BlackBerryJuice

Hm, I can't say I've noticed that....I have a friend who seems bigger to me now than she did last year, but I actually wouldn't be surprised if she indeed put on 5-10 lbs, because she's mentioned lately that she wants to lose some fat, and has even been joining me on some runs occasionally. But it's not like most people suddenly seem huge or anything like that.

Bfast: 1) pre-workout - Zone bar 2) post-workout - Myoplex Lite shake Lunch: homemade fish taco (incl. mayo and avocado), coffee with cream Snack: coffee with cream and a massive carrot/pineapple "loafer" from Cookies by George (kind of like a huge muffin). After losing 3 lbs without trying in less than a week, I decided maybe giving myself a bit more leeway with treats is not the worst thing Snack: blackberries Dinner: gonna have another fish taco or two Workout: 1-hr bootcamp this am, mostly ab work

I take to heart the style advice that tells you not to wear anything that cuts you horizontally along your widest part. So while I have heavy thighs and a bit of inner thigh flab and am always very intrigued by bikinis with shorts, I go for the knicker-style. I found that yes, rather than "hide" my inner thigh flab, the shorts just accentuate how big my thighs are - and make my already somewhat short legs appear shorter and thus, thicker. So if you are pear-shaped like me, I'd start with the regular bikini bottoms, but if you are more apple-shaped, shorts might look better!

I agree with the above - weights first. Now, if you were training for a race, then I'd say do your cardio first, while you have 100% of your energy, but just for day-to-day workouts, it's best to start with weights - after a little warm-up, of course. Also, I find that as you progress and your cardio becomes more challenging and your weights become heavier, it's best to just have weights-only days and cardio-only days. On my weights days, I'll run on the treadmill or do the elliptical for 10-20 mins, then hit the weights. On cardio days, I'll go for a cross-country run that lasts about 30-40 minutes - it leaves me completely beat after. I'm just too exhausted to do both in one workout and still give it 100%.

I actually read an article about how lipo fails within a year just this morning and lo and behold, the link has already been posted on VST: http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/17114-fat-liposuctioned-from-hips-returns-to-belly-within-12-months/page__pid__145171#entry145171 I don't know anyone who's had SmartLipo, but my mom's friend had regular lipo on her lower abdomen and she regained all that weight - but it didn't go back to her lower belly and instead concentrated right above her bellybutton. She had a bit of a belly before, but now she just looks ridiculous with this weird spare tire hovering above her bellybutton and then a completely flat lower abdominal area. She definitely regrets getting the lipo. I've oscillated on the subject of lipo for a while - I'm also pear-shaped and while I'm finally at a point where my thighs don't chafe if I wear a skirt, I still have some flab there. But after seeing that article, I think I'll pass.

I wore a bikini at 175 lbs when I was at a lake with a bunch of new classmates I had just met and I felt pretty confident. It's really not something that is determined by your size and weight. Some people are super-fit but somehow just lack the confidence to rock a 2-piece (or a one-piece without a cover-up even!), whereas others might be quite overweight but not care too much. My mother is obese, probably at a BMI of 36 or so, and she wears 2-pieces - she actually looks better in them than in a one-piece. Sometimes when people go out of their way too much to "hide" their body issues, it just attracts attention to it. Just don't wear something with tiny strings that will cause rolls of fat and skin to spill over, and you'll be fine!!! Pick a slightly more "modest" style with good chest support and moderate-rise bottoms and it will look fine. http://forum.purseblog.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=1179047&stc=1&d=1281710164 http://www.flowerdazeskatewear.com/Sewing/Ruffle%20Bikini/Ruffle%20bikini%20front.jpg

It seems most people here who are close to a year out are at a normal BMI range. Of course, not everyone will get there, for a variety of reasons - 1) low metabolism - could be because of older age, not exercising, physiological reasons, medical problems 2) not using the sleeve to the best of its ability (eating too much junk/too much, period) 3) excess skin - if you used to be very big, you could easily end up with an extra 20+ lbs of skin, which would push you over into the overweight/obese category even if you don't have that much fat on you. Etc etc.

So jealous! I have a bum knee that really acts up when I bike, so I can't do it.

I'd also like to recommend "Overcoming binge eating," but that's most fitting for those that have not yet been sleeved, as it features relatively high-calorie meal plans. But even if you don't do the diet and log, it's still an interesting read.

I'm getting laser hair removal on my armpits and hooha right now. I'm a dark blonde with pale skin and the hair in those areas is quite dark - not quite black, but definitely dark brown, so I should be one of those people for whom lasers would work very well. On my pits, I'm getting a laser with concurrent vacuum action, not sure what the point of that is - but it's also quite painful (like rubberbands snapping against your skin as others have said). I've had 2 sessions to date and have lost about 1/2 of my armpit hair. However, I feel like almost all - if not all - of the hair loss was after the first session and I'm not sure if there's been any decrease since the 2nd session. My coupon was for 3 sessions, and the last one's coming up this week, so I'll see how it goes, but it definitely won't be enough to remove ALL my armpit hair. I don't mind given that I only paid $100 for these 3 sessions, but if I had paid full price, I would've been pissed. On my special place, I'm getting a regular laser (no vacuum). It's painless BUT I'm unimpressed with the results so far. I've lost maybe 1/4 of the hair after 2 sessions. Again, I only have 1 session left. Definitely wouldn't bother with that laser again. I've had friends get laser hair removal and also end up quite unimpressed. One of my friends is a light-skinned South Asian and she got laser hair removal on her forearms and was very disappointed. Bottom line: don't get your hopes up and try to find a discount (through Groupon or LivingSocial is best, that's where I got my coupons).

You can try, but I'm gonna bet $1000 that you are NOT going to be able to do 2 weeks of liquids and then a month of 800 calories/day pre-op. If you could handle it - sure, you'd probably lose the same amount of weight as someone post-op (although I was closer to 300-600 calories the first month post-op), but realistically, the hunger will drive you nuts and you'll binge. The difference is that post-op, you'll have hardly any hunger and get full on these 800 calories.

Bfast: 1) pre-workout - Zone bar 2) post-workout Myoplex Lite shake Lunch: 1 cup Bolthouse strawberry/banana smoothie, homemade cornbread, homemade chili with xtra lean ground beef Snack: coffee with cream, banana Dinner: 2 Vietnamese salad rolls with peanut sauce Gonna have something else, too - currently the plan is either a Dairy Queen soft serve cone with a friend or dinner out (veal canneloni) with my boyfriend Workout: 1-hr bootcamp

I'd say the absolute best protein powder out there is Whey Gourmet by PVL. Chocolate peanut butter is my favorite flavor, but I also have chocolate and strawberry/banana flavors at home. It's probably one of the most expensive brands out there, but it's a cut above everything I've tried. Give it a shot. Also, drink it with milk (cow's or soy, almond, etc) - even the best protein powder tastes like cat butt with water. You can always try it with water later, but start with milk first.

I don't see any reason why you need to be on a clear liquid diet BEFORE your surgery. I'd go ahead and have whatever shakes you like.

The sleeve surgery was the only surgery I've ever had and it was SO much easier than I expected. My greatgrandmother had a gastrectomy for cancer about 20 years ago, and it was an open surgery back then. She could barely get out of bed for a month, it was a brutal recovery. But I was able to walk down the hallway and back two hours after waking up from anesthesia. I did have SOME pain, of course - the first night I had trouble sleeping because of it, so I requested some pain meds, but that's about it, it wasn't so painful that I was breaking into a sweat or anything like that. On my 2nd night, I slept just fine with the normal amount of meds. The only time I really had any pain during the day was when I moved, esp. sat up, but I would compare that pain to the soreness you have after a really hard ab workout. It's uncomfortable to move, but it doesn't really prevent you from doing anything, it's just a nuisance.

You're on vacation, treat yourself! As long as you get right back to your normal ways of eating and exercising when you return, it's all good. I went to Hawaii in February and we ate chocolate peanut butter ice cream from Haagen Dazs every day. I also ate a ton of chocolate-covered macadamia nuts and fancy truffles (put away 2 boxes in one week), and we had booze every day, too - and I only like sweet drinks which are usually loaded with calories. Oh, and I went through half a dozen cans of Vanilla Coke, too - we don't have it here and I couldn't find a diet version, so I just had the regular kind. So altogether, I probably ate double my normal amount of calories. BUT we made a point of walking everywhere possible, at least 5 miles a day - and one day we walked 14 miles! When I got back, I was 2 lbs heavier the next day; the day after, I was already down 1 pound; and within a week of returning, I was back to my pre-vacation weight. I just stopped eating all the junk and the weight came off immediately. Moral of the story: 1) if you are going to eat a ton of crap, make a point to be very active 2) get right back into it and you'll drop the pounds in a few days!

Bfast: Zone bar, coffee with cream Snack: 10-grain pancake with yogurt, dragonfruit Lunch: leftover mac and cheese from yesterday, coffee with cream Snack: banana, Toblerone triangle Dinner: homemade chili with xtra lean ground beef, homemade corn bread Snack: cucumber, about 1/4 cup Haagen Dazs green tea/honey ice cream Workout: no gym but walked 5+ miles