VACookey

My pre-op counselor had bypass surgery and she told me she wishes she had lifted weights because she had "spagehetti arms" meaning she lost so much muscle she had very weak arms. So I asked my nurse the day I left the hospital after surgery if I could lift weights. She said no more than 10 pounds. So every day, I would take a 5 pound weight and do bicep curls on each arm. Then I'd do some triceps, maybe a little bit of chest. Nothing much, but just enough to work my muscles a little bit. I'm so glad I did. I have great muscle tone now and I'm at goal before my 1 year anniversary. Talk to your doctor and see if you can do the same. I highly recommend it.

My pre-op counselor had bypass surgery and she told me she wishes she had lifted weights because she had "spagehetti arms" meaning she lost so much muscle she had very weak arms. So I asked my nurse the day I left the hospital after surgery if I could lift weights. She said no more than 10 pounds. So every day, I would take a 5 pound weight and do bicep curls on each arm. Then I'd do some triceps, maybe a little bit of chest. Nothing much, but just enough to work my muscles a little bit. I'm so glad I did. I have great muscle tone now and I'm at goal before my 1 year anniversary. Talk to your doctor and see if you can do the same. I highly recommend it.

Well I'm 3 weeks pre op diet and 2 weeks post op out and down 50lbs. Man this is just awesome. Fitting into clothes I haven't fit into in a long time. Did some shopping the other day and picked up a 3xlt shirt instead of a 5 xlt. Hard to describe the feeling. Wish I would have done this years ago

So what's your weight now? You look friggin awesome!

Cheri, excellent post.

I'll be a different voice here. I think that while your husband may not understand where you're coming from, he's trying to help you keep a more normal approach. There could be a number of issues here.
One, he may not want to be alone in his enjoyment of food now that you're sleeved. food was likely part of a ritual you shared as a couple and he doesn't want to lose that, simply because you lose weight. But two, he also may have seen you do all-or-nothing diets in the past and wind up failing, not to mention being angry or resentful because of what foods you're avoiding.
Right now, the goal is to build healthy eating habits. But the way to successfully maintain long term is a balance of your approach and his. It means enjoying the food and yes, the social rituals we build around it, without losing control, feeling guilt or going overboard.
You're a ways from it yet, but there will come a point where you SHOULD be incorporating a more normal diet. You'll need the energy, you'll function better with more (quality) carbs and you'll need to learn moderation so you don't fall on your face once you hit goal. You'll likely also find that you feel a better sense of control around food when you do incorporate a more balanced diet - not feeling deprived helps you avoid the binge and graze behavior that most likely helped contribute to your obesity.
So - try to be more understanding of him while also trying to help him understand that your sleeve is not temporary. This is a big change for us, yes, but we underwent it and have new limitations that almost force us into compliance (at least early on) while he really cannot understand how big a change this is for you without undergoing it himself.
Good luck!
~Cheri

Working out makes me eat better. Who wants to slave away at the gym then turn around and ruin it with a cookie? I don't!

I just read a post about losing weight without exercise and it got me thinking. Yes, you can do it. So why exercise then? I decided to make a list of the benefits I have enjoyed. Feel free to add yours!
1. More muscle means faster metabolism
2. Dropping dress sizes even when the scale remains the same
3. Biceps!
4. Awesomely toned legs
5. Feeling of accomplishment after completing a really tough workout
6. Running your hands down your legs and actually feeling muscle and not fat
7. Ability to squat down and get back up with little effort due to awesome leg muscles
8. Ability to run around with the kids and not get winded or worn out
9. Ability to participate in a class and not feel left behind because you can't keep up
10. Beginning your bicep curls at a wimpy 5 pounds and someday being able to lift at 12 pounds. What an accomplishment!
11. Squats and lunges no longer scare you
12. Ability to do 60 pushups in 90 seconds. Couldn't do that at 289 pounds!
13. People think you weigh less than you actually do because your body is so fit

I just read a post about losing weight without exercise and it got me thinking. Yes, you can do it. So why exercise then? I decided to make a list of the benefits I have enjoyed. Feel free to add yours!
1. More muscle means faster metabolism
2. Dropping dress sizes even when the scale remains the same
3. Biceps!
4. Awesomely toned legs
5. Feeling of accomplishment after completing a really tough workout
6. Running your hands down your legs and actually feeling muscle and not fat
7. Ability to squat down and get back up with little effort due to awesome leg muscles
8. Ability to run around with the kids and not get winded or worn out
9. Ability to participate in a class and not feel left behind because you can't keep up
10. Beginning your bicep curls at a wimpy 5 pounds and someday being able to lift at 12 pounds. What an accomplishment!
11. Squats and lunges no longer scare you
12. Ability to do 60 pushups in 90 seconds. Couldn't do that at 289 pounds!
13. People think you weigh less than you actually do because your body is so fit

Lifting heavy is the answer

Lifting heavy is the answer

Ok ladies, I'm sure some of you can relate , when our stomachs stuck out as much as our boobs . My stomach still isn't flat , but my boobs stick out past it now, lol. Still can't see what's under that bulging fat, but soon enough I'll be able to see , I'm sure you know what I'm talking about
Good luck to you all .

I just read a post about losing weight without exercise and it got me thinking. Yes, you can do it. So why exercise then? I decided to make a list of the benefits I have enjoyed. Feel free to add yours!
1. More muscle means faster metabolism
2. Dropping dress sizes even when the scale remains the same
3. Biceps!
4. Awesomely toned legs
5. Feeling of accomplishment after completing a really tough workout
6. Running your hands down your legs and actually feeling muscle and not fat
7. Ability to squat down and get back up with little effort due to awesome leg muscles
8. Ability to run around with the kids and not get winded or worn out
9. Ability to participate in a class and not feel left behind because you can't keep up
10. Beginning your bicep curls at a wimpy 5 pounds and someday being able to lift at 12 pounds. What an accomplishment!
11. Squats and lunges no longer scare you
12. Ability to do 60 pushups in 90 seconds. Couldn't do that at 289 pounds!
13. People think you weigh less than you actually do because your body is so fit

My surgery is this Wednesday, March 7th. I have to be honest, after a week and a half of OptiFamine, the urge to go out and have a full blown Last Supper is getting stronger by the minute. I just want to chew something, like a steak, but I'm having visions of going in to surgery and a steak falls out of my stomach and my doctor realizes that I cheated, thus making me a failure. Crazy, isn't it?
So I sit here drinking my overly sweet strawberry shake and crafting my mushie meal plans for two weeks from now. The mushies can't get here fast enough.
Ah, the ramblings of a hungry woman....

I just read a post about losing weight without exercise and it got me thinking. Yes, you can do it. So why exercise then? I decided to make a list of the benefits I have enjoyed. Feel free to add yours!
1. More muscle means faster metabolism
2. Dropping dress sizes even when the scale remains the same
3. Biceps!
4. Awesomely toned legs
5. Feeling of accomplishment after completing a really tough workout
6. Running your hands down your legs and actually feeling muscle and not fat
7. Ability to squat down and get back up with little effort due to awesome leg muscles
8. Ability to run around with the kids and not get winded or worn out
9. Ability to participate in a class and not feel left behind because you can't keep up
10. Beginning your bicep curls at a wimpy 5 pounds and someday being able to lift at 12 pounds. What an accomplishment!
11. Squats and lunges no longer scare you
12. Ability to do 60 pushups in 90 seconds. Couldn't do that at 289 pounds!
13. People think you weigh less than you actually do because your body is so fit

Working out makes me eat better. Who wants to slave away at the gym then turn around and ruin it with a cookie? I don't!

I just read a post about losing weight without exercise and it got me thinking. Yes, you can do it. So why exercise then? I decided to make a list of the benefits I have enjoyed. Feel free to add yours!
1. More muscle means faster metabolism
2. Dropping dress sizes even when the scale remains the same
3. Biceps!
4. Awesomely toned legs
5. Feeling of accomplishment after completing a really tough workout
6. Running your hands down your legs and actually feeling muscle and not fat
7. Ability to squat down and get back up with little effort due to awesome leg muscles
8. Ability to run around with the kids and not get winded or worn out
9. Ability to participate in a class and not feel left behind because you can't keep up
10. Beginning your bicep curls at a wimpy 5 pounds and someday being able to lift at 12 pounds. What an accomplishment!
11. Squats and lunges no longer scare you
12. Ability to do 60 pushups in 90 seconds. Couldn't do that at 289 pounds!
13. People think you weigh less than you actually do because your body is so fit

Working out makes me eat better. Who wants to slave away at the gym then turn around and ruin it with a cookie? I don't!

I just read a post about losing weight without exercise and it got me thinking. Yes, you can do it. So why exercise then? I decided to make a list of the benefits I have enjoyed. Feel free to add yours!
1. More muscle means faster metabolism
2. Dropping dress sizes even when the scale remains the same
3. Biceps!
4. Awesomely toned legs
5. Feeling of accomplishment after completing a really tough workout
6. Running your hands down your legs and actually feeling muscle and not fat
7. Ability to squat down and get back up with little effort due to awesome leg muscles
8. Ability to run around with the kids and not get winded or worn out
9. Ability to participate in a class and not feel left behind because you can't keep up
10. Beginning your bicep curls at a wimpy 5 pounds and someday being able to lift at 12 pounds. What an accomplishment!
11. Squats and lunges no longer scare you
12. Ability to do 60 pushups in 90 seconds. Couldn't do that at 289 pounds!
13. People think you weigh less than you actually do because your body is so fit

Working out makes me eat better. Who wants to slave away at the gym then turn around and ruin it with a cookie? I don't!

I just read a post about losing weight without exercise and it got me thinking. Yes, you can do it. So why exercise then? I decided to make a list of the benefits I have enjoyed. Feel free to add yours!
1. More muscle means faster metabolism
2. Dropping dress sizes even when the scale remains the same
3. Biceps!
4. Awesomely toned legs
5. Feeling of accomplishment after completing a really tough workout
6. Running your hands down your legs and actually feeling muscle and not fat
7. Ability to squat down and get back up with little effort due to awesome leg muscles
8. Ability to run around with the kids and not get winded or worn out
9. Ability to participate in a class and not feel left behind because you can't keep up
10. Beginning your bicep curls at a wimpy 5 pounds and someday being able to lift at 12 pounds. What an accomplishment!
11. Squats and lunges no longer scare you
12. Ability to do 60 pushups in 90 seconds. Couldn't do that at 289 pounds!
13. People think you weigh less than you actually do because your body is so fit

Working out makes me eat better. Who wants to slave away at the gym then turn around and ruin it with a cookie? I don't!

Working out makes me eat better. Who wants to slave away at the gym then turn around and ruin it with a cookie? I don't!

I just read a post about losing weight without exercise and it got me thinking. Yes, you can do it. So why exercise then? I decided to make a list of the benefits I have enjoyed. Feel free to add yours!
1. More muscle means faster metabolism
2. Dropping dress sizes even when the scale remains the same
3. Biceps!
4. Awesomely toned legs
5. Feeling of accomplishment after completing a really tough workout
6. Running your hands down your legs and actually feeling muscle and not fat
7. Ability to squat down and get back up with little effort due to awesome leg muscles
8. Ability to run around with the kids and not get winded or worn out
9. Ability to participate in a class and not feel left behind because you can't keep up
10. Beginning your bicep curls at a wimpy 5 pounds and someday being able to lift at 12 pounds. What an accomplishment!
11. Squats and lunges no longer scare you
12. Ability to do 60 pushups in 90 seconds. Couldn't do that at 289 pounds!
13. People think you weigh less than you actually do because your body is so fit

I just read a post about losing weight without exercise and it got me thinking. Yes, you can do it. So why exercise then? I decided to make a list of the benefits I have enjoyed. Feel free to add yours!
1. More muscle means faster metabolism
2. Dropping dress sizes even when the scale remains the same
3. Biceps!
4. Awesomely toned legs
5. Feeling of accomplishment after completing a really tough workout
6. Running your hands down your legs and actually feeling muscle and not fat
7. Ability to squat down and get back up with little effort due to awesome leg muscles
8. Ability to run around with the kids and not get winded or worn out
9. Ability to participate in a class and not feel left behind because you can't keep up
10. Beginning your bicep curls at a wimpy 5 pounds and someday being able to lift at 12 pounds. What an accomplishment!
11. Squats and lunges no longer scare you
12. Ability to do 60 pushups in 90 seconds. Couldn't do that at 289 pounds!
13. People think you weigh less than you actually do because your body is so fit