hadouni

I'm not a fan of the crystal light type drinks that are icky sweet. I can usually only handle orange flavor and sometimes other citrus flavors. The orange G2 and the orange tangerine MiO are my go-to drinks. I do love iced tea and drank lots of decaf iced tea early on. I also drank tons of broth and strained progresso Soups early on in recovery until I could start on real foods. That's one downside to having a winter surgery- at least for me I drink fewer fluids in the colder weather.

I've been stalled at 178 since before the holidays. I had been starting to think that was it for me. I'm still a little overweight by BMI, but I feel pretty great. I'd also not been exercising, not since late summer. I'm not sure what finally kicked me in the but, maybe it was my mom joining the gym, but I finally got my tush back on the treadmill. someone posted about a running app/program that I downloaded. I actually ran for 9 minutes last night! Something about this has grabbed me and I'm excited about it- about seeing if I can make it to the next level (c25k is the running program). I have two problem areas I'd like to improve-my stomach and back. My stomach may take a tummy tuck but I really, really want to get rid of my back fat. I think running is inspired by my desire to tone up some. I get where you're at- or I think I get it! Don't give up on yourself. This is hard, even with the help of the sleeve, it's work every day. You'll find your groove or the right inspiration, just don't close yourself off to it!

Ha! Even "firming up" isn't pretty enough to post pictures! I'll leave that to the pretty and youthful crowd! Trust me, it's better for everyone!

So I was in for my monthly waxing yesterday, up on all fours when the gal rests her hand on my tush and comments that it's really firming up! We'd been talking about exercise and that I'd been back on the treadmill and had started to run so it wasn't entirely out of context but we both dissolved into fits of giggles. I still laugh when I think about it! Well, at least it's firming up, right!? =)

I did it! First day of week two! I even added an extra 1.5 minute run in the cool down and extended my time to 35 minutes so I got a full cool down. Let's see how I feel tomorrow. Thanks for the encouragement!

chobani strawberry yogurt

I picked up some better shoes over the weekend and made it through four nights of c25k week one and I've been on the treadmill every day! Tonight I do the first night of week 2- should be interesting. One thing I'll say is it's motivating me to do it! Of course, it's only been a week but I'm excited about it - you know, to see if I can do it!

I can't eat it either - too dry. I'm usually alright if its mixed like chicken salad with something to ease the dryness. I totally get it!

I've been in a stall since before the holidays! I've started exercising again so I hope the scale starts to budge for me. You too! Best wishes for some scale gratification!

I hope folks keep posting about their experiences because I'm just starting to up my walking routine to running following the c25k app and was curious about it only being three days per week. I did the day one, two days in a row, walked day 3 (I walk 3.5-3.7mph at a 7% incline when I walk), did c25k day two on the 4th day and then walked a day. Tonight I'll do the third day of c25k. I'm NOT a runner, never have been but I'm doing this to hopefully tone up some. I realize 5k is probably what most of you real runners would consider a warmup! :/

What I found (experienced) is people don't really look at heavy people. They see a "heavy person" and don't look at them beyond that. When people become more physically appealing (to others) the "others" look more closely at them because they are initially more appealingly shaped. This sounds bizarre, but it's been my experience. It might be that people are really looking at you when they've not looked so closely before. I had someone tell me that I was glowing this morning. Huh? I think I put on a little extra makeup because I'm part of an interview panel today but it's still odd to me!

oh and around- you look great!

mbabe - I'm in the same boat! I'm down 90lbs entirely from walking and need to do something to start working on the muscle tone and to loose the last 20lbs. One thing I notice for sure is when I last weighed what I weigh now, I was shaped differently! Having a baby at 250 took it's toll on my stomach. I just started to (cringe) run. I downloaded the C25k app and am going to give it a try. So far so good. I've done the run three nights (out of the past 5) and have been back on the treadmill consistently for a few weeks now. I'm NOT a runner so this will be interesting for me. I can't imagine running 5k but I'll follow the plan and see what happens. I have a little paperback book called 5 Factor Fitness (or something close to that) and it has a very simple exercise plan included. It's a strength & tone plan and it's easy and you just need a couple little hand weights. Five days a week you do sets/reps of three (I think it was three - one upper body, one lower body, one core) exercises and add on at least 5 minutes, but as much as you want, of cardio. It might be a good place to start if you don't go to a gym where you could get help from a pro.

I've just begun to run as well and yes, it's a bit horrifying! Fortunately the sound of the treadmill drowns it out and two bras keep my boobs in line! I'm so thankful for spandex!

I'm back on my treadmill. I've had it a little over a year and had a little slump of not using it in the fall, but I'm back on for a few weeks now. I'm a single parent so the gym is hard for me. If I join and want to go do a class, my 4yr old son has to go to the kinder-care at the gym which might be fine but it would take me away from him for much longer than a hop on my treadmill. I'd rather be with my son than have him dumped off on strangers for another chunk of his day. It's easy for me to get him going with dinner and then jump on the treadmill for 30-40 minutes. I have a decent treadmill I got a Sears for less than $500. It's not super fancy, but it inclines and has good speed adjustments. There are a bunch of "weight loss" programs that can be used, but I tend to just set it manually and go along at 7 degrees incline at about 3.5mph. I try to run a few steps here and there but I'm not a runner. There are arm things included that I don't have attached yet but might do me some good! I do like elliptical machines and in retrospect might have considered one of them - at least tried them out a little to compare. I bought the treadmill before my surgery and an elliptical machine would have probably killed me! =) Now, it'd be nice.

Wow - that is just unreal! Way to go and way to do it together!

funny! thank goodness mine are firming up a *little*! now I only need about a 1 inch all around lift! just take me in a little at the seams...

A year out, you'll probably be able to eat just about anything you want, you'll just eat a good deal less of it! The only thing I consistently have a hard time with is overly-dry chicken. Just doesn't sit well for me. I love to go out - and like someone else said - eat off the appetizer menu where you can often get protein-only things without the pasta/bread/potato side to a full meal and its cheaper! My last night out was bacon-wrapped scallops - yum! Ahi appetizer is always a winner for me too. Sharing a meal works as well, and chili is a good restaurant option in many places. One thing I notice is some of the bad foods I used to eat way too much of, don't really appeal to me that much any more. Eating too much sugar makes me feel icky so I just don't go to them like I used to. My weakness is popcorn...

You really are an inspiration Mark!

Wow! amazing transformation! Great work!

I had both done at the same time. I'm not even sure I knew about the hernia until after surgery... I didn't have any pain that I associated as specifically the hernia repair. My pain was always managed well. I don't think it makes the recovery time any different. My surgeon made it sound just like an extra stitch or two... If your experience is like mine, don't even worry about it! =)

Awesome! Doesn't it feel fabulous to be "overweight"?! =)

In my first real appointment with the surgeon, I got a fancy print-out that included a projection of a final weight. I thought it was way too high and it is not even close to a healthy BMI for me. To get into "healthy" BMI, I need to get down to 158, or 20 more pounds. Even my PCP (who is totally neurotic about anyone being overweight) told me I shouldn't try to loose that much. Me, I'd like to see how I looked at 155 or so. We'll see if I can be rigid enough to get there because I'm pretty satisfied where I am now, other than my belly sag over my c-section scar and a little back fat I'd love to loose!

Glad you made it to this side!

My hair is thin and sparse to begin with, and I lost somewhere between 1/3 and 1/2 the volume. I had surgery in January 2012 and it started 4-4.5 months post-op and lasted about 6 months. I now have lots of re-growth that is up to 1.5 inches long and it's thickening up again. I am also the proud wearer of a pixie cut and my hair hasn't been this short in almost 30 years. My mom has super thick, with tons of it, hair. She's had two WLS and didn't notice any hair loss either time.