Dub

"The hip hip a hop, a you don't stop the rockin' To the bang bang boogie Say up jump the boogie to the rhythm of the boogie the beat" Powerful list and great sense of humor.

Similar issues here, too. I eat my meals too fast....and fill up very quickly. It would seem that I am very much living the science experiment that @@Kindle has presented. The only time I seem to take the bariatric recommended eating pace is when I'm eating a meal in a restaurant.

Mine did, thankfully. It scared me enough to be extremely careful post-op. i stayed on nothing but Protein shakes the first 4 weeks post-op due to fear of my healing stomach. By then......my feelings about food had changed. I'd learned that the term "comfort food" was such a misnomer. Food doesn't comfort. Air conditioners or blankets provide comfort. Food is simply something that you eat for sustenance and we very much are what eat. Perhaps this surgery doesn't come with enough post-op pain for folks to take it seriously? I mean, most everyone responds to pain with caution and careful actions, right ? Maybe it'd be better if we hurt more....and longer....post-op. I should have asked my surgeon for the enhanced pain upgrade, lol. My thoughts on the matter are that far too many people reach their surgery date with minimal instruction and understanding of the state of things......and far too little emotional coaching and strengthening. I had 75% of my stomach removed because I was using it poorly. I truly hope I can always find the right ways to use the remaining part responsibly. The sleeve is certainly a great tool, but it, like all tools, has to be utilized correctly in order to perform the work it was designed for.

Good deal. I noticed some calf pain the first two days I was him from the hospital. It quickly passed. I have no idea what it was.....I'm thinking that it was from dehydration once I returned home. Water intake was insufficient the first 24hrs I was home ???? You are going to love the weight loss that is about to occur. Love it !!!!!!!!

I took a me-only vacation on my 5th month post-op. Hopped a flight......first time in a decade that my arse was on a plane. Slid right into the seat like a bawse. No extender needed, thank you very much. I breathed a hyooooge sigh of relief upon doing so. I arrived at a destination that is known for 24 hr partying and I lost myself there. At some point I also found myself during that week. It was a life-changing trip and one that I hope to repeat at some future point. I've got a theme park family vacation planned for later next month....I anticipate riding any and every ride that we see......and being able to outtalk anyone in the group. Looking forward to this bigtime.

That is outstandingly awesome !!!!

Heck yes ! Great strategy, there. I've been more into the music in the gym, but a really good book by Tom Clancy, Stephen Hunter, Vince Flynn (R.I.P.) or Brad Thor will be a nice change on the extended treadmill sessions. Gonna adopt this practice. Thanks. Good job in getting back into the swing of things.

I'm out of touch with the current pre-workout drinks. When I was last using (2011-2012) them, Superpump from Gaspari was the ticket. Not sure what's what, now. I've returned to the gym....lifting carefully while working around some injuries and am not going full throttle on any lifts. I really don't want to get that crazy rush from that stuff until my weight and diet stabilize. I tried some stuff that a buddy gave me last weekend, though. Geez. It really did power me through cardio, lifting and then a workout on the punching bag. I was still amped up when I got home. B-Nox from Betancourt Nutrition is what it was. Not sure if I'll be fooling with that anytime soon. http://betancourtnutrition.com/collections/all/products/bullnox-androrush-35-servings-betancourt-nutrition BCAA powder by Scivation is excellent as "during" or "post-workout" drink. It mixes in a shaker bottle with ease....calorie free....tastes great.....and helps with recovery and cutting down on muscle soreness in a huge way. http://www.scivation.com/product/xtend/

The closest thing I've felt to anything like that was when my blood pressure dropped crazy low and my pulse rate went haywire. Cold sweat, dizzy, weak, exhausted.......bizarre. Scared the crap out of me. Called a buddy who is a paramedic and he felt it may be low blood sugar, too. I ate something and focused on getting well hydrated after that. Began feeling better a couple hours later and the blood pressure came back up into low-normal range by the evening. Cut my blood pressure meds in half the next day.....hoping to get off them altogether very soon. You are doing the right thing by staying on top of this with your doctor. Sudden weight loss probably will affect many of us....and in different ways.

It really isn't all that bad.

* Just making it to surgery. Was nursing a back injury that was driving me nuts. Lost 55lbs during the pre-op months. Good momentum going into the surgery. * three weeks post op......and having low blood pressure for the first time ever. lol * 8-9 weeks post op........started grilling again. Felt great to be able to enjoy it. * Hopping on an airplane 5 months post-op and getting away to the time of my life for a week. It was a life-changing trip. Came home.....then went 3 weeks later on a 7 day cruise with my wife. Had fun on the cruise and went around shirtless most of the days. Pools & hot tubs for 7 days.....and being shocked at how much people really do eat on these cruises. * Going into my favorite restaurant for the first time in a while......and having to stop the waiter from bringing me a huge ice cold draft beer. He asked if I was feeling okay. Funny times. * Sitting in any booth in any restaurant........and being able to order from any menu and find stuff that fits my goals. * Wearing blue jeans for the first time in 25 years. Not the Levi's that I want to wear, though.....I'm not ready to have my waist size printed on the outside patch of my jeans. Soon, though.....button fly 501's will be worn all the time. * I have my 1 year appointment scheduled in October. I am really looking forward to this milestone appointment.

Well said !!!!

My goal weight is 250. I'm 6'4" I chose this as a goal because it was the weight I was in high school.....in excellent shape due to year round weight lifting, football, wrestling and overall very active. The BMI scale would have shown me obese/overweight at this weight.....yet my body fat percentage was 15% when checked at football camps. I'm closing in on 250......almost there. It's going to be a different 250, though. The muscles are gone....replaced with arthritis. lol. Yup....it'll be a different 250, but it sure beats the crap out of where I was this time last year !!!

I'll occasionally get grilled chicken breast salads. Good stuff.

@@Kindle that is very similar to my approach to telling folks. I'd targeted losing almost half my bodyweight. There was no cover story that I cared to use to explain it. Telling them that I'd had VSG surgery and following the low-carb way of eating has been what I've shared when asked. I work in a manufacturing plant with 2,000+ employees. This conversation comes up almost every day. Some of the questions, I've found, are from folks considering the surgery for themselves or family members. Always fun to speak with them and answer anything they ask in a direct and no bs way.

Chips and many other snacks foods.

I can only speak in terms for what works........or doesn't work for me. Others may have had different results. Cheese, while being an ultra-low carb, moderately high Protein food............is primarily composed of fat, thus calorie dense. That make it's something I avoid. Nuts are in the same category. Both are too calorie dense for my current goals. Down the road a piece......if and when I'm below goal and trying to maintain through increasing calories (as crazy as that concept seems to me now.....as an obese dude........may be valued low carb, higher protein add ins to my diet). For me......at this point in my battle against my weight.......chicken and fish are my two main sources of good Proteins. Admittedly, I use and abuse eggs for Breakfast proteins about as often as I use Protein powder shakes (difference between work days and off days). Positive is the only way to approach the way we find ourselves....................

I let my Costco membership lapse just prior to my wls in Oct 2015. I've yet to renew it because of the stuff I'll be tempted with. I do want it back to get the deals on: whole bean coffee olive oil seasonings meats fresh vegetables electronics clothes (went from 6x in shirts to 2x....so yes, clothes are now a possibility, lol) frozen foods for my family (stuff I don't eat) Cheeses and fruits are not on my list as they are not consistent with my current weight loss mode. Maybe later on.......

If only you knew. Just this afternoon........I've done something that I am sure I'll regret hugely.........because I'm stupid that way. I'll regret it, yet let things simmer down and take the course they must. Wisdom comes after the fact for me far too often.

Last thing you want is for one of those surgical wounds to become the site of a hernia. Trust me on this. I've been there and have the t-shirt that says so......... Allow yourself to heal properly. And then punish yourself through a carefully developed gym plan.

I tend to listen to country, blues, and live classic rock when I'm driving, grilling and just relaxing. The gym, though.......that's another arena altogether. I amp things up a great deal there. There's been many times when the music was all I had to power me through a workout. I tend to embrace heavy metal at these times. The latest album from Five Finger Death Punch gets tons of playtime on my earbuds......this and their last one....Killer tunes to get that little bit extra from you. It was what I was listening to this weekend.....after my 45 mins cardio and 30 mins lifting session was done......done......yet I was still feeling good....with something left in the tank. Walked by the punching bags and did my best old man beatdown on one of them. Results weren't pretty........but the tunes were fueling the inner beast. Avenged Sevenfold works nicely, too. I've never served in the military and I have great respect for those that have/do. With that being said.....I tend to gravitate towards the gym tunes that I'd love to hear if I was going to war. Battle tunes. lol. I guess I am waging a war on fat, right ?

we are all going to be watching you to see if you are more careful this time! seriously, I really hate to see you get hurt. I admit, I don't do any tricky yoga, just basic stuff and I am not going to walk on my hands to work on my arms like I do my legs, but there are things I can do to step it up a bit. yoga has been the one thing that helps the most with long term sciatic nerve pain, and as I sit in a chair most of the day it has become invaluable to me at the end of the day. sometimes I need to do some on my lunch break if it is bothering me. Thank you. I tend to get carried away with things at times and engage in a way that's been the source of injuries. I'm just the stupid type......my mantra is that if something is good.....then twice that must be better. I've come to my fitness return later in life at a time when I should be more cautious of recovery times that my body needs. I guess I hate the Toby Keith song, "Ain't as good as I once was....but as good once as I ever was". I'm just not willing to accept this.....even though I probably should. In my warped way of thinking.........I'm still a goofy teenager at heart.

Very cool. One of the absolute best gyms I've ever had access to was through college. Looking back......I was a fool for not taking better advantage of it.......and sticking with it ever since. You are gonna do great. No injuries, though. this is something I often wonder about - quite a lot actually. what I do is walk walk walk. and pilates/yoga. I have seen the very most change in my legs, hips and belly - coincidence? somehow I don't think so. the walking certainly targets the legs/hips and the yoga/pilates sure targets the core..... learning some new pilates moves to work on my arms. I hate working on my arms, dunno why. but gonna do it anyway. Awesome. Huge respect for pilates & yoga folks. I need to do the same as soon as I get this hernia repaired again.....repaired and healed.

Good for you. Scale moved. Great for you !!!!! The trainers can be hugely expensive. I'm sure there are some great ones out there.....but I've run across a few quacks, too. There are a number of gyms in the area running $10 / month rates. Hard to beat them....and a couple are open 24hrs, too. I highly recommend using the machines as they have the correct range of motion built in, provided you adjust the seat positions properly for your height/reach. I would set up a schedule that allows you to concentrate on one major body area per session. Alternate them to allow for 3 or more days of resting that part in between sessions. Begin by using weights that allow you to do 15+ reps and keep it to 4 sets. You want to work your way up over a few months to allow the connective tendons and tissues to strengthen. Some folks think they can just jump in and gauge everything based on muscle soreness. I had to learn the hard way that tendons and ligaments are the restricting factor and need to be coaxed over time before getting too crazy with it. You can can get a great workout with the machines. I assure you. I know it's not possible to really target where the fat loss occurs......but, I swear it sure feels that way. The most lean parts of my jiggly body are the parts where I've had progress developing those muscles. It really does feel like it.

Putting pressure on yourself is very understandable and something that most of us around here are dealing with, too. You are among like-minded peeps. Stay in accord with your surgeon's instructions and be consistent with the exercise. Temper that effort with a bit of restraint so you don't get injured. Trust me.....taking time out for injuries to heal sucks bigtime !!! The unwanted weight will come off. Have faith and maintain your discipline. The scale will be your friend in no time at all.