BigViffer

6 minutes ago, redhead_che said:

I'm insufferably young, and thank you!

@FishOn - I corrected that for our perspective!

2 minutes ago, skinnylife said:

Saying it loud and proud. I love nuts!

<snicker>... fighting the urge... it's killing me!

Holy smokes @redhead_che! You look fantastic!

Jiminy Christmas... Punishing! I'll stick to my weights!

Sent from my phone. Please forgive brevity and spelling.

It should be a crime to look that good with macros like that!

Congrats on the finish, that sounds like one hell of a grueling run to me.

It's completely safe and will not cause leaks. It's crap for Protein though. Quoting myself here because I don't feel like typing it out again:

17 hours ago, FishOn said:

Times of duress...I have been very stressed out with a 1/2 dozen computer servers going down the last couple of weeks. Could that be a significant factor?

It could be a factor, but I wouldn't classify it as significant. Lost at sea or lost in the desert for a week would be significant enough duress to cause a catabolic state severe enough to begin eating away at muscle.

3 hours ago, FishOn said:

I read somewhere that if you don't work the muscles the body will consume muscles before consuming the last fat.

The only time that your body is in a true cannibalistic catabolic state is during times of duress and starvation. The body will always go for carbohydrates, recently eaten food, then fat stores, and as a last resort - muscle tissue for the energy requirements.

While the muscles may be smaller, that does not mean that you have lost muscle tissue, they may just be lax from lack of environmental stress (the definitive term, not eh emotional state). "Pretty" muscles are just swollen from the increase Water retention. That is why you always look bigger after a workout session. True long lasting muscle mass increases are not as apparent. High rep/low weight workouts are good for muscle tissue to split and tear that will heal looking larger, but they will not be inherently stronger. If you are wanting to look better -and there is nothing wrong with that- then just do a tone of reps (volume). If you want real strength, lift heavy for 3 sets of 5 reps after appropriate warm-ups.

I'll not get into routines nor training sessions as most people just don't take it as serious as I, or they already have themselves convinced they already know the best way to accomplish both at the same time on a severely limited caloric intake.

One other thing to remember, your Protein requirements are based on lean body mass, not body weight. If you weigh 200 lbs, you do not need 200 grams of protein. That is counting bone and organs as well.

2 hours ago, Matt Z said:

Not that low, but my HR floats around 50-60 when I'm reclined and resting, makes getting up quickly a bit tough as my blood pressure is also a lot lower than it's been, hopefully it's something my body gets used to, but for now, I have to take a moment almost every time I get up from the couch.

I'm over 3 years out and this is still an issue for me. I got off my BP meds two weeks post-op and in a weird twist of fate, after 20 years of avoiding sodium, I now have my doctor telling me to increase my sodium levels. I actually have a salt shaker at my desk at work. Something you may want to talk to your doctor about.

I was looking forward to thinner hair to be honest since mine has always been dense, but I never had the thinning people talked about. I have found that with my improved diet, I am shaving more frequently. Though I have noticed that my beard is more wiry than before.

I don't remember when I started going back to the really hot stuff, but by 6 months I could handle ghost peppers heat. HOWEVER - I don't enjoy it like I used to. Honestly, they taste... different. "Off" even. It's kind of like when I tasted biscuits and gravy for the first time post-op.

Biscuits & gravy was my favorite meal. It was what I would have for dinner on my birthday, it was my "last meal" before surgery. One very small bite a year and 4 months post op and I spat it out. Haven't had it since and really don't miss it. So much of our palate changes post op, don't be surprised if you no longer like the flavor of many of the peppers. I find I like the milder and sweeter habanero peppers now and I never cared for them before. I always preferred the smokiness of ghost.

19 hours ago, Diana_in_Philly said:

Are you working with a trainer?

I am fortunate enough to have access to a certified Starting Strength coach about 45 minutes away. She believes that my diet and injuries contribute to the lack of progress. I am finally coming around to believing her.

9 hours ago, BlueCrush said:

I'm currently doing 3 sets: 12 reps, 10 reps, 8 reps with increasing weight for each set. For my set of 8, I'm currently at 245 squat, 245 deadlifts, and 165 bench. Been doing these lifts for about 4 weeks now. I'm 6'3" and 222lbs.

My squat form sucks, so I'm trying to focus on form and getting lower on squats. It seems I have some hip flexibility issues.

Good tip on the weight belt. I'll look into it.

Well I would say that cinches it, it has taken me years to get to 245-ish on squat. In regards to squat form, get that nailed down before going up in weight. As a matter of fact, you should drop that weight down until you can go below parallel. You are going to hurt your knees and probably your lumbar spine. Find the Starting Strength 3rd edition and read it cover to cover. Amazing book.

If you are wanting raw strength, seriously consider doing 5 reps for 3 sets after a warmup. Drop sets good for size, but for strength, titration to a working set weight is superior.

I know I shouldn't complain and whine about these weights, pro-op my left leg was virtually dead. I couldn't even pick it up to climb the stairs. But I guess that is the nature of the male ego.

Oh... if you are going to be serious about squats and deads, get a belt. A real leather belt, not velcro. Then weightlifting shoes. Stability is muy importante.

I am interested in how your squat & deadlift numbers progress. I have no one to talk to about those specific lifts that has had gastric surgery. I am stuck and I want to know if it is from the restricted caloric intake or the lifetime of injuries that is preventing my increases. 250 squat and 260 deadlift are my 5 rep max. And that is after 2 years of lifting.

I cannot put into words how frustrating that is.

19 hours ago, sleevedllama said:

Do you mean ketosis?

lol, no... Mitosis is cellular division. I was jokingly saying that you were going to divide in two.

Sorry, nerd humor.

A cheese craving means that your body is craving fat and Protein. Obviously you are preparing for mitosis.

To piggyback on Matt, Protein isolates are more "refined" hence will dissolve quicker/easier. I have no experience with isolates other than whey, but they should work the same. I don't do shakes, I mostly cook with my powders and isolates texture is "wrong" to my palate.

There is a difference between unflavored and flavorless. Unflavored only means that there is no flavoring added to cover the natural flavor of whatever Protein they are selling. Flavorless is just about unobtainable unless you look at GENEPRO which is snakeoil. Totally worthless BS from an unreputable company. But it mixes well and has no flavor, so many people buy it.

TInk in the power rack with a belt?! Are you squating?!

Good to see you again my friend!

Another variable to consider; how has your personality changed when dealing with other people? Maybe the people that are more willing to interact with you now are the very ones you shied away from before. Maybe the people who are short with you or reticent to engage in conversation no longer see you as weak or vulnerable to their manipulations?

All relationships will change as a result of success. If you have a strong and healthy relationship with someone, more often than not, that relationship will get stronger. If a relationship is completely one-sided and only beneficial to one, that relationship will more than likely dissolve.

Confidence is kinda like MSG, it intensifies the existing flavor of relationships.

3 minutes ago, AshAsh1 said:

yup, I am.

Welcome to the club. You'll get your jacket soon.

You guys need to be careful, you're precariously close to being a curmudgeonly vet...

12 hours ago, J San said:

@BigViffer Love the look of that VFR. Sexy as hell!!!

Thanks! I do love my big viffer. Unfortunately I have not been able to ride her this season. It's been two months since I have even started her up. Family and work take up a lot of time. I really hope to devote some time to riding once my teenagers no longer think I'm cool. Right now I am enjoying being the cool dad.

This is really going to depend on what your end goal. Are you wanting to get as strong as you can or just be more physically fit and look good? There is nothing wrong with either goal, but the ways to get there are very different in their training and programming.

Let me clarify that wanting to be "strong as you can" doesn't mean becoming an elite power lifter. I've been doing the main lifts for over 2 years and I am still considered a novice because of my paltry weights. Too many injuries make it improbable that I will move much higher.

I was fat for so long, I still cannot get that image out of my head even while looking in the mirror. So I always feel like I am fighting the battle even though most of my food habits are 180 degrees from what they were. So for me, Identifying as a WLS patient and living as though I am following that diet works.

The people who hit goal and leave may go on and remain successful, but I am betting that many go on to regain a little or a lot and either are too embarrassed to come back or forget about this place. Some of the most successful vets from 2 years ago that I still have contact with have gained back far more than I would have imagined. And all because they hit goal and decided to live life "normal" which really means going back to the way they were pre-op.