mi75

I think I am very interested in beginning weight lifting. I'm not much of a straight cardio girl and weights have always been something I've wanted to try. Since I have fallen off track with my sleeve diet and such i need something to refocus me. I'm looking at lifting info and there is a lot of focus on macro nutrients for muscle building. I'm wanting to really do this, but how do you work macros when you can't eat more than 1 cup at a time? Also, is it wise to see a bariatric dietician for these issues, or should I see the dietician at my gym for help?

Well, I PM'ed Alex just two short days ago asking him to consider a regain forum, and well, here we are! He asked me to start the first thread. So here goes... I am 27 months post op and have gained 20 lbs from my lowest. I have had a massive personal loss (stress eating) and took a night position that I LOVE (but snack all night) so 20 lbs and here I am. Plan: 1. Came back to bariatric pal and owned my gain. admitted to it and moved forward. 2. Seeing a new doc and nut next week. Changed insurance due to job change and have an incredible new clinic/doc/nut and getting established with them wednesday. 3. Started 5 day Pouch Test and trying to re-learn restriction. 4. Found the coordinator of the support group associated with my new doc. called the coordinator. announced myself. now they are expecting me, so I have to go and face it. 5. ordered Slim in 6 program from Beachbody since i have not exercised like I should in a LONG time so that's a pretty mellow start. 6. bought all sorts of proteins-new flavor shakes, Soups, Quest Cookies and Cream bars etc because variety will keep me going. So...there it is. My truth. I have gained. Yes, I have regained. But through the loss of my dad, my grief, a new career path I am in love with, and learning how to balance a night job with my eating I have also regained perspective. I regained some weight. Now I regain control. Then I regain my life.

Well, i am still working semi-hard. it was a tough 5 days for me. after losing my dad, we had his headstone placed this past friday and had a very ugly reality check hit me. up until now that grave was just a spot. now it's where my dad is. very surreal. so i had an UGLY episode of stress eating and just complete failure, but i recognize it and continue onward. i found these Atkins drinks plus a few new protein options my NUT told me about- i'll post that in another thread. So just putting my hand out for anybody here who needs some support, or a lift upward, or just someone to listen. i get it, i'm going through it too.

So when I saw the new dietitian a couple weeks ago she gave me some great ideas about what different Proteins I could try. The first was a Protein from GNC called AMP. i found a small-ish resealable bag and chose Strawberry!!! i hate that most of my proteins aren't available in strawberry so i'm excited about this option. The second option is a drink from Atkins called LIFT. 21g protein per bottle! Not really a shake, more of a vitamin-Water type drink. I FOUND THEM AT MY WAL-MART ON CLEARANCE!!! for $7 a pack. normally they are 9.99-11.99 from what i can find online. so i just got one, but let me know if you are a fan, because i'll pick up more. Isopure is the devil to me. Somebody on these boards once told me that 'isopure tastes like cat ass' and seriously, they are right. i can't stand that stuff. Next- online things. I am a huge fan of youtube and love to watch inspirational videos there, plus old episodes of Fat Doctor. One thing that i fell upon when looking at lifting/bodybuilding videos was a great couple called Fit Couple Cooks. They do meal prep. Absolutely GENIUS!! love their prep videos. they weigh EVERYTHING. and all the recipes are basic-stuff you would have. shrimp with cauliflower rice and veg. butter chicken. chicken fajitas, beef and veg. lasagna. ALL great stuff. they portion and give you tips for storage/freezing. they each have had a significant weight loss journey and he is a registered dietitian so they are pretty knowledgeable. the best part, most of the meals cost about $3-5 per serving so they are very cost friendly. That's it from me. getting late. have a great start of week!

if you have kidney issues, then yes you can eat too much Protein, but otherwise it's really not an issue. bodybuilders can often eat upwards of 150-200g of protein a day. each patient is different- my goal is 90-130g per day because i am lifting and starting a weight regimen so i need extra for muscle building. good luck!!

as it's been said before, weight loss surgery is a TOOL. nothing more. nothing magic. nothing instant. and it takes WORK. after having surgery i think how i can best describe it is this: prior to surgery, i could literally eat pounds of food and never really feel full. after surgery, i feel like i am eating very 'normal' portions comparable to what other people would eat. 'dieting' is something that when i make an effort to do- can work. cutting cals and moving more is making a difference. the only issue for ME is that i am eating those 'normal' portions too often every day, and found myself indulging WAY too much in my daily soda habits. so i'm cleaning it up, making an effort and hopefully within a few weeks i'll have some awesome stats to show off!

hang in there everyone! we are all getting back on track together!!

I am going to be attending support groups in various different towns now, mostly due to my schedule. The support group associated with my doc has a group that meets at a time that conflicts with my work schedule completely. And they only meet once a month. I've found several other support groups that are within about 15-25 minutes from me, and I really need some support. I also need to meet and make some new friends. Since I changed jobs I have lost touch with a lot of my friends. I think making some bariatric friends would be AWESOME and I so need it! I called ahead and it's not a problem that my doc wasn't their doc. Also, they are both free and open to family too! That said, does anybody here attend a support group outside of the one for your doc- are there any issues?

Saw my new dietitian. Loved her. She was very down to earth, very straight forward and direct. Loved that. I told her about the questions that my trainer has, as far as supplements and such post workout. She made some small changes in her recommendations for Protein, and changed my Protein powder to a different one that contains extra amino acids for post workout. She also increased my daily protein a bit and increased my carbs a bit. Tomorrow I have my first session with my new lifting trainer, SO excited!!! I'm back. HERE I AM!!

It went great. I love the new trainer. Both the trainer and my dietitian are comfortable with what each other have to say and suggest. I spent quite some time with the trainer talking about my goals, and doing various testing and measurements, etc. Then she introduced me to all the various machines and free weights etc. it was great because there was nobody at the gym during this time. She set up an entire program for me and really made me feel at ease with everything. It's going good so far, however I'm a nurse and worked this past weekend so tomorrow it's back to the gym for me! I feel good about everything, I know this will be a bit of a long haul but i'll get there.

love Mellie May! In my mind I think that she used to be on this site too, but not sure. good video review!

ok, my attention is piqued...gotta go look

I'm all about older stuff: AC/DC, Quiet Riot, Ratt, Metallica, and Motley Crue in the gym, and dance type music when I'm at home...

Thank you both for your input! I met with my new dietitian and she was awesome, gave me some great ideas for post workout options. I also met and hired a new trainer who i really think will be great for me. She gave me some great info as well. I took the info from the trainer to the RD and she reviewed it. They are in agreement. So I feel great. There are some minor changes needed to my Protein intake and carb intake, and the RD changed the Protein powder that I was using to a different one from GNC that includes some additional amino acids and has a higher protein content. She also advised me to continue using unjury in the mornings. So I am off to a great start. Thanks again!!!

Hi lifters and builders, For those who don't know-I am 28 months post op, up 20 lbs from my lowest. I have decided that I really want to get into lifting and building. I have a LONG way to go but I have a quick question before I see a new Dietitian tomorrow. I want to ask her to help me set up some sort of eating plan to help me get back on track to lose. However, my gym has a package deal to see their RD AND get 5 sessions with a trainer each month so I"m doing that too. I really wanted to see the bariatric RD first. I want to know what supplements are recommended/ which ones will help gain muscle but tone also. SO many things online. I also read Oxygen magazine and there are different products on about every page- I just have NO idea what they are for or how to use them! Can anybody here that is a lifter or body builder give me any advice about this? I have powders?utm_source=BariatricPal&utm_medium=Affiliate&utm_campaign=CommentLink" target="_ad" data-id="1" >unjury Protein & Quest bars. I just don't know the specific things I should be doing for muscle recovery and build, etc. I would like some specific info to run by her tomorrow and see if this will be any help at all, and if I don't feel like she is much help then I'll turn my efforts towards the Dietitian at my gym and my training sessions. THANKS in advance

I had SEVERE GERD prior to surgery and actually had planned on bypass because of it. However, my Gastroenterologist voiced her concerns about my risks of developing stomach cancer and the fact that with bypass you have a 'blind stomach' just sitting there sealed off that nobody can every look in without open gut surgery. I also liked the ideas of: 1. With sleeve the stretchy part of your stomach is completely cut out= no eventual stretching. 2. No re-routing of any physiological intestinal processes 3. No major biochemical upsets or absorption issues. I am happy with my sleeve but wish that I had 'worked' it harder in the beginning because i didn't lose what I wanted to totally, and then due to serious noshing and stress eating I have gained some of my loss.

Since you have until tuesday, it's good that you still have a full day in front of you! you should try to call the actual surgeon's office first thing tomorrow and see if they want to put you on anything stronger. there are oral medications that act pretty quickly, but it will be up to your surgeon to decide what is best for you. a concern with going to surgery would be if there is any risk of cross-contamination with your incision sites.

Brenda- AWESOME results for you! I think that everyone here would love to hear what your 'modified' actually boiled down to, and what exactly you ate. That seems to be a familiar story for a lot of us here, and having a specific plan would be appreciated by all the readers!!! Congrats and keep up the great work

Ok, so i've decided to begin a lifting program. At this point, I have attempted several options but it has proven to be a bit complicated! So here is the dilemma: My original surgeon does not take my current insurance, nor does the dietitian. i WAS going to go to them, and pay out of pocket, dietitian alone is about $250 for one session. Additionally, the dietitian that was there when I had my surgery is now gone, and there is a new one who wouldn't know me at all. I saw a new surgeon affiliated with my insurance and although he didn't have much to offer me, he does have a dietitian that I can see. There is still SOME cost, with my co-pay/deductible. I have appointment for next week but not sure if I should keep it, again this person doesn't know me at all either. Lastly, my family belongs to the local YMCA. They have some trainers (I think maybe college students), and they do have a dietitian. He is only available every couple weeks by appointment. Even though we belong to the facility, it would still be a fee to see him (in the neighborhood of $150 for a 1-hour session with him and 3-30 minute sessions with a trainer. It's sort of a package deal. So my dilemma is: will the bariatric dietitian be able to give me the necessary guidance I need to know WHAT to eat as I begin a weight training program, and if not then who should I see? I don't know if a registered dietitian affiliated with my Y would know enough about bariatric surgery and specifically size restriction (i can only eat 1 cup at a time) to be able to work with me. Also, is it wiser to just go ahead and buy some sessions with the trainers at the Y or is it worth the money to invest in an actual personal trainer for a few months? VERY VERY VERY CONFUSED, need some guidance quickly as I need to make/cancel appointments. Any suggestions very much appreciated!!!

No, not really near either. a couple hours travel to each. I just feel abandoned in this whole journey because i don't have my doc, i don't have my NUT, i don't have a doctor who can offer my anything further as far as getting weight loss going again, i don't have a good exercise regimen, i DO have a Y that was happy to take my money and won't return my phone calls, i have access to a support group that again, is not affiliated with my doctor, and i have all of you here. so I really need some direction.

Well, I attempted a 5 day pouch reset in the past couple of weeks, in preparation for seeing the new surgeon. I fizzled out on day 2, expecting that the new doc/nut would give me some enlightenment. Since that didn't really happen, I am jumping back in and going to attempt this again. I'm starting on Monday, not because that's the typical 'i'm starting a diet' day, but because it will be a bit easier for me since my family will be out of the house during the day and there won't be a constant push to cook etc. If anybody is interested in how it will go, I'll post updates on this thread each day. FYI- i know that sleevers don't have a true 'pouch', however that's the actual name of the plan itself. If anybody is interested in joining along with me, just holler. We can jump in together.

well, i did great on day 1, then on day 2 i fizzled out at dinner. tried extra hard on day 3 yesterday, did pretty good. i am no longer concerned about feeling restriction. i know it's there. i am actually going to be seeing a dietitian next week to formulate a plan for me so i'm feeling much better and in control

Heavy lifting. Weight lifting. Awesome. I feel seriously revived in my pursuit of weight loss and feel great. I am going to be seeing the head trainer at my gym and meeting with the dietitian there to discuss specific macro nutrient requirements and get a basic training program going. I know I'll probably never be to the point of looking like a true lifter, but I know I can go QUITE a way from where I am now and that has me on fire!! I am done with grad school in the spring and i'm happy because after that it's just work (nurse-3 nights a week) and with both kids in school etc I can really devote a couple hours every day to the gym. SO EXCITED!!!

yes, BigViffer, YOUR idea is more what I had in mind. I would love to gain serious strength and muscle. Like SERIOUS toning. i used to go to a pretty awesome gym back in my college days and the guys/gals that were there doing heavy lifting were quite intriguing! I've always found the models on the cover of Oxygen magazine way more awesome than the ones on Vogue. My husband would also like to get started, although I don't think he wants to go as hard core as me. I'm not sure though, like I said, if I should return to my bari dietician or if the one at my gym would be more suitable??? I just don't think my bari dietician would have much idea about WHAT is required for that particular lifestyle, but the one at my gym may not understand my serious limits of my stomach (i can only eat a little over a cup at a time).

I would like to start a thread for all those following this forum that tells others about RE-losing. So if you are a patient who LOST, then GAINED, then LOST it again, please share with us all your method of losing. Did you go back to pre-op/post-op phases? A 2 ,5,8 day pouch reset? A specific low carb type plan? Keto? Paleo? Please feel free to share as this is helpful to each of us in our journey.