plussizecrossfitter

Me too! You are just as wonderful in person as you are on here! Loved getting to meet you and it's so cool that our paths are so close in this journey. I wish we had our classes together too! It was such fun having someone I feel close to in class. If I have to make up anymore classes I will for sure make them up with you! And yes, my eternal enthusiasm is here if you need it--I was struggling badly before the classes started and I know it's a very difficult place to be. We'll get through this together. I'm so grateful to have someone to talk to experiencing this along side me, so thank you! Definitely want to stay in touch =) Jen

Sorry I've been so quiet lately... The last couple of weeks have been insane! I'm definitely in your class tomorrow Debbie and am excited to meet you! Hope you're all doing well and that you survived the first of the overrating holidays this time of year! Hope everything is okay with your mom too Debbie! Jen

A LOT of info tonight... I mean it's in the book but it was nice to get clarification on a few things! Yup, they recommend a 1200 calorie diet for us girls (holy Christmas) and we talked more about the Protein supplements and getting proper nutrition and changing mind patterns. Debbie... I hope this is okay! I have to make up next week's class and they offered your class as an option on the 4th. Is it okay with you if I go to that one? She wrote it up but it isn't finalized yet so if you're not okay with it I can change it. Please let me know! =) I'd like to meet you if you'd like to meet me! Yes, I did lose a lot of weight this week due to my inability to eat... Next week will be difficult... My family celebrates thanksgiving this Sunday. Not a clue how to write that bad boy up! I do really like myfitnesspal though. Very easy to use, informative, and intuitive in my humble opinion! It DID NOT like my eating habits when I was sick! I got warnings when I completed those days! Back to my new normal calories though. I think I'm going to work my way down to the 1200... I think that might make it easier instead of just dropping to it this week. Have a great night and good luck tomorrow Debbie! Jen

Hi Debbie =) I am looking forward to it... But probably not for the reason I should... I ended up getting a stomach bug on my birthday and have barely been able to eat anything since. So I'm very curious as to what the scale is going to read tomorrow =) especially since I was dubious about this week because of my birthday! It's been going pretty well with the tracking. Still eye opening for sure! I am very glad to be in the process now too--you're absolutely right about it being tough warming the bench on the sideline. Even before I got sick, from the moment my first class ended, my whole mentality changed from the unending food funeral to being on the right on track. I was reading through the course book and it kinda seemed like we're supposed to be on a 1200 calorie diet starting this week? Kristina? Is that true? I will definitely let you know how it goes. I know I'll have to make up the next one, so joy, I'll get to experience that! =) Hope all is well with you guys! Jen

Thank you Kristina! I know Debbie asked the questions but that makes me feel so much better. I've only had surgery once before and it was a pretty miserable experience so that's on part I'm not looking forward too! I'm with you on the pain meds... They give them to you to make you comfortable sooo why wouldn't you use them if you're hurting? sleep is super important to healing so that would take precedent for me. I mean obviously don't overuse them but they're there to help. Hope you ladies are all doing well! Jen

Debbie, I totally understand about your treadmill dream! We do torture ourselves. I'm trying not to be so hard on myself when I perceive I have a failure. It's certainly not easy though! Work birthday went pretty well =) the cake was yummy but I was satisfied with what I had. I did not take the cake with me, of course--definitely did not need that kind of temptation! I'm getting more comfortable with the tracking. I like myfitnesspal so far. It's been easier to be good so far, cake aside. I do have to make it through my birthday dinner tomorrow night with my favorite cake of all! But, it will be a healthy dinner so I don't have to feel too guilty about it! I set my myfitnesspal goal to 1.5 lbs a week figuring that I will need a little extra help during the holidays. I can always switch back to 1lb. It hasn't been too bad at 1.5 though. I've been a little over most days but not too bad. I figure I'll get better at this as I go! I'm kinda relieved to be going through the classes through the holidays... I think that will help me make better decisions. Like you, Debbie, I fantasize about the post surgery me... Wonder what I'll look like under here. I've never been thin... Just thinner than I am now. I've lost 75 lbs twice before but it always came back slowly. I'm sooo tired of yo-yoing. I'm ready to not be hungry all the time and to eat to live and not live to eat. I'm so excited that I could be free of all that soon. I'm glad I have you guys to go through this with! Hope all is with you guys! Jen

Thank you for the birthday wishes =) I know my life is going to change big time this year! I am very sensitive to the taste of Water, so that's why I've had difficulty in the past. I can't stand our tap water so I definitely went the crystal light route to drink water. I had to when I started weight watchers all those years ago. Loved the lemonade variety the best. They're wonderful because you can get the water bottle packs which are really easy. It slowly has evolved into loving lots of water. It makes me feel soo much better. I have a harder time on the weekend because i have to drink bottled water, but I can see a huge difference in how I feel if I don't get enough. I thought I was going to need a transition drink, like iced tea, after I gave up soda. Nope! I just drink even more water! My foot is frustrating! It felt like it was doing better until one night this week... I had a dream I was running and I was thinking "you shouldn't be running! Your foot isn't healed yet!" And my foot has been bothering me ever since! I sincerely hope I was not running half naked around my complex at 3am that night! They didn't give me a boot or crutches because honestly I didn't know it was broken for almost 4 months! I been to the doctor multiple times and had x-rays twice but it wasn't until I went to the podiatrist did I find out I broke the silly thing! I'm STILL waiting for kaiser to call and set up that appointment! Supposedly I'm on a priority list but I have been for a month and a half! I just want that part of my life back to normal! My classes end on May the 4th, which is kind of awesome... (I'm not a Star Wars fanatic but I kinda like that my last class sends me off with May the for(th)ce be with you =) ) Ours does meet on the day before thanksgiving so I'm guessing you'll be a week behind me. I've pretty much weened myself off caffeine when I gave up soda. I do the occasional cup of caffeinated tea and a 5 hour energy on my cleaning days but that's about it. I used to get a lot of caffeine. Do we get to have caffeine sometime after the surgery? They told us NO SMOKING. They will not perform the surgery if you do, and that it could cause bad complications if you do after the surgery. I'm sure because it restricts blood flow. Have a great one! Jen

Wow Debbie! 8 lbs! That's fantastic!! I wish I had been more like you! I'm glad your class went well and is small! My teacher recommended my fitness pal too which is what I downloaded and started using today. I like it a lot and Kristina, you weren't kidding when you said there was a lot of foods already in the program! I was thrilled when I found a bunch of fresh and easy foods. (I'm single--fresh and easy is awesome =) ) Also, I'm guessing my office is doing my birthday tomorrow and I know they're getting a cake, likely red velvet, from Von's (standard operating procedure) and amazingly myfitnesspal even had nutritional info for that! My teacher said we could show her our app logs before class if we didn't want to write it down, so that's good. I hit my 64oz of Water around 9:30am today... Safe to say I drink a lot of water normally. Pretty impressive for someone who even 3 years ago hated water! It does help when your work has excellent filtered water and target brand and Kirkland bottled water are delicious! Kristina, thank you for cluing me in on the Protein stuff! I was kind of shocked when Barbara said 2oz... And she said the bypass was only a 1oz stomach. Whatever it is, I'm sure I'll be ready for it when the time comes. Was surprised by the 3 times a day thing too. I had heard that we were supposed to eat every 3 hours with water in between. Another disparity between kaiser and pacific bariatric? I find myself getting anxious... Like come on come on let's get this party moving! Good night all! Jen

Hi Kristina, I started tracking today. Definitely eye opening! I've done variations on weight watchers for 13 years and I'm not used to calories! Especially because WW doesn't count most fruit against you (they count as 0 points) so I eat a lot of fruit! Yeah, will be cutting back on that I see! I will definitely check out the premier Protein shakes. Now when you say protein powder, is it different than a Protein shake powder? That's what I do now. I also have a logistics question... They told us we'll only have a 2 oz stomach... How do you drink a 12 oz shake? Very slowly? I feel kind of silly asking that but I'm very curious about all the logistics of a new tiny stomach! I wondered if there might be some people that drop after the first class. It would definitely be more comfortable if there were fewer than 21 of us! Thank you thank you thank you! jen

Thank you Kristina! I will definitely try to be patient! It hasn't been easy... That's for sure! Had my first class! It is full--21 people! Seems like a good class though. I like the teacher so far. We will definitely be doing exercise... (I'm good with that of course) And unfortunately... food logs. Definitely not my favorite thing but I'll live. My issue and frustration with food logs is how the heck do I write up eating at a restaurant that doesn't post their calories? Or thanksgiving? I've had issues with that for weight watchers but they usually have similar items you can gauge from! They pushed Optifast high Protein a bit... Which I would like to avoid... I tried optifast years ago and that was a disaster for me. Kristina, you mentioned Premier from Costco--did you like the taste? First class was kind of formal. Overview of the program and signing some forms. We all introduced ourselves toward the end. Was happy because I only gained a pound between meeting with dr ray and today so that felt like a victory since I've been in food funeral mode, which happily, feels like it has ended =) I finally feel like things are moving! I'm on my way! Hope your class goes well tomorrow Debbie! Let us know how it goes! (And oh my god, how far do you have to go to get to work if you have to get up at 3am??) Have a great night all! Jen

=) Debbie, I totally agree with you on the juggling for spots! I really want to lose the 10% so that I'm one of the first in line for my class! Fingers crossed that all goes well for us! Ugh I hate weighing in at night... It fluctuates sooo much in the evening! What time is you class? Mine's at 7pm. Jen

Thank you!! Yup, that helps a lot!

Hi all! @@Photo925 – You’re awesome =) Loved your responses—I feel so much better prepared for what is to come. So excited for you with your weight loss and love that working out is even easier! (I am SO EXCITED about that part!) I felt very much put at ease reading your posts. I really hope that I am like you and have good energy and don’t lose much hair… I’m afraid because I’ve lost a lot before, however—I wasn’t as focused on Protein at that point—didn’t really think about it at all actually. I actually just had a wake-up call recently: when I stopped working out because of my foot, I stopped doing Protein shakes. My hair started falling out again! So I’m back to doing protein shakes and it seems to be slowing back to normal. Am also taking hair Vitamins now too. In regards to the classes, I am a researcher like you. Who was your teacher? I’m curious what they’re going to tell us. I feel like I’m an expert on “dieting”—I know what I should know, the difficulty is actually doing. It’s a fight for sure. My classes start today! Excited, nervous, and SOOO READY to get this journey going! My family is incredibly supportive of my decision. They are as excited as I am! I’m very lucky because I am very close with my family. I was a little concerned about what my brother really thought and I mentioned it to my dad, and my dad said, no, he is really excited for you—he thinks you’re making a great decision for yourself. That made me feel so much better! @@The Candidate – definitely down for charting our journey together! I thought your classes started on Tuesday, so yes, with you on Thursday and me on Wednesday, we’ll probably finish within a week of each other! I’ll post how my class went =) @@lildawtee – I hope all is going well with your recovery! I think that about covers it for now =) Best of luck to you all! Jen

Hi @@lildawtee and @@The Candidate! @@lildawtee--How exciting to be so close! I'm really hoping I'm in a class like yours =) I keep hearing about classes being really close so now it would be disappointing if I am in a class that's not! As much as I'd like to get to the surgery quicker, like my friend did (3 months start to surgery), i do really think kaiser's structure gives us a much better chance of being permanently successful... And that is super important to me! I'm ready to see the new me! I found a few well rated cookbooks for life after surgery so hopefully that will give me something to play with. I already do a Protein shake a day typically though I'm wondering how that will work when I have a 2oz stomach. I do it now because when I'm not injured like I am now, I work out hard and also because I don't eat enough protein in diet alone. I'm hoping they will help me figure out how to get more in. Right now I use Isobolic (which is a bit sweet) and I have used Simply Pure Nutrients as well. I am open to new ones =) I am worried about losing my hair. I seem to every time I lose weight... And when I'm protein deficient! I'm taking hair Vitamins now and have worked out a deal with my hair dresser so coloring my hair won't be so damaging. Who was your teacher? I am a scheduled to have Marlena. Seriously can't wait to get started! @@The Candidate --I feel exactly the same way! It was a little over a month ago that I saw Dr Ray! I was hoping I could get my classes sooner too, but the two that started before mine were either in the morning or all the way down in Chula Vista, which would be pretty much impossible for me to get to on time with traffic. I hate driving down there! So November twelfth it is. Only bummer is I'm guessing this session will take longer because it has Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve in its path! I am so ready to get this going too! I know that once I start classes it will come easier for me. I'm happy that the classes are going on thru the holidays because I think that will help me make better choices for sure. My foot is finally starting to improve. I was really getting nervous because it didn't seem to be until a week or so ago. Started noticing it wasn't hurting as much so that is a very good thing. I'm still waiting for podiatry to call and set up my follow up appointment. I'm hoping I can go back to crossfit soon. I know it's going to SUCK in the beginning but I've done it several times before and I'll do it again! Since we're seeming to start classes about the same time I hope we can stay in touch =) Cheers! Jen

Hi @@lildawtee and @@The Candidate! @@lildawtee--How exciting to be so close! I'm really hoping I'm in a class like yours =) I keep hearing about classes being really close so now it would be disappointing if I am in a class that's not! As much as I'd like to get to the surgery quicker, like my friend did (3 months start to surgery), i do really think kaiser's structure gives us a much better chance of being permanently successful... And that is super important to me! I'm ready to see the new me! I found a few well rated cookbooks for life after surgery so hopefully that will give me something to play with. I already do a Protein shake a day typically though I'm wondering how that will work when I have a 2oz stomach. I do it now because when I'm not injured like I am now, I work out hard and also because I don't eat enough protein in diet alone. I'm hoping they will help me figure out how to get more in. Right now I use Isobolic (which is a bit sweet) and I have used Simply Pure Nutrients as well. I am open to new ones =) I am worried about losing my hair. I seem to every time I lose weight... And when I'm protein deficient! I'm taking hair Vitamins now and have worked out a deal with my hair dresser so coloring my hair won't be so damaging. Who was your teacher? I am a scheduled to have Marlena. Seriously can't wait to get started! @@The Candidate --I feel exactly the same way! It was a little over a month ago that I saw Dr Ray! I was hoping I could get my classes sooner too, but the two that started before mine were either in the morning or all the way down in Chula Vista, which would be pretty much impossible for me to get to on time with traffic. I hate driving down there! So November twelfth it is. Only bummer is I'm guessing this session will take longer because it has Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve in its path! I am so ready to get this going too! I know that once I start classes it will come easier for me. I'm happy that the classes are going on thru the holidays because I think that will help me make better choices for sure. My foot is finally starting to improve. I was really getting nervous because it didn't seem to be until a week or so ago. Started noticing it wasn't hurting as much so that is a very good thing. I'm still waiting for podiatry to call and set up my follow up appointment. I'm hoping I can go back to crossfit soon. I know it's going to SUCK in the beginning but I've done it several times before and I'll do it again! Since we're seeming to start classes about the same time I hope we can stay in touch =) Cheers! Jen

Okay, trying this for the 3rd time! Every time I start a reply it disappears before I can post it... Hi @@Photo925 and @@The Candidate! How are you two doing??? Debbie, when do you start your classes (or have you already)? I start my classes this Wednesday! Very excited and a bit nervous! What kinds of things do we cover in class? How to eat post surgery I hope! I'm most intrigued by how small my stomach will be... And how little I will be eating at a time. Do we have "homework?" Classes better signal the end of my food funeral... Though it's been more out of boredom than anything. Of course it's going to be hard because this coming week because it includes my birthday... And even though I deliberately didn't plan a get together with friends I still have plans with family and of course I get a cake at work = I did survive Halloween and didn't eat a single piece of candy. Pretty proud of that! Also, I have successfully given up diet Pepsi! It's been a week and a half and I've only had one moment of craving one, but it passed shortly thereafter. Am avoiding artificial sweeteners and have also cut down on caffeine. Hope all is well with you both! Jen

@@Photo925, I'm so glad to hear everything is going well! Very excited to hear about the lack of hunger and not always thinking about your next meal... Because that's exactly what it's like for me too. It would be nice to not think that way or always be hungry as I am now. My mom lost a lot of weight and she doesn't like a lot of the things she did before, so I'm happy to hear that's true so far for you too. I am starting to wean myself off diet Pepsi and artificial sweeteners. I know the sweeteners make me hungry. It's hard because I need a boost in the morning and I can't drink coffee! Sorry to hear that you haven't been released for working out yet! 10lbs isn't much weight... My purse probably weighs at least that! I miss working out terribly--found out last month I actually fractured a bone in my foot four months ago so not allowed to do anything but swim for another 2-3 months! Great questions @candidate and great answers @@Photo925! Things I hadn't thought to ask about. Thank you for confirming about getting tests done ask quickly as possible... I got them as soon I could thinking that if I got everything done right away I'd maybe get through the pack faster. I was approved within 2 weeks of orientation. There weren't that many people at my orientation though. I kind of already had my food funeral... I was horrified because I was craving things I never eat! I think between no crossfit and eating I gained 10lbs (whoops) but I'm over it now. I'm so ready to start losing! My family is totally behind me on this so I'm really happy about that! @candidate, I plan on getting the sleeve. I had always sworn I would never get surgery as I only knew about bypass and lap band. A friend of mine that has struggled with her weight all her life like me told me she had the sleeve surgery in May 2013 (she looks AMAZING!) and so I started researching. It seems very reasonable for me. There were (at least when another friend had bypass years ago) a lot more risk of complications and malnutrition with the bypass operation. I didn't like what the surgery entailed. The sleeve doesn't mess with the entrance/exit of your stomach and I think it's a much more elegant solution. Cheers ladies! Jen

Well, I had my orientation on the 25th and saw and was approved by Dr. Ray yesterday! I'm sooo happy and relieved! Now I'm just waiting for the call for classes. So ready to get started! I was a little concerned at orientation when she said no ibuprofen after surgery. I get migraines occasionally and ibuprofen is the only non-prescription medication that works. I asked Dr. Ray about it and he said it's okay occasionally. They're just concerned with heavy use of medications that are hard on your stomach. How is everyone doing? Photo925--how's life after surgery? Getting used to how little food you need? That part still blows me away =) Jen

Hi there! Losing strength is what I'm worried about too. I love lifting! Of course I will lose more during this forced 4-5 month hiatus than because of the surgery (I hope). My own feeling on time off crossfit is: A week feels like 2, 2 feels like a month, and a month feels like a year. I miss it like crazy. You know you're addicted when you miss the soreness! Normally I go 3-5 times a week. But when I start back I'll start back at 2 times a week and work my way up. I was sooo happy to see that it's still possible after the surgery! I just had my orientation today and am likely about 9 months out from surgery. I'm definitely excited now that things are going to start moving!

That's really good to hear! I know the owner at my gym will be helpful getting me back in. I'm actually off crossfit right now for an injury... Rolled my ankle back in May (such a nothing thing too--didn't really hurt when it happened and it never even swelled up) but it wasn't getting better so I stopped 2 months ago to try to rest it. No improvement still. Found out yesterday at appt with podiatrist I actually fractured a bone in my foot! Now barred from crossfit for another 2-3 months. Pretty bummed about that... I'm grumpy when I can't crossfit!

Hi Curvy, I am in my 30s as well. I suspect I will need one as well. I believe my doctor told me years ago that if I ever got yeast infections due to the extra skin that my insurance would cover a tummy tuck. Never thought I'd be hoping for that... I have yo-yoed all my life... I am about 50 lbs less than my highest and I do still have looser skin from that = it's quite the process. A friend of mine had this procedure and while she has extra skin for sure... It hasn't been a deal breaker yet in her dating so that's good to hear =)

Thank you erp =) I usually do a Protein smoothie after workouts now. I'm almost never hungry after a WOD, which is really nice--I hear that's not the norm (the friend who got me started is ravenous after a WOD, as is my brother) I know I will have to give up caffeine when I give up soda (I can't drink coffee so diet Pepsi has been my drink of choice for years.) Not looking forward to that but it will be worth it in the long run.

Thank you Curvy =) As long as I can do crossfit after this I'll be happy! I have a fair bit to lose and am a bit worried about loose skin--do you think it helps tighten it up? I know I'm strong now and have a lot of muscle built up... Hoping that helps too! Did you do crossfit before your surgery?

Congratulations! Glad everything went well!

I would imagine it would get a bit boring after the surgery! Did you get much pain afterwards? My friend told me she wanted to die for about 3 days after the surgery but not from pain... From nasuea and discomfort. She never even filled her pain prescription! Today is your first food day? How's that going? I ended up searching 'crossfit' on the board and it sounds like others are doing it after they're given the go ahead for strenuous activity. I go to a fantastic gym and I know the owner will work with me on it. I know what I'm capable of now and I know what I want to be able to accomplish! I hated going to the gym until a friend turned me on to crossfit. I thought he had lost his mind. Turns out it's the best thing I've ever done for myself. Yeah, it's hard, especially to start, but I'm addicted to the feeling of accomplishment. And being strong =) I am really excited to get started. I wish I could have taken an earlier orientation date but I am swamped at work so later in the month made more sense to me. I'm so tired of the struggle... Of yo-yoing and failing. I love weight watchers but I'm too accustomed to it after all these years. I am in a good place emotionally and ready to make a change!