Matt Z

So much truth here. Work outing... we go to a restaurant ‎Saint Joseph's Day... Zeppole Easter... just all bad junk Valentines Day... more bad junk Halloween... more bad junk Thanksgiving... at least doable, then all those damn desserts Birthdays... cake Christmas... the same as Thanksgiving, except all the extra junk flying around as little gifts or stocking stuffers Like.. what happened that EVERYTHING focuses on junk foods.

There **WAS** one... it has since been retired due to some serious issues with interactions getting way too "creepy". I don't think it'll make a comeback due to why it was closed down in the first place.

I can't resize my ring. Tungsten Carbide is carved. So I have to send my ring back and they will send me a new one in my size.

I wish I had dreams like that... I don't have any memory of my dreams usually... even though I try and go out of my way to work on obtaining lucid dreaming. I say enjoy the dream LOL

Yeah, it's WAY better to get ahead of things and talk to your surgical team, rather than them finding out the day of.

Just stick with it. The first few days suck really badly. DO NOT CHEAT! Cheating just makes it worse in most cases. Just struggle through it and just keep reminding yourself of why you are doing this. IT IS WORTH IT! Drink lots and lots of water. I'm talking over 128oz a day. This will help limit the "thirsty" signals that confused for hunger. Stick to your diet sheet. Just stay strong. After a few days it gets easier. Try to avoid any and all temptations if you don't think you have the will power to resist. You can do this!

Congrats! Good Luck! And here's to a smooth and easy recovery!

Ok... yes your leg muscles will be stronger than someone that's lighter and hasn't worked out simply because your legs have been lugging around heavy weight. The rest of your post is confusing. If the "weights are light" you'd be adding weight from previous users not reducing. If you can do 3 sets of 12, the weight might too low for muscle mass growth, shoot for 4 sets of 8-10 reps, you should either not be able to do more than 10, or they should be tough. If you can breeze right into the 10th rep, add weight. "(testing higher weight so I don't burn too much)" Higher weights are going to burn more, not less. I had surgery the day after you did (Bypass) and Right now in the Gym I can do 4 sets of 10 of the following: Back Extensions - 205 lbs (machine max) Chest Press - 40-60 lbs each arm depending on machine and press angle Torso Rotation - 205 lbs (machine max) Leg Press - 300 lbs Hip Abduction - 205 lbs (machine max) Hip Adduction - 205 lbs (machine max) Bicep curl - 25-40 lbs per arm depending on machine and curl angle Tricep press - 60-85 lbs per arm depending on machine and press angle Glut kick back - 150 lbs each leg Hamstring curl - 100-150 lbs each leg depending on machine and curl method Quad lift - 100-170 each leg depending on machine and lift method Calf Raises - 270-305 lbs depending on machine (lower on the donkey lift, higher on the squat rack) There are a lot more... I just don't recall what each one is at the moment. Work to hit 80% of your 1 rep max for each set, 8-10 reps per set, 4 sets. That's the "zone" for max muscle growth from everything I've read and everyone I've talked to about it. I mix up my workouts by alternating between 4 / 10 set/rep and drop sets (starting at my max weight and doing as many reps as I can, then dropping down 1 plate/weight set and doing as many reps as I can again, then dropping weight and repeating until you hit the minimum weight or can keep going without reaching fatigue. Or I do 3 / 10 and 1 eccentric. Eccentric exercises are "breaking" exercises, you'll more than likely need assistance with these, you get set in the up position with more weight than you could lift yourself, then you lower that weight as slowly as possible, I do as many as those as I can, typically only 3 or 4. With the exercise causing muscle activation during the stretch phase as opposed to the contraction phase, it is a great size building exercise. I'm sure @BigViffer will chime in with some insights/advice as well.

Being so close to surgery, you really REALLY have to wait it out. Just make sure you are following your surgical and nutritional documentation TO THE LETTER. Make sure you are exercising to some extent, within what you've been approved for of course. But overall, it's far too soon to be worried about your losses. Just keep following your instructions, and breathe... you'll do fine if you stay withing your instructions and hit your goals each day.

Who are you talking to? The OP is a female.

I actually have had 3 wedding rings (Same wonderful woman) due to getting fat. I found a novel way to keep my favorite wedding ring, a killer Tungsten Carbide ring from falling off... by using my original white gold wedding ring from 20 years ago as a "stopper"! (20 year anniversary this November 13th) . The slack is worse now, this photo was taken 20+ lbs heavier ago.

Not in the slightest! LOL I'm actually afraid of this new tick-borne disease that makes you actually allergic to red meat.

I'm a "taster" ( as well as an actual super taster) and honestly, I haven't really noticed any changes in my "tastes".

What @Orchids&Dragons said. Odds are they won't cancel the surgery... They shave you with a set of electric clippers to avoid any nicks etc. You'll more than likely be fine. Good luck tomorrow.

"Never" isn't exactly "fact". That's just what some doctors say. carbonation can cause gas and bloating issues, can cause dumping syndrome, it can stretch your pouch/sleeve. It also puts extra pressure on the staple line. That said. I've had a couple of lightly carbonated drinks that were 0 calorie, (BAI makes some) and no adverse effects. The idea is that you don't want to do drinking them daily.

Isopure unflavored protein is really good. There are also savory flavored proteins as well, a Company called "Ancient Nutrition" has various "Bone Broth Protein" that comes in "Savory Herb" flavor. Unjury has a Chicken Broth flavored protein. But Isopure's unflavored mixes really well with pretty much anything.

So, why do you think you have a leak?

I use Quest and Pure Protein bars the most often. I also use Kay's Naturals Protein snacks (not bars, but soy protein based snacks that come in sweet, salty, spicy, cheesy, options, some are like pretzels, some are cereals, some are little cookie bites. low cal, decent protein and they taste great) I also use Larabars to snack on, but not for "protein". Simply Protein Chips are pretty good time.

I knew what you meant LOL!

OMG that's horrible! You should totally be teaching that old dog some new tricks... or you might want to revoke his playtime... I can't understand why guys can be so selfish...

@BEBJ as stated above, when you feel comfortable, but understand when you get to the "prize", those ab muscles tend to tighten up... so be ready with a pillow or something to press in like you do when sneezing. I think you are missing a great opportunity here... get your guy to "go downtown" and just lay back and enjoy it! Just tell him you'll get him back later, once you feel up to it LOL

First question is, are you following your plans? You are only 13 days out of surgery, have you really been cleared to eat foods with a sleeve, 13 days post op? What is your daily protein like? What is your daily water intake like?

100% natural, human nature. Perfectly normal. In fact, if you didn't get scared/worries/anxious about surgery of this magnitude... I'd be more concerned. I'm going to agree with Kim... if those answers are what the therapist is telling you... they don't get their job at all. The surgery is actually much safer now than it was years ago, so the percentages of deaths or complications are skewed by the older figures. When I was getting worried about the "what ifs" of the surgery. I would counter those thoughts with different "what ifs". What if I don't get the surgery, how long are my knees going to last? What if I don't get the surgery, how long before I have a heart attack? What if I don't get the surgery, what latent weight related illness is going to rear it's ugly head? What if I don't have the surgery, how long am I realistically going to live being this fat? I knew I wasn't going to last as long without surgery and I am going to now that I've had the surgery. I feel better, I'm more energetic, I'm happier. And my whole is benefiting from my changes as well. My wife goes to the gym with me when she can, she's losing weight and feeling better. My kids are eating better because I'm eating better and we don't buy as much junky foods. The choice is personal, of course. But it does have positive repercussions for those around you as well. Whatever you decide, as long as it's what you want and what you'll be happy with, that's all that actually matters. Good luck!

Sorry for your loss. Motivation. You know what you need to do. Just do it. Does it suck. Sure. Do you want to go back to being as big as you were before? Probably not. A good way, if you are having issues getting back on track. Is to just start over. Start with your pre-op diet and work through it as if you were just starting out. Then follow the post op diet the same way you did before, working right back through each of the steps until you completed them all. When in doubt, start over. I'm sure your dad would want you to continue to be successful. If you need any motivation, and aren't going to keep going for yourself. Do it for him. You got this!

no joke! My computer chair is a hard wood mid 1800's colonial mid-back and it hurts my butt now, I have to sit on a small pillow!