CowgirlJane

I realized I never shared my real name...Sheryl Somehow cowgirlsheryl just didn't grab me...haha

Well.. I think this is my going in weight for plastics. My goal was 158.....my bounce range 155-158. I started 5;2 when I bounced to 163 - yikes! After the swelling goes down I expect to lose about 5 from plastics.... so want my new goal (upper) to be 148 - so bouncing 145-148. I will likely not be doing 5:2 for the next 6 weeks or there abouts though.

I have tried it all,,, nothing gave me results like cross fit/bootcamp style. No heavy weights just lots of pushups, burpees, lunges, etc etc. and perhaps light to mid free weights. Of course nothing like trying to heft your own weight around,,,haha,,,, youd be amazed at how hard that can be!

Where are you from gamer girl?

It is my understanding that smaller sleeve size is somewhat associated with long term issues like reflux. I do NOT know how accurate that is or if it is just a theory. My surgeon used a 38 - and you know what, I think the actual size stomach you get depends on alot of things like your anatomy... the bougie size is only part of it.

I think you look amazing right now....

Frankly, when most people make those posts, they are looking for someone to tell them it will "be okay". Actually, I think many people are seeking comfort. I have no problem giving it, but i also agree with your original point. I went to a support group meeting and the moderater didn't show up. I never went back, know why? Most of the meeting was people 6-8 months out talking about junk food. seriously...it was like a food porn discussion. it was NOT what I needed. I don't know if I am a food addict or not, but what I DO KNOW is that I do better around people who are somewhat indifferent to food. I won't date a "foodie". I just don't need that focus on food in my life.

In a word, NO. I don't have anxiety over many things - I can speak publicly, get on airplanes, etc etc. I am a complete medical phobe though and my upcoming plastics has triggered my anxiety BIG TIME. I am managing it, but not enjoying it. I will be frank, anxiety aside, I feel that losinng weight has allowed me to "feel" alot more of everything. It is like that extra weight weighed me down.... literally burying emotions. I think that food helped sooth me, I used it like a ballast. If I was feeling down, comfort food comforted me. If I was feeling upset, well... comfort food probably comforted me. Now, food doesn't work like that for me anymore. Not sure why, but I get no emotional release from eating - it is just food. I think that is a healthy thing. I have replaced it with other self calming things, but it has been a period of adjustment for sure. I do biofeedback, m editation and anything else I can try to replace it. So, in summary, weight loss makes you feel physically so much better, it solves many health issues, boosts your self esteem - endless good things. It does NOT however solve issues in your life - marital, emotional or otherwise.

Okay, here is what I know about this topic. Exercise CAN increase your appetite and cause you to eat too much too. I was working closely with a NUT during the loosing phase, and this was one of her cautions as well. I wish I could remember the detailed guidance she gave me - we were encouraged to strength train though - not heavy lifting, but calistenic type things and moderate aerobics. I think different body types thrive on different things and the best thing I learned from my NUT is to listen to the best feedback I had - my own body. I have posted alot about my workouts and I can't emphasize enough that I had lost over 100# ... probably more like 120 before I got intense about it. Prior to that, I did Water aerobics and other low impact, moderate to low intensity stuff and how much I did was based on how I felt. when my appetite seemed to go up for no reason - I examined my workouts and cut back if I needed to! We all know you can "eat through" ANY amount of working out so you are so right - the food part needs to be the main focus. I also think it is a mistake for women to compare themselves to men. Our bodies are just different and there are a couple of examples of guys who have amazing results and we have a lot to learn from them - however, the female body does not always respond to the same style of eating and working out as men... I think especially as we get a little older. I do think I have the body type that loves to exercise though - I am happier, more cheerful and overall just healthier when I get good vigorous exercise regularly. It is one of the joys of weight loss for me, that I CAN do this and feel great about it.

Do you have access to a gym? I think I saw someone giving you advice about doing compound lifts. That is what makes crossfit and Julian DVDs work... every move engages multiple muscles at once. Julian focuses alot on engaging your core and abs ALL the time. I do her kickboxing one too and even that one really uses your whole body but you have to really focus on isolating those muscles. Like, when I do the kicks, I feel it in the legs, butt, abs, everything...when I do the punches, I really do them with strength, like I am really punching something. I would dig doing boxing but I am afraid of getting hit back..haha I can't begin to tell how much faster the results happen doing compound over single exercises. Like, I would never waste time doing bicep curls. There are so many exercises that work the arm, shoulders etc along with the biceps. Planks work so much of the body. My nemesis is pushups. I can do them brilliantly from the knees...haha. From the toes, using correct form, I can only get a few in before collapsiing in a pool of sweat - they are really hard for me. What I do is do as many as I can, and then revert to the knees OR revert to doing them down only, hit the ground, and start over. The idea is if you can do half the move, you are building up toward doing the whole thing. Although the photos don't show it due to layers of cellulite and skin, my legs are what are really muscular. Always have been from toting around 300# me. Plastics wont fix that to the point where they can be seen, BUT, my calves are toned and defined - they actually were when I was fat too. I am your classic apple and carried all my weight in my gut, back and inner thighs. For once in my life that has turned into a benefit... the parts of the body that are visible (arms, calves, uppper chest) are thin and not jiggly. Anyway, what I am coming to realize with muscle toning is that simple good ole calestinic type exercises is alot more effective then anything I ever learned at a gym using weight machines. I don't really know why I don't get great results from the machines, but when I join a gym again in January, I may do free weights, but I am done wasting time on those machines. I am more likely to do boot camp/cross fit style again. I think I also mentioned that I have been getting into dancing. I am socially awkward about dancing. Being fat my whole life I never really practiced at it and I have that whole "white girls can't dance" think going on. So, I started out thinking if I could just practice basic stuff int he privacy of my living room, then when I take dance lessons next year I won't feel quite so stupid. Seriously, I am so slow to pickup dance moves, I feel really dumb about it. What I discovered is that youtube is FULL of learn to dance but also exercise videos based on salsa and hip hop dance moves - most are 10-20 minutes long. The belly dancing ones I found were an hour and let me tell you - that was harder then I expected! I don't get a big workout from the dance videos, but I use them as "fun" warmups and for extra "movement" when the mood strikes me. I am going to do more of the belly dancing ones and if I bond with them over time, I might actually consider taking a belly dancing class too - just makes you feel good! the last few weeks i have been working out alot trying to burn off nervous energy...however, in general, I work out 30-60 minutes maybe 4-5 days a week, plus my farm chores. You do NOT have to live in the gym to tone up - you just have to work really focused and intensely. BTW, I started out doing long duration, lower intensity workouts because when you are obese, that is a safer place to start and burns alot of calories. HIIT or any kind of high intensity stuff should be worked up to so you don't hurt yourself.

You and I think alike... I held steady at 151 for awhile, but last two days I have been at 152. Heck with it - ticker is staying at 151 - claimed it already!!! haha

To each his/her own. Off topic but when I was early in the journey I identified a few successful sleevers that had similar stats as me (high BMI, good losses, healthy and maintaining) and decided to.listen to them and let alot of the other static just slide by... It was a good formula for my success.

I am not sure i understand the point of this. I have made mistakes, like a recovering addict I guess. I have eaten too fast - almost always emotionally charged situation or had allowed myselt to get over hungry and inhaled and vomited. Maybe 3 times in in the 22 months since beening sleeved? I am sure this was a hangover problem from my lapband days when I vomited often - that torture device made me prone to it. They were educational and learning experiences but i shared them on these very forums so don't consider them dirty little secrets... I am just human and make errors.

I was banded at about 270 in 2001; lost down to about 200 in a year and never got any further -. i started having issues with reflux etc... well, to be honest I had those issues pretty early on but i reached the point where it was intolerable. I had Fluid removed in 2002 and eventually regained up to 332. I finally had the band removed in 2011 and was sleeved when my REAL success began. not sure if that helps - but the band really never did work well for me. If you were successful with the band, you can surely be successful with the sleeve.

protein drink herbal teas since i developed an aversion to water

Oct 14 - and I am pretty amped... both excited and freaked out... but i will make it. I honestly had no idea i had muscle definition like that. Using the 5:2 I got a few more pounds off which revealed more under the hood. I don't lift, I do high intensity calestinic stuff like boot camps, julian michales, "ripped in 30 days" but it took me alot longer then 30 days..haha. I suspect genetics have something to do with it. My dad was one of those shorter but really thick built guys - lots of natural muscle mass under his layers of fat (thanks dad for passing down more then the fat gene!) BTW, in case that photo scares any ladies... I have to tense up to get that look. When relaxed, my arms and back just look toned, not all muscled like that so don't freak out. I personally LOVE the fit woman look , but I know it isn't every woman's idea of beauty. Muscles help you maintain weight loss... they are a good thing.

I was about 285 when I started at the ymca. I felt comfortable there, I never felt judged. I did Water aerobics and eventually some of their "101" classes for beginners before working up to the harder stuff. I did that after quitting another local gym in humiliation at the way the personal trainer treated me. Hold your head up high and know that in time you will be one of the "hot chicks". Don't worry about what they think - and you know what, I bet most of them ADMIRE you for trying even though you are bigger sized. Hang in there girl, its worth it.

Okay, I can't speak to the science, but I can speak to my own experiences. During active weight loss, I just did what I could. Lets face it, morbidly obese, I couldnt do some things comfortably. i did a circuit work out, Water aerobics and eliptical. I went with longer duration daily exercise. As I approached goal, and wasn't getting there... I found out about high intensity training. Shorter duration, higher intensity. I dropped weight lifting and started doing boot camp/cross fit and spinning type stuff. About killed me, but wow, the weight loss kicked in gear. Then, i hit goal, had a summer of fun...haha... but stayed very active. Quit the gym, did my farm work etc but felt I was losing fitness. I hit it with the Julian Michaels Ripped in 30 days and kickboxing DVDs, and continued my "farm work". I went on a new eating plan to shed the last few pounds... and holy smokes, I have defined muscles now. I am not sure I get it exactly, but i do think that the Julian Micheals type high intensity/short duration/calistenic type approach really works. I am talking planks, burpees, pushups and stuff like that. So, I do value maintaining muscle mass but i think I probably sacrificed some during the loss phase, but have managed to get it back and while I am not "ripped" I have noticable muscles hiding under some loose skin now. Don't be afraid of the weight loss, but DO keep up the fitness exercise, it makes a difference. I am a believer in high intensity interval type training. My complaint about Julian's DVDs is that for a middle aged gal like myself, she jumps into it too fast. I havve been doing dancing (salsa, zumba, belly dance from utube fitness videos) for 10-20 minutes before now as a fun warmup. I find I can do her workout better since i am warm and loose before I try the hard stuff.

There is another free kindle one called 60 yummy 5:2 diet chicken & beef recipes

Thanks for the info... but... I kinda found you don't need the book. I will take a look though - appreciate the link!

hehe Laura - years of watching America's Top Model and i did learn a few things. I know my shoulders and outer arms are my best feature... so... lean that just slightly toward the camera and the picture looks better. The "real" ones I posted were emphasizing the problem areas... and frankly are more accurate. I so far, knock on wood, am lucky with scarring - the worst is the stretch marks from pregnancy and obesity! I pray that holds true after plastics - that the scars fade well. I have discussed this with my boyfriend but deep down i do have a fear that he will be repulsed by them even though he says the right things about it now. Post plastic scars can be pretty ugly the first 3-6 even 12 months. Women in my plastics support group have been dumped over their scars by someone who had previously expressed undying love...lol... so I know this could happen. It sounds shallow, but people can't help it if they are repulsed and men tend to be very visual - so i just can't let it worry me. I am doing this for ME not for anyone else. It is like getting rid of those 3X sweatpants - they just don't fit my life anymore.

I have been obsessing over planning my plastics since January so I think every detail is worked out. My ex is taking care of house, home and farm, and horses and dogs. He knows the routine since he does that when I go on business trips. I have a backup plan for the dogs (a friend who has a doggie daycare and can board them at her place) and TWO backup plans for the horses (two friends who will make room in their barns should I need it). A dear friend is taking care of ME and she LOVES to nurse. She studied nursing but couldn't handle the harder classes so quit and wound up retiring young...lucky ducky. anyway, she is more excited then I am...haha. After the first few weeks, I have a bunch of friends lined up to help me keep busy. We all worry I will go stir crazy not being able to exercise or ride horses for say... 6-8 + weeks post op! Yes, I have a plan.... just wish it would hurry up and get here already!!! I am tired of being so focused on it.

This is the view I see when I put my arm down, slightly in front of me. I am sharing the ugly because I want to paint the real picture. The reason I shared my bikini pix in the first place is I was amazed that I looked better then I thought. I had NO idea that my back was that muscular. I don't lift weights, i do julian michaels DVDs, did crossfit for awhile etc and other exercises. It was a refreshing and empowering look at myself. I have spent alot of my life loathing my looks and I don't feel that way anymore. Extra skin... well... I could live a happy life with loose elephant skin arms, but, I would rather not have it.

Thank you for the compliments, but I have long suspected that Target dressing rooms have magical mirros - how else can you explain those terrible pants I bought last summer...lol. In all seriousness, plastics is SERIOUS business and I wouldn't do it if i didn't need it. What those pics dont really show is that when I sit down, my tummy lays on top of my thighs. My thighs and arms are wrinkled like an elephant legs. I can go on. Most of my "close up and horribly real" photos are not edited for modesty but, I have a couple that will give a more accurate representation of the situation. What my photos DO SHOW is that working out pays off and I believe I have a good chance of having good results from plastics because the frame underneath is in decent shape.