scarecrow

Sorry to here that Linda : / I had to do flintstones chewables and Protein shakes at first, lol. I actually STILL take the flintstones. Yeah, sad. They just have everything in them that the one-a-days I had do. You've recently had an unfil and you feel that tight? Did the doc say you were inflamed or something?

lovin the shotgun so far B-Man, not bad at all

B-Man, that's not all bad news man. I never had a fill personally - I started doing paintball and MMA soon after and started dieting hard core. But if I ever DID slip from the diet, I couldn't too bad, because the band was there to restrict my slip up from anything major. I just had to decide that I was going to find an activity that I enjoyed doing and become addicted to it. Do you have something like that? I traded video games and TV for paintball, MMA, and bowfishing, and I honestly have so much more fun doing the stuff. I was also lucky enough to have friends that were very active already, so all I had to do was tag along with them. I imagine getting into something alone would have been much harder : /.

omg... you're a pilot??

Hey there Lindata, how ya been? Are you getting plenty of Protein? I always make sure I get my weight in protein every day, whether I want to or not. I've always found that as long as I'm taking my Vitamins, fish oil, tons of protein, and half a serving of grape juice before a workout - I'll always feel great. I respectfully but completely disagree with some of the claims on the forums that you don't have to have the extra protein. I feel like CRAP if I don't get it. How do you feel Lindata?

gratz! the only advice I can give is keep your Protein levels up - no matter what anyone says. My doctor told me not to take the Protein shakes, to get all of my protein from the food - and for me personally at least, it just wasn't enough. I felt like crap. A good soy protein mix is easy to digest, 25grams of protein a scoop, taste decent, and is proven to reduce bad cholesterol sharply and reduce the chances of certain cancers, including breast and colon. And the protein will make ya feel a ton better, and help your body burn off a higher fat content and less calorie-burning muscle : ) . Also keep your stitches as dry as you can and don't pick at them! I only have 1 visible scar from the surgery, and it's the one I just couldn't stop messing with. You saw your liver? That's just not natural. Like when you see your favorite radio DJ in person, and it's odd because they looking nothing like what you've always thought. Some things you just aren't supposed to see. I hope my liver and I have a long working relationship together without ever having to meet. Goodluck, you're gonna do great!

I had my surgery November 26 2007, I was 315 at the time of surgery. I started a very strict workout and diet along with the surgery, as I was very determined to get the weight off. I now weigh 194lbs, and I'm still steadily losing. My goal is 175, and I'm working hard for it. I've never had a fill and don't feel the band but still get full after eating a good meal. I can eat bread, Pasta, etc, anything. Even carbinated drinks if I wanted to ( I drink nothing but sugarfree koolaid though). Breakfast 7:30 Protein shake (24g protein, 120 cal, 3 carb) rice cake (50 cal, 9 carb) Brunch 10:00 half sandwich - varied meat and light wheat bread (12g protein, 125 cal, 9 carb) After workout lunch 1:30 Protein Shake (30g protein, 145 cal, 4 carb) snack 4:00 half sandwich - meat and light wheat bread (12g protein, 125 cal, 9 carb) snack 2 7:00 Protein shake (24g protein, 120 cal, 3 carb) dinner 9:00 normally a mix of fish (28g protein, 200 cal, 0 carb) For a daily total of 130g protein, 885 cal, 37 carbs - 8 of which are from sugar. I do 10 minutes on the treadmill as soon as a I roll out of bed, and do an hour of weight lifting at lunch every day. Here's some pics: me at 315 me at 230 (shirts are all way too big : P ) Me at 200 So my questions are these... First, I am thrilled that I've lost so much weight. It has changed a lot for me - one thing I wish I didn't lose though was the muscle. I've lost nearly half my max on all lifting, and at least a quarter of my rep weight on all exercises - even with the protein intake. Does anyone have any suggestions for changes in diet that would help me continue to drop weight steadily while gaining - or at least maintaining - muscle? And secondly, I'm wondering about skin-surgery. I've lost weight kinda in weird ways. My stomach has gotten much smaller, while my love handles are the same size - which is odd. I work my abs and obliques HARD in a captains chair 3 times a week, but it doesn't seem to change anything. Also my skin is stretchy all over the place. So I'm wondering, should I consider cosmetic surgery, or is it too soon? I'm 26 years old. I'm starting to be shaped really odd because some areas are skinny... and some never got smaller : (. Kinda weird. Any advice would be appreciated - thanks guys.

Are any of you yawners? I yawn a LOT while working out. There's another guy at my gym that lost a lot of weight recently, and I noticed when he works out he yawns the whole time too. Is there a connection?

The turtle wins! But what in the world is that in your avatar?

non scale victory! I'm slow.

Weeell, I'm going to come right out and admit that I don't know what NSV stands for. When I see NSV, I think Nonsynonymous Variant. But - I think I get the point at least... two weeks ago someone at the gym started asking me questions, I realized a few minutes alter they mistook me for someone that worked there. Yes, I had a gym shirt on - thus the mistake - but a year ago theres no WAY that mistake could have happened. I can wear my life long skinnier than me friends' clothes. Another friend of mine, who joked about my weight for years, ran out of breath and had to stop 10 minutes into a run. I acted like it was ok, but ran an extra 20 just for good measure : P I can finally fight in the same weight class as people under 6'2. I ordered a water to drink from a restaurant and the waiter didn't visibly get the idea that he wasn't going to get a tip.

26 - banded by Merrimen(sp) a year ago in november. Any other locals post on here?

<3 Amethystjade I've read your posts on here and thought you were funny, witty, and probably someone fun to hang out with. However - just a total guess here - but I bet you're not half as confident and comfortable with yourself "out there" as you are in here. Guys over 25 are simple organisms. I'm a guy, I know. Hell you know, and you're not a guy. This is blunt and a bit abrasive, but - if we can look at a girl and think "yeah, I'd do her," then she has just as much of a chance as any 100lbs'er to get the guy. We first have to make that sexual connection in our minds to a woman before we even consider anything else. That's not our fault, that's natures way of getting it's job done. Most guys can be attracted to any girl. If a girl looks attractive, she normally dresses more revealing. Shows more skin. Moves and talks in more suggestive ways, whether she is 1% interested in the guy or not. They exude more sexuality both because they are aware they are sexy, and because they are probably having more sex - which makes pheromone excretions stronger. Thicker girls generally don't feel as attractive. They don't show a lot of skin. They don't flirt much. They're not suggestive in movement or conversation. I'm not talking slutty, I'm talking suggestive. Slight cleavage is suggestive. Short miniskirts are slutty (though I'm still a big fan.) Big difference. My point is, the difference between these women isn't that only one is sexual. Both have the same wants in needs. But only ones displaying it. Only one is sending the message to every mans brain she meets that she is a healthy female capable sexual activity - and more importantly conceiving children. I see it over and over on these forums about how women plan on doing things skinny girls do AFTER they're skinny. With all due respect ladies, the acts of doing those things is 90% of whats sexy to guys. Not necessarily the girls doing them. Why can't you dress sexy? Why can't you be suggestive to a random guy you find attractive? Trust me, the guys are more than comfortable with the way you look - they just wish you were as comfortable with yourselves as the skinny girls. That's all just my opinion. I stress the initial sexual connection to men, only to create the initial necessary tension. After a man has got the idea in his head that you'd be a fun sexual partner, everything past that is just personality - which you have plenty of if you let it out. Those skinny skanks stopped using that years ago : P. Be a little sexual, be fun. Be someone you wouldn't mind spending an evening on the couch with. If I had the choice between a thick girl that was funny, fun in bed, and loyal to me - and a skinny girl that was subpar everywhere but the waist line, I'd go for the one that was more fun any day. Most guys would. If you're really trying to meet a guy, send the messages of this. Act available. Talk to guys. Most guys like to feel like they pursued you, so let them think that if they want : P. But plant your seeds. Talk to ppl. Talk to random ppl. There is nothing more attractive to me than a woman that comes up and talks to me ... in the line at the supermarket, or at the gym. It makes ME feel good about myself too, which is never a bad thing and can never hurt. Trust me, you'll never hurt a mans feelings by sparking up a conversation with him. He'll feel good about himself all day. And he'll be genuinely intrigued by your confidence.

No gains without pain, little cramp never hurt anybody. I'll try it out, hopefully my gym sells it.

LOL Poor horses. The mayor of the city I live in has commercials with him riding around on a horse, and he's a 350-400lbs guy. I didn't believe it when I first heard about it, but when I saw the commercial I learned they found him the worlds largest horse to ride on or something. It was MASSIVE. I too would like to ride a normal size horse.

omg, am I the only one here under 6'? Yall are some tall dudes. B-Man, I'm not taking a precurser right now, but back before I starting losing weight, I used to take muscletech or fast-twith precursers before workout religiously. I personally used to get a good pump out of taking these. I could get in roughly 10% more reps per musclegroup, which is pretty nice. I'm seriously considering starting back on something like N.O. fast-twitch, but I want to find something completely lean to mix in with grape juice. Something that is JUST the nasty nasting nutrients and few cals or carbs.

Oh wow, undy pics! Awesome man, lol, that takes more courage than I have, but I'm not nearly as skinny as you either. That's my new goal bandpal. When I am comfortable enough to post a picture of my self, on the internet, without a shirt - I've reached my goal. You look great though man, absolutely excellent. So have you gone to the fair yet? An amusement park? I can remember not wanting to take a date to the fair for fear of not making a weight limit or size limit on a ride. You should go to an amusement park and ride a roller coaster ; ).

OMG, lol, you're killin me man. I laughed at that for like 5 minutes. Refreshing honesty, I love it.