Fiddleman

The caramel Bariatric Advantage chew is really tasty! I have been taking these daily for about 13 months now and am still not tired of them. They key is how much do you want to take at a time? BA released a new 500 mg chew so you can take 1 instead of 2 per meal. Some of us like two pieces of candy instead of 1.

Here is another WOD that is easy to do and really effective: 3 rounds of 15 man maker 20 overhead lunges 25 burpees Try to get this done in 15-20 minutes. It is hard by the second round. Let me explain the exercises briefly. Man maker: grab 2 heavy dumbells. I use 35 lb each. You can pick what challenges you, but does not block completion. Lay in push up position with shoulders over and hands around dumbbells. Do one push up. At top again, pull one arm up with weight. Almost a s-n-a-t-c-h. Reverse and set weight down. Repeat on other arm. Jump from pushup position to feet between hands. Stand up with weights in hand (dead lift). Shoot both arms up so arms are straight with weight above head. That is one rep. Now do 15 of these. Overhead lunge. Grab a plate of moderate weight. I grab 35 lb. You might start with 15. Hold the plate with both arms straight above your head. Now do a standard lunge on one leg. And now the other leg. That is 1 rep. Do 20 of these while keeping g arms straight with weight above head. Burpees - we all know what these are. Try and do them as quickly as possible and stay light on your feet. 3 rounds! Try to not stop in between exercises nor in between rounds. However, if you need a few seconds to recover, in between rounds is the best. You will know exhaustion after this workout.

Thanks - I am stopping these supplements starting today and continue to look for good pre workout nutrition ideas to fuel powerful results. Maybe all these energy supplements are designed for people who eat crap. I obviously have a very controlled eating plan so, in theory, would not need these energy supplements. Additionally, the health risks are not worth it. I have thrown away the rest of my 1/2 used pre workout supplementation and put away the thermogenic for future. I did not realize where this line was that you described and think I have crossed over it leading to more side effects than benefits. Clearly I have had some minor health issues as a result of using these based o.n some recent posts, including this one. No more. Regardless, I am still going to push on towards competitive cross fit. I am getting quite good at it and am reaching a level of athleticism to be a serious threat to the competition.

How long would you say those guys can stay at 2-4%? 1-2 weeks? Less time?

Yes, they keep suggesting I wear the spacers. I will have to talk to them about it next times see them for a cleaning.

BTB: see - we can all have a meaningful conversation about a "hot" topic even though we all come from different belief systems. That is not so hard when there is mutual respect. I hope you got the answer you were looking for even though the conversation did digress a bit. One question I held back from asking due to respect for privacy before in this thread ( you still do not need to answer) is how well does the decision making process go in a marriage that has two people of completely different belief systems? Yes, even non-belief is a belief system (belief of no belief). Anecdotally, I had a relationship back in high school where I was a Christian and my girlfriend was Jewish. Her family was very orthodox Jewish to the point of not acknowledging her as their daughter when she decided to adopt a Judeo-Christian belief system. I did not push her or otherwise directly coerce her into the decision. She came to it on her own. Anyways, the relationship got really got complex due to the family dynamics and it fell part despite apparently having more in common in our belief systems then before. Since then I have always been under the impression that relationships strive the most when there is shared belief system. Your thoughts?

Although I would not mind a good lightning storm here and there. last Friday was awesome! We otherwise have pretty boring weather here in Washington.

Laura, I did not mean to have you leave from my words. I apologize if what I have said has offended you. I was just restating my long term goals. You and I go way back and share a lot together since this VST collaboration has started. I hope you are not mad. Yes, I do have an addictive personality. It is in my bones.

Around - I may use stimulants too much as an expectation to amplifying workout result. Maybe I do depend on them a little too much as the rule instead of the exception. Is using energy supplements to achieve a better workout an addiction? Is it wrong? I got sold on the idea that such supplementation was the rule rather than he exception from the supplementation sales people (eg vitamin shoppe) and from research in the body building forums. And that leads me to always use them for every workout. And the results are great in terms on reps, speed, performance, etc. Can I achieve the same results without them? Not sure. I should try. I always have had n addictive personality in everything I set my mind to as always want to give 110%. Is that healthy? Most of the time it is. Valedictorian, Eagle Scout, Concert Master in 120 member orchestra prior in life. Top of my career, great family, good post op weight loss, a competitive drive in athletic workouts to always get better. Having an addictive personality has served me well in being able to succeed and not settle.

Shhhhh. You are going to jinx the good weather.

To answer your question: I am looking to achieve an athletic physical fitness with a body fat percentage of 10-12%. I have stated in another thread about dreams that I want to compete in cross fit national games in 2 years and then compete in america ninja warrior in about 5 years. I have an unfair disadvantage as never been an athlete before and am not genetically disposed to it in terms of body composition. However, I believe with the right attention to nutrition, training and supplementation, anything is possible. Anything. I have a lot of quick catching up to do in the next 5 years and bit requires a lot of daily focus to transforming my body in terms if composition and athleticism. Plus I need to eliminate this small skin issue in the tummy from losing weight. It is not bad, but still needs to go to achieve my goals.

Tomorrow marks the last day of the 12 week challenge. Yay, we made it!! Congratulations on all who have persevered through the emotional and physical aspects of these last challenging 12 weeks. Personally, I have accomplished my physical goals outlined over the last 12 weeks: 1. My waist has really trimmed down from 34 to 30-32 inch levi. 2. My arms, legs, hands are really vascular. 3. My upper body strengthened has bulked up in terms of muscle mass and definition 4. My body fat percentage dropped 6 percentage points. 5. I can complete 10-20 unassisted pull ups, 200 Toes to Bar, 5:30 min mile run, 300+ lb dead lift, and on and on. My cross fit game has really improved in terms of strength, speed, mobility, flexibility and gymnastics skill. 6. My weight also dropped from 188 to a low of 172 and has stayed in 175-180 for the last month. This is right where I want to be for 5'11" frame. This has been a good trade of fat for lean muscle. 7. I have completed the entire "Be Your Own Gym" (BYOG) fitness program, progressing from novice to advanced. The advanced is still effective for me, but I am going to move onto a new program per notes below. What now you ask? It is time to think about your next 12 weeks. I am going to start a whole new level of training to hopefully move from "fitness" body (13-18% body fat) composition to "athletic" body composition (10-12 % body fat. I have a new DVD trainer that I have found to be 10x more brutal than Mark Lauren on BYOG program. What would you like to accomplish in terms of fitness, nutrition, professional and lifestyle per the application of strength in all these areas? These last 12 weeks should have helped you find tools to carry your vision of strength forward. Again, thanks for sticking with me over the last 12 weeks.

Cheri- would tortilla chips suffice as a replacement for flour tortillas? I've been able to try both around 6 months post op. Tortilla chips are a bit easier to eat and they are "free" when eating out as Mexican restaurants. Just do not eat too many of them.

My goal behind responding to this Boyscout issue is that the conversation remain civil. Honestly, I was disappointed in the decision that got made with regards to creating a line of delineation between gay scouts and gay leaders. I understand why they made this decision because of the power that adult leaders hold over the boys. However, divisiveness like this reeks of political openness overtones and that I had a problem with. I remember Scouts as it used to be. The scout oath and the scout motto defines a powerful direction for boys to become strong future leaders of morale strength. Scouts was a major part of my childhood and helped mold me into the person of leadership and moral character I am today. You see, I am an Eagle Scout, as are my two brothers, and I am proud of that. It comes with a responsibility to uphold the scout oath. We accepted the challenge of being an Eagle scout together in a joint ceremony. It was hard work to reach that award, but I am glad that Scouts was very morally structured back then, that it was inclusive to those that held the high standards of integrity, respect for authority and respect for a shared belief system. For what scouts is turning into today is creating men that lack the integrity and morale standard that scouts was known for, all in the name of political openness. The boys need a clear and narrow path of a belief system, respect for authority and integrity in order to become leaders as adult men that will keep our country strong and prosperous. I am afraid for what the lack of these standards and belief system is going to have on the future of our country. The county of America has already suffered so much because openness has created an environment where "anything goes" that has destroyed a once proud country due to lack of integrity. This is a very general statement that applies to the political system, the borders, the financial system, etc. There is so much rampant corruption in every part of the geo-social-political layers. Look at the scandals that are constantly taking place in the last decade alone in both major political parties. Look at the corruption in the major religious organizations. Look at the corruption of the financial system. We lack integrity at the highest levels of leadership and that can be traced back to lack of integrity instilled in young adults from the earlier and current generations. Please keep responses civil.

For all you folks who liked the "good poke" comment, I knew it was going to strike a big humour vein (ha!), depending on interpretation. Thanks for sharing in my little attempt at a joke.

Around-I need to check the blood pressure again. Honestly, I think it has gone up and sill get it checked today. We have a home cuff, but do not use it very much. One observation I made last night is the "pain" throbbed the most in a junction point of the primary vein on top of the hand where it branched towards middle finger and non married ring finger Is that a good classification of that finger?. Essentially, the finger between middle and pinky fingers. This blood "pump" is a change from most of the year after surgery where I was my bp was consistently 110 / 70 and my resting heart rate was between 40-45. Yes, my heart seemed to be pumping faster and harder now last night. It has since calmed down this morning. One change that occurred yesterday is I started a new really hard and intense workout at home (my next personal 12 week challenge). Loved it, but man it was a serious push of constant HIIT/ strength. I have also been taking some energy pills to help drive my focus and drive during workouts in order to push myself physically way beyond the point of comfort. I am not sure to think of it as good or bad. Good, I suppose, as being more visibly vascular is a sign that my hard training is paying off and my overall body composition is going in the right direction (targetting 10-12%). Bad because painful right hand vein pain may be a sign of phlebitis: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Why_is_swollen_and_painful_vein_on_right_hand_dangerous Not something to mess around with. I do not view the doctor with the same level of authority as I used to, meaning, I want to manage my own health holistically if possible. This is not meant to be a negative comment about the medical industry. I just want to manage my own health holistically without having to depend on prescriptions, doctors, nurses, whatever. I hate to be whining about this pain and that pain or this ache and that ache. Since achieving goal, I have taken my health into my own hands, trying to eat as healthy as possible to maximize my fitness efforts. It has paid off and I feel great, have so much energy and can do physically so many more things that I could only dream about before. I like what I have achieved in terms of fitness, nutrition and general knowledge about both in the last 6 months.

It's true. Both my SIL did not notice any difference until I was - 90. At -80, I was a little disturbed they said "I looked the same." Who says this about -80 lb drop? I am sure 10-20 more lbs and people will notice your changes. If not, slap them with a wet noodle.

Now that was funny BTB.

I used to be a notorious bad poke when doing blood tests as a formerly really obese guy. 3-4 tries in both arms, failing and then having to take it from the hand. Ouch! Now, my veins are very visible on both my forearms after months and months of training . I doubt the nurse will ever have a problem again. I will be known as "the good poke" by all the nurses. Lol.

Is this normal?!?! [ATTACH]16969[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]16970[/ATTACH] Vein on right hand throbs and a little painful swelling feeling on and off every hour or so. I hope it is just a result of lower body fat % and not anything else. Head throbs a little at the same time in right tempera lobe. Normally they are not vasculating this much nor are they painful. What do you think? Just looking for some free medical advice.

These sound good and, wait for it, wait for it, HEALTHY! I may have to try these and somehow get some more protein into them. I wonder how well the protein powder bakes when mixed in?

Rabbit food is not meant to be a slight against fiber one cereal at all. I love the stuff. Or at least I did pre VSG. It really does look like rabbit food pellets.

BTB- that does sound really good. I am going to try that for a pre workout snack soon. Need to go stock up on fiber one with all my target gift cards. oh and I do have some 15+ month unopened fiber one sitting in my backup pantry in the garage. How long do you think the shelf life is on unopened fiber one (original - the rabbit food)?