mark!

Please read scientific studies on toning...sigh. That's all I'm saying. You're not going to get all big and bulky and body builder like by lifting weight, lol. Beautiful Badass, it's a phenomenal training program written by a girl who advocates actually lifting and not following the myth of toning. If your trainer is "toning" you, kick him where his balls should be please. I'm not saying light weight high reps is bad, I use them for accessory work because it gives greater activation over a longer period of time after I've hit major muscle groups. But every time someone says they're "toning" God kills a kitten. And...as much as I don't like cats, it's still unnecessary death.

I don't smoke many cigars, I've smoked Romeo y Julietta and loved them, the shop I get my pipe tobacco from has house blends and sample unmarked packs, anything medium bodied I'm usually good with, and they always set me up with some good flavored cigars. My favorite, though is probably a Gran Habano Corojo #5.

I'm here!!!! 5 weeks post op and doing wonderful. Stalled on the scale, but soft foods, inches going down, things are all good here.

A MAN should never, ever talk to a woman like that. It appears the man you married is still a little boy living in his past high school life, never matured and grew up to take care of his own. From the outside looking in, he doesn't respect you, and if he doesn't respect you there will never be any change for the better. Communication can save marriages, but if there's no respect, MUTUAL respect, things will only get tougher as you progress, especially after surgery. My wife and I argue, at one point I thought it was our hobby. After a few years, we're in our 4th year of marriage, and I can honestly say, she's my damn soulmate and best friend in the entire world. We worked REALLY hard on respect, communication and love. We did the Love Dare and I really think that, and a book called The 5 Love Languages truly saved our marriage. Is he in to reading a book maybe? Have you expressed how you feel? Sidenote: Judging by his anger issues, you may want to have something between the two of you.

Coolaid, I haven't had to buy any new jeans yet only because I had smaller sizes that I used to wear that I had kept around. Right now I'm in 42-32s with a belt worn tightly, and 40-32s with either no belt, or loose belt. I reckon I'll be buying size 38 jeans in a month or so because the 40s are already starting to sag in the rear and I have to be careful with them. Ultimately, I'd love to be sitting around size 32 or 34.

I had poison ivy 3 weeks post op, and was told I could take it. I took the childrens benadryl, no issues.

Post op life NOW is great. liquids sucked, but was manageable. After getting to soft foods this week, I've been happy, haha. Don't hope you can do something, make up your mind and leave no room for doubt. WIth pre op diets, and then the surgery, and the hard work you're going to put in to your new lifestyle, you'll drop those 100 pounds and reshape your body completely.

All those thermogenics do is turn up the heat in your body, and increase your heart rate. They're absolutely not a healthy alternative to buckling down, cleaning up your diet and getting to work is what it's going to take.

Just out of curiosity, what's wrong with "higher weight, lower reps" exactly? Or is it the whole "toning" thing...lol.

Mark, 28 always look to encourage and to be encouraged. Started 394, 6'1, down to 316 now 5 weeks post op with the pre op loss included.

Actinase [Patent Pending Blend Of Enzymatically Hydrolyzed (Predigested) Collagenic Protein Isolate, Whey Protein Isolate, Casein Protein Isolate. Yeah, the "blend" of protein isn't going to supplement your needs like many want it to. Plus the amino breakdown of a liquid Protein sitting on a shelf is going to wreak havoc on the structure of the Proteins. It's a waste of money. I guess if it's all you can do to get one of these in, it'd be better than nothing (to some people, but in all honesty it's a junk protein you're going to crap out later). You can put these in the same category as the "ultra mega fat burner pills" they sell at wal mart. But hey, if you like drinking pig skin and cow bones for the Gelatin make up, more power to ya!

Did you appeal? And then file with the state regulator? If you're covered and you KNOW you meet the requirements they legally cannot turn you down for coverage.

Rest and recover for 2 weeks, walk everyday, multiple times if possible, walk further each time if possible. As tolerated start walking quicker, longer trips, etc. There's no way I would have even attempted to do anything if my body told me no, you'll end up in the hospital if you pull something or end up not being able to stay on track. For now your job is to recover and walk, sip water. Afterwards, you can start incorporating light weights, faster cardio as well. Did your doctor not give any restrictions or timelines to follow? It's best to talk to them so they know what you're doing and they can advise you on how fast your journey is supposed to move along. I did start lifting a week early, but was told by my Dr. to do so if I felt I could handle it with ease, but the first sign of discomfort in the ab area I was to stop all activity except walking.

If I have to wait, SO DO YOU!!! I'm planning on waiting until I'm at least 6 months out before a cigar or pipe. I only smoke about once a month anyway, but don't want to chance it hindering my healing. I pass by my pipe stand every day, I miss em.

Are you talking about the protein shots? You'll end up dumping most of that throw away protein in the toilet during your next bowel movement. Quality protein it certainly is not. Starting soft foods, and excited about it. Scale has been slow to move here recently, but inches are coming off, so either way, progress is being made.

We never buy that though. I was on the treadmill a few days back, and the shorts I were wearing didn't have a drawstring, I found out it sucks running and holding shorts. It gave me a new respect for the little punks we chase while doing the same thing.

It's probably not a great idea.......but I did it, about 2 weeks out. I don't know if it gave me more gas than a regular jolly rancher would, but I did get gas, I enjoyed it, wife...not so much. I only got gas when I ate around 4 of them. A few didn't seem to matter.

Pics or it didn't happen! haha. I have to be very careful with my jeans and which ones I wear. If I wear my older pair, gotta have a belt and the belt has to be tight. It's funny sometimes.

I'm not some kind of conspiracy theorists or whatever, most of those people I really think are quacks, but there are documentaries I've seen about the healthcare and fitness industries, it's obvious the fitness industry was built on scams and crap (just look at any over the counter weight loss meds and how you can put anything in a bottle and market it as a weight loss pill, LITERALLY). But I really think PF is all about keeping their clients fat and happy rather than looking at the serious issue of obesity. It pisses me off seeing them treat it as such a joke when people are dying of this disease every second. Sorry, I guess I should apologize before some sends me a mean nasty PM or someones feelings get hurt. I didn't mean to turn this in to a bash PF thread, it serves its purpose if you can walk past the large pepperoni or bagels on the counter, I mean, who of us has ever had a problem with temptation right? Psh. Ok let me try to apologize legitimately again. I don't want to hijack the thread any more than I already have, sorry I did in the first place. Sometimes I just don't know when to back out of a thread versus giving my opinion. My apologies.

For me and my doctors reqs: Day 1 to 4 weeks: Walking and light weights as tolerated. 4 weeks: Heavier weights as tolerated, light jogging as tolerated. 6 Weeks: Whatever I wanna do. My Dr. cleared me to go ahead and open it up a little early with weights since that's my secondary goal right after losing weight. I gotta keep my strength to keep sponsorship and such with certain companies. It was all under the pretense that if I had absolutely any pain, I would back off.

Yeah it's real. I have a video of us setting it off, and there are numerous vids on youtube. I was kicked out of one and criminally trespassed by the local police for deadlifting 550 pounds, and on the descent the weight made a noise, set off the lunk alarm by some mr. stick legs and I was asked to leave because other members felt threatened. 2nd time I was kicked out was the lawsuit. I walked in with a friend of mine with our gym bags, with honestly every intention of getting kicked out during our workout, I was on a business trip and the hotel gym sucked. Both my friend and myself were prepping for the Texas strongman competition so we decided to take a trip to PF. We walked in, and were met at the front by the manager and he pointed at the door. We were discriminated before we ever got on the gym floor. The fact that the "no judgement zone" bullshit is a lie just pisses me off. So because I deadlift, bench, and squat ass to ground with good form, and I'm able to move a lot of weight, I'm told I can't lift at this facility? What kind of gym discourages this? And movie and pizza night? A f$$king jar of candy on the counter? Give me a break. They only have one interest, keeping their clients fat and lazy to keep clientele. The trainers and under certified jokes, and the managers have business degrees at best with no relation to fitness. Yeah, I wanna lose weight, so I'm gonna join a gym that has pizza and bagel days. Whoo!!!!

I was sorry. Sorry for being what I was. Sorry for waking up every damn day still morbidly obese and not able to run with my kids, or do the things I needed to do. I was sorry for getting out of breath as I saw people doing the same things, half as athletic as I was, but blowing by me. Yeah, I was sorry. Sure there are complications. Life will suck a few days (possibly) and it'll hurt like hell (possibly). But where are you now? A few days of pain to go through, a few weeks of feeling like **** to beat, for a lifetime of being healthy and able to be and do what you want to do? Hell yeah. It's worth it, and I'm in no way sorry for making the decision to have this surgery.

There's no clear scientific answer. Some will say one thing, others will say another. You just have to do what you do. If you're fine taking in 54g protein in one sitting, there shouldn't be any problem. If you find yourself going number 2 shortly after, it could be a sign you're literally crapping your money away. It's better to intake higher amounts of protein after a workout since that's when your body will be at a high processing rate, tears in the muscle fibers and such will want to be repaired and will take in that protein more quickly than if you're sitting around not doing anything all day long. Protein timing, arguably, could be far more important than the amount of protein one gets.

It's more uncomfortable for me now. I've been thinking about lowering the pressure settings, but haven't messed with it so far.

Lol, I got kicked out of a Planet Fitness once, they didn't like settling in court, but screw em all.