm back to regular foods and this Thursday will be 5 weeks since surgery. Seems like I'm eating more than I thought I would. I'm eating close to 3/4 cup of food. I still haven't felt really full yet, but I do stop when I think I may be getting close. Makes me wonder if the Dr left me a bigger stomach than most patients. But I'm still losing weight slowly now and my family says I eat a lot less than I used to, which was my main goal. No problem getting my Protein in the past 2 weeks.

Sunkist? Do tell! Where do you get them? They are not high in sugar are they?

Thanks Pdxman! I lifted some last week (fairly light). I just got back from the gym today working shoulders and triceps and feel pretty good. I didn't go crazy, but lifted heavy enough to where it required some mild effort. I may be way off, but it seems like I'm only slightly weaker than I was before I started my pre-op diet. I can tell that looking at myself and feeling my flabby arms and legs that I lost a lot of muscle mass itself, but just a little strength-wise. I thought for sure after seeing my muscles wither away for the past 5 weeks, that I would be so weak that I could hardly lift anything. For example: military presses before pre-op I could do about 185 pounds behind the neck press for about 5-8 reps. Today I did the same lift with 135 pounds for 8 reps (2 sets). I know there is some strength loss, but not nearly as much as I would've thought by looking at me. I feel a lot better now! I'm thinking maybe some "muscle memory" will help me as well to gain back some of my original strength. Sleeved 11/3/2011

I was sleeved on 11/3 (2 and half weeks ago). Other than walking right after surgery and increasing it each day, I just started going to the gym towards the end of last week. I just did some basic movements with weights like I used to do, but without any real weight. Just getting used to the movements again. Today I went to the gym and added the slightest amount of weight to those movements and will continue to do this for the next few weeks until I'm back to my old strength and fully healed. With that said, I would surely listen to your Dr and do whatever he suggests. I think early on after surgery it's mostly about movement and getting up, walking around etc as opposed to just sitting all the time. The key is probably just easing back into things, no sense in being in too much of a hurry and injuring yourself. Good luck!

Anyone? Feeling weaker and weaker...........

Yep, I had one too. I was a little surprised when I came to after surgery to find out I had one. Never had one before. But it wasn't too bad. I was kind of out of it and later that night after surgery, they took it out. Had to take a deep breath, and I could feel how deep that thing was up in there, just a very strange feeling.

I too want to gain back some of the muscle I lost during pre-op diet and since surgery (2 weeks ago today). From what I've read, it does seem to be important to make sure you get some carbs in right after a workout in addition to upping your Protein intake and having a variety of protein from supplements and meats and veggie sources. I know I will not be as strong as I was when I was 300 pounds and lifted 4 days a week, but I still want some muscle tone and to fill in some of that loose skin that I'm anticipating. I've lost some muscle and I'm getting a little flabby, so I can't wait to get back to the gym. I agree with "Kemo" some too that weight loss, especially fat loss is my main goal. My plan is to only lift two days a week when starting back at the gym. But those two days a week, I will up my carbs a little, especially post workout meal. On those 2 days, I will lift heavily (after easing back into it) and with combination lifts more than isolation lifting. Then the days I'm off, I will do some cardio and make sure I really limit my carbs to increase my fat burn the other 5 days a week. Don't know if it will work, but that's my plan going in. "Brock", keep me posted on how it's going for you, I'm really interested in what you find out. Good luck!

Congrats!!! Tomorrow will be 2 weeks since I had mine done. Walk, walk and walk. The more I walked, the better I felt! Good luck!

From my experience and from what I've read, it's really hard, if not close to impossible to target certain areas of the body to lose fat. Also, some of it may be a little flabby due to loose skin. Still, some core and ab work can strengthen these areas and make the skin a little tighter. Combine this with a lot of cardio and proper diet, you should be able to lose overall body fat which hopefully some if that will be the lower belly and also help with that area. I know that's kind of general and everyone is different due to genetics, etc, but I've done a lot of research about the same thing as I'm trying to head it off as best as I can. Good luck, I'm right there with ya!

I tried these too I think. What I tried was the punch flavor in a long tube type thing. My God.............. that stuff was awful! I'm glad I only bought one to sample. I did eventually get it all down and keep it down, but it was tough to do. So bad I don't care to try that again. Some people may be able to tolerate it, if so, great for them, because there is A LOT of Protein in them. I now use the body fortress choc whey isolate powder or the EAS vanilla isolate powder. I do make some smoothies out of them some with crushed ice which seems to help me and they taste better to me.

Same here! I'm just a little less than 2 weeks post-op and already getting cold. I used to always be the one that was hot in a room, now my nose, fingers and toes seems to be cold all the time.