NewSetOfCurves

This is a link that I shared in another thread. For those of you who are pre-surgery or immediately post-op and are still confused about the phases of eating following surgery, here is my doctors nutritional page from his website. It's pretty basic, but gives you a good idea of what needs to be done in the weeks that follow surgery. http://www.lonestarsurgical.com/nutrition/#nutrition

How about a section on exercise and the body? There are lots of contradicting thoughts and ideas on here. Perhaps some basics about cardio and weight lifting, what it does for your body ( like improving circulation, more muscle = more fat burning, etc.). Maybe include some facts on the time of day that is best for these exercises as well as sample work out plans. Your samples should vary to include different lifestyles: home gym, gym membership, weekend warrior, and etc.

I agree with Fiddleman 100% on this. You have to feed your metabolism, and spacing out your meals and Snacks every two to three hours, consuming quality carbs, Proteins and fats, will kick it up into high gear. Starving your body, fasting for long periods of time, makes your metabolism slow down to conserve energy. The more you feed it, the faster it burns it all away. I know it is time consuming to plan your meals, but it is a necessary evil to achieve what we all want to achieve--a skinnier, healthier version of ourselves.

The first thing that popped into my head was pregnancy. My skin darkened up in those areas during pregnancy, but went away after their birth. Is that a possibility for you?!

http://www.gnc.com/product/index.jsp?productId=13164543&cp=3593187.2108294 Out of all the unflavored protien powders, i thought this was the best: GNC's Pro Performancw100% whey Protein. It truly doesn't taste like anything, nor is it accompanied with any odor. It will thicken up what you mix it into, but just a little bit. I'll take that over the shakes, any day!

This is my doctors nutrition page on his website. There are several PDF files that you can open and print, each explaining facts on nutrition after bariactric surgery, phase 1 post-op to phase 5 post-op (each phase tells you the # of days), and there is even one on dumping syndrome. http://www.lonestarsurgical.com/nutrition/#nutrition Hope this helps.

Wow! 15 pounds in three weeks?! That is awesome!!! That is more than half a pound a day! If you search this site, some people don't even come close to that in an entire month. I think you're doing fantastic and wish you continued success!

Awesome link! Thank you!!!

Love your optimism, positiveness, and the success you have shared. I think that part of making this journey a great one is by having the right attitude. Having the right attitude includes informing yourself; understanding that there will be difficulties, stalls, and hurdles to jump; understanding that change has to begin from within yourself--with your perspective and relationship with food and any other negativities that may exist within yourself; and the knowledge that despite the fact that this journey isn't always easy, it makes living easier. I'm only basing my opinion on the research I've read, as well as the threads and opinions people like you have shared. I am not sleeved, but I can't wait to be. I can't wait to begin living a greater quality of life.

Wow! You look great! Your progress and others like you inspire me and give me the confirmation that I'm making the right decision, and that the financial investment is worth it. I'm almost a quarter inch shy of 5'7", and I look forward to those sizes. In fact, I told my husband that my goal size is an 8 ( I'd like to keep some curves). However, I know that like you I WILL DEFINITELY need plastic surgery. I have had 4 kids and the elasticity of my skin sucks (please excuse my verbiage). I'm curious of the cost. Would you mind sharing?

I found this site that listed top green superfood powders: http://www.nicehair.org/food-for-hair-growth/the-15-best-green-drinks-powder-superfood-supplements-in-the-world I bought the one at the top of the list from Amazon. I'll let you all lnow how it goes.

I'm so happy for you! My stats are so similar to yours, goal weight as well. I hope I have the same success as you! You really do look fabulous! Congrats!!!

I can only imagine how scary that is for you. I'm sure the oncologist was right on the money, but I am sending prayers your way anyway. I hope all continues to go well. I'm glad your surgery went great and that your are now a sleever. Cheers to a new and healthy you!

Congrats on pursuing the white belt in martial arts! That is AWESoME! Whether you work out your abs in conjunction with your strength training sessions, or you work them on your off days, or cardio days, you will be fine. You are on the right track with the crunches and the use of the medicine ball paired with the medicine ball (you are utilizing your stabilizing muscles and adding resistance), but there are a bunch of other abdominal workouts you can do to strengthen your core. Check out this site and try these out: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/core-strength/SM00047 Hope this helps!

Maybe it's your bodies way of reacting to the lack of calories? Starvation mode? I really hope it gets better for you (which it will!) sooner rather than later

No, you should NOT hit your upper body again (if you trained each area). According to your previous post, you lift weights every 3days. I would suggest a 3 day split of: Day 1: back, shoulders, and chest Day 2: biceps, triceps, forearms Day 3: quads, hams, and calves Abs should be cycled in 2-3 times a week as well.

And yes Globetrotter, the more muscle we have, the more energy it takes to work those muscles, hence the ability to burn more "fat".

Different people will argue different things. When I was in college and received my certification as a weight trainer, I was taught that isolating the muscles (from anywhere from 2days--like we discussed in this thread--to 3/4/5 day splits) with heavy weight, low reps was ideal for BUILDING muscle because you achieve tearing that muscle during that isolation period and you allow it sufficient time to rest and heal (that's the time in which it BUILDS and grows). Full body workouts back to back, or light weight lifting with high reps will achieve toning and leaning out muscle--which is fine and great, but you have to consider what your goals are. Women, however, do not build muscle like men (genetics plays a BIG part as well). I use to always push my female clients to go heavy because it's difficult for women to bulk up; and, even when women do go heavy, for the most part they seem to achieve that toned look that most women desire. Another lesson in building muscle 101 is to shock your muscles! Don't stick to the same routine, switch up about every month. Heck, throw in some crossfit training (which I think is awsome, but I also believe that it should be cycled in if your trying to bulk up, because it leans out the muscle if your doing it multiple times per week) within that cycle, but just remember to alternate the types of lifts you do. This is just my humble opinion, others might argue differently, which is fine, everybody is entitled to their own beliefs; I'm just trying to relay to you what I was taught. Research findings are always changing what was once true, so do some research and acquire as much knowledgs as you can so you can achieve your goals.

Beautiful! Good for you!

Oh! Thank God!!! I thought divorce was eminent! On the other hand, I might like being locked up!

My husband was not supportive at all initially. He thought I looked fine just the way I was; that if I wanted to look better that I could do it on my own; that it was selfish of me for putting myself at risk when we had kids; that it was too much money (I'm self pay). We fought about this, but I stuck to my guns and I told him that I was going to have it; that if I could have lost it on my own, I would have done it 10 years ago; that it was not selfish of me because it's supposed to help me help myself get healthier and live longer; that despite the fact that he felt I was beautiful the way I was (which makes me love him even more), I didn't feel good--with both my health and size; and that I felt I was worth every penny and that I was disappointed that de didn't. That last part of the heart-to-heart got him. I think spouses fear the unknown, change from what's become the norm, and insecure about getting left behind. I had our heart-to-heart and explained all the ins and outs, the minimal risks (my surgeon has performed over 1,500 sleeves with only 2 complications, placing him way below the national average--this gave him some comfort), and I made him see what I felt. Your wife is feeling left out of this new venture, despite you keeping her informed, because in her eyes you are going over to the other side where the grass s greener without her. Talk to her about making life style changes together. Talk about how you can accomplish this as a team. That's we did. We went back to our old ways nutritionally, stepping away from fast food and "convenient" dinners. We started exercising together, we have the kids exercising (I just bought my 11 year-old-daughter weight training gloves and started teaching her about building muscle). This new venture that I've started with myself is no longer about myself, but about the well being of our family as a whole. We are ALL involved, not just informed.

...with NASTY high calorie, high carb foods!!!!! I'm pre-sleeve, but I've done so good and I haven't cheated in over a month! I've dropped 25 pounds, but today I binged . I had a hamburger, a soda, and later some nachos & an ice cream . Feeling really crappy, I want to throw up. I think I'm craving all these carbs because my Auntie Flow is coming in soon. Sigh... My healthy food eating self is so upset with me for cheating.

Lol! Thanks for the laugh

Lmao! Loved it!!!

Somebody posted a really good post and explained what there doctor explained to them. Basically, the density of water is greater when it's on its own. However, that density is lessened when it's mixed with a substance like crystal lite, or other add ins. Something like that...I'll look for that thread and let you know so you can read it.