jongetsfit

Oh one more thing, this guy on youtube is a big OTF fan, he started a year or so ago. His videos are pretty good:

My experience, I needed to start slow. Right after surgery I'd take 15minute and then 30 minute walks and need a nap. I believe I got the OK to work out at 8 weeks and wowie, those days were ass kickers. First of all, I'm not a doctor or a NUT but I wouldn't worry to much about the calorie deficit. That's kind of the whole point right? Plus at this stage you should be meeting with your doc regularly, check in with them but I have a feeling you aren't going to waste away. As long as you are getting your protein in you are probably ok. Plus working out doesn't just burn fat, it also builds muscle. AND working out regularly will help you build up your stamina. I know it sounds cliche, buts my endurance and heart rate recovery are frustratingly good. I'll workout, lift, run, whatever, HR is great. I stop moving for a second and it plummets. That is a good thing, but frustrating when working out. Again, not a doctor, just my thoughts.

Yes there are three tiers. If you plan to go more then 3x a week, unlimited is the best value. However, most people I've talked to start at elite which is cheaper and gives you 8 classes a month, but they don't rollover. Most studios will let you move between tiers pretty easily. My wife also goes, she does the 8 classes a month, but occasionally does an extra or two. In that case she pays the "drop in" rate. I think its $18 dollars per but I'm not sure.

I know this is a few months late and I'm sure you made a decision already, but I'm a big fan of OTF. Literally changed my life. The workouts are about 60 minutes, and you are guided through the class by a coach. I started there pre-op at about 310 lbs. 2.5 years later and its my staple workout. I go 3-4 times a week. While the workouts can be intense, you move at your own pace and coaches will provide modifications for anything you struggle with. Can't run? Jog. Can't jog? Walk. It's that easy. When I started I was a "Power walker" meaning any treadmill work was done at 3.5 mph adjusting incline to increase intensity. Now I'm a jogger/runner AND on days my legs aren't feeling it or maybe I overdid it, I power walk again. No shame in power walking. You'll also hear people talk about "splat points" which is just the sum of minutes you got your heart rate over 84% of max during the hour. They tell you to shoot for 12 splats. I've gotten zero and I've gotten 40+. In the beginning, just walking, I'd hit 84% HR just walking into the place. At max weight I was burning 1000+ calories per class. Now being lighter and fitter (and I think just being a dude) that has gone down. I can burn anywhere from 500 - 800 depending on the workout. The biggest point of anxiety I hear from people is "I don't want my heart rate up on the screen". Guess what? No one cares. Literally, everyone is busy looking at their own stuff. The zones are based on your heart rate and help you quantify your work. Now the kicker, its hella expensive when compared to traditional gyms. Pre-op I had a membership to a number of traditional gyms and if I ever actually went, I half-assed the elliptical for 30 and went home. Zero motivation to go, very little financial consequence to not. For me, and this is just me. I need someone telling me "ok, pick that up, ok put that down, now go over there and do this". I walk in, I do the things and I leave. No guess work, no figuring anything out. Even on days I'm not feeling it or don't give 100% I still feel good knowing I did something. Given all that, it works for me. For people looking for something, I'd recommend everyone at least try it a couple of times. Hope it helps.

OTF! OTF! OTF! OTF! DO IT! DO IT! DO IT! DO IT! I joined OTF when I was pre-op to lose the qualifying weight. Post-op, when I was cleared for exercise, I kept it up. Two years later and OTF is basically the only exercise I do. I start my week "owing" 3 classes. Most weeks it 4 and if I can squeeze it in I do 5. Hour long, coached classes that utilize treadmills, rowers, with free and body weight exercises. The "gimmick" is that everyone wears a HRM and you see what "zone" you are in throughout the class. The goal is to be in the "Orange Zone" (84% of your max heart rate) for at least 12 minutes cumulatively (called splat points). For treadmill work everything is broken into paces for example Power Walker (incline), Jogger, Runner (speed) and the coaches guide you through that. Now before you say "Oh I don't want everyone seeing my heart rate" let me say this, no one cares. I'm in 3-4 classes a week and I'm only looking a 1 number...mine. At the end of the class you see total # of calories burned, and splats (its also emailed to you) For me, it works perfect. Classes are about an hour long, you are coached through everything but can work at your own pace. I need a defined time, with someone saying "ok do that, ok stop doing that, now do this". Then she I'm done, I'm done. I started pre-op as a power walker maxing out at 3.9 mph and (at my starting weight) I'd burn 1000+ calories in an hour class. Now, 2 years in, I'm a runner most days and I can ALL-OUT at 10+ mph and I still burn between 650-850 cals per class. Lastly, they are EVERYWHERE. I travel a lot for work and I can still get workouts almost anywhere in the US. Every studio uses the same template. They all feel the same, the only difference is the coaches. Without context I know some of this is gibberish, but I can't say enough about how much I love OTF, I highly recommend it.

Wow what a great loss! Im same as you, 6 weeks out. I walk as much as I can but am finding I am beat at the end of the day. By 8pm, Im wiped. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I wasn't really nervous until about two weeks before when you start planning the actual procedure. Meeting the hospital people, anesthesiologist, and final appt. with surgeon. Once I started the preop diet I was able to focus on that. Then the morning of, pretty scared, but once they hit you with the sedative its all down hill. So short answer, yes perfectly normal, but totally worth it. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

You are still healing, and you are (presumably) drinking a lot of Fluid. Your body is still trying to figure itself out. At my 1 month check in with my surgeon he said he didn't even really worry about weight loss until the 1 month mark. Stick it out, it'll start coming off.

Totally normal, don't panic! I lost a quick 13 the first two weeks then was stuck for like 10 days and then started started seeing a few lbs come off. I literally had my 4 week check in with my surgeon today and he said he didn't even start looking for real loss until this point. It boils down to 3 things. 1) hit your hydration and Protein target. 2) stay off the scale 3) trust the process. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Most of my job is being on the phone and I can I work from the home office if I need to... so nothing to crazy. I planned to take 2 weeks. My surgery was on a Tuesday, I was home on Thursday. By the next Tuesday I felt fine to sit at my desk and take a few calls. The second week I got gassed real easy so I would work for a couple of hours then take a break. I had no complications and my recovery has been pretty easy so I'm sure that helps. As for driving, my Dr's prime concern was driving while on pain meds. I only took meds in the hospital, and then the first two nights at home to help me sleep. I was ready to drive a few days later. My wife had to handle all the kid-taxi-ing.

I know you are looking for food ideas, put if the real issue is Protein shakes are your best bet. The Premier Protein shakes have 30g per 11oz bottle. I drink two a day and that gets me to 60. Anything else I get from from is just a bonus at that point. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Exactly, exactly, exactly how I felt. I'm 27 days post op and only started "finding full" within the last week or so. Im certainly not a dr. but my theory is maybe as your pouch heals things begin to really tighten up. Im finding greek yogurt seems to be my filler. Hope it helps. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

The Premier Protein is my favorite, they just released a caramel flavor which is a nice change. Bananas and cream is okay. I get mine at costco or sam's club. Buying by the case puts the cost slightly over a dollar per. I drink 2 a day post op so I get about 60g of protein just from that. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I take the fusion multi Vitamin, tastes like a Flintstone chewable. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App