Globetrotter

I am going to add to my goals for February - by the end of this month I want to be able to do 5 *real* push ups, in a row, with perfect form.

February is going to be an up-in-the-air month for me, closing down one location moving to another, getting set up, etc. etc. But I hope to lift weights at least 15 times and to do cardio at least 5 times. I would love to set a weight loss goal for myself but even though I did Insanity 5 days a week for the entire month of December and ate only 650 cals a day, I only lost 1.5 pounds so I'm not even going to set myself a number.

Well, my first week of lifting I lost 5 pounds. In the subsequent 2 weeks I have "gained" back 4 pounds, regardless of my very clean diet. I am going to backload see if that works, I am on day 4 of high cal/protein super low carb, on day 10 I will have a very large portion of carbs immediately after my evening workout and from then on I will save whatever carbs I may eat for after the evening workout. We'll see. I will also take a tiny, TINY swig of that amino acid energy drink, tonight is cardio.

I don't remember what my January goals were once I switched over to weight lifting... but I am now lifting 150# on the leg press and 40# on the bench press. I do know that it appears I have lost one single pound since New Year's

omg, CBT, I make those too! Except I can't do oats so I use the leftover almond paste from making my own almond milk. The chia I use is amazing, it is Ruths Raw Organic chocolate Chia, so freakin' good! I am driving myself crazy over this topic of how to feed my muscles for growth and fat loss, I just don't know what to do and everything I try doesn't seem to work! I've been lifting for about 3 weeks now and I swear my front and back views I look even worse!! gah!!

Remember that people like Fiddleman are in advanced states of athleticism, they need to pre-workout carbs to fuel their efforts, I on the other hand still have a very high body fat % and still have a solid 40 lbs to lose so I do not eat prior to a workout. I also keep my carbs pretty modest throughout the day, saving them on purpose for after the workout which, according to the literature in weight lifting, is optimal.

every person is different and my response will be totally off the wall compared to others! I love to exercise, LUV it, but if I want to lose weight, I can't exervcise!! Seriously! I am a 3 year vet and have tried every combination there is - low carb/low cal, low carb/high cal, intermitent fasting, insanity cardio, running, etc etc etc. I love it, feel great, but exercise does not make my scale budge. The only thing that makes my scale budge - for me personally- is low cal, low carb, and the only thing that changes my body composition -for me personally- is intense weight lifting.

Yes, keeping everyone entertained, having the most finely callibrated antennae to the mood of a room, from years of one's personal or psychological safety depending on it ....

Ooh yes she does! A well meaning friend of mine sent me a care package with a lot of raw almond meal, nice except I have no access to cooking of any kind! But when life gives you almond flour, make almond milk and no-bake cookie balls!! I used a little agave, soaked my meal, then expressed the milk. Then I took the almond paste and mixed it with some Peanut Butter, some honey, some salt, some raw chocolate chia and crushed coconut flakes, rolled them into balls, and put them in the freezer - yuUM! Perfect little wholesome energy balls!

For me it will be when a stranger on the street, male or female, when asked to characterize my body, doesn't say fat or any euphamism for fat, no chubby/stout/curvy/soft. And when I can complete tricky yoga moves without my gut preventing me, and when I can run a mile straight outdoors without wanting to keel over, then I will know I am fit. The last time I was all of these things was under 130 lbs.

@ Wanda - have you considered a career as a motivational speaker? I'm serious, you have the gift for raising spirits <3 You asked how I did it via 5:2 and the truth is, the real truth, I didn't do 5:2 until 6 wks ago. For the first 6 weeks I went back on a post-op diet; 600 cals a day, 70+g protein, less than 35 carbs. That was the kind of kick in the pants my body needed to get it going again. Now that I am intensely lifting I eat 1400 cals a day with very very low carbs and then eat 600 cals on my 2 off days. I will do this for 10 days, body weight in grams of protein, 30g or less carbs. Then after day 10 I will have an evening of carb mania after the evening workout. After this trial I will add in a low normal amount of regular carbs, to be eaten after evening workouts, keeping the carbs during the day very low. Now that I am focusing on muscle gain, stability, and strength I am changing my diet more in keeping with lifters and wrestlers who have turned gaining muscle and cutting fat into a science. Coops, yes this thread does move swiftly and tends to go in directions before people can get a handle on what they've just learned or missed, so I will repost my post : "As for me, wow, I had no idea my moment of selfie rage would ilicit such a response (in a good way), thanks guys!! So, I must confess something, I actually never told you guys that I had lost all of my regain because I was waiting for a more impressive stat like, "I've lost all my regain AND made it to surgeon's goal, wooo!" But now the cat is out of the bag so, yes, I lost all of my regain, in three months. That's 25-30 lbs, depending on which numbers you are using, thanks to our friend 5:2. My lowest legit (non-diarrhea induced) weight post-op was 167 which I achieved in February of '12. My highest was just shy of 200 a year ago March. Four days ago I weighed in at 164.8 lbs. This morning I weighed in at 168 and I could just spit nails but I'm hoping it is just water in mending muscle tissue. I think the frustration dam broke because I had pulled on a pair of pants that day that fit just fine - as they have for the past 30 lbs!! I mean, COME ON! Sure, they didn't look as good on me 30 lbs ago, but the fact is that they fit just fine then, and they fit just fine now and that was absolutely the last straw and I 'sploded. I also don't understand how I can weigh less than I did in February of '12, yet be bigger/lumpier now? I told you I use this one VERY $$$ bra as a marker and last time I was this low it fit smoothly across the decolletage with "chicken cutlets" inserted. Now, no cutlets, and I still have breast skin bubbling out the top. what the?? I am 5'3" and if we go by the day the scale was my friend, 164.8 lbs. 15 lbs from surgeon's, 35 from personal. I am staying in this abusive relationship of my job the way my Mom stayed in her marriage. I don't know how to quit and am afraid to quit and try something else, afraid to be without the only safety net I've known, even though it is destructive to me. I accepted the extension, this would give me the kind of cash money savings that could pay for a doctorate or a down payment on a house or invested in my future since it can take years to get SSD for MS... but I am so over being here, I'm angry at missing life, missing out on everything, it's like being fat all over again ... And why the hell hasn't my front or back shape changed? My profile I will be the first to say has changed amazingly, my bootay especially , but back and front photos reveal no changes whatsoever. Perhaps another frustration I have is in my eating. As you know, my restrictions aren't solely based on weight loss and following a diet for diet's sake but rather to retain my cognitive and physical function in the face of MS. I feel a bit like how I imagine a child born with type 1 diabetes might feel, angry at knowing you can't have that treat, and even angrier knowing that you just do not have the option of cheating, not if you want to survive. I ate some popcorn last week and my foot went numb. I agree it has felt quiet around here, haven't heard from Coops, Kelly, Wanda, Sheila (Sweetums), the long lost Cheri, Laura... Dee I'm so happy for you that you will be getting back into your home soon! Sarah, (and all whose lives have been touched by addiction) - it is so painful to watch someone lose their lives to addiction, that is how I lost my Father one year ago and I still fantasize about what could have been done, "if only..." I wish I could cradle him in my arms and take away his pain, I wish there was a surgery for his addiction like there was for mine ... I need to let go of my anger(s), feel the blessings in my life, why am I not able to do that? Why don't I feel blessed, why am I not brave? Why am I not better at all of this ... Denise - IMPHO, I think you need to back away from Bill until he makes a firm move regarding his ex. SherylJane - pics of the corset or it didn't happen! . Oh, PS!! The D-bag "friend" trainer did reach out and apologize, via FB, for his behavior. I wrote back that the apology was "acknowledged and accepted", and left it at that."

Why can't you take HRT, or if you are taking it, higher doses? acupunture? The original post, my venting rage, was responded to well but full of a lot of questions. So I responded, answered a lot of questions and also revealed my loss of the regain in full, and it got totally ignored, except you.

I say that I lost 30 lbs thanks to 5:2 and only one person acknowledges, maybe that's why I never bothered to tell anyone ....

SherylJane - do you know how to "properly" lace a corset? You count down the holed and the two in the middle you lace down instead of criss cross, then at the very bottom you knot the laces. Now you put it on, it is super loosee, and you reach behind you for the pair of down-laced loops, switch hands so the right hand is holding the left loop etc., and bring them around in front of you and pull baby, pull! You can go even tighter by looping them onto a doorknob or bedpost. Then you tie off the laces either in the front or back. when you take it off you just undo the front buttons, never the laces. If you "waist train", wearing it at home for a few weeks, you will make your waist smaller, season the corset to your body shape, and will have "closure" lol. hope this helps As for me, wow, I had no idea my moment of selfie rage would ilicit such a response (in a good way), thanks guys!! So, I must confess something, I actually never told you guys that I had lost all of my regain because I was waiting for a more impressive stat like, "I've lost all my regain AND made it to surgeon's goal, wooo!" But now the cat is out of the bag so, yes, I lost all of my regain, in three months. That's 25-30 lbs, depending on which numbers you are using, thanks to our friend 5:2. My lowest legit (non-diarrhea induced) weight post-op was 167 which I achieved in February of '12. My highest was just shy of 200 a year ago March. Four days ago I weighed in at 164.8 lbs. This morning I weighed in at 168 and I could just spit nails but I'm hoping it is just water in mending muscle tissue. I think the frustration dam broke because I had pulled on a pair of pants that day that fit just fine - as they have for the past 30 lbs!! I mean, COME ON! Sure, they didn't look as good on me 30 lbs ago, but the fact is that they fit just fine then, and they fit just fine now and that was absolutely the last straw and I 'sploded. I also don't understand how I can weigh less than I did in February of '12, yet be bigger/lumpier now? I told you I use this one VERY $$$ bra as a marker and last time I was this low it fit smoothly across the decolletage with "chicken cutlets" inserted. Now, no cutlets, and I still have breast skin bubbling out the top. what the?? I am 5'3" and if we go by the day the scale was my friend, 164.8 lbs. 15 lbs from surgeon's, 35 from personal. I am staying in this abusive relationship of my job the way my Mom stayed in her marriage. I don't know how to quit and am afraid to quit and try something else, afraid to be without the only safety net I've known, even though it is destructive to me. I accepted the extension, this would give me the kind of cash money savings that could pay for a doctorate or a down payment on a house or invested in my future since it can take years to get SSD for MS... but I am so over being here, I'm angry at missing life, missing out on everything, it's like being fat all over again ... And why the hell hasn't my front or back shape changed? My profile I will be the first to say has changed amazingly, my bootay especially , but back and front photos reveal no changes whatsoever. Perhaps another frustration I have is in my eating. As you know, my restrictions aren't solely based on weight loss and following a diet for diet's sake but rather to retain my cognitive and physical function in the face of MS. I feel a bit like how I imagine a child born with type 1 diabetes might feel, angry at knowing you can't have that treat, and even angrier knowing that you just do not have the option of cheating, not if you want to survive. I ate some popcorn last week and my foot went numb. I agree it has felt quiet around here, haven't heard from Coops, Kelly, Wanda, Sheila (Sweetums), the long lost Cheri, Laura... Dee I'm so happy for you that you will be getting back into your home soon! Sarah, (and all whose lives have been touched by addiction) - it is so painful to watch someone lose their lives to addiction, that is how I lost my Father one year ago and I still fantasize about what could have been done, "if only..." I wish I could cradle him in my arms and take away his pain, I wish there was a surgery for his addiction like there was for mine ... I need to let go of my anger(s), feel the blessings in my life, why am I not able to do that? Why don't I feel blessed, why am I not brave? Why am I not better at all of this ... Denise - IMPHO, I think you need to back away from Bill until he makes a firm move regarding his ex. SherylJane - pics of the corset or it didn't happen! . Oh, PS!! The D-bag "friend" trainer did reach out and apologize, via FB, for his behavior. I wrote back that the apology was "acknowledged and accepted", and left it at that.

McB - that's a great motivational tool, love it! Last night I did squats, dead lifts, bench press, kneeling rope pull, overhead inclined dummbell drops, and inclined rows. Tonight will just be cardio.

I am so sick of being fat, I am so sick of this blubber hanging off of me in sheets, of moving and having parts of my body continue to sway and wobble after I have stopped moving. I am fed up with putting in so much effort and seeing no changes to the width of my body and no rewards on the scale. I have lost my regain and am at the lowest weight I have been post-op yet I am looser and softer than I was in April of 12 (my most fit), and my breasts aren't as small as they were then either, they haven't shrunk I'm still a DDD. My face still looks fat in photos, I am wearing the same pants I wore THIRTY POUNDS ago, and they are not even baggy. My ass is still misshapen raw cookie dough. The fat flaps around my ribcage under my arms that spill over my bra drive me to a rage. Fasted yesterday, about 630 cals, and killed it at the gym (legs) and was up 4 lbs this morning. So effing sick of it.

I concur Jean. It is a thought provoking article, that is why there have been such excellent responses, pointing out the variety of understandings. I defnitely have found myself, post wls, aware of the times when I have begun to put something in my mouth and realized that what I really wanted was to be with people, participation. Participation I think is a crucial and pivotal word for formerly obese people, participation in the world around us, participation and permission. My favorite part of the day now is when I suit up and hit the weight room, I was so intimidated to go in there at first, for so many reasons, now I know it as a friendly place where I am a part of the group, we recognize each other, spot each other... We were told no, so often and so emphatically, by society that we forgot that the only permission we need is from ourselves.. That was a bit of a tangent, whoops! As for the affection, physical affection, I am way more affectionate with everyone now, I pat backs, forearms, I willingly hug friends, and I also use names more when talking to the person. Perhaps like a dog that only knew cruelty and abuse and at first cringes at the shelter, now through positive reinforcement I am friendlier.

What is the cheapest way to get Xtend?

Ultimately Fiddle, a lot of good advice has been given, and you were concerned enough to start this thread, if you are concerned enough, maybe go see your doctor, they may tell you exactly what people here are telling you about your salts and water but sometimes we just need to hear it from a doctor's mouth before we really take it in, my concern is for your kidneys if you are over flushing.

I did legs and it was great - leg presses to muscle failure, thigh curls sitting and on stomach, and back crunches. Then I mashed out my fascia with the bar, which was funny because any crossfitter knows this is important, but a couple guys in the gym mistook my grimaces of pain to mean that I had become trapped under the bar and needed rescuing! lol, I tried to explain that this was what I wanted! I thought that was funny and I suppose it did look that way, it hurts terribly at first but you feel so blissful afterward and thanks to pressing out all the acids, I'm not sore at all today. So tonight I think will be ab night...

Hey, I think we should call the February Challenge the "Sweetheart Challenge" Tonight is leg night, woohoo! I love leg day because I can really charge hard, when I do arms I feel so incapable.. My left hip joint/tendon/something got hurt last week that day I took the amino energy supplement (bad idea) so I have been doing all upper body since but I'm going to try my beloved leg press "birthing machine" tonight, wish me luck!

Yes, in theory this is a good article but it absolutely can lead to risky behaviors. Also, it is not much healthier to load our emotional needs onto another person instead of onto a fork. We must find the acceptance and comfort within ourselves, not expect an outside source to fix it, be it arms or food. I have undergone a lot of trauma and loss and terror in the last year and recently found solace in the arms of someone who was there for me when I needed a human most. Unfortunately, I really let my guard down and leaned upon this person too much, and they weren't able to handle it and withdrew their comfort just when I had cracked open the cavern of need.

Fiddle, just because you are getting a lot of electrolytes daily, doesn't mean you are absorbing them, there may be an absorption issue and you may still be getting too much Water for the amt of electros you are getting. I'm also a little concerned that your diet is so rigid that you won't even consider a banana ...

Everything FYE said ^, and RJ you too, definitely do not erase your feedback. This thread and your posts RJ, have brought forth some very tender and bruised knowledge that I guess I don't really focus on much/enough... I gave and gave, because I *knew* that the only way I could get people to "put up with" my existence was if I was useful to them somehow... and 130 pounds later, you know what, I'm still doing that... I am recognizing it now, and curtailing it when I can, but it is difficult, and saddens me because I do still feel that way... that if I say no or put myself first, that people will just drop me and move on... I have a strange narcissism too, I automatically think people laughing must be laughing at me, whispers are plots against me, when I get looked at in the gym it must be because I stick out in a bad way ... I understand with my logical brain that this is all untrue, but in my heart ... And you know what, I have been betrayed, a LOT. I think I picked bad people, I don't know why really, I can guess that maybe I actually picked them on purpose? So it hurt less when they inevitably hurt me? I don't know. I too have forgotten what daily life was like big, but I catch myself in behaviors that have no place in my life anymore, from simple things like turning over in bed very carefully because it used to take so much effort to do so, and even at the gym, having to remind myself to not automatically discount an exercise, to realize that I actually can do it... And maybe I'm carrying around some shame too, for having been so SO obese, how do I bring it up with someone I date? What happens when they eventually see old photos? I was with my last boyfriend for a year and we are still very close friends and I have never told him that I used to be obese or that I had surgery (my surgeon was so skilled that you can't even see my scars). I would have said automatically that of course I have changed tremendously between the ears but now, now I'm not so sure .... and I still am so fat...

Does Xtend have caffeine? I am uber-sensitive to caffeine, I can have one cup of black tea first thing in the morning and that is it, any later and I am up all night.