Fiddleman

Thanks for your feedback everyone. I think I will go with long extending Protein shake for bed time and bar for my afternoon snack. The brand of extended protein I use is Syntax Matrix. Morning snack is either energy squares and recovery shake before and after run 3 days a week or eggs/turkey sausage on non running days. Morning breakfast (6am) is usually a protein shake and green veggie drink following an early morning dash on my treadmill. I try and do a vigorous 1 mile hill run full out (7 mph) every morning at 5:30am when I wake on an empty stomach to wake me up before work. It leaves me with sweat pouring off my face, but really helps. This is like a quick jolt to start my day out right irregardless if it is a running day or not.

Thanks for your feedback everyone. I think I will go with long extending Protein shake for bed time and bar for my afternoon snack. The brand of extended protein I use is Syntax Matrix. Morning snack is either energy squares and recovery shake before and after run 3 days a week or eggs/turkey sausage on non running days. Morning breakfast (6am) is usually a protein shake and green veggie drink following an early morning dash on my treadmill. I try and do a vigorous 1 mile hill run full out (7 mph) every morning at 5:30am when I wake on an empty stomach to wake me up before work. It leaves me with sweat pouring off my face, but really helps. This is like a quick jolt to start my day out right irregardless if it is a running day or not.

Thanks for your feedback everyone. I think I will go with long extending Protein shake for bed time and bar for my afternoon snack. The brand of extended protein I use is Syntax Matrix. Morning snack is either energy squares and recovery shake before and after run 3 days a week or eggs/turkey sausage on non running days. Morning breakfast (6am) is usually a protein shake and green veggie drink following an early morning dash on my treadmill. I try and do a vigorous 1 mile hill run full out (7 mph) every morning at 5:30am when I wake on an empty stomach to wake me up before work. It leaves me with sweat pouring off my face, but really helps. This is like a quick jolt to start my day out right irregardless if it is a running day or not.

Thanks for your feedback everyone. I think I will go with long extending Protein shake for bed time and bar for my afternoon snack. The brand of extended protein I use is Syntax Matrix. Morning snack is either energy squares and recovery shake before and after run 3 days a week or eggs/turkey sausage on non running days. Morning Breakfast (6am) is usually a Protein Shake and green veggie drink following an early morning dash on my treadmill. I try and do a vigorous 1 mile hill run full out (7 mph) every morning at 5:30am when I wake on an empty stomach to wake me up before work. It leaves me with sweat pouring off my face, but really helps. This is like a quick jolt to start my day out right irregardless if it is a running day or not.

Here is a good overview of ChiRunning: http://www.chirunning.com/what-is-chirunning/ From the page, I focus on the following principles when running. Relaxation Correct alignment and posture Landing with a midfoot strike Using a "gravity-assisted" forward lean Engaging core strength for propulsion Connecting the mind and body to prevent injury I did not even know there was this great online resource or workshops you can go to. I am not really familiar with holding butterflies, but I can see how my running style is like that. Nor do I really feel like I am "falling" when running. I do feel like gravity helps rather that inhibits running though. In the beginning, I really did try and connect my mind with the various body parts. You will read this in several of my earlier posts often comparing running to a finely tuned watch, perfectly mechanical and precise in movement. No movement is by accident. Fortunately this psychosomatic connection becomes automatic with enough practice. I have been doing it for several months so it all seems natural to me. All my experience comes out of reading his book a few years back and learning how to run with grace for the first time. I was never a runner before then especially because of being obese. I used to get injured all the time, especially in my lower legs. After starting ChiRunning, I can honestly say I have not had an injury that sidelined me once and always feel empowered afterwards in addition to getting high on the run. However, I did work through some hip flexor and minor knee issues a couple times that required me to really think about more stretching and warm up. They did not sideline me though and I was back at running on schedule once I addressed the missing psychosomatic connection to those parts of the body. I guess you could say ChiRunning involves a bit of a naturopathic perspective in order to really connect the mind with various parts of the body. I am not so much of a naturopathic follower to health and readily depend on the traditional medical field for physical and mental health, but you can see the naturopathic cross over to fixing the various body ailments caused by bad posture or tense muscles through a mind / body connection. Different topic for a different time. I think the power of ChiRunning comes from letting your core be the engine behind all the movements. Once our core is in charge, all the other body parts just follow with minimum effort. In the beginning you do have to pay close attention to relaxation and let go of tension that starts to form in legs, shoulders or back. With practice, it becomes second nature after awhile. The principles of ChiRunning are truly universal and can apply to other disciplines in your life as well. For example, recently I applied ChiRunning to my violin playing and it got so much easier and enjoyable. I was holding so much tension in my back and shoulders before, especially when obese. It is now so much more relaxing and enjoyable to bring the sound out of my violin. The strength and power comes from my core, not my back and definitely not my arms. The best way to describe it is it feels authentic and very organic. The ChiRunning principles are also applicable to cross fitness. I am very new to being a cross fitter, but already I can see all power comes from core strength and the ability to perform the basic squat movement very well. Once a person masters the squat and deriving power from the core, I honestly believe all the other movements are derivations and will follow from dead lift to wall throws. I have much to learn, but am psyched about building strength through cross fit. With all techniques, we have to start somewhere in order to progressively improve. Try it out. See what you think about it. Maybe just start with thinking about relaxation while running before adding more principles. Do keep at it and I promise you will enjoy the benefits that practicing ChiRunning will bring for you.

Yes, it was pleasant. I always find myself connecting with my authentic self when out in the woods on a hike.

Good point. I also run in the morning, usually at 9am every morning. My east cost colleagues are on lunch, so perfect time. I am naturally a morning person so I am at my best in the am. Not sure you have the luxury of a morning workout unless it is really early due to the 12 hour shift. I have tried to exercise in the evening, but never have the energy or motivation.

I wish promax would come out with a "thin" version of their bars. I used to absolutely love their cookies and creme bar after working out at the gym (many years ago). It has a ton of sugar in it though. Same is true about cliff bars. These are great to eat before a rigorous hike, but pack too much sugar to be eaten just as a snack. Hope the marketing guys are listening. We want low carb versions of these!

Lmao! I love your quirkiness (laugh a lot when reading your tongue in cheek responses to posts). I wonder if I am ever going to live this snake mishap down as it has so many innuendos behind it that are begging to be exploited beyond what has already been done in this thread!

Try layering up, even when inside. Wear gloves when outside. These things will help you not be so cold during the first 6-12 months post op. Eventually, your body will catch up with the rapid weight loss and you will not be as cold. Until then, more hot apple cider and coffee!

Wow, 3000 calories a day? That is pretty impressive!

Want to add that a lot of calcium chews have vitamin d in them. I have read that vitamin d is actually necessary for the processing of calcium by the body.

Great validation of all your hard work!

Darn auto correct. Lol!

For the last meal of the day would you take a shake or a low carb protein bar? I have nu go bars which are 20 g protein and 20 g carb (not from sugar, but from fiber and sugar alcohols). I have been taking shakes before bed for several months now and want to try the bar if it is not going to mess with weight gain. What do you think?

Tums can also help in the middle of the night if you wake up with nasty acid burning your throat.

Potatoes are technically a complex carb, but are treated like a simple carb in your body. Simple carbs are simple to digest, low fiber and offer little value to your body. For this reason, I would classify a potato as a bad carb.

Agree. Try taking prilosec everyday. I get bad reflux if I forget to take it every day by evening time.

Potatoes are carb loaded. However: if your surgeon advises you to eat potatoes, then eat potatoes. However, know you can also take potassium supplements from any store that sells Vitamins and minerals GNC, costco and Target to name a few.

There is some truth behind your comment. I was a little mean spirited and had a chip on my shoulder when I was bigger. I am a much friendlier person after WLS. I cannot explain it really, but my attitude about life and people in general has improved 1000x in the past 8 months. I think I was harboring a lot of anger from the way people treated me as an obese person most of my life. Also, bad food had a wicked grasp on my mental state. Getting rid of all the junk a couple months before surgery has done wonders to how I feel day to day. It made me a better person inside and outside. I am so much happier now.

Generally taking capsules is OK after surgery, especially Vitamin D because the gels are like little fish eggs. If you are unsure , give your NUT a quick buzz. I ha e been on vitamin d 5-6k IU for many years now partially because I live in Seattle and partially because I have read/heard such good things about taking d supplements. Not sure how true the claims are but they have worked well for me and everyone I have talked to about it. By the way, my six month labs for vit d were right in the mid range

I decided to stretch my legs a bit and take a hike with my bro after work today. We went on the Robe Valley trail up on the Mountain Loop highway near Verlot Ranger station for those familiar with the North Puget Sound area. anyways, it is a short easy hike that winds down the valley to the old abandoned mining town of Robe. We could not make it to the tunnel this year because the trail was overtaken by the marshes. Neat area with lots of mossy trees and reeds. On the way back, we were coming up the switchbacks (about 500 feet climb) when we ran into 2 teenager deer munching on vegetation. They looked up and waved their tails before trotting slowly away 10 feet. Very nice to run into them. They went back munching on a snack before trotting further up the trail a little further. We played this little game, the deer and I until we got to the top of the trail. They then pranced off into the distance. Either these were the most domestic deer I have ever met or I was giving off "friend" vibes. See even the deer will treat you better when you lose weight. Cheers.

Doing well. Sleeved July 2nd 2012. Hit goal about a month ago and +- a few lbs depending on what my body wants to do with water. Started at 360 a month before surgery and am 180 today. I stalled out a lot during the loss phase, probably every 2 weeks after October 2012. Just kept my chin up and stuck to plan. Did not allow the desire to snack or eat snack related foods overwhelm my desire to achieve success. I started out just walking every day after surgery and slowly increased miles and intensity until switching over to ellyptical at month 2. Did ellyptical 1/2 heartily until month 5, but it certainly helped. Started running at month 5 after being motivated by many VST runners. Have not looked back since figuratively. Today I am running 10 k and working on training for a 1/2 by summer. It is amazing what you can do by setting personal goals and sticking to it. Also started cross fit a few weeks ago with an eventualgoal of becoming athlete strong. I am not so strong at the moment. Good luck and keep your eyes on the prize, whatever that may be for you. Feel free to PM me if you want.