Butterthebean

That is a very good article. But the thing that kinda gets lost here is that exercise has many, many benefits besides weight loss. Also, weight loss and improved health are not necessarily the same thing. A balance of both are my goals. The keyword being....balance.

Just goes to show how different we are. I to live in Houston and I love to run outside. I also use my handweights on the elliptical all the time. I vary speed, resistance and incline to change it up. Plus I go backwards sometimes. That being said, I wish I had room for a treadmill too.

The 1 thing about a treadmill is that you can always run or walk outside. You can not duplicate the elliptical in the same manner. Plus in the beginning treadmills can be fun. Once you build up some stamina treadmills get really boring, as opposed to running outside.

Sounds like you have it right. If you're trying to save your knees on the elliptical, then opt for going faster as opposed to increasing the resistance during intervals. If your machine will allow a change in incline then do that as well unless it hurts. I have my own elliptical at home so I do a circuit type workout. I do 5 minutes of steady state cardio on the elliptical and then jump off and do 20 burpees as fast as I can. then back on the elliptical. Doing that for 30 minutes wears me plum out.

They are no fun, I can tell you that. The best thing to do would be google them. There are 1000's of online videos of each.

I think he means everything. But that's his capacity. We are all different. I measure mine by the calories because the denser protein will have more calories and be more filling. For instance, I can eat a 6 oz bowl of chili, but only a 3 oz steak. But they are about the same calories.

Why do you suspect you aren't shrinking your liver? If you aren't eating any sugar (fruits, starches and so on) your liver will likely shrink regardless of whether you eat or drink your calories.

A recent article in Men's Health said if you want to lose weight and keep it off, weight training is mandatory, not optional. It works out like this (according to the article). If you lose weight just with reduced calories alone, 33% of the weight loss will be lean muscle. If you lose weight with reduced calories and cardio, 23% will be lean muscle. But if you lose weight with reduced calories and resistance training, 3% will be lean muscle. Obviously these are averages and depend on other factors like how much you workout and how much you reduce your calories....but you get the idea.

Don't be too alarmed. I have seen this approach many times. Unfortunately it is a favorite "motivational" technique of many football coaches. They tell you "you can't do it" hoping you will prove them wrong. I personally hate this approach, but people still do it. I've never heard of a NUT using it before, but I have heard of physical therapists using it. She is challenging you. She wants to see if you will quit. .....or she could just be stupid. Either way, don't quit. But I do agree with one thing. You need to get rid of this mindset that you don't have time for exercise. That may have set her off. You need to make time. It's not optional. Make it happen. It isn't easy, but you need it. There are workout DVDs that can be done at home in 20 minutes. Intense short exercise is just as effective as long low intensity bouts of cardio. You can find 20 minutes can't you?

It can, but after surgery the goal is to never feel this again. No need to stuff your sleeve. Eat to satiety and then quit. If you're like me and you don't recognize satiety, then measure your portions. Learn how much food will tide you over till the next meal and measure out that much at mealtime.

I have yet to drink from a straw, but it's only because I don't drink at restaurants and we don't have straws at home. I drink out of my camelbak every week and it has a 2 foot long straw.

http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=7MGljX4bbps&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3D7MGljX4bbps If the link doesn't work, google it.

I can only say what has worked for me. Educate yourself on nutrition. Say goodbye to starches. They are the worst thing you can eat. Start drinking a Protein shake a day now. It can be an acquired taste for many people. Start exercising now. Find something (preferably more than one thing) you enjoy doing. If it's a chore you won't keep doing it. Give up your other addictions now...caffeine, nicotine...whatever. Learn to look at food as fuel, not enjoyment. You should control the food you eat, not the other way around. Eat 5 small meals a day. Measure your portions and eat on a schedule. Don't let yourself get real hungry. That's when most people lose control. That's why eating on a schedule is so important. By that same token, you never want to feel full either. Just satisfied. Always have a plan for your next meal. Otherwise, if you get hungry you'll eat anything (the wrong thing usually).

Do a circuit plan. You can do this plan with no equipment. I've done this in the past.... 20 body weight squats 10 push-ups 20 crunches 20 mountain climbers 10 burpees Run 200 yards Do this whole circuit without rest. After the run, rest 1 minute then repeat. Do it as many times as you can, or just keep going for 30 minutes. It's tougher than it sounds if you don't rest between exercises. You can tweak this any way you want. Add or eliminate any exercises you like.

A lot of people go through this and it does get easier.

The thing is, after surgery we eat almost no fiber for a while. Makes it hard to go. If you can eat prunes that is the most natural way i can think of to resolve it post sleeve. From what I've read, miralax is the preferred stool softener to take. Be careful with products like exlax because it will dehydrate you. Eventually you will be able to eat more high fiber foods.

Every time you bend over you have to contract your abdominal muscles, so yes take it easy.

For me it is because I live in the sticks. But they have a "store locator" on their website showing you where to buy them. http://www.questproteinbar.com/Store-Locator/

I get some of the post op folks confused. There are so many post op people around here you'd think this was a recovery ward.

Just go easy. I think my size was very similar to yours, and I could drink a lot. You're not going to retain Water just because you're drinking it, but your urine could be dark because of any medication you might be taking. If you're getting dehydrated you should have other symptoms besides the dark urine. Dry skin, dry mouth, maybe leg cramps. If you're not thirsty and your skin isn't dry (especially in this colder weather) you're probably drinking enough. Do not make yourself uncomfortable at this stage drinking that much. But still, sounds like you're recovering very well. For me, the 64 oz of water simply was not enough. I gradually kept increasing mine until I was up to about a gallon a day, but by then I was 6 weeks out. Once I did I felt tons better. Weight loss increased and my cramps, thirst and dry skin went away.