ouroborous

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/08/110821141128.htm

So, after the nice weather of summer, my weight loss -- which was on track to put me at or under 200 lbs (for the first time in memory!) completely stopped and in fact reversed. Now I'm at 225 (!) and fighting that old "there's nothing I can do about it" feeling. I have been able to attribute this to two factors. First, with the nice weather, I was walking about 2.5 miles every day. Now that it's perpetually dark and rainy/icy (here in Seattle), I'm getting VERY little cardio exercise at all. Second, my calorie intake has been creeping up. All kinds of little things -- from food intake here at home, to a regular Starbucks yogurt parfait, to cakes and candy ever present at work -- were tanking me. Of course I never really SPLURGED, but it was a little bit every day. So, I've pretty much cut out the extra calories -- I'm watching what I eat very, very carefully, and I'm now eating the same or less than I was during the summer. The exercise thing is harder; I still go to the gym most days of the week, but most of my time is spent weight lifting.. I'm wondering; should I ditch the weightlifting and spend that time doing boring time on the treadmill/bike? I don't want to lose my muscle tone, but I don't have 1.5 hours every day to spend at the gym, and it's kinda either/or... Any advice or words of encouragement would be welcome...

Yeah, I'm sure that -- aside from the little snack sources (which, honestly, I'm not that bad about, certainly not any worse than I was during the summer, when I was LOSING weight like crazy) -- the only real difference here is the cardio exercise. It seems amazing that my little 45 minute walk every day at lunch time could make such a difference, but that's the only significant thing that's changed since summer. I've gained 12 pounds since the end of October. I'm going to try to reverse that before the end of spring. It's just very discouraging to go from being on track to hit 200 lbs, to having to fight like crazy to avoid hitting 230 again! Edit: I should mention, about snacks: I really don't eat Cookies or brownies or whatever. I have one little 50 calorie piece of candy from the reception candy dish every day, but only one. I suppose I could cut that out too, but it really seems like if the difference between my gaining weight and losing weight is one 50 calorie mini-size bar of dark chocolate, then I'm doomed, because you can get 50 calories by *sneezing*...

Well, according to the body composition scale at the gym, today I weighed in at 214.8 lbs, making another straight week of around 2lbs lost. Amazing to be doing that at 17 months post-op, but who's complaining? Also, since 215 was my goal (adjusted downward from 225 originally), GOAAAL! Well, except that I've now adjusted it down AGAIN to 200. And in addition to losing 2 lbs in the past week, according to the body composition numbers, in the past month (ish, since 8/26) I've lost 2% body fat (4.4 lbs) and GAINED ~2% muscle (around 4 lbs). That's just amazing; my fitness guru at the gym was astounded, he said he's NEVER seen a guy in his 40's (ok, early 40's, but still) gain muscle and lose fat so fast. It's a VERY GOOD DAY.

I make sure to eat some CARBS before workouts, and Protein after workouts. The reason is this: the carbs give you a quick burst of blood sugar to help you power through the workout. If your goal is to lose fat/burn calories, this might be counter productive since you might consume more than you burn. But if you're trying to build muscle, you need the blood sugar to have the stamina to make it through the workout. Since I've been focusing on eating about 100-150 calories of mostly carbs (good carbs, like fruit or something) before I hit the gym, I've noticed that I have MUCH more energy for my workouts, and they're MUCH more intense. Simply put, I don't "poop out" halfway through my sets. AFTER the workouts, I make sure to pack on the protein. The reason for this is that studies have shown that 15-30 minutes after an intense anaerobic workout is the prime time when your body needs protein to aid in the muscle reconstructing and building phase. I don't know for sure that this is helping (unlike the carbs), but the science says it should help, and I'm a big believer in science YMMV. If you're only interested in burning calories, a pure protein snack before the workout might be a better choice -- tends to be lower calories, slower blood sugar release, and will still give you SOME "fuel" for the workout. But the odds are that with the sleeve, the difference between a pure protein snack and a "good" carb snack -- around 50-75 calories difference, I'd wager -- is trivial compared to the overall caloric restriction of the sleeve. And for me, at least, the extra energy during the workout is MORE than worth it. Instead of the workouts just WRECKING me and running out of steam halfway through, now I can power through them. I'm still tired when I leave the gym, sure, but I get a good solid workout without running out of steam, and I think that my progress has really accelerated as a result of focusing on my workout-related nutrition.

Oh, and another fun tidbit: my body fat was 24.8%. While this is still way too high (I'm shooting for the 15% "athletic" category) it is finally considered "normal" BF for men. I'm NORMAL! I'm not morbidly obese, not obese, not even overweight. NORMAL! (EDIT: I know that a BMI of 28.3 is still considered overweight -- 25 is the cutoff to "normal"... but given my build -- extremely broad and dense -- it's unlikely that I'll ever get much below 25, if I can even GET to 25... I'm more concerned about body fat than BMI, since it's a much more accurate measurement of fitness.) I need to shut up now... but... YAY.

Jeez, you guys are dedicated. All I do is weightlifting on M-W-F. But my routine is completely different; e.g. Friday is my "power" day when I put on huge stacks of weights, Monday is my "toning" day when I do different exercises, less weight, and more reps, and Wednesday is my "day of forgotten muscles" where I hit all the neglected little muscles like the calves, hip adductors/abductors, deltoids, traps, and so on. So I keep it varied and that keeps it from being boring. My current challenge is going beyond my own mental limits; I often don't HAVE to stop when I WANT to stop. I'm trying to learn how to keep pushing until I literally can't do another rep. Until I reach that point, I'm not "done" even if my wimpy mind SAYS I'm done! I must be doing something right since I've packed on 5 lbs of muscle (while losing 5 lbs of fat) according to the body comp. monitor machine at my gym!

I'm sorry your friend has had troubles with her WLS, but you don't know that carbonated beverages caused it. The fact that she had a GBP or a DS raises some red flags; the lap band and gastric bypass are very different, mechanically, from the sleeve. With the first two WLS'es, the tissue pouch that remains IS very stretchy and could conceivably be stretched out over time. With the sleeve, what's left of your stomach is the tough, muscular upper portion. The stretchy fundus (bottom) is removed entirely. What remains can be stretched, but only primarily by solid foods; ie habitually overeating can do it, but drinking some diet coke is very unlikely to. So I'll stick by my original assertion: there's basically zero chance that carbonation, on its own, is going to measurably stretch out a lap sleeve after it's fully healed with all the scar tissue. That's what my surgeon told me. That being said, you should ask your doctor, and make up your own mind. I avoid carbonated beverages because of the acidity, so it's not like I have some vested interest in promoting them

It's important to remember this, repeat after me: spot reduction is a myth! That means, you can't reduce fat in just one area by working out. Fat loss is a systemic, metabolic process -- you either lose it all over, at the rate your body "decides" on, or you don't. That being said, I highly recommend resistance training to firm up your "trouble" areas. As you lose the fat, you'll start to see the areas where you're weak. Do some weightlifting! Even women can benefit from weightlifting -- don't worry that you'll bulk up, without the testosterone, that's just not going to happen. And muscles help women get that classic "cello" shape, especially if you are flat-butted or flat-chested. Building the pectoral shelf, for instance, will lift your boobs and make them perkier. Building your hamstrings and gluteal muscles will give you a nice round butt. Building your hip abductors (or is it adductors? I can never get the two straight...) will help you get curvier hips. And of course ab work will help your stomach look flatter. Latissimus dorsi work -- your back -- will help you avoid "back flab" and will also perk up your boobs and help with that "cello shape." I am a HUGE fan of weight training, and firmly believe that EVERYONE should incorporate some resistance training into their regular regimen. You don't have to be a gym rat to get in some serious workouts; buy a few weights, buy a cheap home gym machine. Heck, do calisthenics -- crunches, squats, pullups, pushups... none of these take a single piece of equipment (well, except pullups).

You can buy generic prilosec (omeprazole) at Costco in bulk rather cheaply. That's what I do, and at one 20mg pill a day before bedtime, it's a trivial expense.

Well, when I say "haven't gained" an ounce, I mean that -- despite the normal peaks and valleys -- it's not like I've lost a bunch of weight and am slowly regaining it. I assumed that's what the question was asking. Instead, I'm still losing. I assume that when I hit my "target" weight (maybe 200-ish pounds, or ~140 lbs lost), my weight will fluctuate... I assume that as I get older, it'll take more work to maintain, and so on. But those are the "normal" problems that "normal" people have, and I am HAPPY to have that problem instead of being morbidly obese with a BMI in the "you gonna die, son" range.

At ~18 mos. out, I haven't gained an ounce. I've lost more than 120 lbs. and am still losing. Who knows, ten years out might be a different story, but I'm perfectly willing to lose 130-140 pounds and gain back 10-15!

You really don't need to tell them anything on a first date; the odds are that nobody will ask. If they ask why you're not eating much, just say "I get full quickly" (the truth). If they ask why you're not drinking, well... why are they asking that? Honestly, if someone pushes you to drink, that's a bad sign; just order a glass of Water. If you choose to volunteer the info, that's up to you, but frankly you don't OWE them any information. There are PLENTY of other things to talk about!

Hate to say it, but if you're typical you're going to have LOTS of stalls and LOTS of periods where the weight just melts off. The important thing is to learn to be patient and not obsess over the scale too much. If you eat right (Protein first, small portions, chew chew chew), drink lots of Water, and exercise, the weight WILL melt away, but you have to be patient. Easier said than done, I know...

Holy crap, that's amazing. To be blunt (we guys are known for that), you've gone from someone I'd put into the "I like her like a friend" category into "she's probably too hot for me" category. Congratulations -- that's tremendous!

There's just no realistic way that carbonated beverages are going to stretch your sleeve after it has healed. That's a very important point: the mechanics of the sleeve while it is healing (less than about two months) and afterwards are very different. Tissue regeneration CAN respond to subtle pressures and stretch out. That being said, once your sleeve is healed and the scar tissue fully formed, it's simply NOT going to happen; carbonation will just got out either end (ie, you'll burp or fart) and won't stretch the sleeve, which I'm told has the consistency of football leather. Find an old football and try to stretch the pigskin on it -- you'll see quickly that a few cc's of carbonation just aren't going to budge that. Still, I don't drink carbonated beverages because they tend to be VERY acidic, and long-term exposure to high-acid environments CAN damage your sleeve (leads to higher risks of things like gastric cancer and staple-line ulcers). It's all empty calories (or in the case of diet pop, just chemical soup), so why not take your sleeve as an opportunity to quit? Pre-sleeve, I drank nearly two liters of diet Coke every day. Now, I haven't had a diet Coke in nearly 18 months. The habit breaks pretty easy once you're past the first month or so

First: I AM NOT A DOCTOR... ask your doctor Second, symptoms of hypoxia (not enough oxygen) would include a bluish tinge to the lips or fingertips. If this is happening -- CALL YOUR DOCTOR IMMEDIATELY. If you cannot get through to your doctor, call 911. See Wikipedia: Hypoxia (signs and symptoms) Third, figure out what you mean by "difficulty breathing." Can you not take a deep breath? If not, why -- does your breath "catch?" Is there pain, wetness, a cough when you breathe deeply? Any of those might be post-op pneumonia and DEFINITELY should result in a call to the doc. Can you take a deep breath, but it doesn't feel like you have "enough air?" If so, there are two major possibilities: one, some sort of significant oxygen exchange problem. While very dangerous (if true), this is also very rare. Second probable cause is, I hate to say, anxiety. Symptoms of hypoxia OR anxiety include dizziness, "tingling" in the extremities, and nausea. I suffer from anxiety quite a bit and sometimes think "I can't breathe!" The way I combat this anxiety is by closing my eyes (to remove distractions) and forcing myself to take the deepest breath possible. I am always astounded by just how much air I CAN inhale, and this helps me combat the anxiety. Bottom line, you really need to ask your doctor, but these are some basic steps you can carry out to "triage" the issue a little bit.

My high-Water mark weight was just a tad over 338 lbs (scary, now that I think about it). Today, I weighed in at 218 lbs. HUZZAH! In addition, my original goal was 225 -- sorted, thank you very much! -- and then revised down to 215... only 3 lbs away. BAM! I think I'm going to re-revise my goal weight down to 200 lbs now that I'm losing weight again (THANK you, regular gym workouts + cardio!)

Thanks for the kind words, all! And, when it rains, it pours -- I weighed myself this morning and I'm down another 2 lbs; 216.1. About one pound from my (new) GOOOOAL... I'm thinking 200 is a reasonable "final" goal.

It was the workouts, pure and simple: if you look at my weight chart on my ticker, you can see that it was leveled out almost to flat, and then started dipping again around June-ish. This is almost exactly when I started hitting the gym again. I didn't change ANYTHING else -- diet is just as good (or bad) as it always was. So it's 100% about MOVING... The nice thing is that I've probably put on 5-10lbs of muscle since June (I bulk up fast), so that my "real" weight is probably even lower (if you subtract the muscle weight). But hey, who's counting?

...is hard! I'm up to 10 minutes at 5.5mph now, followed by 10 minutes at a walking pace (3.5mph/4.0mph) to cool down. I'm hoping to get up to eventually 30 minutes at 5.5-6.0mph, but I can tell -- it's going to take a while. That being said, 10 minutes at 5.5mph gets me dripping sweat, so it must be pretty good exercise for this middle-aged guy. My heart rate gets up to around 155, which is right between the "I can still talk" range and "I can... *pant*... still talk... *pant*". I'm just hoping to build cardiovascular strength and endurance, and burn yet more calories. <20% body fat, here I come! Edit: one thing I'm thankful for: now that I weigh 220 instead of 330-ish, I can actually RUN without, you know, blowing out my knees or crippling myself for a week!

Hmm, it may simply be that I'm not using the right shoes. Apparently, as someone with fallen arches, I'm susceptible to "overpronation" (a term that I'd never heard of before!) and I need a specific type of shoe ("motion control") to help keep my gait correct and help absorb shock. The highest rated motion control runner's shoe apparently is "Brooks Addiction 9." Now I just need to find someplace locally that sells them (I won't buy clothing over the internet; how do you know if stuff fits before trying it on?) HOPEFULLY I can keep running, but I'm NOT going to jack up my knees for it. I have a perfectly good recumbent exercise bike in the basement. It's not AS intense as running, but I can ramp up the difficulty level and get a "pretty good" workout.

Yeah, the sweats that I'm wearing while reading this -- working up the gumption to go down to the treadmill and run! -- are way too big and baggy for me. The kicker? Six months ago they were too tight, to the point of pain. Now they're falling off me. And these are the ones I moved down to from my REALLY big sweats...

Keep your doctor informed of your pain levels, and especially any new symptoms. Pain after the surgery is common, especially if it's coupled with a hiatal hernia repair. Quite often this exhibits as pain when taking a deep breath. Consistent, worsening pain that radiates through to your back, inability to take a breath (not pain, but inability), vomiting, and high fever are the things to watch for; if you experience those symptoms, you need to rush to the doctor since you may have a staple line leak. But my guess is that you're just experiencing the normal pain from a VSG plus hernia repair. It will get better! Edit: I should mention that staying mobile (get up and walk around as much as you can) and sipping Water as much as possible will help you recover MUCH quicker.