Globetrotter

You know what I say to people who are foolish enough to try to get me to cut out chocolate? With the 6 days a week HIIT, the ADF, the major surgery and the well over 100 lbs lost and they STILL have the mother loving nerve to tsk at my daily (yeah, I said it- daily!) taste of extra dark chocolate? I say YER MOMMA, STFU.

Low calorie is relative, when I think low calorie I always think, "lowest possible calorie level with highest possible protein content that are also the most filling", which means that technically they probably aren't the lowest possible calories. So my faves are plain greek yogurt, salad with homemade mustard vinaigrette, devilled eggs made without mayo, and my new super favorite, sent to me by Fiddleman & Phoenix, high protein salami sticks, with only 80 cals per huge stick, tons of flavor, and 15g protein, woot!

I don't respond well to the traditional no pain no gain, sadistic trainer, the kind who says just 3 more! And then after those 3 says, only 5 more! That sort of hooey makes me go into a blind rage. That is one reason why I love Xfit so much, the guys at the box are so enthusiastic and in love with Xfit that they just radiate joy in getting stronger and better, which makes you want to try your hardest.

Frankly, from my end of the spectrum, a person who has yet to hit goal even after 3 years, these are champagne problems. If I got to goal I would be so happy.

Thank you Fiddleman! I guess some people don't realize my unusual circumstances, though I've posted it enough.

Fiddle - I'm recommending that you switch out some of your running for Pilates because Pilates is all about maintenance and strengthening of the muscles you already have - it was invented for injured ballerinas, so they wouldn't lose strength while healing from injuries. It only uses your own body weight and tension and is incredibly intense, I have dripped sweat tears more quickly in Pilates than in Xfit! Also, it is simply unbeatable for sculpting the musculature.

Yeah, thanks, I realize I can google it, I'm bringing it up here to that i can have discussion of the materials with my fellow sleevers.

I would very much like to start incorporating the tenets of these books into my daily life, but I do not have copies of them nor can I get my hands on copies at the moment (I am deployed). Anybody know of resources where I can get the info?

Hashimoto's is a hypothyroid condition but I just heard back from the Dr who says that my thyroid is all very normal which frankly sucks because that leaves the other diagnosis that a Dr gave me and that is too terrible to think about. Fiddleman & Wife sent the most AWESOME care packages, full of Syntrax powder (cookiesncreme), green powder, face cream, Water balloons lol, and facewipes, yippeeee!! Right now I am drinking a shake, make with water and a dash of coffee, and two scoops of Barlean's Flax. the flax absorbs the shake and turns it into pudding. Tomorrow morning I will have some green superfood powder either before or after my morning shake - any suggestions on how to take it?

I notice you rely alot upon strawberries, oranges, and grapes, which happen to be the 3 fruits highest in sugar. Beets will give you plenty of sweetness, if you have a sweet tooth, and have you considered adding in more spinach kale etc? That will provide greater satiety and fiber. Also, that pound back was not a real pound, you know that more than likely it is your intestines and bowels (sorry!) resetting themselves I WISH I could juice or be raw but my current living conditions preclude this.

Yep, 5:2. I am living this nightmare as well - I haven't lost in 13 months and have in fact gained 30, making me 60 lbs away from goal instead of only 15 when I was at my lowest. I am now turning to Strength for Life and 5:2, not as gimmicks but for total lifestyle change, we have a 5:2 thread here on VST.

I think you might benefit from replacing runs with Pilates.

Fiddleman, I've got the Green Vibrance now - yay!! How do you recommend I take it?

Yeah the app for the android platform sucks big time, i gave up trying to access VST from my tablet. Hi guys!! I'm back from R&R, which was neither restful or recuperative :/ Some potential health issues have arisen that are ... well a game changer. Also, waiting to hear back on whether or not I've got Hashimoto's. But, I'm back now and will start the 5:2 today, now that I have awesome protein powders and such sent by our very own Fiddleman and wife!! So beyond grateful guys... coffee for breakfast, shakes for lunch and dinner, a snack of deli meat and tuna.

You couldn't sit, but could you run? What kind of exercise were you allowed during those 6 weeks? I want it all done, total body contouring, but if I had to choose I think I am more obsessed with getting the batwings taken care of, the more I scrutinize photos of people who have lost massive amounts of weight, the more I believe that it is the upper arms and chin(s) that will make a person look fat even when they aren't any longer.

Three years ago, on July 14th 2010, I had my VSG. I cannot now remember what life was like, what I was like, before surgery. I am still not at goal, in fact am a solid 60 lbs away from goal. There are things I know now about metabolic surgery that I did not know before, really that none of us knew, that are only just being realized now. For example, the fact that a super low calorie diet isn't necessarily responsible for your honeymoon weightloss and that staying on a super low calorie diet after the honeymoon won't necessarily ensure continued significant loss. I love my sleeve, I love that after 3 years I can still get full from 3 pieces of sushi, That 2 scrambled eggs will keep me going for 10 hours, that I can go an entire day without eating and not even realize it, and then be satisfied with an apple and Peanut Butter. After so much time, the next phase/goal is the reconstruction, getting this excess tissue off is my next goal, and someday, SOMEDAY, finally getting to be totally and completely not fat

Norm Day: woke up this morning, 190.6 lbs. Yesterday, a Fast Day, I had a Protein Shake, beef Jerky, and some pepperoni - 512 cals. Today probably around 1400 cals. Trying to bust the sugar addiction is incredibly difficult, not just in terms of cravings but sheer logistics - that $h!t is in EVERYTHING! Unless you have access to ethical groceries from Co-Ops that don't sneek HFCS into EVERYTHING, it is really tricky. salad dressing! Plain creamer! I will believe this is working when I hit AND pass 184 lbs.

Muscle does not weight more than fat, it has greater density yes, but it does not weigh more. A pound is a pound, and all that. I've often wondered if we wouldn't be better off focusing on losing the weight before fitness, as soon as I focused on fitness, even though I remained perfect and faithful on my nutrition, my weight loss slowed to a snail pace and never recovered

I think I have a hernia. About a week ago I noticed a tenderness along the right side of my navel, it feels like I have an internal bruise-ball there. I haven't been doing anything strenuous or lifting incorrectly or anything. I can't afford this!

Today is a fast day, weighed this morning and still at 191.2, so I didn't "gain" back after my NORM day. Tomorrow I start traveling so I will be fasting unintentionally (military travelling-don't ask), I'll be living off some protein bars for at least 3 days.

Oh this wasn't the first day of my 5:2, I've been noticing now for 2 weeks that after a fast day I "lose" 2-3 pounds, but that after a "norm" day I "gain" it back. The only thing my body every responded to was severe calorie restriction, every day less than 600 cals when I was immed post-op. But I just can't live like that again. Right now I'm actually doing 4:3, not 5:2. So basically I fast every other day.

LOLOLOL, you really didn't have to be that cautious but it's very sweet that you were! We look forward to pulled pork/BBQ night at our difac every week!

You're lucky you were "tight" chubby, you've shrunk evenly How have your tats faired?

Norm Day - shooting for 1400 cals. Weight myself first thing this morning, 191 lbs, down more than 2 lbs from yesterday. If I weight myself tomorrow morning and am back up to 193, then I will know that my body does not respond to 5:2 and instead only responds to super low calorie.

Butter the Bean - where can I read more about this fascinating information on fasting and inducing hormones for muscle building?