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Protein synthesis and builds muscle that can lead to a higher metabolism. In the same way that strength training can create an anabolic environment that helps burn fat, performing sprints does the same by temporarily boosting growth hormones and testosterone. After performing sprints, metabolism is significantly elevated, meaning you continue to burn a higher number of calories, even at rest. That means that you can cut your workout time in half and still get the results you’re looking for. Sprinting can take the form of running, cycling or even rowing. A great starting point is maintaining a sprint for 8 seconds with 3-5 minutes of rest between bursts. Pushing a prowler can combine the benefits of strength training and sprinting into one exercise. The prowler push is a great full-body, fat-burning workout that allows you to maximize your heart rate while using your lower body to push and contract your upper body and core muscles. Since high-intensity work using a large volume is one of the best ways to decrease body fat, make sure the resistance is challenging to see the best results. Counting calories may not be enough to get results if your diet isn’t “clean.” Eliminate all processed foods, sugar and trans-fats from your diet, and focus on eating fresh forms of protein, vegetables, a moderate amount of fruits and healthy fats such as coconut oil, olive oil and butter from grass-fed cows. Make sure to get enough Fiber by building your plate around a large serving of antioxidant-rich vegetables such as kale, cauliflower, broccoli, bell peppers, eggplant or spaghetti squash. Stay hydrated, especially in the hot summer months, by drinking plenty of Water and avoiding juice, soda, sports drinks and alcohol.

Linda that's not self absorbed at all, it's just nice when people notice and the sad thing is, is that some people will be jealous. I have a lady that used to seem to support me for the most part, but she has struggled in losing weight and now some of her statements don't seem too positive or supportive, but I just brush it off. I know what I want and what I had to do to get here and I can't inspire them all, you know? I did try too, but you can't go drinking alcohol all of the time, eat crap food all of the time, with the occasional grape or apple, and expect to lose weight. Believe me I did that for years and it did nothing.

Yea most people think you're alcoholic or a pill popper when the enzymes are high. HW 358 SW 344 CW 273 RNY 4/11/2013

Clearly it's a difficult decision. As a vet, three years out and here on this forum for four years, I can say that I've seen maybe FIVE people come back a couple years out and say they're still easily maintaining with no regains and no issues. Will the sleeve help your daughter lose weight? Indubitably. But as many of us determine after life at goal, being thin does not equate with being happy, even if we convince ourselves it's the one thing keeping us from loving ourselves. We're talking about a number of issues here. I say this as a mom/stepmom of six daughters - there is absolutely no right or easy answer here. Things to consider: 1) Has she done other methods to lose weight? There are a few reasons I ask. Did they work for me? NO. But they built a foundation and forced me to exercise willpower. Few people succeed with traditional dieting but WLS should not be the first time she actually tries to lose weight. Instant gratification in this can lead to issues everywhere else in her life. 2) Why is she obese? Is it solely genetics? There is more here than just food. Being skinny and all of a sudden being accepted by her peers will be just as damaging as being rejected by them, and will reinforce the idea that beauty/thinness equates with love/happiness/popularity. 3) Teens are the most impulsive and irresponsible creatures. Truly. Consider transfer addictions like drugs and alcohol. Experimenting with these things is now the norm, not the exception. I am not saying whether or not it's "right" to do this. I think no matter what you decide that counseling is imperative, and lots of it. I think that at fourteen as a morbidly obese teen myself I would have wanted this surgery. As the mother of an obese little girl (age five) who has four older, attractive and yes, svelte sisters, I can absolutely understand and relate to your concerns. I posted about it at length in the "VSG as a preventative" in the Vet forum. If being obese as a teen is damaging, so is having the idea that your entire worth and likeabilty as a person is tied up in your appearance. Adult women post here all the time about being treated differently and the trust and confidence issues it causes once you shed the weight. I say wait at least until she's sixteen and reevaluate then, but that is what I would do with my own daughter. And I would keep her in counseling until that age, too, because there are underlying issues here if she has social anxiety. I would be sure she really understands - not just the challenges and the diet - but that this is FOREVER. That's not a very easy to comprehend thing for some of the grown ups here, and many of them struggle in maintenance as a result. And what if it DOESN'T resolve her obesity? There's a vet here sleeved the same time as me who still has sixty pounds to lose and is still (I think) considered obese by the BMI chart. She's having big troubles reconciling that and trying to figure out a way to shed the weight. There are other vets here that are still trying to lose the last thirty pounds or so to goal, too. We're talking THREE YEARS out. If your gal thinks this is an easy fix, it's really not. Best of luck to you. I'd wait but I know that it will be a challenge if she's excited and wants it right now. Sometimes we have to do what's best - and this really isn't the easy solution I'm pretty sure she thinks it will be. Just follow a diet and eat less and be skinny - I wish it were that easy! ~Cheri

Do you use a lot if Tylenol? When my levels were wacky (and my dr was basically asking me if I was an alcoholic!) I think it was due to vicodin. Now that we can't take NSAIDS...I'm wondering if mine will be elevated again.

Ok, its me again, and this is to the op. As been stated b4, u sound like a gr8 mom, one whose trying to rescue her daughter from the un necessary pains of middle school bullying. Let me share this w u first, my daughter didn't get the overweight gene I have, she's 17 , skinny as heck but in a healthy way, beautiful, an athelete too but guess what, shes had to deal w bullying since we've moved to this new school 3 yrs ago! She sees a therapists now. Y wud they bully her u might ask, well, jealousy, bc they are insecure, bc she's a Christian teen who tried being different and they cudnt handle that so they bullied her! My point, it doesn't matter these days, teens nd people in general can just be ASSESS for no good reason. U didn't say if ur daughter has gone threw bullying, I think, but ur trying to stop it b4 it happens. It may or may not and if it does, it may or may not b bc of weight, some kids are just cruel that way. I cud go one w telling u or giving u suggestions on how to prepare ur daughter mentally for the new school change, but since ur considering surgery first, I again, like others say this...you came to this forum with mommy emotions that tells u to protect ur sweety at all costs, and u came in here w mommy intuitions which makes you take a second thot about the wls, I'm glad u are here. U can protect her but instead if giving that money to the dox, be just as diligent and give that money to a the wls therapists, followed w wls nutritionists! I am a grown woman and was told yesterday by the nut...u will NOT be approved unless you are willing to make these changes nd then she gave me, a grown woman, some goals to fill first b4 she'll approve me to c the surgeon again. She said if u can't make the NECESSARY CHANGES prior, YOU WILL FAIL EVEN W THE SURGERY. She said but if u fail w this surgery, ie...not making good food choices, drinking/smoking, discontinue alllll sweets now, no soda Everrr...if I don't now b4 surgery, and I continue after surgery, I'd b in the hospital almost the rest of my life. I almost changed my mind, not bc of drinking/smoking bc I nvr have but bc of sweets, again, ima grown woman! No sweets? So my point, if uve not grabbed it by now, bc I can b chatty;), is I am a grown woman jumping threw the NECESSARY hoops to insure my successes w this surgery, before it, during it, nd for my lifetime. I agree w a lot of the posters, nd I agree w u trying to protect her from evil people, but no matter what, she's got help you to help her. She's excited about the vainity part of the surgery, but guess what, in our own way so r many of us, but I feel for her its more so bc she has a teenage mindset nd thats ok bc she's a teen. Like the postops r telling u, nd ull soon c, its a full time job! She will have to measure foods always, drink a certain amt always, can't drink alcohol, hopefully she won't, but UK teens nd college yrs...I'm just trying to say that she has so much social life to go thru in order to become an adult one-day, nd if she chooses any of those things bc of peer pressure w the sleeve, it cud really hurt her worse in the long run. If ur willing to do ALL you can for her, then do like the postops said, u have it done, make her follow ur pre n post op regimen to the letter, nd I assure you she will lose some, nd maybe that will boost her confidence enuff to stick w a diet an exercise plan while seeing psych, nd nut along the way. Then if uve exhausted all of those avenues, re eval nd see where u guys stand. But don't rush the decision based on she'll be at a new school soon, so we gtg it done NOW. just mho and I'm proud of u for sticking ur neck out here to strangers about your life but just think, u came here for a reason. U can't take back the 85% stomach that they will take from her. But u can arm her with ALL the data from all sources and then ull know wo a doubt what u need to do. ) God bless nd gl.

This is tough. Especially since you've already prepared her for surgery. Of she's as passionate about having it done as I was, it would crush her to turn back now. I personally think you should have had the surgery first then her after a year or so. She may have followed your lifestyle changes and y'all could have exercised together. She may have not even needed surgery. She's a kid. I was probably her weight by 14 too. I can't imagine doing this at that age and my recovery was easy physically and mentally. 14 is also the time I experienced with drugs and alcohol. A crossover addiction could have easily happened. Good luck either way. I am praying for your family!

Funny I was told by the coordinator when I started this journey that I was 5'8...I've never been told that so I'm sure to saying 5'7...I'm 15 weeks out going on 16(4months) on Monday..I've only lost 51 pounds. I don't think I would hit 100 like you on my 5th month..I haven't really put in much work in the gym and I also drink alcohol twice a week. I'm sure that's a factor in my weight loss.

Alcohol addiction and metabolism that usually follows a weight loss surgery such as gastric sleeve surgery, is a topic widely discussed over surgery symposium like the Minimally Invasive Surgery Symposium 2012. There seems to be a close connection between gastric sleeve surgery and alcohol since many people having undergone a bariatric surgery have showed a strong tendency towards alcohol intake in order to bring back the feeling of satisfaction they once had when consuming food. However, how true is that gastric surgery can result in alcohol abuse? In order to come up with solid evidence and answers a study was held at patients, who run alcohol metabolism tests before and after 3-6 months after their gastric sleeve surgery and it became clear that their alcohol level increased by 0.07 with the same amount of alcohol intake. As for alcohol metabolism, it seemed that needed about 50 minutes to reach zero patients before their surgery, and much longer after they had their bariatric operation. Furthermore, people experienced different intoxication symptoms in time, after their operation, which were not the same among patients. As a result they had managed to identify them and take the necessary measures to avoid the negative effects of alcohol. When dealing with the role of gastric surgery and alcohol in patients issue like alcohol addiction also come up. Relevant research indicated that patients’ drinking habits showed an important differentiation. It seems that they would consume fewer amounts of alcohol at one time and throughout the week. Moreover, a patient’s weight loss wasn’t affected by the individual’s drinking habits prior to the operation and the final result showed no significant difference in alcohol abuse. As a matter of fact, the alcohol abuse levels have dropped from 21% to 17% after the patients’ operation. Bottom line, although some patients might run increased risk of developing a drinking problem for the time period that follows their surgery (about 2 years), there is no substantial evidence that there is any connection between gastric surgery and alcohol that Read more: http://www.bariatricguide.org/is-there-a-connection-between-gastric-sleeve-surgery-and-alcohol/#ixzz2a3jB6rJl

Everyone is different! My md recon. no alcohol for 6 months! I didn't listen, had a little sip of alcohol at week 4 - was so sick! Left the party-sweating, chills, feeling like I could vomit, but couldn't! Was disoriented...I felt like someone drugged me! Not fun or attractive! Hold out as long as possible! Now at 9 months, I can drink vodka and tonic or crystal light and lime. One drink is great, a second...I'm ok, any more than that is too much and I'll get the same suck feeling as in the beginning. So now, like my food , I can drink in moderation.

I am also going to say ask your Dr. Mine says no alcohol or caffeine period. Like in never. It amazes me how these surgeons differ in opinion. I have a friend that had the same surgery and at 5 weeks she was drinking wine..... This always seems to be a subject that is debated on this site .... best wishes on your journey..

I concur with what's written above - ask your surgeon! Mine says no alcohol for 6 months (frankly, I don't want the empty calories anyway), but I was allowed caffeine immediately (drinking coffee right now).

Well, first of all, what does your surgeon say? That's going to be your guidebook through this sleeve journey. In my option though, 5 weeks after is waaaaay to early to drink alcoholic beverages- weak or not. You just had most of your stomach removed and are still healing- I'm two weeks behind you and I just started on purée- no way is my stomach ready for alcohol...I'm not even trying caffeine yet! Every surgeons office is different...some even say you should NEVER drink again after sleeve surgery. My surgeon's office said three months, but I'm trying to wait six months like my husband did, just to play it safe. I'm not saying the lemondrops haven't been calling my name! Alcohol also has lots of extra calories you don't need this early on, so keep that in mind when you do drink later on. But please, don't drink this early out- not good for your sleeve!

A good friend of mine had a bypass in 2000. She lost a lot of weight had a beautiful baby and became an alcoholic. She would drink a couple of bottles of wine a night and just couldn't figure out why her weight was creeping back on. She is now divorced and back at her original weight but she did give up drinking altogether this year. I don't think she ever looked at the surgery as a tool...she seems to think it is supposed to be a magic solution that should require no effort.

I'm a therapist and have worked with kids for 20 yrs. I'm not saying I'm a know it all bc I certainly don't. But more of my patients were very damaged from being obese in early childhood development which spilled into adulthood and progressed into addiction and many other issues. I say break the cycle early...the earlier the better. Mom, you know mainly bc of genetics and experience that she doesn't have a shot in hell. As an addiction therapist I see so many addicts who would've done anything to have stopped the progression of the disease. And as an addict, bc of the genetic factor on both sides, I didn't stand a chance. If only I had known this at an early age maybe I would have never taken that first drink or hit. It's not about will power...if it was none of us would be here. It's about management and I have learned to use the sleeve to manage my addiction. Now, if I could only find a "sleeve" for drugs and alcohol...I wouldn't think twice! And by the way, I think 14 is a good age developmentally bc it may save her from a lifetime of trauma...which means therapy for life. Just my two cents. I have a daughter....a pretty hefty daughter big surprise. I think I would do everything I could to manage her disease. Good luck!

I started w/ bmi of 36.3 and I'm now 23.9. (I'm 14 months post surgery). For me, when I'm out w/ friends I still have eyes that are bigger than my stomach. I have fun and occasionally have some alcohol or a treat, but I try to stay within my daily calorie allotment. Just remember to order the appetizer and not the entree (unless you want to take home a doggy bag)!

I know that I eat as a coping mechanism. I think many WLS patients do that and it's why so many turn to alcohol after they get surgery in order to find another way to cope. I've said this many times in these forums that I think WLS patients should get therapy afterwards to help deal with the changes in our coping mechanisms. When I went to therapy he broke it down very simply for me, I eat to cope. I need to cope because of stress. I have a choice, reduce the stress in my life or find a different way to cope. By thinking of it like that it's easier to address the stress and why we are eating to deal with it. I wish you the best of luck and I hope you find a healthy way to cope or a way to help reduce the stress in your life.

Look. First of all, never, ever, ever EVER weigh at night. If you must weigh, weigh once a day, first thing in the AM. I can "pack on" as much as six pounds throughout the day - it's Water, sodium, little muscle tears from exercise, whatever. Second - the alcohol. There's a line here. For starters, it's not forbidden and it's not packing on pounds. It is, however, empty calories but so long as you log them and account for them in your diet it is not an issue - LATER ON. There is nothing wrong with a drink but you'll find yourself even more dehydrated and might find your mood isn't so great if this is where you're consuming a good number of your calories so far. What can be an issue is transfer addiction, so please be mindful. Socially drinking at one year out has somehow turned into daily drinking for me three years out. I was enjoying just one beer, cider or wine an evening but have recently called it quits entirely. Alcoholism is very, very common post WLS, so just be aware of your consumption. Finally: reassurance. You already know that 3,500 calories make a pound. And you already know you didn't accidentally consume an additional 21,000 calories in the course of a few days. Lynda told you and it's true - it is physically impossible to gain that much, that fast. Hormones play a role here, too. I gain four pounds every cycle. Stress makes me gain. Lack of sleep makes me gain. Too much sodium will make the scale bounce. If there were as many ways to lose as there are to gain, we'd all fly to goal in no time and hang there forever! I had two nine week stalls. Stalls are normal and happen. Put that scale away - HatheryOHW is absolutely right because it's making you a bit crazy. If it depresses you and brings you down it's a problem. So weigh once a day, first thing and put it out of your mind. Do not expect to lose every time you step on the scale. You are only a handful of weeks out from surgery. Your body is still recovering. Give it some time. This happened to me a lot, too. It still does!! I bounce up and down on the scale or hold steady for weeks at a time. Then, all at once a few pounds fall off. Then I get to start the whole process again! I had months where I only lost in the tenths of a pound. Relax. Get back on your PPI if you've not been taking it. Eating regular, small meals will help. Do not allow yourself to be dehydrated. At this point, your focus is still hydration, then Protein, then calorie count. And no, alcohol doesn't fit in there just yet, at least not regularly. It's more important to focus on building a solid foundation of good habits here before moving into the things we learn while transitioning to maintenance! ~Cheri

I'd agree. I was banded at a higher bmi, but my weight loss has been fairly steady all along. I am now bmi of 24 and am not in any way, shape, or form actively trying to lose weight, but it still comes off. Even as I have settled into this lifestyle and am not nearly as strict about food or alcohol intake (i do love some mixed drinks myself , I still continue to lose at a decent pace. Heck, at this point I am the ones my friends point to when complaining about skinny people, which completely blows my mind.

Today was a non-fast day (following a fast day) but oddly, I wasn't hungry until about 4 p.m. I just ate a small ramekin of vegetarian chili. Wondering if today will be my second fast day for the week (Mosley, the author of the 5:2 plan says it does not matter if your 2 fast days are 2 days in a row or spaced apart--he does usually do his on Monday and Thursday though). I think it's important not to go crazy with empty calories like wine/alcohol and carbs on the non-fast days. Excited to see where this goes!! :)

From: http://www.stopafib.org/causes.cfm In addition, atrial fibrillation can also happen to otherwise healthy people, especially when they are stressed or fatigued, have had too much caffeine or alcohol, have smoked, or have exercised too much. Other causes that are frequently mentioned include heart and other medications, recreational drugs, air pollution, chemicals and pesticides, and H. Pylori, which is often associated with ulcers. Another known risk factor is having too much or too little of some minerals in your body, such as Calcium, magnesium, or potassium. It is becoming more and more common at younger ages, including young people in their teens and twenties. Being overweight is often mentioned as a risk factor for afib, but normal and underweight people have it, too. One woman's doctor attributed her atrial fibrillation to weight, and it went away briefly after her gastric bypass surgery, but it soon returned, triggered by a sinus infection. We are now learning from a number of studies about atrial fibrillation in families as recent research has found genetic clues about why afib runs in some families. To learn more, see Mayo Clinic Finds Gene Mutation Responsible for Atrial Fibrillation That Runs in Families and New Genetic Cause of Atrial Fibrillation Found. About half of afib patients have obstructive sleep apnea, a stronger correlation than between afib and any other risk factors. There is also a high correlation between sleep apnea and other heart diseases, as sleep apnea is correlated with high levels of C-reactive Protein (CRP), a marker of inflammation that indicates the possible presence of heart disease. It's also possible that afib may cause sleep apnea as well. Afib, obstructive sleep apnea, and obesity all appear to be related conditions, so as we see a surge in obesity, we can expect to see more afib and obstructive sleep apnea, too.4

It's not about the calories... more complex than that. Most pre op diets are ketosis diets (high protein, low carb) to help mobilise fat out of your liver, and so shrink it. Alcohol will take you out of ketosis and it will take a couple of days to get back in. Precious time lost pre-op. it's a bummer, but I wouldn't do it.

OTR Sleever isn't even searchable in the members' list anymore. I didn't realise he was post-op long enough to have started gaining. I wonder if he will see the Vets' forum and maybe give it another go. I hope so! As for Iggy -- do you know if she's all better now? Did all her complications eventually clear up? I was away from VST for a few months cos life intervened, so I missed some things I had been following up till then. I have totally had the same issue. For me it's because I'm grinding my teeth a bit, or at least tensing my jaw more. I hate it! I don't know why fasting causes that, but it seems to be a thing for me anyhow. Hmm. I'm sorry to hear that you are feeling so overwhelmed. I'm in a similar situation with alcohol, but not for the same reasons. I am not feeling the need to self-medicate (though I totally relate with that, been there in the past for sure), but I'm feeling this sort of...vindication? Or maybe a bit of anger? Where I JUST WANT TO HAVE SOME FUN GODD**MIT! You know what I mean? I've been slogging through one hard thing after another, dragging my sorry ass through misery and abuse and arghhhhhh, all while being sort of perpetually fat since the start of the 21st Century LOL. And now I FINALLY effing feel a bit better and I am FINALLY feeling good in my skin and I JUST WANT TO ENJOY IT. I WANT to go out with friends, I want to get tipsy and be an idiot. And I don't want to say no to any of it. So yeah. I'll have my summer of fun and then I'll knuckle down on that part too. Three weeks in the US will pretty much mean three weeks of no alcohol LOL. Good luck, Cheri. You're good people, believe that. <3

I'm 100% with Hazel on this. She covered it all..... Now that I'm 4 months out, there isn't any eating situation that concerns me. If we go out to a restaurant, I order a meal, eat what I can, and either leave the rest or take it home. The ONLY reason you would have a stuck episode, is if you take too big a bite, and don't chew thoroughly. Taking small bites & chewing well isn't obvious to anyone you eat with. You are eating.....that's all they see. As Hazel said, if your social life involves drinking on a regular basis, you will have problems losing weight. There is not a lot of room for regular alcohol intake on any weight loss plan, because there aren't any nutrients and your body can only store it as fat. That, and drinking brings on loose eating for many; it does for me! If you DO drink, count the calories, and make sure you don't consistently blow your daily allowance. Maintenance is another story, but it doesn't mean that you can throw caution to the wind. Relax, and take the time necessary to "reset" as Hazel mentions, and get re-aquainted with food, and what will ultimately be your new "normal". Good luck!

Ended yesterday at 592...not so great for a fast day, and yeah...that hard cider I had at the end of the night, unplanned, is what did it. I'm struggling with emotions and stress right now and definitely need to take a closer look at my coping mechanisms. My inability to relax or let things go for the moment without a glass of wine or alcohol is very troubling and is something I'll need to work on, especially if my husband does go play soldier sooner rather than later. Up on the scale after my fast day but I'm not terribly surprised. I kind of don't expect much out of the scale anymore! Hubs says that the scale is bonkers, anyway. His unscientific test on it the last two days indicates that it shows weights within a four pound range one after the other. I just bought the darn thing, too. I'll replace the batteries but it would be nice to believe that I'm not having as much fluctuation on the scale as I thought. So, down from weigh-in on Sunday by eight tenths of a pound. Up from yesterday. Bleh. Dumb scale. Normal day. Lots of cooking and baking today. A yummy, healthy dinner of shakshouka, salat yerakot (Israeli salad), freshly made pitas and hummus. Yum. This is a meal I need to keep in mind because it's ideally suited (sans pita) for fast days, too. Not too many calories. I won't go into detail about the baking as a courtesy to those fasting. Good luck, fasters! I'm glad to read that everyone is experiencing some measure of success here (extra special shout out to coops and M2G!) even if it sometimes seems frustrating to me. ~Cheri