OKCPirate

Well the bulk of weightloss is diet. But exercise is vital for two reasons: 1) It is important for your overall health 2) It gives you form for your new skin to go around It would really stink for you to lose significant weight only to look like a bag of saggy skin. The first month following surgery was all walking. Light weights for a month after that and then really started ramping up things by starting couch to 5K program and heavier weights. Hint yoga is great for tone (I'm a masachosit, so I do the hot version). As far as staying motivated, I kept my Protein levels high, so I had lots of energy. I enjoy audio books, so that's what I listen to when I work out. BUT I can only listen to them when I work out. So it's a game I play with myself. And motivation for yoga? Easy, hot girls in yoga pants, nuf said there (and there are stud muffins there for the rest). Good luck.

@@CowgirlJane - Pulling for you. By the way, be sure to give yourself credit for not giving up and being open for opportunities. Through all the ups and downs you are only really out when you quit trying.

My favorite veterans day tribute...to Bob Hope, always brings tears to my eyes..https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xG4edQoazSk

The Who...won't get fooled again If you don't know that scream at 7:49, you are still prepping for surgery

@@BigDaddyJG - dude, great job

@@Sophie74656 - Buffet's are no longer on my menu. I am into quality, not quantity. And those damn places make my Scottish roots go nuts. I can't get my money's worth there.

@@Sophie74656 - after going through a damn boat that was supposed to be for three people before surgery, and now getting full on a roll and three pieces of salmon...I feel your joy.

@@Babbs - it was a privilege and thanks for paying for it.

I'm so sorry to hear about this. Please let us know how this comes out.

A consultant

Offer yes, and even offer to meet her at a neutral location ("is there a near by land mark I can pick you up at?") Most of the justifiable hesitancy is giving their home location away. Who needs a stalker who knows where you live? But it is a privilege and a sign of mutual respect when a woman trusts you enough with her address...treat it as a sacred trust.

Blood work is back. I've been really feeling funky. Don't know if it's allergy season or not (Johnie Appleseed's evil cousin, Roger Ragweed made his home in Oklahoma). My B vitamin levels were actually high. Most things were very good. ALT was high and sodium was low. Compared to where I was a year ago I really cause for celebration. But not sure what is causing me to be suffering from diminished intellectual capacity especially in terms of memory. I'm going to be out of town for a few days, so let's see if that gets the fog to lift.

@@Alex Brecher - Post plastic, maybe. Geez, I did this to be a sex object to one and only one.

@@sleevemom88 - very hearty congratulations.

I agree, but I wonder too since it's spring time down under, do you have allergies? I sure as heck do. They hit every spring and fall. Since my body is fighting the hystimines take their toll. Don't know, just throwing it out.

Interesting news for all of us, the bean counters have started adding up how much you save by getting WLS. Since I basically pay all my medical costs out of pocket, I'm all in... http://www.merckmanuals.com/home/news/external/2015/11/04/21/29/weight-loss-surgery-may-trim-health-care-costs

@ - these are my favorite running shorts (compression brief build in) http://store.nike.com/us/en_us/pd/9-phenom-2-in-1-running-shorts/pid-10294033/pgid-10967863, and I like the NB shirts: http://www.amazon.com/New-Balance-Compression-Crew-Shirt/dp/B008J36G1C Lots of options, they also make you look like a stud

I use compression clothing, here are some examples...https://www.underarmour.com/en-us/womens/shop-by-fit/compression

@@VSGAnn2014 - and very happy about it

I switched to vaping, now I can't stand cigs. Good luck, but remember what is happening to your stomach. It is cut. The cut needs time to heal. Tobacco and smoke just works against it. You just have to respect the sleeve for at least a month post surgery. I don't want to freak you out, but if you need it, Google and you will find plenty of pictures to convince you that you must give yourself time to heal.

Embrace the chaos . Enjoy. Walk often and find a liquid Protein source you like.

BTW, I'm not only having this discussion with you all, I am actually enjoying the discussion with my girlfriend too. We are coming up with little reminder checklists of things we want to make sure we are doing for one another, and if you have other ideas to add please do, but I liked these two the best... Today did I make my significant other SMILE and THINK? Beats just going through the motions. Trying to get really intimate on purpose.

Pardon the interruption ladies, but this isn't an area to shuffled off of lightly. I found it fascinating how much male attention can affect women...http://www.ptsd.va.gov/public/PTSD-overview/women/traumatic-stress-female-vets.asp The ladies who served as nurses landed in theater and were the only Caucasian women there and were overwhelmed...only to come home and be ignored. It is a subject that shouldn't be ignored. It brings up so many issues and some can be quite traumatic. I'll quietly leave now.

@@jenn1 - Dang, I've always done that with bacon, but I'm going to have to give that one a try. All my favorites deal with meat and burning wood. Preferably hickory. (A reminder to the ladies, men will always cook IF there is a element of danger)

@@VSGAnn2014 - Thank you. I am digging this journey.