Fiddleman

There are no issues with bragging in this thread!! Feel free!

Yes, unfortunately. When your body gets used to the whole VSG way of eating, some months are 2-3 lb losses, maybe even zero loss. However, I bet your clothes are fitting better and you can see or feel more bone and muscle definition then the last month. Plus you have more energy and mood is improved. This slower loss starts around 4-5 months. You may be right that 5:2 is what your body needs to get a little uncomfortable with its caloric needs. I like that the fasting is surrounded by TDEE eating as it will keep your BMR off life support and that means more efficiency in burning calories. A lot of folks find out the hard way that fasting all the time (read: 600-900 calories a day) kills the BMR around 6-9 months without increasing calories up to TDEE. Once a TDEE lowers enough, your body requires very few calories before it starts storing it as fat for later. That is what is beautifully designed about 5:2 - your body will consistently need around normal TDEE calorie, but fasting days really prime the BMR for better throughput consistently. You just need to get used to the feeling of raging hunger on those fasting days.

Any philosophies or theories on how you would not be an intimidating presence around the younger generation if you have anatomical artifacts that are sourced from excellent nutrition and fitness levels? Everyone wants to make friendships with others and not become isolated because of some intimidation factor. Maybe it truly comes down the a positive and open personality that is honest and altruistic towards others? That may be key. It would be a disappointment to go through all the hard work of around improving your lifestyle in terms of health only to live a lonely life. Something to ponder as a group think this morning...

Thanks for sharing the information on trunkplasty. That sounds like a good option for people who need more then a TT. Overall, it sounds like a really good approach to getting toned in the.core area. Do you mind me asking what the cost is for one of these?

Globe trotter- nothing too scandalous was in the original package that had to be removed before package could be shipped. Essentially, some fitness mags with women showing midriff. We double checked jerky meat products did not contain any pork. Hope you like the ostrich sticks as it is one of my favorite snacks. Lean, tasty and high protein. My wife was going to include a certain vibrating "back rubber" (wink,wink) but I talked her out of it given potential issues we might have with shipping it. The post officer seemed to be on the up and up with packages sent to Afghanistan so knew what had to be removed by memory (impressed!!) Thanks again for serving our country with your work.

Hoosier - lol. funny but good statement on effective paleo based diet. I had a kind of downer week 4 because of having a cold most of the week. However, had 1 really good cross fit session (posted on another thread), 1 really good push lifting day and continued to eat paleo based diet with good results. Filling, never hungry and plenty of energy. Overall did not push myself as much as I would like, but did the best I could while feeling suboptimal. Ready to get back into it next week in a big way with a new type of working out. Looking forward to week 5 as I got my fitness DVD for "you are your own gym" (body weight fitness designed by elite special ops trainer mark lauren) and bought a book on paleo fitness today to learn even more about effective body weight exercises. There are beginner, intermediate and advanced DVD and I will be starting with beginner. Stoked about what is to come from doing the body weight workouts 3 days a week starting Monday. I also added an effective 20 minute start- your-day warmup routine right when I first roll out of bed in the morning. It is essentially a moderately fast 1 mile run (8:00 minute mile and key is to be able to carry a conversation during it so not very high on heart rate) followed by stretches and a warmup of pushups, plank holds, wall sits and lunges. Nothing too hard, but warms up the body and the mind before starting my work day on my computer.

Sorry Laura! My typical man brain was only paying attention to the post right in front of me rather then the history of the entire thread. congratulations on your super duper fantastical mega loss of XX ( fill in the blank) for this week. It goes to show 5:2 is actually pretty good for you and I appreciate BTBs description above. Me - I prefer to eat the way as I am eating. 200-300 below TDEE (about 2000 calories, exact is 2054), never hungry, eating every 1-2 hours small, balanced paleo meals, losing body fat (eg leaning out while building lean muscle). You see I am on a popular plan also called paleo eating and fitness. I am Really good at the nutrition (eat like a caveman) and am in process of ramping up fitness . scale has gone down about 10 lb from a month ago, and have never felt better after following my "transformation" program over in vets forum. 2 months to go. Anyways, just a little program a few of us are on for 12 weeks. Back to 5:2 diet. I talked to my wife about this diet, as I have never heard of it before the thread. She surprised me in saying that people have been mega successful on this way of eating and it works for a lot of people. I have been successful on popular diets before being sleeved. Lets see: WW - 95 lb, Atkins - 100 lb. in both cases they were in the last 10 years and I also gained everything back plus more afterwards. Weight regain was due to losing steam at 6 months because no lifestyle changes occurred for me during first 6 months to go from weight loss to weight maintain. There were no long term strategies i could live with or the suggested long term plan just did not click for me. However, if there is truly a long term strategy to eat well as BTB suggests (6:1), then you have found a really good forever plan. With WW and Atkins, I was very successful, but did long find either sustainable and "failed" at both. I am curious how long one stays on this 5:2 plan and what happens long term once you go "off" the plan. Is fasting consistently every week good and healthy for you long term? I think so if you agree with BTB description of calorie in and out of weeks and months (I agree). Based on the popularity of this plan and empirical evidence to back up long term success of 5:2, this is good news for a lot of you. Keep posting your successes here! Cheers.

Interesting, did not realize that! Great job on the -1.5 lbs.

I am almost 1 year post op (July 2nd). I lost 192 lb on Feb 25th. After that I gained about 15 lbs in attempt to build up physique. In the last 2 months I have been leaning out and still increasing lean muscle (dropped about 5% to 16%). The sleeve is definitely worth it!!

Is my theory on older generation young at heart attracted to younger generation a good theory or what? No responses...

I got really curious, as usual, and checked email for the "missing response." Except it wasn't there. what is your response Amy?

Is it desperation of the older generation? Seriously, in general sometimes it comes down to dress, hair style and self confidence that women or men find attractive in the opposite sex. It is not only scale weight and muscles, so to speak, but it certainly helps. Not absolutely sure about this, but have a strong feeling about it. Come on women, throw us a bone on this question. I have also heard that a lot of older folks feel young in heart and their reflection in the mirror does not match how they feel inside. This is what I have picked up from my MIL as she has been "on the market", so to speak, and feels this way about her self. Yet she looks at pictures of other guys that are same age or a couple years older and they look "so old" to her. It is a matter of perspective I guess. Soon we will be looking like one of those old guys in our outward reflection too, but feeling like a 25 year old stud. What would we do then? I am 38 now and have not given it a whole lot of thought. I guess we will cross that bridge when it arrives, or never in my case, because I am happily married. I will still have to deal with looking old, but feeling young.

You have already done the hardest step which is to make the decision to end the madness. Really, that is key. Once you set your mind to make a change, the rest will follow. You just need to put in the hard work of following the post op eating plan, drink lots of water, exercising, cutting out the crap like high sugar, fat and salt. Cut out alcohol for 6 months. You can have it again after that, but get through most of your weight loss first. Alcohol is going to sabotage you because it will take your body out of being a lean, mean calorie burning machine. After 6 months, drink in moderation, like a couple a month to be social and to relax with the guys. I do this today. However, do not let alcohol become anything more in your life then that because you do not want a cross addiction nor do you want to get soft from it. I know you can do this because of the strong desire I read in the words of your post. Do not worry about exercising that much in the first 5 months. Getting your diet right, forming a good moderate exercise plan (read: not hard core) and forming a good set of habits are going to be your key to success. I always failed in the past to achieve my weight loss goals pre sleeve because I always tried to be a fiend in the cardio and develop a fad based diet at the same time. What ended up happening is I would get burned out from the exercise and then my eating habits were so unrealistic it would all go to hell around 6 months. This time it was different. After being sleeved, I got the lifestyle habits in place during the first 6 months, lost the weight I needed to lose a d then, and only then, stepped up the exercise and workouts to nail my fitness goals. Today, I can manage the eating and the exercise only because daily habits are in place. And they are ingrained, man. It is not work. I love to do it. I have to say my one habit i struggle with is eating slow. i can do the small portions and eating small bits, but i still woof my food. try to do perfect at this and you will have it all. All the success. You can have this vision of success! Just keep in mind my points about building up the good habits first before going balls to the wall with both a killer eating plan and workout strategy.

You have done it! You have taken control of your life. That is super impressive. You will be able to achieve that athletic or body build body after not too long. Just put your mind to it and I know you will do it. Good luck on the next step of your transformation!

Wow, started at 300 on feb 4th, 2013?!?!?! Great example for the guys, man.

Your goal is very realistic with the sleeve. However, be warned: the sleeve will only do so much of the heavy lifting for you. You have got to make a lifestyle change of diet and exercise to really be able to nail that goal. You will be able to do it! I started at 360 on may 25th, 2012 and hit 178 at feb 28th, 2013. Today, I am at 185 lb, 16% body fat and am almost to my envisioned body image. The lady loves it! Even better, I love myself now. Best decision EVER!!

Why can I not find something that is designed like a rumble roller!! http://www.rumbleroller.com/ It would be perfect! The perfect amount of stimulation. So far my experience with "ultra ribbed" condoms has been, well, not so ribbed. After losing 180 lbs, I could use these to help me with the ecstasy factor in the bedroom. Men, I do have to tell you that losing the gut stomach and getting into "fit shape" has been a whole different experience, one that lasts and lasts and lasts. Ok, I better stop because I know the women are reading this post as well.