Kris

There's a very interesting article in today's Washington Post regarding black women's body images compared to white women's body images. I think the article makes some great points and I really enjoyed it. Speaking from my own experience and friendships with black and white women, I think it captures the big differences between how black women think of their bodies compared to white women. What do you think? http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/black-women-heavier-and-happier-with-their-bodies-than-white-women-poll-finds/2012/02/22/gIQAPmcHeR_story.html?hpid=z5

Thanks you guys ... I have a feeling this is the "new me" unless I get surgery (though I've heard surgery on the legs and arms leaves horrible scarring, so that's really not something I'd probably pursue). I can live with the arms being a little flabby (kettlebell workouts are really helping to tone my arms), and of course I have a flabby tummy and saggy breasts, but the legs are the worst IMO because they are the most visible outside the face and arms, and are in so much worse shape than I would've imagined. I do tons of squats, lunges, and kettlebell swings so I know my legs are getting as hard a workout as my arms -- they just aren't responding as well as my arms. I do plan to have some plastic surgery within the next year -- a neck lift to remove my wattle, and a breast lift/tummy tuck procedure to firm up the midsection. I have a dear friend who is also about my age and she is considering weight loss surgery, but she sees the loose skin on me and is turned off by it. I just keep telling her it's worth it to me to be so much lighter and healthier now than I was (not to mention happier and more self-confident). I have a friend who is a trainer and that's a good idea to consult with her. Maybe I need to spend more energy on toning my legs than I have been.

I should have said that this is definitely not a DVD for beginners (unless you really want to torture yourself). She says throughout that she has 300 or 400 lb. people on The Biggest Loser doing the exercises, but I just can't imagine I'd be able to do even the Week 1 workout w/o already having been moderately fit. For beginners I really like the Leslie Sansone or Shapely Girl workout DVDs, which are low impact and not as stressful on the body.

OK, you guys, I need some help. I am 13 months out from surgery and am close to my end goal. But I am so, so disappointed in my thighs... they are hideous. I am 44 and have seen better looking legs on 70 year old grandmothers. It's not only loose skin, but cellulite. And some of my loose skin is kind of drooping over my knees, so there is no way I am going to wear knee-length skirts or dresses or shorts. I am very grateful to live in a cool-ish climate where jackets and long pants are the norm 9 months of the year, which helps me pretend like my legs aren't as bad as they are. I have some batwing action going on in my arms, but overall my arms are shaping up much better than my legs. I exercise 5 days a week (and have been for many months) and my thighs get plenty of work during my workouts. I think it's just a matter of too much loose skin with nowhere to go. Can anyone who is further out tell me if this will get better over time? Or is it something I'm just going to have to get used to?

I belonged to Curves a few years ago (pre-op). I liked it but it does have its limitations. The various machines work different parts of your body, and you are constantly moving from one station to another. Our Curves used to change the machines around every few weeks so it would disrupt the routine and make it feel a little different (even though it was the same machines). One thing I really liked about Curves was the music selection they used. There was always some good fast-beat workout music that kept things going at a good clip. It made the time pass quickly. I also had a fairly steady routine and got to know several of the other women who were regulars. We'd chat while working out. As I was very heavy and very self-conscious about my weight, I liked that it was a small gym and only women (several of whom were also overweight, so I didn't feel so out of place). It was a nice convivial environment. I stuck with it for 6 or 7 months and lost some weight, but then got distracted and stopped going, and a few months later the Curves closed down w/o much advance notice. About a year later a new fitness center opened up in the same shopping center, and it was a full-service fitness center with tons of machines and classes and trainers, etc., for the same price as Curves had been -- which made me think that Curves was really over-priced for what you get. Also, I believe Curves does allow a trial period before you join. You should definitely ask for that before you sign a contract. If you have a choice in fitness centers, before you join Curves you should check out the alternatives. You'll probably find a better deal elsewhere, and, like others have said, I think Curves have a tendency to disappear in the dark of night, which could be a nasty surprise if you pre-paid your membership.

Let me tell you about the video that is helping me have an awesome pulse rate (51 -- woot?!). My girl Jillian Michaels of Biggest Loser fame has a bunch of fitness workout DVDs out, but this is the first one of hers I've ever purchased or used (note: the title of the DVD is actually Ripped in 30, not 30 Day Shred). I picked it up at costco in early January for the low low price of $7.99 or something like that. I have definitely gotten my money's worth from the video, as I've used it at least 15 times the past couple of months. So, now that I've gotten through all the workouts, I thought I would tell you about it. The DVD contains a 4-week workout program with a different 30 minute workout each week. Each workout starts with a warmup, ends with a cool-down/stretch, and has 20 minutes or so of full body workout, with a "3/2/1" system -- 3 minutes of strength training, 2 minutes of cardio, and 1 minute of abs -- there are 3 circuits of the 3/2/1 system. Each week gets progressively harder, and of course, each week there is a different colored ensemble for Jillian and her crew (which, maybe it is a girl thing, but this really matters to me. I like workout fashion, apparently!). You can advance at your own pace, so if you are really fit you will probably not spend that much time on the Week 1 workout and might skip to weeks 2, 3, or 4. I consider myself to be moderately fit and I stayed with the Week 1 workout for over a month because I found it quite challenging. I've done the Week 2 workout several times, absolutely hated the Week 3 workout, and just got through the 4th week workout last week, which makes me still cringe a little when I think about, because it was so hard. I mean really, really hard. The kind of hard that, when you are trying to do the last set of abs, you are making noises you didn't think your body was capable of making. Moan-groans. Like oooghhhdrshhgoooocslllldsss. Like that. To do any of the 4 workouts you will need a couple of sets of hand weights (probably a 3 lb. set and a 5 lb. set), and a yoga mat, and a bit of floor space to do the exercises. Jillian has two cast members with her; one does the modified version of the exercises and one does the "badass" version of the exercises. I tried to do the "badass" version as much as possible but there were some moves that honestly I just couldn't do the full badass version on. Mostly the pushups, which I find to be very hard (even though the strength training with the weights was the easiest part of the workouts to me ... go figure). Both of Jillian's crew are women with amazing hard bodies. They definitely help motivate you to stick with the program in the faint hope of getting a body like theirs (of course, in reality, I am sure these women spend at least a couple of hours each day in the gym, and probably eat one of those insanely spartan low-Protein bodybuilder diets -- I am sure that Oreos and potato chips never pass their lips). Speaking of bodies -- you know, I never really thought much about Jillian's sexual orientation until I saw this video. One of the cast members, Shelly, has a really perfectly sculpted body, and big boobs too (meow! Yes, I am being catty! It's pure jealousy, I assure you -- I am not ashamed to admit it). Anyway, I think Jillian really had the hots for Shelly, and a couple of points in the Week 2 workout I was a bit creeped out by the attention she was giving Shelly -- slapping her butt and making little comments like "Ooh, I want to bite it!" (Shelly's butt, that is). It was kind of icky. I am very much live & let live as far as relationships goes, but if I am watching a workout video I don't like to see the trainer hitting on the crew. Maybe it's me, but I got the vibe that Shelly was a bit icked out, too. It was only in the Week 2 workout, though. She also seemed to like the other gal in the week 2 workout (Natalie, I think), who also had this amazing hard body and was also attractive. But weeks 1, 3, and 4 were fine -- I didn't have an ick factor in those workouts. If you've used this video please share your comments and correct me if you think I am off-base about this. Maybe I am more of a prude than I thought I was! So, to summarize, if you want a tough full body workout in only 30 minutes, this is a great DVD. I usually do the workouts 2 or 3 times a week and do other videos or my own routines the other days. I have definitely noticed progress in my strength and endurance since starting to use this video and will keep using it for another month or two at least. Until the next Jillian killer DVD comes out, probably!

I fell short of my Christmas goal but still lost over 6 lbs. for the month of December, which I am very happy with considering how slow my weight loss has been the last several months. In 2012 I will definitely hit my final goal weight, and by Valentine's Day I should be within striking distance of that goal! I have to admit how amazed I am by these numbers that y'all have been putting up -- by comparison I am a slow loser (though I try not to focus on that and instead focus on how far I've come). Surgery weight: 224.5 (1/7/11) Current weight: 146.4 Valentines goal weight: 139 Final goal weight: 132

I am really into kettlebells now. I'm using a 15 lb. kettlebell to do my daily workouts (I alternate low impact aerobics w/kettlebell exercises -- 30 minutes altogether, 1/2 is aerobics and 1/2 is kettlebell which combines aerobics with strength training). By February I want to be able to comfortably use a 20 lb. kettlebell (I have one and have tried it a time or two, but it really is a bit too much for me to handle w/o tweaking my lower back). I started out with a 10 lb. kettlebell in November so I am definitely making progress, and this is an achievable goal for me!

Gosh, there have been some major positive changes in my life since being sleeved nearly a year ago. My health is so much better -- no more high blood pressure, no more worries about being borderline diabetic, no more horrible acid reflux problems. I had pretty bad (untreated) sleep apnea before surgery and was tired all the time. Now I don't snore at all, and I sleep through the night, and I wake up feeling rested and ready to tackle the day. I would avoid any kind of physical exertion before surgery ... my husband remarked how I would almost never walk up the stairs unless it was a dire situation, and now I run up the stairs lickety split without hesitation. I used to rarely exercise, now I exercise 6 days a week and love it -- really love it, not just saying that. I love to be active and move now, which is the complete opposite of how I used to be. Before surgery, I wouldn't try new activities because I was too self conscious about my weight. Since surgery I've gone swimming & snorkeling in the ocean, gone inner tubing down a river, and gone on a 7 mile hike up a mountain -- none of these things are things I would ever have considered seriously before surgery. Clothes shopping used to be a necessary evil -- I would certainly never go clothes shopping "for fun" before surgery -- now it is a lot of fun to shop for clothes, and not a depressing sight to see myself in the changing room mirror (with clothes on ... w/o clothes I'm still v. much a work in progress, LOL). Those are just some of the highlights. I feel so much happier and self confident now than I did, too. In every way I can think of, my life has improved since having surgery. Negatives -- there are a couple of negatives, but in my mind they are totally outweighed by the positives. My skin has not done well since surgery; I have lots of loose skin everywhere (from the chin down to the knees). I am still very appalled by how I look naked. I have an ugly turkey neck and will probably need a neck lift once I hit goal and am seriously thinking of getting a breast lift and tummy tuck too, once I hit goal and stabilize there for a year or so. Sometimes I do really miss not being able to eat more ... like when I am eating a fabulous meal out, and I hit my limit faster than I want ... but I have to admit, I really don't feel deprived. I used to be a major volume eater, so the transition from volume eater to sleeve capacity eater has been a big life change. Really those are the only negatives, and in the big scheme of things they aren't much to complain about! I love my sleeve and think that getting sleeved was one of the best things I ever did for myself in my life.

Hey Chris! Nice to meet you! I just checked out your blog -- I like it! I hope you like the Costco jerky -- I'm going back there this weekend to stock up on a couple more bags.

I eat a lot of beef Jerky -- pretty much I have some every day; it's my go-to snack or meal stand-in when I don't have time to grab something else. We are fortunate to live near a good butcher shop that makes their own fresh jerky, and that's our standard, but sometimes we can't make it to the butcher and then I need to find a substitute. Most commercially packaged jerky is just nasty (I've tried almost all brands), so when I was in costco over the weekend and saw a new Kirkland Signature Extra Thick Cut Steak Strips jerky package, I decided to try it. It's fabulous -- made with nice chunks of top round steak and seasonings. It's moist and chewy and delish. And the price is great too -- $8.99 for a 12 oz package, which is several dollars less than Jack's Links or other comparable brands, and way tastier. Nutrition info per one oz. serving: Calories: 60 Calories from fat: 5 Total fat: .5g (no saturated or trans fats) Cholesterol: 10mg Sodium: 330 mg (yep, it's kind of salty) Total Carbohydrate: 5g Protein: 9g

I missed the Halloween goal by a couple of lbs. My weight loss has been slow for the past 3 months -- I lost 6.5 lbs. this past month (which was my best month since July) and that was with some really hard working out (I only missed working out on 4 days out of 31). I am setting what for me is a realistic but challenging goal, which is to lose slightly over 10 lbs before Christmas. If I hit this goal, I will start 2012 off being less than 10 lbs. to my ultimate goal weight, which will be SO COOL! I have to say these challenges really to help me stay motivated with my weight loss! Even though I have always fallen short of my challenge goals, I've always come close and it's very satisfying to see my progress over time. SN: Kris CW: 151.2 GW: 141

I have a bunch of her DVDs and overall I like them. Some are definitely better than others -- check the reviews on Amazon.com to get a flavor for what people like and don't like. I just got her "5 Really Big Miles" DVD (with resistance band) and like it best of all (it's got better music than usual). I didn't particularly like the "Five Mile Fat Burning Walk" one but have it in occasional rotation. The steps are easy to follow, she is lively, she usually has a fun cast, and the time seems to go fast. I think she is a very likeable person and that definitely helps. I've done her videos so many times that I decided it couldn't be that hard to devise my own step routines to do while listening to my ipod ... LOL I was wrong! I didn't appreciate her skill as an instructor until I tried to make up my own routines.

Sara Ann, I feel you girl!!! Carbs really are the DEVIL for me. It is a pity too because I love them SO much, but when I start eating them I just want more and more -- it is a totally vicious cycle. I especially crave them in the afternoon and in the evening (around 8 pm). I ate too many carbs yesterday so today is a more protein-heavy day for me. Breakfast was 1/2 premier Protein bar, lunch is 3 Aidell's chicken teriyaki pineapple meatballs drizzled w/ a little teriyaki sauce, snack is another 3 Aidell's meatballs, and dinner will be stir fry (only a little bit of rice). I'd guesstimate my protein/carb ratio for today is going to be 60/40. Yesterday it was probably reversed -- 40/60. If I keep the protein/carbs mix to 50/50 with no more than half of my calories coming form carbs, I usually do fine. My worst problem is when I cave and eat a really carby snack in the afternoon ... that usually can end up wrecking my day because I will want to keep eating carbs the rest of the day. I am one of those people who hates to plan meals but I know that if I don't that is when I really go off track. Nine months out from surgery, and I am *still* learning how to eat like a normal person. It is hard. Nearly 20 years of carb addiction is a very tough habit to kick.

I am really amazed by the results so far ... wow, there are a lot of INTJs here. That is so interesting! That is not what I anticipated. There is another personality related theory that is somewhat derived from the MBTI called "temperament theory" (David Kiersey) and he groups the 16 MBTI types into four "temperaments" -- "Artisan" SP (sensing perceiver), "Guardian" SJ (sensing judger), "Idealist" NF (intuitive feeler), and "Rational" NT (intuitive thinker). So far, based on those who have submitted results, it appears that "Idealist" NF and "Rational" NT temperaments are far more represented here than in the overall population and the "SP" and "SJ" types are under-represented. Keep those votes coming! Thank you!

I go to a Zumba class once a week and really enjoy it, but it is true that the class routines are different than the DVDs (my Zumba instructor confirmed this). So, while the class can give you the general flavor for what is on a DVD, don't expect that the routines will be the same at all. I've seen the infomercial for the latest Zumba DVD pack and it does look fun, but also some of the moves are way beyond my skill set (to put it bluntly, I am NOT coordinated!). If you really love to dance and like world music, it's a really fun workout. Tiffykins' suggestion to buy one DVD off eBay is a great idea, before you splurge and pay $50 - $100+ for a DVD set. I do love the Zumba music, and I will enjoy almost any kind of exercise as long as the music has a good, fast beat and makes me want to boogie. I have downloaded my fave songs from various Zumba albums from itunes onto my ipod and that way I can have Zumba music but do other types of exercising between Zumba classes.

MrBear78, first of all, I want to saw WOW, you are doing an AMAZING job with your weight loss! You should be very proud of what you have already accomplished! I think what you are going through is pretty normal. Your sleeve capacity definitely does increase over time ... I am 9 months out and can eat about twice as much food now as I could in the first 3 months post-op. So, that happens whether you are exercising or not. I believe my sleeve is pretty much at full capacity now, which is to say, still not very much! I don't know how many calories you are eating but maybe that is something to address with your surgeon and see whether you should be increasing them a bit now. My weight loss began slowing down big time after six months, and that was when I increased the time & vigor of my exercising. Definitely when I work my muscles hard I will feel weak later. Again, I think this is pretty normal ... however, to be on the safe side you should discuss it with your doctor. Not sure if you had any heart problems pre-op, and if so you might want to get that checked out. It's probably normal but if you are worried it's bettter to be safe than sorry. I am also one of those sleevers who never lost hunger ... I have had hunger since about a week after post-op. My surgeon told me to only eat 3 times a day and not to snack, but that totally wasn't cutting it for my hungry sleeve. I now eat about 6 times a day, small meals ... each one 150-250 calories or so (if I have a larger meal I will cut back on one or more of the othe rmini meals to stay within a decent calorie range). The advice to eat Protein soon after working out is good. Also, be sure you are drinking enough Water (something I am pretty guilty of, myself!). If you are working out hard, maybe drink gatorade or another drink to replenish electrolytes/minerals. You are doing really great! Best, Kris

I've created a new blog to chronicle my weight loss journey, so this will be my last blog post here on verticalsleevetalk. My new blog is called curvygirlwellness@blogspot.com. I hope you can visit it and share your thoughts/feedback!

A few of my fave easy Protein meals: Aidell's hawaiian chicken meatballs (you can buy them at costco) -- drizzle a little teriyaki sauce on them or eat them as is; they are very flavorful and moist. There are other different flavors and most of them are yummy and not too fattening. I love them! Lately my fave Breakfast has been hardwood smoked chicken sausage (1 serving, 1/7 of the package, has 90 calories and 8 g protein), which I pan fry with a little maple syrup drizzled on them at the end (adds a nice bit of sweetness to contrast to the savory flavor). It takes about 3 minutes to pan fry the sausage when they are sliced into bite size pieces. I haven't taken it into work yet but I bet it would taste fine reheated in a microwave. I luurrvve me some Tony Roma's shredded pork in BBQ sauce (I buy it in the frozen food section of Wal Mart). One package makes many meals. I thaw the package per the instructions and then divide up the portions into plastic storage containers to grab and go. I have been known to eat this for breakfast (I really don't care what people think about what should be eaten for breakfast! Eat what you like, I say!)

I ordered this DVD because I really like Leslie Sansone's Walk at Home DVDs and was looking for other indoor walking videos. This video is led by Debra Mazda, a very feisty lady with an inspiring story. At her heaviest she weighed over 300 lbs, and she lost 140 lbs. on her own over 3 years and now maintains as a size 12 (and has for many years -- however, the picture of her on the cover of the DVD I think is a bit misleading -- she looks much heavier on the cover picture than she does in the DVD). Her video cast is all plus size women (the smallest is a size 14, ranging up to a size 18 or 20), so to me that was cool (usually in exercise DVDs the cast members are very fit, although one reason I like Leslie Sansone's DVDs is that she often has at least one plus size cast member). Mazda puts you through a decent workout -- very comparable to a Leslie Sansone workout. She reminds me (in the nicest possible way) of a female drill sergeant -- she's from South Philly and you can tell she takes no b.s. from anyone, and she is constantly exhorting you (the viewer) to not quit and keep working. Seeing how hard she and her cast are working is definitely inspirational, too! If you are new to exercising I think this is a great video to get started with; it's low impact, works the major muscle groups, and is not difficult to follow. If you've been exercising a while it may not be as challenging as what you're used to, but you can still work up a good sweat. At the end of the video she has a chat with the cast, who all are in various stages of losing weight, and that is interesting to watch too (though you really only need to see it once). Here is the link to Amazon.com if you are interested in checking more reviews or getting more info on this video: http://www.amazon.com/SHAPELY-GIRL-WALKING-FIT-FABULOUS/dp/B002XZ62DO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1318212662&sr=8-1

Gosh, that is a scary story. I hope you heal up well! It does not sound like a very well organized operation. I'm sorry Dr. Almanza did not check up on you! He really ought to have done that, if only for just a few minutes. I do agree that crap like this happens all the time in US hospitals, so it's really unfortunate when it happens in Mexico because it reinforces the mistaken perception that Mexico is not a good or safe place to have surgery.

We ate at the hotel restaurant; it was really good food & good prices. My hubby accompanied me and for his meals out he went to the little train restaurant near the hospital, and a chinese restaurant near the hospital. DH said he liked the train restaurant a lot, and felt like he was cheating because the food was so great and prices so low. He said the chinese restaurant was very average at best, but the train one was really great.

My husband and I eat out a lot. We either share a meal or, if I order my own, I usually only end up eating a small amount. Whenever we go to a new place the waiter/waitress always thinks I don't like my food because I barely make a dent in most dishes -- in those instances I always have to make a point to say how much I like the food. Sometimes when asked I will say that I have a little stomach (in most cases the waiter/waitress looks at me and says, "Oh," and I know inside they are thinking, "Like hell you have a little stomach, you little pudgeball!") LOL. I do find that as I lose more weight, I get less scrutiny. It's worst when you are just post-op and still big but can barely eat anything. Once you get close to goal, people don't pay much attention to how much you eat (except maybe the waiter/waitress). I do agree with the observation that regular size portions look absolutely HUGE to me now, especially once I start eating. Today I went out to eat at Chipotle and got a burrito (brown rice, pinto Beans, carnitas, & a little hot salsa) and was able to eat not even 1/4 of it, and was stuffed. I just had a bit more for dinner. That burrito is going to last me about 4 meals! Glad I like leftovers! My hubby and I talk regularly about how much money we save on food since I have been sleeved. I think my operation will pay for itself within 3 years just on food savings alone ((I was self pay in Mexico) . If you were/are lucky enough to have your insurance cover your surgery, you will save THOUSANDS of dollars in food over the years. It's like getting a nice promotion at work, but not doing a doggone thing extra.

It costs $30 on Amazon, which includes the whole shebang (2 DVDs, a 4 lb. kettlebell, and a little book on eating healthy and a sample yucky diet plan which I totally ignored). Here is the link if you are interested: http://www.amazon.com/Gaiam-Kettlenetics-Slim-Tone-Kit/dp/B001EQW8W2/ref=sr_1_1?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1318127780&sr=1-1

So far my theory is proving to be totally wrong! Oy!!!! Keep those votes coming!