itstheamarie

I remember the nurses after surgery complimenting me on my desire to get up and walk constantly. I was confused, because that's what we were told to do! They said that more often than not, bariatric patients wake up expecting to be skinny and have no desire to follow the guidelines. I was shocked to hear that, considering the risk, but some of the posts on here really prove it's true! The good thing is that they are on here trying to learn. The bad thing is that some give BAD advice to each other, and it's hard to tell who you should listen to until you've been around a while.

I understand your pain! 20 lbs in 8 weeks, but the average is 2.5#/week. You are closer to 4-5#/week, and that's awesome! It's natural to be impatient when we see so many "I lost 100 lbs in 5 months" posts, but hey, what's the rush to a lifestyle change? It's not like we will ever go back to our old ways, so we might as well get used to eating healthy, whether we like it or now :-)

I'm glad to see we are all speaking out about being "slow losers" I thought I was the only one. One a brighter note, I have been able to keep my surgery a secret (don't feel like being judged) being that I have been losing at a slow pace.

Great post Fiddleman. The only things I'll add (and Fiddleman you know what's coming) is take it outside if at all possible, and read up on minimalist shoe/barefoot running. Most of us don't need motion control stability shoes or orthotics. Orthotics are one of the most overly prescribed contraptions in medicine. Yes there are a small percentage of people who truly need them, but my feeling is those people are not even considering taking up running. Orthotics are prescribed for every ailment from headaches to IBS, but they only mask the symptoms. That's your clue right there. Orthotics (and motion control, heavily padded, arch supported shoes) don't cure anything. If they did you wouldn't need to wear them permanently. They are like wearing a cast on your foot. They immobilize the feet, one of nature's most amazing pieces of bio-engineering. They cause the muscles and tendons in the feet and lower legs to atrophy to the point of uselessness. Removing those shoes will free your feet and allow you to develop the strength and flexibility to propel yourself without the assistance of a crutch, which is what those things are.
Our bodies are amazingly evolved, highly developed organisms. Podiatrists would have you believe that somehow our feet are the exception....that they were born broken and we all must wear these devices to function. Yet to date no shoe company has done any research to prove that their shoe's stability features prevent injuries in any way. In fact, all independent studies show the opposite, that they are either damaging or have no effect. Modern shoes with lifts in the heels and narrow toe boxes and hard inflexible soles are causing countless pains and injuries. And the answer is not to wear devices that further inhibit your bodies ability of forward propulsion. Free your feet and watch the strength and flexibility return and see your knee and back pains diminish.
If you must wear shoes, and we all must from time to time, wear shoes with zero drop, NO arch support, wide toe boxes and thin flexible soles...not cushioned. It will change the way you walk and run for the better.
If I sound like a crazy zealot, I am. But I ran 10 miles 2 days ago in vibrams with no pain whatsoever and I'm walking around with 1 torn ACL and 2 torn meniscus. My knees are as bad as anyone's, but running does not hurt them because my form is good and my lower legs and feet are doing their job.
....end of crazy rant.

For those that have completed c25k, what is next for you?
Time to set some new goals. Maybe you want to enter a local 5 k race or keep working towards faster and more challenging 5 k times. By more challenging I mean to run hills or trails instead of flat. Now that you know how to run the possibilities are limitless.
Here are a bakers dozen running tips I learned along the way in my short running experience to optimize results ( others: feel free to add your own):
1. Focus on relaxation while running. ChiRunning is THE best methodology for this. It will take some getting used to, but there is no going back once you have mastered it.
2. Speed comes from challenging yourself. Try and throw in HIIT runs every so often to increase speed. Always set new goals. Every time you run is a chance to improve some quality of your running.
3 power comes from strong core and strong back. The legs and arms will take care of themselves. Always do a system check every minute to make sure your posture is good, your core is strong, no tension anywhere, your shoulders are relaxed, your feet are landing solid, etc. I am learning so much from cross fit postures and applying it to running. The basic squat is actually a good posture because of strong core and strong back. You do need to be a little straighter, but the general idea applies.
4. Your stride should always be a little ahead of the speed of the treadmill. Run with a good posture, solid core and relaxation. If the speed is too fast, you compromise posture and strength. This tires you out faster. I mostly run on treadmill, but I am sure the same principle applies to outside running. Some other running vets may want to chime in.
5. Buy the best running shoes you can afford.
6. Buy running socks to prevent blisters and/ or heated spots. I have not had any foot issues with my running shoes and socks.
7. Warm up properly. Maybe some sprints or even hill climbs to get your muscles ready. You can start faster with a good warmup. My warm up is usually at least 6 minutes long.
8. Use a roller after running. I just started this ( as in today) and wish I started earlier to avoid tight gluts, hamstrings, calves, etc.
9. Cool down properly. For me, cooling down means jogging for a few minutes and the walking fora few minutes after I have run a hard 5 k or 10 k.
10. Consume heavy Protein within 20 min of running. It will help you recover and refuel faster. Not all Proteins are equal, so do some research or ask questions.
11. Sometimes pre workout and amino acids ( like catalyst ) will help you perform better without fatiguing. Still experimenting with these to see what works best.
12. Give yourself the proper recovery time. It depends on how hard and how far you run. For me, a day of running is followed by a day of cross fit, repeat. I usually take Sunday off not only for body recovery, but also mental recovery. Need a slow day before it starts again for the week.
13. Pay attention to your diet. Performing optimally physically requires you to treat your body with respect and give it the lean and healthy nourishment it deserves. Results come from 80% good diet and 20% exercise. If you eat crap, your body will reward you with crappy results. It is that simple. Also, drink lots and lots of Water.< /p>
Best of all, enjoy running. Get high off the endorphins ( natural morphine). It is a very good addiction to have. Love it so much you are encouraging other runners. Report back often on your little successes. A single little running NSV may be just what someone else needs to hear to be motivated.
Hope this helps!

I completely understand! I can eat on a schedule all day, but after dinner, there is a void space that I used to fill with food.... now, I have my strongest urges to graze at night. It's tough, especially since I work out of town so much and am at a hotel. I typically work out before dinner, so I have to find something to fill the time. If I am home, some things that have helped me: prepare my meals for the next day, lay out my clothes, Iron, do my nails/toes, take a long bath, clean, meditate.... anything to distract me!

I completely understand! I can eat on a schedule all day, but after dinner, there is a void space that I used to fill with food.... now, I have my strongest urges to graze at night. It's tough, especially since I work out of town so much and am at a hotel. I typically work out before dinner, so I have to find something to fill the time. If I am home, some things that have helped me: prepare my meals for the next day, lay out my clothes, Iron, do my nails/toes, take a long bath, clean, meditate.... anything to distract me!

Congrats! What's your daily intake? Calories, carbs, Protein, Water? Just curious!

So true! It is hard not to compare. I am down 20# in 7 weeks (haven't weighed in over a week). After losing 12# in the first 10 days, I've only lost 8 in the past 6 weeks. The scale won't move for several days, then I will be down a half pound or so. Working out, getting 100 oz of Water, 80 g of Protein, and obsessing over food these days.... the math isn't adding up, but I did this for a lifestyle change, not a quick fix. However, it would be nice if the scale could help reassure me that I'm doing this right!

Yes, your body needs fuel to repair muscle tissues and replenish the energy you burned. You can google low carb post workout Snacks for ideas, and they are all based around Protein good carbs. shakes, cottage cheese, Greek yogurt, baby bell light, hummus or something along those lines. I haven't ventured into Protein Bars, because I don't trust my self control yet. Whatever you choose, just make sure to stay hydrated and budget for your post workout snack! It will help prevent muscle loss :-)

Holy Cow - It's been 7 months!
My weight has pretty much stayed the same this last month and I'm quite okay with it I started at 231 lbs. and 'm holding steady at 143 lbs. Ideally, I'd like to lose 10 more pounds and I am working towards it. It will happen!
I was just in my friend's wedding this past weekend and it was so nice not to dread a formal event!! Last time this year, I dreaded stuff like this for weeks due to knowing I wouldn't have anything to wear and that there would be tons of pictures. My friend looked beautiful and I was able to focus on her wonderful day rather than being insecure and concerned about how I looked.
As you will see in the pictures below, my friends are super tiny...like 95-100 pounds tiny! They have been my friends since I was 5 and I had always felt insecure taking pictures with them...no one wants to be the fat friend! With that said, they have been extremely supportive. They have never made me feel bad about myself and when I told them I was having the surgery they were 100% supportive. They are so proud of me and I love them for it. I didn't tell every person I know that I had surgery, but I did tell my close friends and it was one of the best things I could have done. To me, the surgery was something to Celebrate and something to be proud of. I'm proud of my decision and how hard I've worked to lose the weight....I hope everyone else feels that same sense of pride! You are taking control of your life and it should be celebrated.
Thank you to the people who read my posts every month. You guys leave the nicest comments and I'm thankful for the support this forum has provided me with. Wishing everyone happiness and success with their surgery!
Jordyn
The pictures of me in the black dress is from a wedding last May...the pictures with the purple dress is from the wedding this past weekend with my beautiful friends

I use the fitbit attached to my bra, and it has been working great for me! No one ever knows it's there, and it syncs with my phone, computer, or ipad automatically. It is a huge motivator to see how much I did or didn't move each day. It doesn't account for strength training, but you can add it in online. It also links with myfitnesspal and will deduct the calories from your intake (if you believe in net calories). It also sends a weekly report so you can see when you've been most active. The accountability has helped motivate me to keep moving. It was about $60 at bestbuy, so it depends on what is best for you.

Thanks for the inspiration! I am on W1D3 :-) By the end, I feel so energized that I don't want to stop! I am afraid that the knee pain from before surgery will return, so chi-running and minimalist running shoes sound like a topic to look into.

Thanks for the inspiration! I am on W1D3 :-) By the end, I feel so energized that I don't want to stop! I am afraid that the knee pain from before surgery will return, so chi-running and minimalist running shoes sound like a topic to look into.

They sell vit D "vita melts" at Walmart and drug stores.

I'm glad to hear that, because I couldn't understand how I was walking all day at 6 flags but had no calorie adjustments. Hopefully it is restored soon! I manually added an hour of walking on MFP just to estimate.

To the OP: cottage cheese, cheese strings, tuna, haddock, salmon(any fish really is very high in protein), turkey(higher in Protein than chicken), turkey/chicken luncheon meat, eggs, morningstar farms products, babybel, nuts(pistachios, almonds, sunflower seeds).

I was sleeved 2/7/2013 and have lost 26 including preop, 16 of it since surgery. I lost 13 lbs in the first 10 days and have been losing slow for the past 3 weeks. The scale didn't move for about 2 weeks. It sucks, but I am following my Dr's orders (currently in the soft food phase). I was still on full liquids when it slowed down. 60+ g Protein, 64+ oz Water, and 600-800 cal. I'm trying to keep my carbs low, but my Calcium supplements account for most of them. I am walking 3-4 times per week, so mathematically, I should be losing over 2-3# per week. I wish!

10 days post op and I'm in...... ONE-derland!!!!!
Yay!!!! Haven't been here in 6 looooong years! 64 to go
HW 227 CW 199 GW 135

Hi guys! I promise every day it continues to improve. I was sleeved 2/7/2013 and am finally feeling almost normal again. I just reached my first goal- Onderland!!! And tomorrow is my BDay :-) so excited! HW: 236, consultation: 229, preop: 222, SD: 212. I will advise to watch your BM closely and talk to your doc if you're not having good BM regularly. I though I was all good, but my first trip to the gym went bad when it hit me like a ton of bricks! Sorry, TMI

Hi guys! I promise every day it continues to improve. I was sleeved 2/7/2013 and am finally feeling almost normal again. I just reached my first goal- Onderland!!! And tomorrow is my BDay :-) so excited! HW: 236, consultation: 229, preop: 222, SD: 212. I will advise to watch your BM closely and talk to your doc if you're not having good BM regularly. I though I was all good, but my first trip to the gym went bad when it hit me like a ton of bricks! Sorry, TMI

I respect everyone's right to tell or not tell. It is my opinion that anything I keep secret holds power over me and the risk of exposure is so much worse than just telling the truth. I don't put it on Facebook but I tell anyone who asks how I lost the weight . I also share it with people who wait on me or need to know. I told all my family and friends. I figure I might help someone else who needs to ask questions. As far as in laws go I had terrible in laws for 18 years. They put me down all the time but I never backed down. I'd say my peace and hold my ground. I will not tolerate anyone treating me badly and if they do I ask them why and confront them usually they don't realise it or are uncomfortable and stop it . If it continues don't see them and don't let your kids. Demand respect. Demand your husband to support you. Life is too short to feel bad. Life is too short to not be respected and loved. No one is better than anyone else it is the choices we make that determine the quality of life we lead. For gods sake it is a medical procedure to help aid us to lose weight not a fix and we still have to work on it everyday. to me this is part of my plan to be healthier that's all. F those people who can't see your worth they are insecure themselves and petty and are to be pitied. Eventually you can laugh to yourself about how immature people are knowing their opinion doesn't effect you you are excellent at any weight in every way.

I was traveling on my pre-op, so I had to find a way around the canned stuff. I went to panera and ordered chicken noodle Soup, but I asked for the broth only. I then strained it, and let me tell you, I was in HEAVEN! You could probably run it through a cheese cloth to get the last bit of particles out post op.

I was on Clear Liquids for 7 days and only lost 6. It's way too early to start getting frustrated with your numbers :-) Be patient! Your body is going to do what it wants to- just stick with it.

Absolutely! They are your main source of satisfaction. I found that I needed about 20g of Protein every 4-5 hours to manage hunger pre-op, and it worked pretty well. It also helps prevent muscle loss.