mark!

I had my surgery Feb of 2013. At first all was going well, I never felt any restriction, I didn't have any complications. My progress went great at first, until I started back on solid foods. I didn't have problems adjusting to a solid food diet afterwards, and little by little I started eating a bit more, and a bit more. I guess I've pretty much just hit a wall as far as the surgery is concerned. I didn't follow through like I should have, so instead of the usual "surgery failed me" posts, this is my "I failed my surgery" plea for any assistance. I had surgery with Dr. Kim in Colleyville, and after recent contacts from his staff as well as their "awesome" support group leaders, it appears unless I have a revision surgery I'm on my own with getting back on track. I've put on about 30 pounds back, I started at over 400 and I'm sitting around 330 right now, so there was some success, I'd just like to get back on track and get to my overall goal weight of 260. Anyone been in this position before, and what did you do to start things back up? I'm working out, I hike about 10-15 miles a week, and I mountain bike 20-25 miles a week (just started back up). I carry a pretty good amount of muscle mass from my powerlifting days, but have recently retired from competitive lifting so I'm not lifting as heavy weights, or as often.

Friday 6\6. 308. Was a tad lower mid week but had a high carb day refeed yesterday.

I have an autopap. Shortly after surgery I took my machines card in to be read by my Dr. and he took me off of the machine saying the levels were so low, it wasn't doing anything for me since I was breathing normally on my own. But, I really think I was diagnosed with sleep apnea just so insurance would cover my surgery through my surgeon. They said at the beginning my sleep apnea was so light they typically didn't prescribe machines to those in that range. I would keep using it until you're told otherwise by a Dr.

Good luck..with...crossfit...blah that's hard to say. To each their own. It's awesome you're getting in and doing something though. just be careful and learn proper form on your own, God knows those idiots they call "instructors" don't know anything about form.

Born at 12lbs, I was a watermelon. Was always the big kid in school, but was active in just about every sport I could squeeze in to my schedule. Weight didn't really become a "problem" until after college and I stopped playing football. The weight started piling on, muscle mass started going away, and I become less and less active. I weighed in at 340 my senior year as a lineman, but was decently solid. Packed on about 100 pounds after that by not maintaining my workout schedule after school, but maintained my eating schedule quite well.

I think you should go. Well, I wouldn't, but that's just because it's the KC Royals, ha. Sorry, had to. This is what you're signing up for. You can't just become a hermit and not go out with your husband. Eating lifestyle has to change, but we still have to maintain a social lifestyle, especially with your husband or significant other. I believe things like that create tension which leads to the divorce rate among married couples after surgery. Life goes on, you gotta go with it.

Was gonna say the same as Lipsticklady. The hell with those places, I tried to kill myself at those places.

Pam, I'm on the rebound, and you can do this. I was sleeved in Feb of last year, was having great success, but slid back to my old habits. Even after I "thought" I was doing ok, I was eating processed "healthy" food instead of whole, natural food sources. It takes time, it takes effort, and it takes dedication. Find a group, even us here, and let us all encourage and support each other through these tough times and on to more forward success in our lives. It's a growing process, you're not done yet.

When it all comes down to it, it's personal preference. Go to a food nutrition store, I know our local Vitamin Shoppes do sample tastings, and Max Muscle also will make you a serving of Protein right there for you to try. The absolute best advice I give to clients and those looking for a good protein powder, don't buy online starting out. Go to Vitamin Shoppe and look at some Whey or Whey Isolate protein powders. Here's why I choose VS....buy back program. Buy a 5 pound $50 tub and throw up because it tastes so bad? Take it back. You can literally take a serving in the store after buying it, and return it for a full refund either cash or credit. I've never had any issues with VS when it comes to returning a product I hated. They stand by their customer satisfaction, and they carry the top of the line products. There are sources of protein that are great, True Nutrition and I'm guess the Jay Robb stuff, you can't find in stores, well I think someone further up mentioned Whole Foods has Jay Robb, but the closest one to me is a good drive away I think. There's gonna be some trial and error.

Same boat, recently I've relapsed back in to my old ways. Luckily we caught it before getting too deep. Go back to the basics and restart the weight loss journey. I've been having luck so far by doing that. It sucks, and it's hard, but we knew going in it'd be hard to do. Just gotta right the ship and get back on track.

Holy hell at the price of that Jay Robb Protein, and for something you can get at half the price elsewhere. Optimum Nutrition has been my go to protein for years, even before surgery. 74 servings for $50, and a plethora of flavors. You can usually catch it on sale at Vitamin shoppe or bodybuilding.com. They also have a natural blend that cuts out artificial flavoring and such. It's worth a look. ON is also an outside lab tested protein. They don't use labs they contract with to due their profile testing on their product, so there's no bias reporting on the product you're getting.

I thought I had a leak shorty after I was sleeved. I called the on call Dr and he said if I was up and walking around and could talk normally, it likely wasn't a leak. Said the pain would be something awful. Symptoms however, pain, nausea, vomiting, fever, rapid heart rate, trouble breathing, radiating abdominal pain.

I'm in. CW 314 GW 200's

My responses in red. Feel free to message me any more questions you may have.

8 weeks after surgery MAY NOT be a big deal, but at that time, your body is recovering from having a major organ 60-75% removed, that's a huge deal to your body. You're going to need proper nutrition and supplementation right after to ensure you heal correctly, and as quickly as possible. I'm not saying don't, and your circumstances suck. Can you take any canned foods with you? Stock up on canned chicken breast and chicken broth, canned tuna (from the States). Not sure how strict customs are, or if you even go through them regularly there while on the job. Protein for 5 weeks may not be a bad thing and may not have any ill effects. I'd take some canned Soups, broths, etc if you could man. All in all, best of luck with everything.

Short answer....with the assistance of Vitamins and minerals that your body needs, along with the Protein....yes it's possible. Is it healthy and sustainable long term? No. If you need elaboration, I'll provide it.

I'm with Pdxman, he needs to get a full blood panel done to check things out. I was low T prior to WLS, around 330 total T at age 26. Some Drs will say that's within range, or "close enough" but if he goes to an endocrinologist, they should aim for you to be at a higher level based on age. Also, some guys just go...well...longer. My wife and I can't have quickies. If we do, its strictly for her, and afterwards we'll come back later to complete the task.

The Premier Protein pre mixed drinks at costco were my staple before, and right after surgery. Read the ingredients of whatever you choose, try to get whey isolate, it's nearly 90% protein through filtration. Stay away from any protein gels or garbage like that, they're horrible for you and have horrible sources of protein. I'm leery of some of the natural Proteins out there, but that's just me. If you research proteins enough, a lot use in house labs to do their testing, which is a sespool for faulty lab reports. Optimum Nutrition is where I go now for my protein. Outside and independent lab testing is a consumers friend. ON Gold Standard. It's also one of the cheapest per serving proteins around.

This, unfortunately can't be accurately answered until you're 5 days post op. Some people could do it, others couldn't. I was up walking a few miles a day 4 days post op with little to no discomfort. A few people I know just had a hard enough time getting out of a chair or bed to go to the rest room. It's completely individual. To be on the safe side, I'd pick one or the other. Either push the surgery back, or inform your friend of the issue.

Before I had surgery, I sat down with my Dr and explained my situation. I was completely worried about muscle loss. To keep my current hobby and to keep from having to pay for supplements and entry fees to meets I had to maintain my numbers on the platform or risk losing sponsors. From the get go we set my Protein numbers above 100g since the 3rd day post op, was restricted from deadlifting or squatting heavy for 8 weeks, was released for upper body training as tolerated 4 weeks post op. The biggest problem I've had is correcting form issues and leverages after losing the weight. So far I've added 120 pounds to my total (bench, dead lift, squat combined) and dropped 3 weight classes in the federation I compete in). If you bust your ass and keep muscle retention in mind from the beginning it's easier to combat any atrophy you may have. But, it has to be a goal, instead of just weight loss.

For starters I would swap protein and carb numbers. Aim for 100g protein and 30-50g carbs. Regardless, scientifically if you're working out and not getting enough protein you're not doing yourself any favors. Quality food sources in, quality energy out. It's true your body is I obviously different from everyone else here but research trial and error has proven a thing or two over time. I would start with adjusting protein and carb numbers. Just my .02.

For fat loss, muscle retention, I'm not for aerobic function training. For triathlete trainees, longevity runners, there's a different approach established. High intensity sustained cardio is going to require carbs, the glycogen/glucose response, traditionally. This response, obviously, is if he's in low enough carb to be burning ketones instead of fat. Extreme intensity (MAF Training), in my individuals is going to catabolize muscle mass in the process while obtaining glucose from amino's and glycerol in forms of cortisol and glucagon. With low intensity sustained cardio, this isn't AS MUCH of an issue. Even with high intensity interval training you'll have some chemical responses that are less that ideal for maintaining muscle mass, but losing weight and what the scale shows rules 99% of the minds of those who are overweight. Many people running a low carb approach think they can go balls to the walls during their cardio sessions and they're doing good. It's an issue of QUALITY over QUANTITY when it comes to the weight lost. Muscle, or fat. Low carb is all about mobilizing fat for weight loss. I just wouldn't recommend any sort of medium or high range heart rate training for anyone looking to maintain and add solid mass. For running, it works. Admittedly however, my realm of study and work comes from the power side. When it comes to distance running, I don't have much experience there. Digging around, here are some studies with information for those interested. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19088769 http://jp.physoc.org/content/575/3/901.abstract http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18362686 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15601959 I'm certainly not saying MAF cardio isn't good for people, or for people such as yourself. I'm only going off what I've learned and what I've been taught through the years. As a strength athlete, if I were to train at 180% targeted HR? I'd be kissing my strength goodbye, as the guy who asked the question has been.

Staying off the scale would be the best advice. It's a number. Are you measuring? How are clothes fitting? It's possible your body is recomping during this time and is adjusting to the weight that's been lost, but its lasted for a few weeks it may be time to change up the diet. Keeping carbs down certainly help. Carbs/eating before bed is a touchy subject I don't agree with. Muscle loss (catabolism) is natural during sleep cycles, so I eat before bed to help minimize the effect. What's your daily intake like? Are you eating boxed/processed crap or solid wholesome foods? What about Protein intake? Even if you keep carbs under 50, eating bad carbs is just as bad as eating 200g carbs. Watch for sugar alcohols and artificial sweeteners as well, they have a negative effect on a lot of people keeping carbs low causing insulin spikes and such the same as sugar does.

You can do HIIT if you're medically cleared for it instead of steady state biking. Or, you can just do steady state cardio on a treadmill with a high incline and low speed. Hill sprints are my favorite form of cardio, doesn't take long and has every lasting cardiovascular effects. You can also do barbell/dumbbell/bodyweight complexes instead of regular cardio. If nothing else you could lower the frequency of cardio to offset the weight loss.

If you're legitimately concerned with catabolic responses in your musculature system, why are you still doing cardio? If you can't up the intake, decrease your output. Focus on getting Protein and lifting. Don't over complicate things. Get good solid foods and Proteins, decrease cardio (which at low carb doing cardio is a slippery slope to being with) and lift heavy.