VACookey

I would've gone for the chocolate cake but sugar makes me sick so I can't. I'm so disappointed yeah, NOT! LOL

Surgery was March 7th. I'm not a fanatic exerciser, just 3 times a week sometimes 4. I think it's the quality of my exercise. I'm doing mostly strength training and I can FEEL the difference in my body. It's not just weight loss. It's muscle toning, body sculpting, and weight loss mixed together. Plus, I don't eat a lot of junk (can't really. It makes me sick). Just yesterday I went to Rita's and got a cherry/vanilla gelati. I had maybe 5 bites of it and had to give it to my husband. The sugar just sits weird in my stomach. So I'm a grilled meat/veggie girl. No fast food, fried food, and very little sugar.

You've got that Toni Braxton thing going on with the fabulous face that can totally pull off a short look. I'm jealous. I think it looks great! I've been losing my hair big time the last month. Fortunately, I have a ton of hair so no one else can tell, but I can. I started taking Biotin hoping against hope that it would work. Literally right now as I type, my hair in soaking in deep conditioner and biosilk. I'm hoping I won't have to chop it off. I don't think I can rock a short do like you can.

I've been doing weights since the day I came home from the hospital. I got permission for 10 pounds or less. I walked for the first two weeks then went back to the gym but was told no twisty moves (like elliptical or dance classes). So it's been walking or treadmill mixed with light weights until I got clearance for full workouts (4 weeks? 6 weeks? I can't quite remember).

I've been weight/resistance training 3 times a week and taking step once a week. This Tuesday, I thought I'd take a new resistance class just to change up my routine. I can handle it right? I've been working out like a fiend so it should be ok. So after several minutes of squats, lunges, knees, kicks and more squats, I was really starting to feel it in my hamstrings and glutes. Then I bent over to put a weight in front of my board so it wouldn't slide and there went my hamstrings. Both of them. I couldn't do another lunge and I could barely walk out of the class. It's actually kinda funny looking back on it. Here I was thinking I was all that and this class put me in my place. I'm better now but that class has just issued a challenge to me. I will not let it win. So yes, I'm going back for more torture next Tuesday. Maybe I can find a different muscle to pull.

I'm curious what kind of biotin to take. Are they big pills? Liquid? Chewables? I have a lot of hair and it's falling out in clumps. Thank god I have so much that you can't tell but I'm done cleaning up all the hair laying around.

I don't know what you looked like before but I think you look great now!

Awesome! You have more guts than I do. I hate stairs!

Shweet!

I intend to get in 30 minutes of biking and 1 hour of resistence training, either Saturday or Sunday. And then I hope to get in some swimming. It's so hot the pool might be a good place to spend some time. So how are YOU going to work your body this weekend?

I was like that for the first several weeks. I was popping gas-x like candy. But it went away and I can't remember the last time I had to take any.

Looks like people have great plans for the weekend! It's way too hot for me to do anything outside so the gym it is. I actually can't wait for fall so I can do more outdoorsy stuff.

Why is it too soon? I've been lifting weights since the day I got home from the hospital. They were light weights, no more than 10 pounds, but I did it. Of course, I got permission first. You should check with the doc, especially if you want to lift weights. I really wanted to, so I made it a point to ask about it.

I don't think you'll be able to eat all your points on WW.

Focus like a laser on getting in some Water, especially with this heat. For the first week or so, my favorite Protein drinks were too sweet and just plain nasty but that gets better. The water is the #1 most important thing right now. You have to force yourself to do it. Imagine what's left of your stomach shriveling away like a banana on the sidewalk in this heat. You don't want that right? Drink up! chug chug chug chug chug chug! LOL, Ok, don't chug. sip sip sip sip sip sip sip

I was just telling my husband that I want sushi but I'm scared to try the rolls because of the rice. I'm 4 months out and I'm still not ready. So I'm curious how many people can tolerate rice, even a little bit, and how far out you are. Ultimately, I guess my question is: will I ever be able to enjoy a small portion of sushi again?

All my protein and vitamin levels are perfect and I'm losing hair in big clumps. Fortunately for me I have a ton of hair so it's not noticeable. I have no idea how to stop it since I'm already doing everything right. I hope it stops soon.

ahhhh, good to know. So maybe I'm just being a pansy yet again by not even trying.

WOOT! You're going to change so fast it'll make your head spin!

I amazed at how little I can eat, still feel full, and not feel like I'm going to pass out. I feel, dare I say it, normal. I'm eating far less but I'm not lacking in energy. I honestly thought I wouldn't be able to get out of bed from lack of sustenance but I was wrong.

I totally regretted it the first two weeks. I cried every day. I was miserable. Now? I'm rocking this sleeve! I'm down 80 pounds as of this morning and I look HAWT! I would do it again in a heartbeat.

I went to the gym about 3 weeks out. I was told not to do any twisty moves like the elliptical but biking, treadmill, and lifting no more than 10 pound weights was fine.

I've been reading the posts and see a lot of people talking about having a stall but I'm not sure exactly what that is. I'm sure it means different things to different people. For me, I know that 2 weeks pre-TOM stops my weight loss and that as soon as TOM kicks in so does the weight loss. So I don't consider that a stall. I know it's hormonal. I haven't had a stall since surgery (knock on wood) but I'm sure at some point I will. I'm thinking at least 4 weeks without a loss would be a stall. That's how I would define it. So how do you define a stall? How many weeks? Do you factor hormonal issues into that? Or is it just flat out not losing weight with or without a hormonal shift?

Got all my blood work done and the nurse says I'm doing AWESOME! Incredible weight loss, all my vitamins are good, protein levels are good, no deficiencies at all. In fact, my protein is so good that I can eliminate one of the protein shakes. Thank god for that. I'm actually getting sick of them. The only thing I need to work on is getting my good cholesterol up (it's a tad low). That prompted a discussion on good oils. I use olive oil for everything because it's supposed to be so healthy. She said NO! That's just marketing. I should be using canola oil. Color me surprised! So I'll make that switch and see if it helps bring my good cholesterol up. So in 3.5 months, I'm down 74 pounds and I've gone from a 26/28 to a 14/16...and I was able to do it without destroying my health. Holy crap! I never thought this would be possible. Best. Decision. EVER!

*YAY*