jensmallwood

HIIT is the best-bang-for-your-workout-buck! It kicks butt in terms of fat loss-- mostly because your "afterburn"- or the calories you burn for the next several hours after your workout-- is MUCH higher than with other forms of exercise. It also kicks butt in terms of increasing your fitness levels. If you stick to a workout level that you can do for 30 minutes straight, you can increase fitness, but by taking it up to that notch that you can only sustain for a minute or two at a time with recovery in between, you can increase your fitness much faster-- because you're getting into that high intensity zone, even tho it's only a short time. BUT- it's not for the faint of heart! It's not recommended for those with health conditions or those just starting out on exercise. It is really for people who have a base level of fitness already. Regular intervals can be used for those people-- where you go a little faster for a minute or two, then back to regular speed. HIIT is designed to take you to your max speed-- as in you could NOT go at that intensity for longer than your interval time - you should want it to end (say one or two minutes), then you recover for however long it takes you to get back to nearly normal, then go again. For an even better bang for your buck- do it on a treadmill (where your legs have to support your body weight, as opposed to the elliptical where the machine supports it). But again, that's only for when you're ready. I work at a gym, and when I work with young college students who want to lose fat quick, I always recommend HIIT. But they are 19 and pretty fit. For someone who has recently had bariatric surgery and may have joint problems, high blood pressure or other obesity-related conditions, I would NOT recommend it. If a person is overweight but otherwise healthy- it's probably great, if they were up to it, but always working within their own personal limitations. Most people just aren't up to that level of exercise-- even tho you get an hour's worth of exercise in only about 20 minutes.

I used to use one, and I loved it. The data on calories burned is phenomenal. The problem that I had was that I bought mine used on ebay and it had a problem where it would "lose" it's connection and re-gain it, usually while I was in the middle of a quiet lecture hall (and it makes these quiet little buzzing noises when that happens) which were magnified by the silence all around. If I had bought it from the company, I could have had it replaced. It's really unobtrusive. There is another one, made by the same company that looks equally cool- but of course I can't remember the name. I've been debating about whether or not to buy another one. If it weren't for the monthly subscription, I would in a heartbeat.

Oh, my. I'm so sorry to hear that this happened-- But, girl! There is a WORLD of exercise that is more challenging than walking but isn't Boot Camp!! Boot Camp is insanely intense. I work at a gym- but I refuse to teach boot camp because it's marketed to everyone, but IMO, it's NOT for everyone. I would make people bring me a doctor's note before I would allow them to be in boot camp. It is important to mix up your exercise routine-- our bodies get very efficient at the things we do routinely (and burn fewer calories when we do them as a result). But I have to say, 13,000 steps a day ROCKS! It's way more than most people get. That's awesome! Someone suggested that you add faster walking intervals, which is a great suggestion, but you also might like something like jazzercise, or step aerobics (start with no risers under the step), or Zumba. They are all fun, and can be high or low intensity. And they're not all crazy like Boot Camp.

How frustrating! Unfortunately, I don't really have an answer for you, but I've been in your trap. For me-- it works to not buy that stuff at all. But I do understand that when you hear the siren call of the junk food- it's almost impossible not to answer it. I feel like it's really an addiction, you know? Mine was Burger King. I literally could not drive past the place without my car seeming to mysteriously drive itself there. And I'm having this internal screaming match with myself about the whole time. "NO! You don't need that crap-- it's gonna kill you," and "F-that-- I can eat whatever I want!" I felt a bit like I had multiple personalities for a while. David Kessler (surgeon general a while back) wrote a great book called "The End of Overeating: Taking Control of the Insatiable American Appetite." Unfortunately he doesn't give a good answer to HOW to stop it-- but he gives great information about WHY salt and fat and sugar (like chips, etc) call to us so strongly-- it really is a chemical reaction in the brain, like a drug. We enjoy that chemical reaction- momentarily soothing or whatever-- just like a drug addict enjoys his drug (momentarily before he feels sick.) I found it helpful to know that it wasn't just my lack of willpower, but an actual physical reaction that caused me to want (and to justify) junk food so badly. For me, the only remedy is to stay away from most junk all together. The post-op diet helped me tremendously to break out of the cycle. (I didn't have a preop, but it would have done the same). Staying away from it for a certain amount of time breaks the neediness cycle, and when the cravings are gone, they're gone. I literally need to stay away from certain restaurants (for me it's the one that sells the giant, homemade Cookies in my town), white flour and sugar almost in their entirety. But if I allow myself to start indulging again, the cravings will come back and I don't know if I can control them or not. Good luck to you.

Congratulations! What am amazing accomplishment! Keep up the great work!

I'm very active, so I eat quite a lot and still lose consistently for now... A typical breakfast for me is two scrambled eggs, 1 piece of Ezekial bread (sprouted grain- no flour), and maybe some strawberries if I'm not full. lunch is typically about 3-4 oz chicken, 1/2 c veggies and 1/4 c of a whole grain (like brown rice or whole wheat pasta) dinner is 3-4 oz Protein (lean type), 1/2 c veggies and some sort of whole grain OR starchy type veg (like sweet potato or black beans). I usually have a small square of dark chocolate (50 cals) in the evening with a cup of hot tea as a "treat." My exercise involves martial arts training 3 hours a week, indoor cycling 1 hour a week, running/walking intervals about an hour a week, then I teach pilates about 4 hours a week (but that's pretty low intensity for much of it). I also walk a LOT on campus during the day going to classes (between 30-50 min per day, 5 days per week). Sometimes I end up teaching another random YMCA class, too. So I eat more than typical, and allow myself more carbs than may be typical for some with the band. ETA: Oh, I do take a Multivitamin, Calcium and fishoil when I remember. I don't use any other protein supplements.

I think the second thoughts are common. Here's the questions-- have you dieted before? What pitfalls did you run into those times? I knew that the Band was right for me because I AM a successful dieter-- I've lost hundreds of pounds in my past, only to gain it all back plus some each and every time. I needed a tool that would control my appetite in a way that made me not hungry between meals, etc. My husband, on the other hand, also has a lot of weight to lose. He has never really dieted, though. So he started his 6 month pre-op weight loss plan and is doing great. He's lost 30 pounds without much effort (just changing his food choices), and walking. He has decided to see if he can make this lifestyle change permanent, and forego the Band for now. He may change his mind later, and opt for the band if this change doesn't work. I think you should address your second thoughts. It is major surgery, and you need to be sure you are making the right choice for your life. If you've never really dieted before, and it's working for you, and you think you can make it a lifestyle-- great. But if South Beach is just ANOTHER diet-- one that you are motivated to do right now-- but will probably end like all the other diets (if that's in your past like it is mine), then maybe the Band is for you. good luck to you, whatever you choose!

Awww, shucks.... :thumbup:

An infomercial for a workout program called "Insanity" was on my tv this morning, with lots of pictures of how people can go from "average" to "totally buff" in only 60 days.... I used to watch "the Biggest Loser" before I decided that I absolutely HATED that show and saw them post losses of 8, 10-- even 20 pounds in one week. ONE WEEK! That's insane, and so completley unrealistic, yet we come to start thinking that we can and should lose weight at rates like that. Even at the grocery store-- the magazines shout out from the stand at the checkout-- "Lose 10 pounds in 10 days with one small change." It's just a load of crap, frankly. But deep down, we want to believe it. Yes- we have to do the work- eat less and move more. The band helps us eat less once we reach restriction, but the eating the right things and moving more and completely up to us. And unfortunately, 3500 calories (1 pound) worth of eating less and moving more takes time and patience. And the scale lies sometimes. And its frustrating. So kind of like AA- I think about it "one day at a time." I'm gonna do the best I can today, and give myself a break if the scale isn't moving because I know that I'm doing the right things. Eventually- slowly or more quickly- we'll get where we're going-- IF we keep taking steps in the right direction.

It'll go faster than you think... will you have your pre-op appointments at your surgeon's office in the meantime? (nutritionist, psych eval, etc.?) That'll help the time go and give you milestones to look for. ETA: Oh, if I'd read your entire post I would have seen that you're already doing that stuff. Well, the time will fly by-- in the meantime, you can use it to start changing your lifestyle little by little- adding a few minutes of exercise here, stop drinking with one meal a day this month, two meals a day next month, etc. That'll make it easier when you actually get the band.

Oh, that's so frustrating! But you're doing great, and you WILL get there!!

I also try to eat mostly whole, unprocessed foods, including organics. I do eat meat, but am trying to move to locally raised, pastured animals-- but I'm moving slowly on that one because it is SO expensive to buy. I've added my name to a CSA list for a farm nearby that raises all its animals in a pastured way (like in Michael Pollan's book- The Omnivore's Dilemma-- GREAT book.) I was vegetarian for years, and even vegan for a short time, but without the whole foods focus. I would say I was a macaroni-and-cheese-atarian- and fat as ever. :smile: Have you read Tosca Reno's "Eat Clean Diet Book?" Don't buy it- but check it out from the library-- she has lost a lot of weight by eating only a whole food diet, with a ton of strength training. The approach is basically to not eat anything processed- whole foods, foods with only one or two easily recognizable ingredients. They do use supplementation, though, and there is no eastern philosophy behind it at all. Decent recipes in the books, though.

I would speak to your doctor and ask if he really intends for you to eat only 3/4 c of food in TOTAL for a day for the rest of your life (or until you get to goal). There is no possible way for you to get enough calories to even get out of bed in the morning on that amount of food. Even twice that amount would be too low. Clearly I'm not a doctor, so take my opinion with a grain of salt... but... wow. :smile: I'm just worried about it, that's all...

Are you eating around your band, since you're trying not to get stuck? I think if I got stuck that often I'd be much more prone to drinking milkshakes than eating food! I'm sorry you're having such difficulty.

I think it's a good question-- I discussed with my doctor that I'm not interested in having so much restriction that I can't eat a small, well balanced, healthy meal 3 x per day. That means lean Protein, veggies or fruit and whole grain. About a small plates full. She said that that is what they strive for-- not a tiny little 4 or 8 oz meal only. My goal for restriction is to be full after that small plateful and to not be hungry between meals. I may not lose as quickly as others- but I feel like I'm doing great so far-- 26 pounds in less than two months is much better than I hoped for-- but I'm not hungry, I know I'm getting in good Vitamins, minerals, Fiber and protein.

Your band won't (and shouldn't) restrict liquids-- so no matter how tight your band is- you won't feel full. (Unless of course it's so tight that liquids can't get through- but you DON'T want to go there.) Don't worry about the chowder-- if anything, you're calories are way low (maybe carry some Protein shakes with you?) when you move on to food, you'll start to feel more full (though like the others said, you will not likely have restriction with food, either, until you get a few fills.)

I would recommend giving up the idea of "cheating." Becdause the band is a lifestyle, the only cheating you can do is eating around the band. I'm not saying not to follow the guidelines-- 3 meals or whatever, Protein first, chew well, stop when you're full. But that doesn't mean there isn't room for treats now and then. When you stop making certain foods "bad," they lose their naughty-appeal and the we are less likely to binge on them. If I tell myself I can never have bread again, I'm going to think about bread all the time and when I finally do have some, I might binge. I guess we all have to find what works for us.. but in all my years of dieting (which I have given up!) the big things I have learned is to eat food that tastes good to me (and it's amazing what I've eaten during a diet that I thought was NOT good), and don't put any food on the "never eat" list. Those two rules keep me from going over to the dark side (binge-ing).

My doc says liquids for the rest of the day after a fill, then cautiously back to regular foods the next day-- BUT she really stressed to listen to my body move slowly (start soft and see how it goes). She told me that some doctors are really strict which liquids, then mushies, etc because she wanted me to know that the swelling can be a real problem sometimes. (it wasn't for me this time, but it was my first fill.)

YES!! I started to notice this a week or two after surgery as well. Almost hyper-energetic and so much less foggy. It didn't even occur to me why that might be-- but I think you're right-- I had been eating a LOT of refined carbs, and when I gave those up post-op, it was like coming out of the clouds. Cool, huh? :thumbup:

I'm sorry that your job is so stressful! My concern at having shakes replace two meals is twofold: first, you may not feel full with the liquid meals, and this may lead to overeating at other times. This doesn't sound like it's a problem for you. Second, and more importantly, I view Protein shakes as a giant Vitamin in liquid form. Yes, it has protein, some have carbs, and also a whole bunch of Vitamins. But *no* part of it, IMO, could be considered real *food.* Our bodies are designed to eat real food, and I would worry about you missing out on that real, whole food twice a day. Not that you're probably not getting tons of vitamins from it-- but science doesn't know everything about what makes a variety of foods good for us-- they can isolate and pinpoint certain parts-- but they learn all the time about new things in food that are good. I'm sure they haven't figured it all out yet. So long story short-- I'm guessing it'll be ok for a short time period. I wouldn't do it long term. More problematic than the food, though, is the stress. Stress is BAD for you-- maybe you could figure out some way to deal with the stress in a healthy way- deep breathing, meditation, I don't know.... and that will help you relax and maybe be able to go back to real food, at least for lunch? Good luck! Maybe you need a spa day!

I felt pretty crappy for the first 3-4 days after surgery. By the end of the week, though, I felt great. My doctor doesn't clear anyone for real exercise until the 2-week post-op visit-- and at that time I started back very regularly and with some intensity (group exercise, running, etc.) How people feel after surgery varies widely-- you just never know how you're gonna feel until after. So you'll have to play it by ear and listen to your body.

It depends on your doctor. I had two weeks full liquids post op, followed by two weeks of pureed food. Others have shorter or longer post op special diets. (Some have a clear liquids only stage before full liquids). Times at each stage vary by surgeon as well.

Are you getting enough to eat? Super-low calories will also contribute to tiredness.

Are you losing at a rate that works for you? It's a good question... and I'm probably not qualified to answer, but that won't keep me from throwing in my two cents... :eek: IMO, being so tight that you can't get in your calories is a much bigger problem than being a little less restricted. I would *hate* to be restricted to a 1/2 c or so of food in total at a meal. If I choose high quality food- lean Protein, fruits/veggies, whole grains... I can fill my salad plate, eat that and not be full- but not be hungry either. Even with this volume of food- my calories are probably 1200-1500 per day (which has allowed me to lose continuously) since my surgery. The point being that this quantity of food (which is larger than many on here claim to be eating per meal) puts me at a comfortable place- AND I know that I'm getting in enough Fiber, calories, vitamins/min, fruits/veggies etc each day. Sorry for the novel! My doctor and nutritionist recommend eating a small platefull at each meal (well balanced)-- which is about the amount in a Lean Cuisine- which is often about 10 oz. Hope there's something useful in this rambling post of mine... :cool:

The whole point of the band is to get to that "sweet spot" where you have enough restriction that you are full after eating a small meal and are not hungry between meals. Just using your diet/willpower is the same as before the band. Why bother with surgery if that works? I think that some people who have a lot of problems with vomiting, etc may have too much fill, or don't follow the directions regarding chewing well, etc. Of course I'm sure most people have problems occasionally with different foods. I'm pretty active, so while I am going for restriction, I'm not interested in being so restricted that I can only eat a 1/2 c of food or anything. I'm hoping that with that sort of restriction (where I can still eat 3 400-500 calorie meals on average- 1200-1500 cal/day) I won't have that sort of problem. I have had only one fill, and am able to eat whatever, but I don't really have much restriction yet. Also-- the "vomiting " that people talk about that is due to the band isn't really like regular vomiting at all. (I believe) it's more like spitting up that one piece of food that was causing a problem. I believe that it just comes up-- not the retching, or the stomach acid or all that.