NewSetOfCurves

I've been told that countless times! Once I've revealed my weight, they say that I just carry my weight well. It probably helps that I am a litlle tall. I have also been told that I can do it on my own, that I do not need the surgery. My response is: If I could do it on my own, i would have done it 10 years ago! The fact of the matter is that I am obese. This holiday season I transitioned into the morbidly obese category and I have finally said enough. I want to take control over my health and weight again. Stick to your decision. Don't let negativity or others who do not understand what you are going through affect what you know is right for you. Good luck to you!

Congrats on making the decision to take control of youe health! There are so many people on this site who are willing to share their knowledge and experience and offer support when it is needed. Good luck to you on your path to a heathier you!

I am a night time bing carb eater as well. Even though I haven't been sleeved yet, what I have done to lose the pre-op weight is: 1.) I DO NOT buy chips, Cookies, or any heavy carb/sugary item! If they are there, I WILL EAT THEM!!! 2.) I buy watermelon, melon, grapes, fresh pineapple, apples, baby carrots, celery, raw broccoli, etc. and cut them up into finger food sizes. I put them into a party trays with Peanut Butter and low calorie plain yogurt as dips. When I get the urge to eat out of bordom, I go these items. It works for my kids too! 3.) I try at all costs to avoid late night down time, where I am sitting on a couch, watching TV and falling into my habitiual night time binging. This worked for me. I lost 20 pounds in two months. I hope this helps. Good Luck to you! I wish you the best!

I know the science behind this stuff can be frustrating and confusing, and sometimes contradicting. This is what I know from the literature I have read over the years: You are right...too much cardio will lean out your muscle mass. If the weight you lift is too light, you will also lean out your muscles. If you truly want to up your mass, you need to up the amount you are lifting (less reps in each set; each set should end in failure). DO NOT work out the same muscles more than once a week! They need to recover so that they can build mass! Come up with a weekly routine: Monday--biceps and triceps; Tuesdays--chest and back; Wednesdays--legs; Thursdays--shoulders....etc. Stick with the same regimen for a month, then change the exercises. Your muscles have what we like to call muscle memory. They get used to the movements and they need to be shocked. All that being said, calories and quality of calories need to be considered. a MINIMUM of 1 gram of protien per your body weight. On days that you are lifting, you should definitely up the calories. Someone in a previous post commented about protien shakes...YES! Go for it! There are shakes for pre and post workouts. Prosource.net yields the best prices in supplements...better than GNC (well, almost anybody's price is better than GNC) and Vitamin shoppe. When I was a fitness addict, Muscle and Fitness magazine was my bible. They ALWAYS offer great tips and advice on lifting, nutrition, and the newest technologies offered in the supplement world. I hope this helps. If you ever have any questions I have tons of info and tips in this head of mine. Don't hesitate to ask

Yes! Warming up is a must, even if it is on a treadmill or bike, or any other equipment. It reduces the risk of muscle injury. Like I said in a previous post, I am just trying to relay to those who would like to utilize the knowledge I gained as certified weight trainer and aerobic instructor (when I was in the business) some possibly helpful tips. It can be utilized or not, but as long as people are getting out there and working out--no matter what time of the day--they will make a difference in thier physical composition. I really hope it helps! Good luck to you!

I am not saying by any means that working out at anytime of the day is wrong, I am just relaying what I know for those who want to maximize on the science of our bodies. Whatever time fits in your schedule, you do it! Good luck to you!

I completely and totally agree!

You know that is the problem with the mentality of adolescence. At the time we are so naive and gullible to society’s unrealistic expectations and perceptions of beauty, that we fall into its grasp and let it alter any realistic notion of beauty that the people who love us instill into us (or SHOULD instill into us). I too am 5’ 7” and yielded a weight of 134, yet I felt like I was fat and disgusting. I was bulimic for so many years, OBSESSED with working out and eating the right foods. However, I often fell into these bouts where my love of food would take over and I would binge eat junk…only to throw it up later and feel utter disgust and repulsion. At one time my-then-boyfriend-now-husband wasn’t allowed to touch my stomach—even though it was flat!!! I was an idiot. BIG TIME! The irony of the whole situation is that I feel more confident and sexy now as a big girl, than I ever did when I was thin. My perception of myself now, my need to be healthy for the sake of longevity and health reasons, and for the sake of my overall family’s health is why I too think I am ready to take this step. Thank you for sharing Flutterby. I loved your story and I totally, completely, 100% relate.

Congrats! How exciting! I probably will not be sleeved until June--and I wish it was sooner--but I am excited for you

I started out right at the 40 BMI mark and am already at 35 pre-surgery. I am curios if anyone has lost too much weight. I REALLY want to get back to a healthy size after 10 years of being a plus size; however, I am not a fan of too skinny. Has anyone had to deal with the problem of not being able to stop losing weight?

I know my BMI is a little lower than the norm for this surgery, but I have been over 200 and plus size for 10 years. I am very active and love healthy food, I just cannot portion control--aside from having a slow metabolism. So, I believe (or I have convinced myself) that this surgery is right for me. I guess what I want to know, is that if there comes a point where I have hit my ideal size (I am almost 5' 7" and medium framed, so a 6/8 looked good on me back in the day), what do I have to do not to look sunk in and/or too skinny? Amazon, what you said sounds simple enough: in a nutshell, just consume higher calorie foods?

Sorry... I meant to put LOSE in the title, not "lost"

Oh! And 15 grams of Protien...hehehe...left that out.

Another pretty good tasting one,in my opinion, is the Supreme Protein Carb Conscious Bars. It yields 210 calories, 6 grams of sugar, and is infused with different vitamins and minerals, as well as calcium. My favorite flavor is the original flavor, Carmel cookie crunch. You can buy a box of 9 from ProSource for about $11 bucks: http://www.prosource.net/

Personally, before my obese days began and I was into fitness, I consumed lots of whey protien products, so I can tolerate the taste because I've tasted much worse. I personally like the grape and pineapple; however, someone posted this about Isopure: "Each 20 ounce bottle has 160 calories, 40 grams of Protein, no carbohydrates, no fats and no sugar. Isopure comes in a wide variety of flavors, including grape frost (which I think tastes a lot like grape Kool-Aid), alpine punch (which is like fruit punch), passion fruit, blue raspberry, icy orange, pineapple orange banana, mango peach and apple melon. Sometimes I mix the Isopure ready to drink Protein drinks with other things. For instance, I mix the passion fruit Isopure with sugar free lemonade or mix the grape frost Isopure with sugar free grape Kool-Aid to boost the flavor. The variety keeps me from getting bored with my protein drinks. I keep them refrigerated and often serve them over ice, as well, as I find they taste much better when they are very cold. Some people seem to really love some flavors while really disliking others, so I suggest you try more than one. Isopure is not my favorite protein supplement; I think there are others that taste better. It's my favorite ready to drink supplement, though. I find it has a slight metallic aftertaste, which seems common with these types of ready to drink protein supplements. The metallic aftertaste is much less noticeable in Isopure than in some other brands like Cytomax, at least as far as I'm concerned. I don't love the taste, but it's tolerable to me. I also like the fact that these drinks are relatively low in calories and are sugar free. In addition, I like the fact that all the protein in these drinks comes from whey protein isolate, which is lactose free and highly absorbable." http://voices.yahoo.com/review-isopure-ready-drink-protein-drinks-7975574.html

Thanks for so much great feedback. I realize that there is going to be seperation anxiety from the food that I have built a relationship with, and I thank you all for helping me comprehend the hurrdles that I am going to face and the satisfication of finally jumping over those hurdles. You all are great!

Yes...the whey Protein gives it that yucky taste. Here is a thought, it has nothing to do with Protein Bars, but it is an alternative drink that IS NOT a shake, but contains lots of protein: Isopure. They taste like a Water downed Crystal Light and yield 40 grams of protein. You can buy them by the case from dealers like Prosource. They have about 160 calories, 0 fat, 0 carbs...the only thing that doesn't have a "0" on the label is potassium and sodium. Hope this helps!

I agree! It's energizing and tasty! My kids love them!!! I freeze the left over and the kids love to eat that way as well...it turns into a frozen fruit sorbet. My three year old thinks its ice cream...Lol!

Thank you all for such great, positive feedback! I was having human moment and I had succumbed to my very human emotion of anger, but I decided shortly after that I wasn't going to waste my time, energy, and emotions on ill informed people. Thank you for all the support...it brought a smile to my face!

I've decided, without a doubt, that I want the sleeve and that I am going to follow through with the surgery. I have researched for months all aspects of the surgery, more so the negative comments, side effects, etc., and I still believe that this surgery is right for me. However, I am frustrated with cheap comments, and the one that upset me the most was: “You are taking the easy way out.” Excuse me? Just because I am utilizing a technology that aides a person in losing weight when all other avenues have failed, means that I am taking the easy way out? I am sorry, but a person utilizing a vehicle to make it EASEIR for them to get somewhere; or an agriculturist utilizing specialized tractor equipment to make it EASIER and hasten the planting and coming of their crops; or a person using a defibrillator to aide them and make it EASIER for cardiac survival; or a person taking cholesterol, hypertension, or any other medication to make it EASIER for them to stay healthy does NOT give them less integrity. All of the afore mentioned are a means to an end; a tool utilized as a means to an end. Technology is created to make things easier for us to survive, to get around, to stay healthier, and to accomplish tasks easier and quicker. So, YES…maybe I am taking the easier route because all other forms of technology have failed me…and in the end, this “easy way out” is a tool; a means for me to survive and preserve my life for a longer period of time. I AM taking an easier route, just like billions of people across the globe do every day as they utilize all the technology that is available to them. SORRY! I had to vent!!!

Thank you! I'm glad it has made a positive difference in your life. i can't wait until it makes one in mine.

I've never tried MyNetDiary. I have the MyFitnessPal app and I love it! The foods you tend to eat the most, it saves them for you and you literally just touch the bar with that food item and it is recorded. It also keeps track of any exercising that you do, calculating the additional number of calories you can consume because of the exercise. You can also keep track of your weight and your progress.