Globetrotter

I'm not entirely on liquids, I typically do 2 shakes a day with flaxseeds, then a complicated salad for dinner, full of omega3s, leafy greens, Beans, etc. Arts - this old myth again - muscle does not weigh more than fat. It does not, it does not, it does not. It is more dense, smoother, but a pound is a pound the world around. As for starvation mode, When I was dedicated to crossfit I upped my calories and ate responsibly and was still obese, and it took me 6 months to lose 17 pounds and I was a model goody two shoes of nutrition and fitness. The only time I have ever significantly lost weight was when I was extremely low cal, low carb, high Protein, and did no cardio.

would prefer not to but yes.

Everyone has said such awesome stuff I really don't have anything to contribute, other than to reiterate the fact that muscle and fat weigh exactly the same, for some reason kicking the old myth that muscle is heavier is really difficult. Somebody up in the thread mentioned that during the muscle building phase you are tearing muscles and creating inflammation etc. and that could account for this temporary gain, I agree with that person. Also, don't forget just how individual results vary, for example the person above who said they stopped weight training because it slowed down their loss, so they stuck to cardio? I am EXACTLY the opposite, when I do cardio, my loss grinds to a halt, even though I still have at least 50 lbs to lose. But when I lift my loss continues apace, and I look better faster.

I love the treadmill, but sadly, cardio is deleterious to my losing. If I do cardio, my loss grinds to a halt.

Can you recommend how to lift while in this state? I'm a sleeve vet but after some recent autoimmune issues/illness and a procedure, I have to be on a very gentle very light diet for awhile, basically returning me to post-op eating. That, plus what with everything I haven't been to the gym in 2 months, what regimen do you recommend? I have access to free weights and a few basic machines.

When I was in the States I was devoted to my yoga class, I went 3 times a week at least. It was held in a studio where one entire wall was mirrors so you got to see yourself and everybody else and every time when we would be in some pretzel seated position, I would look around the room and marvel at just how beautiful the female form is. This wasn't a class full of professional yogis with taut bodies either, it was full of every kind of woman, but seeing the feminine beauty all around me helped me see myself

Hmm, I don't have access to videos or boot camp classes, but I want guns like those!! After being ill and having a procedure done and readjusting to life here AND getting a cold, I haven't been to the gym in almost 2 months D: ! I want to get back into lifting but don't know where to begin, since I now have all the muscle tone of a veal calf. D:

I first learned about zuchinni noodles from The World According to Eggface blog, I bought an OXO julienne tool with extra tiny holes and it makes perfect spaghetti noodles which I blanche just enough to make them limp.

Annag - I hope you realize that all of us here who are responding to you, are proud of you. Yes, proud, because you took the first step and reached out. Please, PLEASE follow SassySeniors advice - this is a medical problem of brain chemicals and the symptoms are your crushing depression etc. You mentioned you are unemployed right now, I don't know what your financial assets are or what state you live in but you can get free mental health and medicare. Even if you can't get medicare, there is now the Affordable Health Care Act WHICH IS LAW. And even if none of that is for you, there are free support groups that meet, first one comes to mind is OA, Overeaters Anonymous. I don't do drugs or drink, but I am a recovering food addict and reading your posts, I think you are one too. You keep calling yourself weak, that is another form of self-abuse. Also, let people help you, let your friends and boyfriend help you. And, as a last resort, can you get yourself checked into a psych ward? I have a friend who is bipolar and every so often she checks herself in just to reboot.

CGJane, I think I'm almost as obsessed with your plastics as you are! I look forward to hearing every single detail or issue or new knowledge you post, as I am taking notes for my own (someday) plastics.

My goodness Coop, you've got true talent! So funny that you are returning to drawing, as I have also, I bought some paints and a pad while in Germany and have been sketching/watercoloring up a storm since. I would post but I'm on a government computer and cannot insert any thumbdrives or anything. And Coops I would absolutely bet that if you went to a boutique and tried on a pair of UK10 jeans, they would fit. I have this perfect little black tee from a British label that I got at a thriftshop, at my fittest (crossfit maniac and approx 168 lbs) I wore that shirt and it draped perfectly, and you know you and I share pretty similar height and shape. We have to meet someday Coopie <3

I just can't handle pasta of any kind, i have too many digestive issues and autoimmune, so it's the faux-noodles made of veggies for me, but seriously, a quick blanche of the zuchinni spaghetti, covered in alfredo with shrimp, so delicious and just like noodles!

Hellz yeah my lovelies!! M2G, muscle and fat weigh the same as we all know, but muscle is smaller than fat so try on something that was really snug, see how it fits now, bet it fits better, even though you are 2 lbs "up".

I've been told by doctors that my magnesium is low, potassium as well. I take a daily multi, and have green drink every day, so where else can I get those? Are there magnesium vitamins? What is the best way to absorb magnesium?

There are SO many wonderful alternatives to noodles! Zuchinni using a spiral slicer gives you spaghetti, zuchinni using a peeler gives you lasagna, chicken ground to a paste and piped out of a pastry bag into boiling water gives you literal chicken noodles.

Ladies - there is a topic already in Food & Nutrition called "Coconut Oil Convert" It's mostly people all asking questions without providing any answers, but the topic exists already so I didn't start a new one, just added my own comment onto the thread.

Yes, the jury is out on the real benefits of eating with coconut oil as it is very high in saturated fat. Also, just because something is good for you , doesn't mean you are supposed to go hog wild with it, oils are liquified fats, use sparingly. That said, there are so many wonderful beneficial uses to coconut oil in all its varieties, the only other substance I can think of that is as holistically beneficial would be cannabis oil.

Has anyone ever followed an anti-inflammatory diet, for other medical reasons that are seperate from being a sleever? We're not just talking buying stuff that says "gluten free" on it, It takes total 100% faithful adherence and involved eating amounts and ingredients that may seem really wierd, but many horrible diseases have been reversed or halted or dramatically slowed down when a specific sort of diet is adhered to. I wondered if anyone here has any experience with that?

Yeah, I was surprised nobody had mentioned this angle before. Three major relationships were all with very very heavy women, who all "left you" for other men. I think we are maybe seeing the trees rather than the forest here, what other qualities did these women have in common? What is going on with you that you pick women who use you? I think therapy would be great, it is so helpful to have a professional sounding board. And from a fetish side - you mentioned that size never mattered to you. Maybe the guys these morbidly obese women left you for fetishized them, drugged them with that kind of attention. Just a thought.

Everything Gmanbat has said, I concur.

What did you think this surgery would do, allow you to eat as unhealthily as possible, while still losing weight? Ever hear the phrase, "just because you can, doesn't mean you should"? Why are you eating 4 pieces of pizza? Why are you eating an entire cheesesteak sandwich? It has been 9 months, was counseling ever part of your aftercare program? A nutritionist? Follow ups with your Dr.? Don't throw away this expensive and invasive surgery, seek help. What was your start weight, how tall are you? Food addiction is very real, and needs to be treated as an addiction.

Girl, Dr Niebles' business is going to go through the roof with results like yours! Does he have a website? It's going to become difficult to get an appt. You may have said this already but, what was your total cost?

My issue is something called Leaky Gut Syndrome, which puts me in a constant state of my body attacking itself.

Thanks lipstick! @ Serendipity - I need to be as gluten free as is reasonably possible, it would be okay if it were processed in a place that also processed wheat. Was SO bummed to hear about Syntrax

I was disappointed to discover that Syntrax Nectar Sweets protein powders have wheat in them! I sometimes get Tera's Whey Organic protein powder but it is pricey for a tiny tub, does anyone know of some wheat-free, casein-free protein powders?