ertlandia

- you kind of look like opie(from sons of anarchy)

- i don't mean to be rude but are you sick... with like cancer or something

and my favorite because I don't even notice it and it sent my wife into a blind rage.

- getting checked out while holding my wife's hand

If anyone is looking for support send me an add mfp username -> ertlandia

great job keep it up

thats awesome

sorry about that fixed the link

tagged so when i get home i remember to provided titles

One of the goals that I set for myself shortly after I started riding a bike after surgery was that I was going to complete a 100 mile bike ride. At the time I thought it was kind of outrageous of a goal to complete with in a year from my surgery date. The last weekend in July I will be headed up to Burlington VT to complete that goal. This is a donation based ride that I need to raise money for.

I choose this ride to use this, lets call it, a second chance to try and do what I could to help someone that helped me. 2 years ago I found out that I had type 2 Diabetes. I was in denial for a few days but snapped out of it quickly. I did not ask the doc many questions at the appointment that I found out. I was in denial. I found the most support through a young girl, who was dating my youngest brother, she had been a type 1 diabetic since she was 3. At this point she had been living with it for 13 years. Even though type 1 and type 2 diabetes are different. The way she explained things about metabolizing carbs vs sugars helped me get alot of my intake under control.

I ride for her in the hopes that what ever money I can raise can help her from having to stick herself multiple times a day every day. Below is the link to my donation page. Mods/admins if this is inappropriate on the forum please remove the post

http://www2.jdrf.org/goto/ertter

I was having some issues early on with leg cramps and was advised by the staff at the weight loss center to add more salt to my diet and add magnesium.

you look amazing. congrats on the loss

before i started riding again it had been 16 years since the last time i rode. Starting out was rough but after a while I got a lot easier. I started out only able to get 5 miles at a speed of maybe 5mph. Now I am up to a max flat land speed of 24 mph (but not for very long) I am able to hold an average speed between 15 to 16 mph on much much longer rides now. It is now to the point were I ride not for the exercise but because it is like therapy. bad day good day get on the bike and everything is better.

I am honest and up front with anyone that asks. I have had reactions ranging from that's awesome to you took the easy way out. I don't care if people think I took the easy way out. I did this for me not for them. I made the choice, I made the choice I felt was best for me. I always look at it as "haters gunna hate"

Hmmm...that's one for the whey and one not for it. Guess I'll just try it LOL

Ertlandia' date=' that's a lot that you can't tolerate still! That's my worry. I'm hoping down the line my stomach will be able to tolerate more and I won't end up regretting getting it...[/quote']

eggs, Turkey, and cured ham. The issues that I have with some vegitables are because of gas. It does sound like alot but everything else that I have tried I do not have any trouble with them. I can eat other forms of pork products, ie bacon, sausage, chops just not cured ham. If given the chance to go back I would do it all over again.

Has anyone tried New Whey Protein? The one that comes in the tube? Do you dilute that or pour it over ice? How does it taste?

This stuff is gross... Super super gross. with that being said if you can get past the taste its a lot of Protein.

When I went to soft food I could not eat eggs I would instantly get sick, eggs in something fine, scrambled what ever nope. I tried multiple times up to my a month ago (9 month post op mark) and i started to to feel ill. I was not able to eat turkey and still cannot same with cured ham. leafy greens will still sometimes give me some issues. Everything else that I have tried I am able to eat in small amounts. (minus bread Pasta rice etc haven't even tried)

ertlandia' date=' I have to say your success is amazing! You're an inspiration![/quote']

Thank you. I still will walk by a mirror and not recognize myself.

I still, 10 months post op, do not always feel hungry. I run my life off of scheduled eating times and listen to my body. It gives me signs and clues when I need to fill up it's tank

When I started I was 5 miles at a 5mph pace. It has taken me months to get my distance and speed up. I can remember after one of my early rides, about 7 or 8 miles, I could not walk right the next day. It gets easier, just keep on keep'n on, the peddles that is.

I would walk, it was more of a mosey 3 days after surgery. When I was cleared to start "working out" I was 4 weeks out and started going for day hikes, 8 to 15 miles. (I live right off the Appalachian trail) it was about 3 months out I started riding a bike. I consulted with my doc to make sure going to lift was not going to damage anything at 6 months out. At 9 months out I started crossfit. One of the other activities that I wanted to get into was brazilian jiu jitsu and it was HIGHLY recommended to wait. When in doubt run it past your Doc.

Oh man I pretty much wrote off bibs because I was too fat to wear them. Now I'm not' date=' I may go try a few pair on. Tanks for that reminder.

I also want to say that padded seats are actually less comfortable on longer rides. I seems counterintuitive but it's true. On rides longer than just a few miles, the padding gradually compresses and you end up riding on the seat rails which is not comfortable at all. A firm seat will not feel as comfortable on the fist mile, but after 10 miles it will feel way better than one of those big soft cushioned seats. If you look at my seat up there, it has no padding whatsoever...just leather stretched very tightly across the frame. I've ridden 75 miles in a day with that seat with no problems at all.[/quote']

This is the saddle that I am currently using. ( http://m.specialized.com/us/en/ftb/saddles/roadmultisport-saddles/riva-road )

I rode without no pad and a wtb pure v saddle. When I finally picked up a my bibs the wtb seat no longer fit the bill. I too was scared to spend a bunch of money on a good pair of bibs until I found a pair super cheap on nashbar's website. I think I paid like 35 bucks for a pair of the nashbar branded bibs. Now I will not go back.

as butter said cycling tights with a chamois. I run a pair of Pearl Izumi 3/4 length attacks knicker bibs(model name) long name amazing on the gentleman parts. I also had a professional fit done to get the bike dialed in just right. I was riding 125 to 150 miles a week no knickers. Picked a pair up and was able to almost triple my distance that week. I also run a seat with a cut out.

that is awesome. I also had issues finding shoes that would fit. now I can find stuff that fits. It is a great feeling

You are amazing! I know I have done well but people like you make me feel like a failure! Congratulations!!!

thank you for your compliment. You should not feel like a failure thou. We all lose differently. I have had to put in a lot of exercise to get to were I am at. I work out, on average, 2 hours 6 days a week.

I would go back and do it all over again in a heart beat, extra skin and all.

First of all i wish you all the ebst in your journey i wish god guide you though each step and help you and bring you all the joy you want .

Allow me to say that i was extremely confused to do the surgery my Op is 6 days away and after seeing your pictures i realise that i need to do this .. but please i have few question and i would excuse you if u want to skip some answers ..

1- what kind of sport program you did so you don't have to much loose skin . your body is perfect and the arm and the hips are awesome no loose skin visible ???

2- are you tucking your tummy under the shorts or you don't have loose skin ??

3 - * shhh * this might be a little privet for u to answer but am wondering the fat pad which were around your penis area is it gone and i mean is it more visible or ur having a loose skin there too ??

thank you soo much please share ur experience

1 I do have extra skin. I am able to tuck my hand under it. monday is yoga, tuesday deep tissue massage wedesday biking, thursday gym Arms chest, abs and back extensions, friday bike again, saturday gym back shoulds. Sunday off one week next week i run a group ride for some people I know who are trying to ride to lose weight.

I also commute to work by bicycle 75% of my work week. I will be adding crossfit to that.

2 I am a stomach over the belt kind of guy. Most all of my excess skin is around my trunk stomach back and butt. I wear compress shorts all the time.

3 This was one area I was concerned with the possibility of excess skin. The excess skin sprang back pretty good here.

I forgot to add I do a ton of sit-ups. I average 2000 situps a week and 600 push ups a week.

214lbs vs 380lbs

These pics are 9 months apart

That was awesome and woah you're doing fantastic!!!

I have more questions for all- how do you know when you're doing too much/getting obsessive? Do I have to take a day off? If I'm working out pretty hard every day right now (I also have a heart rate monitor and wouldn't live without it now) if I stall will I have to push EVEN harder?

I LOVE exercise!!! A few weeks ago I hated it. Go figure.

I am one of those people that I can never give it enough. I try to do something atleast six days a week. Your body will tell you when you are doing to much. Not paying attention I fell off my bike, i clip in to the peddels and forgot I was clipped in tried to put the foot that was attached to the bike down and it was still attached you get the picture, I banged my knee up pretty good. I kept going I didn't listen to my body. I haven't ridden in like a week because of it trying to allow for it to heal.

I have learned, as i have lost weight, to listen to the queues my body gives me. It can be tuff some times I like to push myself. I take atleast 1 day off. I go 110% every time.