kemo46

I am almost 8 months out and my restriction is still about 4 oz. Once my swelling went down after surgery and I was eating normal ( 4 oz), this has not changed much. I do not push it, I have overeaten a couple of times and I just do not like the feeling. I love that we can still have a taste of anything we want, there is not a food that I cannot tolerate. I do eat healthy and I REALLY watch my portions but I do have a bite of something if I want it, I just do not make it a habit. I am about 14 lbs from goal and I am really going to get strict and push it these next few weeks. The restriction is the key to the success of the surgery and mine is as good now as it was 8 months ago.

I know you are excited, you will do great. Keep us posted.

Okay I haven't been around lately. I hope everyone had a fantastic Holiday. Needless to say with the holiday's and family get togethers hasn't left a lot of time for catching up with everyone. Thanksgiving I started running. As of today I can run a mile in 15 minutes. I have been on vacation and I have ran everyday two miles a day. I think before the middle of January I can successfuly run three miles easy. Not a lot going on, Just trying to get rid of these last pounds. It is so damn hard to figure out what will and will not work with the last bit of weight. Determinaton is what is keeping me from settleing on weighing what I weigh now being my final weight. I will check in every now and then to let everyone know how it is going. Wish me luck... Deb

I think you are on the right track with the running. We are in the same boat, I have about 15 lbs left to lose and it is tough. Running will do it and also get rid of that lower belly fat and love handles I have. Running a mile in 15 minutes is a big deal, good for you. I was at 17 minutes for a long time, I would run a quarter mile, walk a little and run another quarter mile until I completed a mile. I have just now got below 14 minutes for a mile. I went to the gym this morning and running a mile about killed me, I sat around too much yesterday. Keep up the good work. You can always start the P90X program with me, that is my plan to get rid of the last few pounds and get in really good shape. It is pretty intense but I can do anything now that I am this close to my goal. Good luck and keep us posted.

Great job, all the work finally paid off. I am happy for you, I still have 14 stubburn pounds to lose to reach goal. I hope to see you in the maintenance area soon.

It sounds like it could be genetics. My cholesterol was 237 before my surgery and has gone down at my 3 and 6 month blood labs. It is 136 now. Did your doctor check your blood sugar? The numbness in my feet was the symptom I showed when I was diagnosed with Diabetes. My blood sugar is normal now and I take no medication but I would think that your doctor would check your blood sugar and perform an A1C test( 3 month average) to see your blood sugar level.

I agree with thebionicbroad, if you listen to most doctors and the Pharmaceutical companies, you would be on medication for everything.

I would love to do it too!! I'm hoping to get it around tax time. Do u mind me asking how many cals u are eating and how far you are out? I saw a earlier post of yours and it said 800 cals? I am almost a yr out and would love to lose these last 15 lbs and get some definition. But I was under the impression that as we lose weight we are supposed to up calories? I eat anywhere between 1200 to 1350. My bmr is 1650.

Right now I have lowered my calories back down between 900 and 1000. I am going to increase them up to between 1400 and 1700 when I start the P90X program. I had lowered them to get the scale moving again which it worked. I need the extra energy for the P90X and I figure I will burn them with the intense workouts, this will change my BMR and hopefully get rid of those last 16 lbs and tone up really well. I just had my 7 month mark after surgery.

I have my blood work done every 3 months and all of my numbers are in the normal range. Even though my calorie intake is low, I only eat food that has nutritional value.

You are on the right track knowing your BMR and calorie intake because it always comes down to math. The amount of exercise will change all the numbers.

I just passed the fitness test for the P90X to make sure I could meet the minimum numbers. It is nice to know you can modify some of the exercises if you cannot do them at first. I know a few people that have completed the P90X and it is an amazing program. They were all in better shape to start than I am but I think I am ready.

With the numbers you mentioned in your reply, if your BMR is 1650 and you are eating about 1350 calories a day, you have 300 calories going toward fat burning a day. With that formula, it will take about 12 days to lose one pound of fat

( 3500 calories equal one pound of fat). The program should really speed up the weight loss based on the numbers you listed.

Good luck to you, it is tough when we are this close to our goal and those last few pounds just won't go away.

What a great journey. You look fabulous and healthy.

That is awesome, what a great feeling. Keep it up, you will get there. Results are the best motivator.

Do it for your health. You will enjoy the other things on your list much more when you are healthy. I know you said you only have hypertention but other issues WILL arise by being obese, yes, you are obese with a 31 BMI. This surgery will improve your health and you will have a ton more energy to enjoy your kiddos. This is only a decision only you can make. Good luck to you.

We are happy for you, it is time to start the new healthy version of your life. Congrats on the first big step.

Good topic. Here is my experience. I go to the gym at least 5 times a week and I also have a personal trainer, not for motivation,

( I have plenty of that), but for education and structure. I do cardio and strength training but just like Lilmissdiva said, running is the only way to get rid of the spare tire, lower back fat and belly fat. While my trainer and I work on things that help with toning and it is doing wonders, those problem areas are reduced by running and running a lot. I have increased my cardio by running sprints, this has really helped those areas. I have also slowed the pace down a bit to increase my distance.

While the strength training has my body better toned that it has been in over 25 years and I have very little loose skin do to the training, those problem areas still exist but getting much smaller due to the running. I have gone from a 52 pant size to a comfortable 38 and from a 4x shirt to a size large now.

My trainer says that is the number one asked question, how do I get rid of the spare tire which includes the lower back fat. The short answer is run, run and run some more.

Well, after many weeks of consideration and research, I feel I am ready to take my exercise to the next level with the P90X program. Just a few short weeks ago, I kept saying no way, I am not ready for that intense of a program yet. I have discussed this with my personal trainer to make sure I can safely start and complete this program. His only concern was my calorie and carb intake being so low. He feels that I need to increase the calories quite a bit to have the energy required to handle this program. I had in my mind, I am only 16 lbs from goal, I do not want to increase my calories but then after more research, the workouts in the P90X will burn a lot more calories and really work on the tone. The program is all about muscle confusion. There is a fitness test you can take to see if you are ready for this complex of a program, I passed all the minumim numbers so I am ready to start.

I would like to hear from anyone on the site if they have done the P90X and get their input, it is going to be tough but that is why I have been working out for 6 months straight at the gym, to get in the best physical shape of my life.

I will keep you posted.

Everyone is different. I found that I needed the exercise to tone up and lose the inches. It may have slowed my weight loss but I have still lost over 100 lbs. in less than 7 months. I have very little loose skin, I have combined cardio with strength training. Even when my weight loss slowed, I was losing inches like crazy, it was a good trade off. Looking back, I think that my increased calorie intake was more of the culprit than the exercise for my slowed weight loss and stalls. It is amazing that if you look back at your food journal that if you add a smoothie, Protein Bar or an extra shake in any where, it can jump your calories from 800 to 1200 real easy. I am about 16 lbs. from goal and I am getting ready to move it to the next level.

Hey oldmandave, your story sounded a lot like mine did. Please go to my blog www.kemo46.blogspot.com and read it from the beginning. My health issue I developed was Diabetes. Being educated in the medical field, you know what, not if, will happen if you do not do something.

I can eat any kind of food, just 4 oz of it. I do not have any malabsorbtion issues and my blood work is fantastic. My Cholesterol is 136, my A1C Test is 5.5 and my daily blood sugar is normal. I take no medication of any kind. I hate that the medical world says once a diabetic, always a diabetic because my blood numbers have been perfect since surgery and I have not had to take any medication. It is a combination of the surgery, weight loss, exercise and of course a nutritional diet. I eat healthy and exercise almost every day.

As far as how my life has changed, well if you can imagine, I lost what is equivalent to a small person ( 100 lbs.) in less than 7 months, I am 16 lbs. from my goal weight. It has changed my life in every way, all for the better. The only con I can think of is I am cold natured now and my wife and I have thermostat wars in the house. The only other regret is is wished I would have done this surgery years ago, I am 47 and feel that I wasted a few years of my life not doing it sooner.

Feel free to PM me if you have any other questions. Good luck.

I think it all works together. One of the things that has made my journey a success is something that comes natural. RESULTS. When you follow your surgeons directions, you will lose the weight. When you follow the diet and exercise, you will see results. It is human nature to want to continue and see it through when you see the results of the BIG PICTURE. Remember, the sleeve is only a tool, it will provide the restriction needed to limit your intake and you will lose weight. You still have to make a lifestyle change to eat healthy and exercise to become healthy and to maintain the new you.

I told someone the other day, you could have the surgery, eat the most horrible food you can imagine, loaded with sugar and fat and guess what, you will still lose the weight. Why? Because you are only eating 4 oz of it. Your resting metabalism will burn the calorie intake that you are able to eat. The problem with this plan is you will probably end up with Diabetes, High blood pressure and many more health problems. It totally defeats the purpose.

If we chose to have this surgery and put our bodies through this, I would think that we would want to do what is physically and mentally required to get the most out of our new bodies.

Now to answer your question, keep your eye on the big picture, the pre-op diet is a breeze, think of it as the first of many steps to a healthy new lifestyle. When you see the results along the way, you will welcome the next challenge and say bring it on.

Good luck to you on your journey, you will be very successful.

On Christmas Eve, we had family over to watch the games. We had all kind of Snacks out, some good for you, most, bad for you. For the most part, I ate my almonds, fruit and beef jerkey but I did have a few chips and salsa. I felt that I did pretty good overall. I went to the gym on Christmas morning to do some cardio, wow, it was tough. I think just from sitting a lot of the day and eating things I am not used to eating, it made the workout very tough. I made a decision right then, I am going to eat good and healthy on Christmas day and MOVE AROUND a lot more.

Well, that seemed to have worked, I weighed in this morning and I have not gained any weight, did not lose any but I did not gain any. I went to the gym this morning and the workout went a lot better. It amazes me how heavy food and lack of movement can really slow you down and make you feel sluggish. I feel great this morning after my workout and I survived the Holidays and did not gain any weight.

Way to go Nicole, that is a great acomplishment. That was a big deal for me because I had been statistically obese for so long. Keep up the good work, many more good things ahead for you.

You can do this. Start slow with what is comfortable and increase it everyday. It is human nature to be driven by results so if you start slow, increase your walking, throw in some resistance band training, you will see results and that will drive you to continue. Please read my blog, www.kemo46.blogspot.com . I hated exercise but ever since seeing the results from it, I cannot stop. I get more intense with it and finding different forms of exercise. I am getting ready to start the P90X program and I would have never been able to do that. It all started with walking a little each day after surgery. I was not allowed to do anything other than walk for 6 weeks. I then bought a bike and started adding that in the mix. I then started going to the gym to add some strength training, it all adds up. I was the person that never exercised. The key is finding out what you enjoy and doing it. The results will keep you motivated.

I would look funny in heels so I think a trip to Cancun is in order.

Great job, keep doing what you are doing.

I agree with Amanda and Coops, mix it up and increase your cardio. I hired a personal trainer a few months ago and I learned so much. While any exercise is good, I had to make sure I was getting the most out of my workouts and to make sure I was utilizing my time at the gym. There are so many good ways to increase your cardio other than just treadmills and ellipticals. I really enjoy the boxing and the battle rope, talk about upper body cardio. Get a good heart monitor and use it as a tool, this will help you in the time you spend in your zone. Good luck, you are on the right track.

Great job, I know it took a lot of work and you look great. I know you feel great. Keep up the good work.

Hey Meggie, great for you. I know what it took to do this and I am very happy for you. The sleeve was such a great tool we chose and it has changed our lives. Keep up the great work and enjoy a long healthy life.

Those last 4 lbs lost to reach the 100 lbs lost mark seemed like it took forever. It has been less than 7 months since my surgery and now I am only 16 lbs from my goal weight. It actually seems attainable now that I am that close. When I started this journey 100 LBS seemed like a dream but it is now history. Like I mentioned in my blog, I had increased my calorie intake for my strength training. It helped in my exercise and I continued to lose inches but it had slowed my weight loss. Since the weight loss was still my main priority until I reach my goal, I have decreased my calories and carbs back down to 900/80 a day and that got the scale moving again. I am going to increase my cardio, slow my strength training a bit and see how that goes for the last 16 lbs.

For those of you reading the forums that have to lose 100 lbs or more, it can be done and you can do it. I used the sleeve as my tool, changed my diet and worked out like a mad man at the gym. The sleeve is not a magic wand, especially if you have this much weight to lose, the restriction has been the key for me.

I look back over this 100lbs lost and I have no doubt I could of lost more in probably less time but I felt the strength training and muscle building was worth the trade off of the speed of the weight loss. I have very little lose skin after losing 100lbs and I think that has a lot to do with replacing it with muscle.

Losing the 100lbs is a big deal for me but not as much as reaching my goal, that last 16 lbs is going to be a real motivator.

It has changed my life in many ways, all positive.First is my health, I take no medication at all, my diabetes is under control and my cholesterol is normal. Second, there is nothing I cannot do now due to any physical limitation( being fat). My energy level is through the roof and I do not get tired like I used to. The self-confidence is also a big boost. With my new lifestyle and weight loss, I am able to workout extensively and continue my better health.

The only thing that you could consider a negative is that I have become cold natured and now I have to battle my wife over the thermostat.