4me4them

The thing about the gym is this......everyone there is just trying to get more healthy. They don't care about where everyone else around them is in their individual level of progress. They aren't judging you. If anything, it's a group that will motivate you and always glad to see others working hard towards their fitness goals.
The only time I've ever seen folks not enjoy the company of others in the gym is when you find the occasional camper.....the folks that don't follow proper etiquette and move off equipment between sets or don't wipe down the equipment after they are done. It sucks having to wait on gear that someone is simply sitting down on and not utilizing.
Going back into the gym without a plan....without the skill to know what proper lifting form is.....without a gradual build up in intensity.....all can be recipes for injury that will set you back and/or derail you from your goals.
Hiring a trainer can be great....so long as your trainer is intelligent and listens to you. They can be highly valuable. Some of them can, at least. I've seen some trainers subject their clients to some ridiculous things that most certainly end in injury. It's very important to deal with one that KNOWS how to properly ramp someone from where most of us began....to getting us to where we want to be.....and do so safely. They aren't cheap, however.
A very safe way may be to go back and simply engage in cardio....treadmill (moderate pace with some gradual increase in incline) or elliptical machines. At in the stair climbers and work your way to some cardio fitness before beginning any weight training.
The weight machines can be good in that the proper motion is built in, provided you adjust them to your height. Target specific body parts in a session....get 10-15 repetitions per set and maybe 4 sets.....then allow that body part to rest for 2-3 days before doing it again. Stay hydrated. Stretch before and after. Warm up on cardio machine before lifting.
Have fun with it.
The classes can be great, too.
Yoga not a workout ??? Really ? Has your husband ever tried yoga ? I took a couple classes and was blown away. Some of the Body Pump classes can be awesome, too. You can go follow the instructor, yet use appropriate weights and intensity to your stage.
Lots of options....just be careful to allow your tendons and ligaments to develop first.....this is critical. Many just jump in and think they are going to attack their muscles and go hard after it. The major connective tissues are at risk if they aren't given the proper time to develop first. A program, such as a "5x5" is a great way to start.

I was sleeved on 4/11. My hw was 345 pre- op after my diet on surgery day I was 325. Well yesterday was 24 days post-op I weighted in at 299. This is the first time in a long time I've been in the 200's. I'm little kid excited. So I have 4lbs till my 50lb loss. I know I have a long way to go on my journey but I'm breaking it into little goals for my sanity. So yahhh me. And we are doing something awesome so lets keep up the good work.
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Congrats! That is an awesome time...

I had a nutra bullet...then got the nutra ninja for Christmas. What a difference! Comes with both pitcher and single serve which use the same base. Makes veggie/fruit much less "chunky" than the bullet...and can handle ice. Makes Protein Shakes with frozen fruit. Really loud though....

Early on I planned my meals/snacks in my food tracker the night before. Then printed it and put times next to meals based on my calendar. Then checked things off. That way if I knew I was in meetings all morning...I could plan 1/2 a Protein Bar on a break...if I was at my desk maybe it was yogurt and fruit. I'm actually going back to this method this week because I've gotten cocky and haven't tracked the past few months...also haven't lost during that time Good luck!

Welcome! I really didn't think I would....but I have struggled with my neck...lol. It's the one thing I can't cover...When it bugs me, and it is getting less often that it does, I focus on all the things I can do now...exercise, walk between tables in a restaurant without bumping into people, fly without a seatbelt extender....I could go on but I have to get ready for work I made the decision early on that I would love my new body for all the things it could do now...and for supporting me till I was ready to take care of it...not how it looks without clothes. I have an awesome husband of 31years who loved me heavier and now healthier and that definitely helps. It's all in how you frame it for yourself. Good luck!

Well......you can always wait around and become as bad off as I did a dozen or more years down the road.
If I'd have taken action of some substantial and fundamental way at age 33......I would't have found myself feeling old and broke down by my mid 40's. It took finally being wiped out with the fun symptoms of a disc injury that finally, finally got me focused on making a lifestyle change.
I went with a sleeve.
I have only one regret. One.
It is why....why.....why did my stubborn arse not do this much sooner ????
I'm just now able to reflect back and uncover some of the reasons I didn't take that action at 33. Part of it was that I had great self esteem and was very active. 60+ workweeks on average, days spent hunting, golfing, fishing, boating, etc. If something fun popped up on the radar.....count me in. I was there. At some point, however.....the bad eating habits and activity level just failed to be in sync and I failed to reconcile this. I knew how to lose weight and would do so......but discipline was like a switch that was thrown own and off.......and when it was off, wow.....serious pounds would show up.
Health issues and recovery from these really narrowed down my fun. Since there was no formal gym time taking place....and the fun outdoors had always been my main source of activity....bad situations occurred.
Now I'm starting to get back to where I need to be. The sleeve has been a most powerful tool. I realize now that my health isn't the only benefit I'm seeing. Turns out that I was having serious self esteem issues as well. I was letting myself stay stuck in rut......carved out a pattern of living and was hiding within the confines of this small window of life.
Now....I am going through examining everything about my life....it's all on the table. It's all up for negotiation. The unhealthy aspects are being eliminated. I'm finding that change is needed and I no longer fear that change. Some of the changes are small.......some are tremendous and a little bit scary. It's been a great time of self discovery and examination of what I'd like to do to set myself up for the future.
Spare yourself the next decade of sliding off into bad habits and unhealthy way of living. I went down that road and paid the price. I was absolutely blessed to be allowed this second chance.
I'm not saying to have surgery. Only you can make that decision. Gain the most insight and educate yourself as much as possible before committing to wls. Don't hesitate to make a change, though. Commit to getting healthy and act on this. Put forth the effort in ways that are safe and will give results. If you are not already doing so...then begin frequent exercise and establish a good way of eating. Get these fundamental behaviors in place on your own.......you'll need them if you do decide to have wls....and you'll benefit from them anyway.
I wish you the very best and hope that you gain support from your family. They may have to warm up to the idea and be better informed as to what wls surgery is and what it can offer. Seeing you become dedicated to healthy behaviors will certainly help gain their support.
You are among friends here, too. This is a very special place with some of the coolest people I've ever had the pleasure of knowing.

Two things come to mind. First, keep (or start) tracking your food. It will help you manage your overall food intake. Second, if you are able start exercising. For me exercising helps me avoid my trigger foods by making me feel like I accomplished something and reducing my stress. You can figure this out...look how far you've come!

Two things come to mind. First, keep (or start) tracking your food. It will help you manage your overall food intake. Second, if you are able start exercising. For me exercising helps me avoid my trigger foods by making me feel like I accomplished something and reducing my stress. You can figure this out...look how far you've come!

Two things come to mind. First, keep (or start) tracking your food. It will help you manage your overall food intake. Second, if you are able start exercising. For me exercising helps me avoid my trigger foods by making me feel like I accomplished something and reducing my stress. You can figure this out...look how far you've come!

I haven't posted in a few months, after I retired on December 31st, 2015 I took over as full time Daddy, my wife has successfully begun her career and is on to her way to get her Masters in September this year, I see a lot of new faces on here and some old losers like me so I thought I should give an update, I began my journey in January 2015 @ 388lbs after fighting depression during the previous year holidays ( my entire birth family passed on, father, brother, stepdaughter, and mother, and it was the first anniversary of her death on December 12th 2014), I began dieting before even meeting my surgeon to show I was serious and committed, so when I met him in April 2015 I was @ 365lbs, my surgery was June 10th 2015, and I believe I was at about 326 or so, today I am 7 days away from my 9 month surgerversary !!!! And I am @ 248.0lbs, only 53lbs away from my goal weight, never would I have believed I would have been able to come this far and this quickly, I've had 3 stalls and 2 injuries which kept me out of the gym but I remained focused and determined, I also have my maintenance and future goals for after I meet my goal weight, my was size when I began was 60w, I have also lost 14 waist sizes and now am at 46w, soon I will also be an XL size shirt, I am now a 2x, down from 5&6x, I am opting before and after to give encouragement and let the newbies see that anything is possible to when YOU WANT IT!!!!!
It's hasn't been easy, it is hard work but overall my life is 1000x better, I'm also posting my motto which keeps me on track...... Good luck and don't give up    

Clothes shopping was definitely at the top of my list. The first time I realized I could shop outside the Womens/plus size section was AMAZING!

Clothes shopping was definitely at the top of my list. The first time I realized I could shop outside the Womens/plus size section was AMAZING!

Clothes shopping was definitely at the top of my list. The first time I realized I could shop outside the Womens/plus size section was AMAZING!

Work the plan and the plan will work. I don't mean to be all yoga like...but I found that I didn't need to have it all figured out and didn't even need to believe...I just needed to follow the plan my surgeon laid out. Start with small bites, stick to the prescribed foods and you will do great!

Work the plan and the plan will work. I don't mean to be all yoga like...but I found that I didn't need to have it all figured out and didn't even need to believe...I just needed to follow the plan my surgeon laid out. Start with small bites, stick to the prescribed foods and you will do great!

Clothes shopping was definitely at the top of my list. The first time I realized I could shop outside the Womens/plus size section was AMAZING!

First Welcome! Maybe you could try focusing on the things you will be able to do instead of what you are giving up. Your mind can be an ally but sometimes it is a distraction. I made a list of all the things I was looking forward to doing (running with my husband) or or not doing (needing a seat belt extender on airplanes) Ended up with over 20 things. I read it whenever I got discouraged and most of the time it helped.

First Welcome! Maybe you could try focusing on the things you will be able to do instead of what you are giving up. Your mind can be an ally but sometimes it is a distraction. I made a list of all the things I was looking forward to doing (running with my husband) or or not doing (needing a seat belt extender on airplanes) Ended up with over 20 things. I read it whenever I got discouraged and most of the time it helped.

Clothes shopping was definitely at the top of my list. The first time I realized I could shop outside the Womens/plus size section was AMAZING!

I think for me before I had the surgery I just didn't really believe that I could do it....losing over a hundred pounds was too much to take in. The success of actually seeing results from my work gave me the assurance I needed to do it for the long term.

For me the first week was very low energy. After that week I went back to work half days (desk job not a lot of stress) and needed naps in the afternoon for another week or so. Then my energy level seemed to even out.

Welcome! You'll find lots of good ideas to consider and lots of people willing to share.

I think for me before I had the surgery I just didn't really believe that I could do it....losing over a hundred pounds was too much to take in. The success of actually seeing results from my work gave me the assurance I needed to do it for the long term.

I think for me before I had the surgery I just didn't really believe that I could do it....losing over a hundred pounds was too much to take in. The success of actually seeing results from my work gave me the assurance I needed to do it for the long term.