mark!

Take in to consideration, every body is different. They use too much bro science on bb.com for me to take anything over there seriously. There are some good physiques, and some guys who know what they're doing, but the site is convoluted with the curl jockeys and such. There are studies showing .79g/lb of bodyweight is sufficient to build muscle mass, then again there are studies showing 2g/lb (which I find outrageous). I've built a solid foundation using about .8/1g/lb of bodyweight in the past. I would consume around 270-315g protein a day during competition season. Right now I would be worrying about keeping whatever mass you have. It's been my #2 goal since starting. If I maintain my mass, I'll be elite in the 242 weight class, and get another invitation to nationals next fall.

as long as you stay off the forums, it's a decent site at best, but be careful with the information. I've seen articles posted by 15 year old scrawny kids giving flat out stupid advice. Like butterbean said, there's no spot reduction or removal of saggy skin in the form of exercise, etc. Staying hydrated and building up the muscle in the particular area will help with the looseness. It's tough at first, the rapid weight loss there will be some loose skin, give it time to rebound though. You look young, so age is on your side.

Everyone is different when it comes to pain. You may have a low threshold and see white spots when you get shots, or you may be able to brave thru a bad cut easily, just depends on where you're set at. For me, very mild gas pain solved by gas x strips and walking quite easily. I dry heaved in the hospital maybe 5 times, nausea meda stopped this. It caused slight pain. There was one day where my pain crippled me. It was later thought to be gas pain or from the surgical mesh attached to my abdomen wall as it subsided after a while. Afterwards only minor pain in that area for a few days, right now zero pain. Good luck and beat wishes. The pain meds they give you work. If you cannot take them due to allergies or nausea, ask for a different brand. There are plenty to chose from and no way should you have to suffer. Pain meds make everything alright.

I'm 2 weeks out, have lost 43 pounds since the 21st of Feb. My intake is around 500-700 calories a day, but my protein intake is already in the 60's and 70's due to my wanting to limit loss of muscle mass. My doctor has approved of my diet and is following along closely with what I'm doing.

I've been using mapmyrun for years. I recently started using Endomondo as well for my trail riding as it appears to be more accurate for biking. I also like mapmyrun on the laptop because if I forget to record a walk, I can go back and manually add it by routing it myself.

I was at my sons baseball game tonight, jeans and hoodie, and I was shivering I was so cold. I told my wife I'm losing my winter weight.

I have some abdomen soreness, and some gas pain, only once was I praying to God to make the pain and general uncomfortable-ness go away, and that was 8 days after surgery. I was so scared of a leak, that I jacked something up, but the swallow tests all denied any leak and it had to just either be the surgical mesh, sutures, or gas pain on my left side under my ribs. For me, the temporary pain I'm having now is way worth the ease of medical issues of the future. My pain, 99.99% of the time is no unbearable. I think you'll be surprised as how little it'll hurt. There likely WILL be some pain, but it's nothing that I thought it'd be.

Mine started post op day 8. It was horrible. Sharp pain, like a knife. So, I called my on call doc and he said since there's no fever, I felt fine other than the pain, to just wait until my post op appointment the next day. I went in, had 2 swallow tests, just to make sure, and no leak, my biggest fear at that time. The doc who saw me said it's pretty normal to have suture pain around that hole since it was the most worked area. She said they use a mesh in that area to help close everything up, and the pain like I was experiencing was pretty normal, so long as there isn't any fever or anything like that.

I had short term success on it years ago. I started it again more recently, within a year, and it really, really jacked up my hormones and blood levels.

I get hungry when I don't feed myself protein like I'm supposed to. For instance, I woke up at 6:30am today, sat around in the living room getting the boys off to school. I had a Dr appointment at 10am, ran by the store and got home around 11:30, by then I was hungry so I drank some protein, ate a few popsicles now I'm good to go.

Congrats! Each day will bring more ease and comfort!

I'm post op one week, this was my first real surgery. I had teeth work done where they knock me out, but I don't count that. It was over in the blink of an eye. One second the nurse is telling me to breathe deep and relax, the next they're telling me to wake up and asking how I feel. I was nervous as all get out, but they gave me some meds in pre op to calm me down.

Have you started a workout plan? And are you getting in all of your fluids? Getting ENOUGH calories?

Not used here.

Hey Matt. I was sleeved Tuesday the 26th, and am doing awesome. Do what the Dr says and make sure you get those liquids in bro. All will be well as long as you do what you're supposed to. Walk, sip, rest, repeat.

Went through 2 weeks and cleaned out all of the crap from the pantry. Threw away all the sugar cereal, all the junk foods and such. Our boys actually said they feel better eating the "diet" stuff, which really is only gluten free sugar free things, rice cereals and such. We're all going to enjoy our new life and make better decisions.

I was worried, but was informed by the nurse 2 weeks pre op that I'd be asleep before any tubes went anywhere. I did wake up with a sore throat from the breathing tube, no worries though. No effects at all from the catheter.

I was just sleeved, but was talking to a running coach when I bought some running shoes, and he said all of your biomechanics will change after losing weight, which makes absolute sense. There are layers of cushion/fat between joints, which makes the joint move a certain way. I can see us having to regain our golf/bowling swing throughout the process. But, like me, I'm just gonna use it for an excuse to get out on the course more, and spend more time in the alley.

I've only been head hungry when I see things I really enjoyed. But I've been able to turn the switch off and go in another direction of thought.

Man Frys would be the devil to me. I'd go in, buy enough to make one big bad ass gaming machine, and have to stand in that line? Whew. I'd tell the salesman if he wants the sell, he better make a priority line, haha.

I've been taking in 4-6 daily. I haven't had any issues with them, they've been amazing for me.

Yup, from what I've heard it's normal. I've had some BM's, but they've been liquid, no solids at all.

I'm completely amazed at this process. I see my incisions, I feel the staples, the minor gas pain, soreness etc, but the entire process was so quick and painless, it's almost as if nothing happened, like it was a dream or something. I'm so blessed to have the support system I have, and the surgery team I had was top notch through everything. Plus all of the answers I've gotten here have been a MAJOR stress reliever. To go through something like this that others go through blind, would be horrifying. Not knowing what's considered normal, or what's considered a yellow or red flag. All of you have been majorly helpful and awesome, thanks for that. My body feels great. I've started doing little things around the house, tidying up when my wife doesn't get on to me for helping. It was hard going to the store and her not letting me help with the groceries, I felt like a chump, having my wife, a 3rd my size loading the truck and such. There were only a few bags but still, it just felt bad to me, that's been the hardest part so far outside I think. I'm 4 days post op, no complications, no pain meds and I'm getting in at least 1.5 mile walks for the past day, and today will be, maybe, a 2 mile day. I kind of want to go to my doctor and ask to see video or something of the surgery.

50 minute surgery, 3 hour recovery because my blood pressure was 200/100 for the longest. After that I went to my room and was there overnight, then sent packing after my bp and heart rate were controlled via medication. Now that I'm home, stopped taking bp meds today and bp is 130/70 again like usual. No worries though, it'll seem like only a few seconds have gone by from the moment you pass out until you wake up.