aroundhky

I too want to gain back some of the muscle I lost during pre-op diet and since surgery (2 weeks ago today). From what I've read, it does seem to be important to make sure you get some carbs in right after a workout in addition to upping your Protein intake and having a variety of protein from supplements and meats and veggie sources. I know I will not be as strong as I was when I was 300 pounds and lifted 4 days a week, but I still want some muscle tone and to fill in some of that loose skin that I'm anticipating. I've lost some muscle and I'm getting a little flabby, so I can't wait to get back to the gym. I agree with "Kemo" some too that weight loss, especially fat loss is my main goal. My plan is to only lift two days a week when starting back at the gym. But those two days a week, I will up my carbs a little, especially post workout meal. On those 2 days, I will lift heavily (after easing back into it) and with combination lifts more than isolation lifting. Then the days I'm off, I will do some cardio and make sure I really limit my carbs to increase my fat burn the other 5 days a week. Don't know if it will work, but that's my plan going in. "Brock", keep me posted on how it's going for you, I'm really interested in what you find out. Good luck!

Congrats!!! Tomorrow will be 2 weeks since I had mine done. Walk, walk and walk. The more I walked, the better I felt! Good luck!

From my experience and from what I've read, it's really hard, if not close to impossible to target certain areas of the body to lose fat. Also, some of it may be a little flabby due to loose skin. Still, some core and ab work can strengthen these areas and make the skin a little tighter. Combine this with a lot of cardio and proper diet, you should be able to lose overall body fat which hopefully some if that will be the lower belly and also help with that area. I know that's kind of general and everyone is different due to genetics, etc, but I've done a lot of research about the same thing as I'm trying to head it off as best as I can. Good luck, I'm right there with ya!

I tried these too I think. What I tried was the punch flavor in a long tube type thing. My God.............. that stuff was awful! I'm glad I only bought one to sample. I did eventually get it all down and keep it down, but it was tough to do. So bad I don't care to try that again. Some people may be able to tolerate it, if so, great for them, because there is A LOT of Protein in them. I now use the body fortress choc whey isolate powder or the EAS vanilla isolate powder. I do make some smoothies out of them some with crushed ice which seems to help me and they taste better to me.

Same here! I'm just a little less than 2 weeks post-op and already getting cold. I used to always be the one that was hot in a room, now my nose, fingers and toes seems to be cold all the time.

Congrats, that's awesome! I have same question as "MiniMommy"....... better than expected? I had mine a little over a week ago and I'm very pleased! I hope I always feel that way about it and see no reason why I will not feel the same way. I already feel very energetic and less joint pain.

I'm interested in Creatine too. Have you tried this yet? Had sleeve done over a week ago, I used to have muscles, but they have turned to flab. : (

I just had my surgery a week ago today and feeling pretty good. I think I've been very fortunate and lucky throughout this whole process. But I also prepared as much as I could well before the surgery and it has paid off. I'm back at work today and the thing that I wasn't as prepared for is the massive loss of muscle weight I've had. I was on Clear liquids the day before surgery and for a few days after surgery and that lack of Protein just zapped my muscle away. But I can tell that I'm coming out of it and getting plenty of my Protein drinks and Water the last few days which has helped. Good luck!!!

I'm just a little less than 1 week post-op and can't wait to hit the gym. The dr wants me to wait 4 weeks. It's really hard to do that because I feel really good considering I had surgery just 6 days ago and I've lost 16 pounds, but I swear, it's all muscle loss. Drank many Protein shakes on pre-op diet and TRYING to get in a good bit of protein since surgery, but it's very difficult. I'm so flabby and weak I can't stand it! I know I needed to lose weight and I'm still happy I had the sleeve done, just feel a bit down because it seems I'll never be strong or have muscles again. That part sucks and I'm having trouble dealing with it. Anyone have some good advice on this topic?

Sounds like you can probably add some yogurt. I had my surgery Nov 3rd and on full liquids and dr said I can add yogurt, but wants to be be careful and not use yogurt with too much sugar added. So I take skim milk, unflavored Protein and yogurt along with ice and make smoothies. Have to sip and takes me all day to finish it. He's letting me start on mushy foods next week. Looking forward to some scrambled eggs, applesauce, whipped Peanut Butter, etc.

Went in last Thursday (Nov. 3rd) for my sleeve and weighed 276, down 16 pounds in the 3 weeks before my surgery (started a little early on my pre-op). Sleeve went well Thursday. Had 5 tiny incisions and one that was barely an inch with 3 small staples. Dr said my liver good nice and small and that it was a "textbook" surgery. Did well the afternoon and evening after my surgery. The worst day was the day after on Friday. Felt a little nausea, but never got sick and went home that afternoon. Been taking about a 10 minute walk 2-3 times a day since then. Feeling great and started on full liquid diet (per Dr) the day I came home. A little difficult to get all of the Protein and Water in initially, but I take in a little more each day and feeling stronger. Dr says I can start mushy foods the second week which will be this Thursday and looking forward to it. I've been very fortunate during this process that things have gone well. Want to thank everyone one here for what they've shared....... it's really helped to prepare me well for this whole process!

Hello Liliana! I have my surgery tomorrow and I'm at the end of this liquid pre-op diet. I've been on it for 10 days with mostly EAS low carb protein shakes, sugar free popsicles and some chicken broth. I did, however, cheat with some cooked runny egg whites about a week ago. But I've really had very few carbs for the 10 days, usually under 15 grams (EAS has about 3 carbs each). I started the Flintstones w/iron chewables a few days ago. I take two since they are childrens vitamins. They tell me I'll need these for a week or two after surgery until I can swallow capsules again. You'll probably need sublingual B12 and D3 supplements. The liquid diet is tough at first, just keep your end goal in mind and try to stay busy. There were a couple of nights around 8 or 9 that I started getting hungry and just went to bed, helped me not think of the hunger. : ) Good luck! Mark

Thanks for the input everyone! I really appreciate all of the experienced insight you all have given and I will keep all of this in mind if I hit one of those regret periods and keep the end result in mind.

I've heard some here and there that most sleevers go through a period of regret or "buyers remorse" at some point after surgery. I've heard comments from a few people that wonder what the heck they were thinking when they made the decision to have it done, and then later glad they went through it. I know that this is usually just a temporary thing that patients go through, then come out of the stage and are very happy they went ahead with the sleeve. My surgery is Thursday (Nov 3rd) and I'm very much looking forward to getting on with things after surgery and my new way of living and eating. Can any of you touch on this and give me an idea of when this was for you and what all was involved? Like was it from the pain of surgery? The limitations immediately following surgery? How other people are affected or the psychological side of it? I know that there may be a brieft period where I ask myself the same things and may regret it, just would like some advice on pushing through this if it happens to me. But for now, I'm very excited about it. Thanks! Mark

I really appreciate the advice and words of encouragement! I've been cutting back the carbs and sugars as well in the past week or so to get a jump start on the liver shrinking. Now time to do the cold turkey thing and all liquids! "SouthernSleever", can you recommend some of the premium proteins out there? Also looking for some unflavored protein to add to various foods if anyone knows of some.

Went for my pre-op yesterday and eveything is a go for Nov 3rd. I start my pre-op diet on my birthday (Oct 25th). May have to endulge the day before instead........ I want to get started the right way on my pre-op, even if it means having to do so on my birthday. I'm a little concerned about the 10 day diet, but trying to approach it as making for a smoother less complicated surgery and there's always some people that have to do it longer than 10 days, so it could be worse for me. I'm pumped and ready to do this!

Congrats bikerchick! We will both be really hungry in late October. : )

Went to the Dr this morning and since they are center for excellence, they went ahead and scheduled my surgery for Thur Nov. 3rd. Pre-op is on Oct 20th and is supposed to be all day. Getting pretty excited and ready now! I've got most of my supplements/vitamins and pre-op diet shakes now.

"Finding Me75".......... I saw your last post was in April. This topic is important to me as well and I would like to still lift weights 3-4 times a week after surgery. What's been the key for your weightlifting since your surgery and at least maintaining some muscle? Thanks!

I haven't had the sleeve yet, but this is my goal too. I've worked out a good bit the past several years and like feeling strong. I'm no world's strongest man or anything, but I like having muscles, even if they are under a lot of fat right now. Lifting and exercising has never been my problem, just my appetite, how I react to my appetite and the bad choice of foods I've made when hungry. I want to lose a lot of my fat, be healthier and get off my meds, but also want to keep at least some of my strength. So I would appreciate any input/feedback from any of you guys, or girls, with experience with this surgery and getting back into the weight room. Looks like my surgery should be in October or so. Thanks!

That's some encouraging news on those who threw up right after surgery without their stomach contracting. I hope that's the case for me too, just would hate to damage the staples/stitches by heaving too much.

Thanks Rootman and everyone else for the welcome! I look forward to finding out more info and even sharing some later down the road once I'm in the process. I see Dr this Thursday. Would be nice to get an idea or appt of when this may be done.

Thank you for the advice! I will surely mention it to everyone at the doctors office and hospital.

Thanks for the advice! I will visit here often!

I will be having the sleeve done in about a month or so. My worry is that I always throw up coming out of surgery due to the anesthesia. And since I will have a freshly cut on stomach with staples just added, how will throwing up right after surgery affect this? Has anyone had this problem coming out of surgery? If I get violently sick, I'm thinking that my stomach contracting a lot during this may damage the staples and cause them to come loose or leak or something. I see the surgeon in about a week, and I'm sure he can let me know his plan about this, but just curious as to if anyone else has had this experience and what can be done to assure noting gets messed up in the stomach from throwing up. Thanks! Mark