CBT

I have a friend whos 8 mth out and says she still cannot do any ab work out its to painfull.. isnt that a bit long??

How did they do your REE? I did have a test where I couldn't exercise for 48 hours before the test, and had to come as quickly as I could, straight out of bed without eating or drinking. Then they hooked me up to a machine, put something over my nose,like a close pin, and I had to breathe in and out of my mouth for 20 min.

they called the resting metobolic test. It showed I burn 1200 calories a day if all I do is sit around. For the most part, that's what I do. My back kills me to stand for very long or walk much at all.

I am having a spinal fusion. I am so pi$$ed because today they called and put it back one week. I am so sick of waiting. I want to go back to the gym. The only way I could do that, is take pain pills. They won't even give me pain pills until after surgery.

That's the REE you had. I bit more extreme prep than I had.

How long ago did you have it? It is entirely possible that your metabolism has changed if you have lost as much muscle as you suspect. Probably best to wait till after back surgery. Might just frustrate you further. The other test evaluates muscle to fat ratio. Mine gets monitored because my body likes to eat muscle over fat during weight loss ????????????????????????????

I am sorry they pushed out your surgery. That's so hard. The waiting and mental game. Maybe you'll get lucky and they'll get a cancellation and move you back up!

I wish I could have those tests done.

I know my metabolism is much slower since I haven't been able to go to the gym. Muscle makes your body tighter.

I have pants that fit and looked really nice at the weight I am now. Since I haven't been able to do weight training while waiting for my back surgery, they are really tight in the thighs. I am exact same weight as when I wore them last, and they are way tighter.

Helps to actually type the response before I post it!

My Drs say lift what you can, 10 mins a day if you are starting. Never go more than 48 hours without resistance. For example, if you can do resistance in your arms with no back pain that will boost metabolism. It doesn't need to be full body to be beneficial to metabolism.

I totally know what you mean about the same weight but not as lean. It's that fat-thin that we feel in our jeans.

I hope you're having surgery soon and it's not super major! I had my rotator cuff repaired and that was a brutal recovery because I was so limited. It was a mental game for sure.

Maybe once you're on the other side of survey you can get the REE and body comp. My insurance covers it through the endocrinologist....

Thank you for posting this. Reading this and other posts that seem to say that for some of us, the surgery makes our already sluggish metabolisms even more wonky is encouraging and depressing at the same time ... I generally eat less than 1300 calories a day and cannot lose weight ... ????

If you don't have medical support,

the best I can offer in addition to all that you know, is to lift weights every day for at least 10 minutes. Different muscle groups. No pain, though. 12-15 reps. Start with one set and work up to 3. Building muscle helps boost metabolism. You don't have to go gang busters.

Make sure you're drinking Water and meeting Protein requirements. So important to break a stall. I eat a lot of raw veggies. Still I sooooooo appreciate that we are all different and in many ways, the same.

By example, I work out 6 days a week for 60-75 minutes. Over the last 18 months I had dropped weight training and thought I'd maintain my gains with vinyasa yoga on non dance days. This is where I made my error. So now, again, I never go longer than 48 hours without weight training. I dropped 15 pounds of regain in 3 weeks. Crazy!!!

I hope you find a solution! Don't give up

I think my metabolism was wonky pre WLS ..

It's better now though, right? Looking back, plastics did my head in, too. This has been a lot of work!

I feel frustrated for people who get stuck and feel shame and failure when really they still could benefit from medical support. This journey has been a team effort for me. For that I'm grateful.

For me it was a very simple fix once I understood the problems. I still don't trust myself enough so I'm not patient with myself.

For others, your REE will be too low and if you're not building muscle it's easy to go upside down. Still some will benefit from medications to stimulate the metabolism.

It's really helpful for me to know how quickly I lose muscle and thus need less calories. I am super active so it was confusing me. And my head kept getting involved.

(I worried that when I said I didn't want this to be a novel that people would misread that and not respond. I meant I was hoping to be on point and not rambling.)

I had this issue. It's from all the release of Estrogens that are stored in the fat cells you're shedding! Mine resolved after a few months. I didn't have any of the other issues mentioned above (Cycst, fibroids).

Did you call you physician?

Soup is good. Greek yogurt is good. My surgeon actually considers Greek yogurt a liquid because it's so good for healing.

And still, a PPI is also good. Again, my surgeon's practice prescribes PPI routinely for 6 months post op. That roiling, churning is also stomach acid. Unfortunately, food also calms it down so I'd still follow up about a PPI. I think we were prescribed Prilosec 20mg twice a day.

I get just about the same but my Protein goal is between 55-75. I just had my 3 year and I asked about following more of a Mediterranean diet. She said Proteins were high enough and just not to eat the bread, "Mediterranean low-carb," she said with a smile.

Sure: Weight loss endo. (Endocrinologist)

The tests:

1. Vitals

2. Body Composition which is done in his office with leads attached to sticky pads that are then placed on a foot and a hand. This given him information about fat to muscle ratio.

3. Resting Energy Expenditure (REE) this evaluates metabolism. I was 4 hours fasting and no exercise on the day of the test (before the test).

What is specific about my body is that it likes to eat muscle over fat. This physician figures that out in the first 6 months post op.

So, while I was still working out regularly, I was not lifting weights as strenuously or as often. (I had my rotator cuff repaired) I still worked out my core and squats and the like but no Iron

The LBL (you're right) removed 5.5 pounds of skin. It may have been part of the formula; and it's most likely my caloric needs changed due to my overall size and fat to muscle ratio.

I forgot to copy your post so I can't see what I'm replying to. Lol.

I hope I answered your questions!

Edit to say: and I was eating too many calories every day. That's what the REE showed. I was very confused before I got all these answers!

So, I'm back to weight training every other day or daily if I train groups of muscles.

I'm hoping this doesn't turn into a novel.

Many of you may remember that in February 2014 I could not stop losing weight and I was going to have LBL.

I work out 6-7 days a week (weights, dance, yoga, walking) and we are generally active. I was eating 1800 calories at that time.

After the surgery I started to gain weight. I wasn't sure if it was weight or swelling. After creeping up, bam, one month I gained 5 pounds.

I called the endocrinologist I've seen since surgery. I had not been in in 18 months (my bad). I ought to see him every 6-12 months. But life.

So, post surgery at some point my caloric needs changed from 1800 back to 1200! (My metabolism is really high and has been high since he first tested me in 2012.)

We completed Resting Energy Expenditure and body comp.

If you are struggling and you have the medical coverage or ability, I really thing a weight loss endo can be incredibly valuable to help sort out how YOUR body is doing maintenance.

Some of you may really have a metabolism that died through surgery. It happens. You aren't doing anything wrong. Maybe you just need the right information and tools. In this case they often prescribe medications. It must be heart breaking. In this case it's really not all about calories like it is in my case.

I have PMDD. When I was shedding fat cells, I asked the GYN for an increase in progesterone in pill form. I already had Mirena but the Estrogens released with weight loss were just too much. The pill didn't help and made some aspects worse.

Lots of difficulty for too long. I kinda put up with it because I've always had PMDD.

Working closely with my GYN, I'm actually in medically induced menopause for 3 months to see how I would feel in menopause. So far so much better!!! If this goes as planned, I will have hysterectomy in the fall. I'm done having children and in my 40s so not too far off from natural menopause.

So, yes, I've been there and you aren't crazy. ????

I'm using MFP more regularly again. Let's be friends

Pumpkinhead321

How is your recovery going @@linedancer718?

I am doing great! Down 5 pounds since surgery 7 days ago. Been pretty inactive, at least not as active as I was hoping I would be. Got an infection and blood clot in my from IV. Had a dream last night that I ate a burrito. I was so mad that my stomach didn't "work". Lol. Got one more week of liquids. Doc has me on Boost, nutritional drink. Getting sick of them. Tried Tomato Soup and it was so strong tasting and got nauseous after a few drinks. Hmmmm. Keep trying.

You're right to stay committed and keep trying. You'll turn the corner before you know it and start blowing through those post op stages. The first 2 weeks are like bringing a newborn baby home. Lol.

I'm leaving Friday! I got the room fridge, microwave and coffee maker. Do you know there is a coffee maker cookbook?! Lol. All about how to survive in a hotel using the coffee maker to cook in.

I have mapped a store. I won't have a rental car. I'm walking everywhere. Training is 12 hours a day with 1.5 for lunch. The training center is vegetarian only! Dairy and eggs okay. Ugh. I can do it.

Thanks for all the tips.

Thanks so much for the good ideas.

I am grateful for the side of cheerleading, too

I can eat a lot of food now and I don't like to order restaurant food because it's not healthy but also there is sooooooooo much of it!

What are some single serving Protein Drink mixes you guys like?

I'm pretty loyal to Premier RTD chocolate.

(Don't like super sweet or vanilla.)

Oh! tuna packets!!! Good call!

Hello fellow veterans!

I will be traveling the end of the month and staying in a hotel for 10 days.

I'll be in workshops for 12 hours a day for 7 of those days!

I really could use help with snack ideas that will travel well (light weight) for the hotel and for the long days.

It will be a challenge to get to a store. RTD weigh a lot for travel. Otherwise, I'm not too fussy.

Any frequent travelers who can advise me?

All ideas would be greatly welcomed!

I have a unique perspective, maybe. I had lower abdominal hernia repair 11/13 and circumferential LBL 2/14. The hernia repair was a long, hardcore recovery. Lots of pain meds for 2 weeks then at the end of long days or days of over doing it for 2 more weeks. So I was on Norco for 2 weeks with a 2 week taper.

The LBL was no where near the intensity of recovery or pain. I could stand up straight on 3rd day. Not that the LBL didn't have any associated pain just really different.

I would also suggest using ice for your comfort.

2week appt today: took last drain out ( yeah!!) then they decided they would pull all the tape off... Can I say painful !!! Other than that everything looks good and is healing as expected. What I can say is that my implants bother me when they swell, they gravitate all the way to my clavicle when they are swollen! And I'm starting to get little pains here and there, they say that's normal and to expect more! My incisions are healing great and after spending all day out and about I am tired and achy!!!

I used ice packs and found them tremendously helpful

I will not lie. The hernia repair was harder to recover from than the lower body lift. The hernia repair is deeper. Mine was in my lower abdomen and repaired with mesh. The mesh is anchored to muscle. (I have had 2 c sections, hernia repair and lower body lift.)

It not so much about pain as much about inability to use your core AT ALL. It really is a long recovery so make it mental and you'll be okay. Lots of pillows

Is this medication induced? Meaning are the pain meds exacerbating his bad attitude?