Lissa

Well, thanks, JME! I can always use prayers and good thoughts! Welcome to VST!

I'm so sorry about your complications! Like we say, it's a very low chance of complications, but it's devastating when it happens to you. I know you're on coumadin, and I hope that works well for you. I'm just coming off of nearly 9 months of coumadin therapy, so I know it's definitely not fun. I'll keep you in my prayers and good for you and hubby for being your own best advocate!!

Here are my 8 month post-op pics, along with a new pre-op picture of me I discovered tonight. I have to say that I feel like a whole new person... and, just for reference, I've probably lost almost as much as the bride in the picture weighs!!

Maybe you'll get lucky and NOT be lactose intolerant after surgery. I've been able to drink milk and enjoy other dairy products with gusto all my life, but developed lactose intolerance after surgery. I wonder if it will work the opposite way for you? You think now that you'll like chocolate after surgery, but I truly hated sweets for months. I finally have started using the chocolate and vanilla Protein powders in my decaf coffee instead of creamer. At least I'm getting some use out of them.

It IS an eating disorder, or can be. It's called cupping and it's not a habit you want to continue doing. Eat what you want, but don't create new problems for yourself. Don't feel guilty. You're trying to learn to eat like people who don't have food problems; this is a great place to start! Good luck!! You're doing great on your loss, btw!!

Thanks, Coops! I'm required to do the daily cardio, but you should see how much my EKG has improved! That's sexy in and of itself, if you know how to read it! I am going to continue the low weight, high reps for now. I'm also going to add in more calisthenics like lunges, squats and sit ups for the problem areas. Hopefully, as I progress I will be able to see more improvement in the areas that really bother me, but I want to kick start the weight loss again. I know I have to increase what I'm doing to make that happen. I'll never be Lil Miss Diva on exercise, but I definitely want to continue to build on the foundation I've built. Since I injured myself last week, though, I figured it was time to get some expert advice from those who have gone before me. You guys have, once again, come through for me! Thanks!!!

Oh, Mr. Worm, I have to do 30 minutes of cardio a day, non-negotiable. My doctor will put me back on a med I don't want to take if I don't keep up with the cardio. He's an old meanie-head! LOL

Lsereno, Nope, they don't offer exercise classes, but it's a good basic gym and it's cheaper to use it for a year than to buy my own bike OR treadmill. Benjamin, Thanks for that info. I'm really looking to step things up a notch. My surgeon is thrilled that I've lost as much as I have, but I'm not ready to settle for less than goal, and MY goal, not his goal. I just don't want to look like I melted when I get to goal.

Glad to hear that!

Me, too, Wheetsin! I dream of some kind of easy to eat/drink way to get a bunch of protein in without having to choke down protein bars every day... especially as that would leave me some room for raw veggies and, possibly, a slice of good bread now and then. I have the Premier Protein drinks in my fridge as well.

Blackberry, that's a good point, but I was so weak to start with that I feel like I've improved my strength exponentially. I know that I'm ready to move on to the next phase, as has been proven by my friend's endurance versus mine. She's "normal weight", but has no muscle mass. We did our body measurements today and I'm an inch smaller than her everywhere except my hips, but I have more endurance for cardio and for weight lifting. I'm not sure who is leading who in this particular adventure. Does improving my strength have good/bad implications for metabolism? Should I be concentrating on that? I knew I'd have more questions as you all gave me answers! I'm just not even sure what the right questions are.. and I'll be looking for that thread from Ourborous. I think I read it at the time, but I need a refresher.

PDX, I wondered what you'd have to say here. You're probably a guy who can handle a list. My STB-ex hated it when I asked for anything, in writing, in person, or in full voice scream. Maybe that's why his status will soon be ex and you're still married to your wife!

Love the dress, Tina!! And, your best accessory, as always, is that million dollar smile!!

Thanks, PDX! That's what I was thinking, but wanted to confirm. I've kind of hodge-podged together everything you guys have said over the last few months, but wanted to clarify before I do damage that I can't undo. And I certainly don't want to waste my daily workout time doing exercises that are going to interfere with what I'm trying to accomplish. LOL, I want to look more like a stripper than a body builder. Kapish?

Debella, I want long lean muscles, not the body builder look. Fluffy, I'll check into that when I'm there in the morning. I don't know if it's included in my membership. It took me nearly an hour to work through all the regular machines today. That was my second time using them, so I was careful to go slowly and establish my baselines for them. I think I'd like to switch to 30 minutes on the bike and then the 30 minute routine every day, but not sure if that's good or bad since there is cardio included in teh 30 minute routine.

So, I signed up for Planet Fitness this week and I've been hitting it pretty hard with a friend. I need to know whether I should continue my high reps, low weights philosophy or start working on higher weights. I've read a couple of posters talking about working to muscle fatigue, which I'm willing to do. What I'm looking for, though, is what's the most efficient way to get the maximum benefit out of my gym membership? Should I be concentrating on the regular weight machines, or doing the 30 minute circuit? Should I instead use the free weights? I like the machines because they seem to be designed to make the user do the exercise properly. I'm still doing my 30 minutes of cardio per day, plus I've added in at least 20 flights of stairs (10 up, 10 down) daily. Help me out, oh Exercise Gurus, please?!

I was afraid of that, Wheetsin. Pre-digested? That sounds worse than the boiled cow hooves source I read about before. Yuck! The Protein shots they give at my hospital have only 15 g of protein per shot, so I'm always leery of any protein shot that has more in a small volume.

Early post-op, it's more important that we get our fluids in than our protein. I'm hearing that your surgeon wants you to stick to the liquid diet and try a variety of full liquids rather than get dependent on protein shakes. Am I understanding that correctly?

Okay, for those of you who are making ice cream. Do you just wash your freezer part and put it back in the freezer or do you let it thaw, then wash it and put it back in the freezer? I did the second, but would like to know if it's sanitary to do it the other way or would the freezer part crack?

Jocy, What kind of protein do those packets have in them? If it's whey or whey isolate, or almost any other kind, it's good. If it's collagen protein, it's not a protein that our bodies can use as building blocks, so there's no point in choking it down.

The one in my leg was the worst charlie horse EVER. If you suspect a blood clot, do NOT sit here on the computer. Get to the ER NOW NOW NOW. A blood clot can kill you in minutes if it releases smaller clots into your heart and/or lungs. Go to the hospital. Do not pass go, do not collect $200.

What is on your doctor's plan? You should have received something telling you what stages to follow. If you're on mushies, you can have mashed. If you're still on liquids, you probably can't. But, some doctors do consider mashed to be okay on full liquids. .Best advice? Call your doc or nut.

Oh, Protein shakes were SO nasty to me post op. I drank lots of broth and Soups during the liquid stages. Have you tried making a Protein shake from unflavored protein and something you actually still like drinking? Maybe get some unflavored (it's not tasteless, just not sweet) powder and add it to something that tastes good. Can you have cottage cheese? It's got some protein in it. Also, as for the Water, I like decaf unsweet tea with splenda. It tastes good and was easy for me to drink. Other people have had good luck with decaf coffee and with adding crystal light or mio drops to their water. Try changing up the temperature and go from sweet to savory. You definitely need to be getting the liquids in, and working toward getting all your protein daily. It will take time, but you will find a way to do it!

I agree about the head hunger and/or acid. Also, liquids tend to go through much faster than solids and dense proteins go through our sleeves.

Rachel, Welcome to VST! It sounds like you're ready to do this and get on with your life! Yes, it does require being a little selfish, but that's okay. It will pay off BIG dividends for those who love you because they'll get to keep you around longer!