BigViffer

I know I am a little late to the conversation, hell you probably already had the surgery! I did want to address this point though for posterity (or is that posterior? ) I intend no insult nor am I trying to mock you, but squats are a very strenuous lift/movement. The only exercise that competes with it is the Deadlift. Don't get me wrong! The properly performed squat is a wonderful lift that works the entire posterior chain, loads the skeletal system and stresses the central nervous system to it's limit. It improves strength as well as balance. It does so much more than develop your glutes; but make no mistake, it will give you better glutes. If you have never done a proper squat, I do not recommend just jumping in and doing them. Backward lunges and ball squats are a good way to get started. You may find that you never need to do low back back squats with the ball squat: http://www.fitday.com/fitness-articles/fitness/exercises/how-to-do-ball-squats.html I'll be doing those today and I can squat 200lbs, so don't feel that those are the equivalent of a "girl push-up". You have a butt now? Awesome. You want to keep that butt? Even better. I am all about women keeping their curves! I have had the quintessential no-butt-itis all my life. Since I started squats though, my jeans are finally (for the first time ever) no longer sagging in the back. Best of luck to you on your exercises.

I don't think you understand me. It's not just heavy lifting. You will need a caloric surplus. That is the exact opposite of where you are now. It is surprising how many calories truly uses. This is a problem that I am dealing with right now. I cannot see, to make any gains on all my lifts. But if I focus on just one chain of movement I can do it. And I am getting about 2000-2500 calories a day and 150-200 grams of Protein a day. If you are having trouble getting a heavy load up to the top of stairs, I would be focusing on that chain. If you are using a hand truck or just carrying boxes up the stairs, I would recommend deadlifts. If you are two man lifting, squats. Those are two that would be the most beneficial. There are many supplemental lifts you could do, but you would be burning too many calories. As men, we tend to let our ego or our sense of competition be our guide in the weight room. I know it is difficult, but take it slow and steady. Don't try and do too much too soon.

Low weight / high rep will not result in strengthening, but it will train for stamina. The only way to add strength is through muscular overload AND caloric surplus. You are not going to be able to do that yet. Take your time and focus on the weight loss and establishing good habits. You've got the rest of your life to do this! Sent from my phone. Please forgive brevity and spelling.

Well... sorta. Pretty mush all of the same muscles are involved, it is just to what degree they are working the hardest. With the chin-up, the biceps, forearms, and latissimus are the muscles that are doing the most work. With the pull-up the trapezius and the deltoids are working the hardest. But all of those muscles are needed to do either movement. It is amazing the difference pronation vs supination of the hand makes!

Pull up is with the palms facing away and chin ups are with palms toward you. That was my goal at the beginning of this year. I had never done one in my entire life, but I am proud to say that I can do 15 chin-ups now!

Woah, that is really bad. No matter how little thirst you have, you must force yourself to drink. Dehydration is no laughing matter and can put you in the hospital. And when they have to give you a bad of IV fluids, they'll have to dig for a vein with that big needle since you will be dehydrated. Sip, sip, sip!

Are you losing strength or are you running out of energy? Sometimes it is confusing. You just had surgery in August, it is very unlikely you are going to be able to gain any muscle mass on your reduced caloric intake. Even though you are getting up to 120 grams of Protein, if you have no calorie surplus to burn during exercise or work, you have to burn the protein for fuel. I am going to go against the grain here and recommend you maintain your protein intake for now, but increase your carb intake. I know, calm down... I don't mean eat a twinkee or anything! Have some oats for Breakfast, or maybe some shredded wheat. These good carbs also have Fiber which will help keep you regular. Right now you are in the peak weight loss mode. I know it is difficult to accept, but you are going to lose some muscle mass. But if your persevere you will be able to get it back. Keep getting in good quality protein, healthy fats and complex carbs. That will help with the energy levels.

Since you like certain outdoor activites, when not look into exercises that compliment or supplement those activities? If kayaking is something you like and want to get better at, what physical attributes improve that performance? Weighted rows, lat pulls, cardio conditioning... Maybe the key for you is to find a goal not associated with a weight but at improving performance?

There are some real meat heads at my gym as well. I used to try and talk to some of them, but we are coming from very different directions, I don't even bother trying to clue them in on what they are doing wrong. Sometimes people have to fail before they want to learn. I know that was my problem when I was younger.

It's excellent to hear that you are going to a gym and also that you are doing it with a plan. Too many people say that they are going to join a gym and just walk a treadmill. They'll buy sporty looking outfits and trendy shaker bottles that match their new bluetooth headphones and that means they are getting in shape. Well... not really. I don't really call them out on it because at least they are getting up and moving. That is more than many do! I can empathize with the way you felt about the light weights. Years ago before my injuries, I did serious weight lifting. So when I started going back to the gym and I was using just the barbell or 10 lb dumbells, I was ashamed. Didn't care about anyone else, I just knew what I was capable of before. However! Starting off with very low weights gives us the opportunity to learn proper technique. Done properly, the squat & the deadlift are the two most beneficial exercises a person can do. The entire body is used in those two exercises. Every major muscle works, the central nervous system is taxed, and the skeletal system is stressed. Done improperly, there is nothing worse for the body. Every major joint and muscle +connective tissue is at risk! So if your trainer is worth anything, he will definitely be taking it easy on you. He should also not be telling you to do circuit type training since you are going to have so little reserves at this point post op. One thing to talk to him about if you haven't already, is he familiar with physical therapy exercises? Those are ones that you should mastering. Very safe and vitally important whether or not you have an injury.

This was me as well. It is not uncommon either. I found that eating while standing and walking around afterwards helped tremendously. I still will get up and walk around right after eating at almost 2 years out. Your surgeon is telling the truth, slow methodical chewing is the best thing to do. You may be eating faster than you realize.

I am betting @@Anna Nim nailed it. Since I had surgery, I was taken off my BP meds. A short time later, I was told I needed to start adding salt into my diet! My BP was getting low. So you may be craving salt to help retain water and maintain your BP.

emphasis mine Well said @@LittleBill! As gastric patients, it is a good idea to limit caffeine, especially in the beginning. I believe that the surgeons say things like caffeine dehydrates you because people hear that all the time and it is just easier to tell patients something they think they already know. Basically reaffirming their beliefs because they don't feel like educating their patients. While it is true that caffeine does pull Water from your system, it would have to be a caffeine pill and not a beverage. The amount of Fluid in just about any caffeinated drink is enough to offset the amount of water it pull out of our bodies. The real reason that we should limit or eliminate caffeine in the beginning is because caffeine attaches to the same receptors that absorb Vitamin D and calcium; and those two are vitally important the first year! Now, it is also common for caffeine to irritate the bowels in some people. And as a gastric patient, whether you have a sleeve or a pouch, you no longer have a reservoir to hold the coffee in before it seeps into the intestines. Now you get a full dose pretty much right off the bat.

Damn, that is a beautiful smile! 16K steps a day?! Incredible! I was winded walking from my couch to the bathroom one month out from my surgery. You are going to be a superstar success of you follow the rules eating and keep walking like that. I'll be watching you to see how brightly you shine. Sent from my phone. Please forgive brevity and spelling.

@@chilet071 wow... you are beautiful! Congratulations on all of your success.

No picture with Dean?! WTH?! Chuck is cool, but my daughters & I just can't stand Sam's constant whining. You look good though!

I think I remember you saying you were a early morning workout person. Hell, I am luck to make it to work 10 minutes early much less hours early for a workout.

@@Micoxv - dude, that's awesome! I have to admit that I have not focused on my chest as much as I perhaps should have. I have just been so focused on my squats and deads. You are beating my flat barbell bench by 35lbs. With a Starting Strength routine, I can get a clean 165 3x5. But I am struggling that last rep. Body weight is my goal on all the major lifts, so that keeps me focused on my weight too! If I gain too much weight, that's just that much more I have to lift and it's already hard as hell! Oh, don't know if I mentioned it before, but I got my deadlift up to 240 and my squat to 200! I've been taking video for my form check, but no pictures.

Best wishes for a speedy recovery! Sent from my phone. Please forgive brevity and spelling.

I remember looking into this in the beginning. If I remember correctly, you would have to take so many pills to hit a reasonable protein goal that it would be just as easy to eat something. Plus, you have to drink something when you take the pill.

It's very common. Many of us have been large or a long time that it has become part of our perceived identity. I still make a comment along te lines of "a big guy like me" and get funny looks from people that don't know what I looked like before. It takes a long time to make the adjustment; not only in our minds but in the minds of others. Their mental image of you hasn't caught up with the reality of it yet. On the flip side of it, in more rare cases, there are some that develop eating disorders. There was a Soup sandwich of a person on here a while ago that went crazy with the not eating and was reduced to skin and bones. Those are the ones that should have probably been better vetted or had more intense therapy before being approved. In your situation, just give them time. Smile and laugh it off and just ignore them.

GENEPRO is shit. It's marketing hype. Basically BCAA. The only people I know who use it are women on this forum who don't like the flavor of whey. You can't get 30 grams of Protein from 15 grams of powder. They'll say it is some chemical magic that allows it to absorb as though it is 30 grams or some such BS though. Then they'll say their blood work came perfect and yadda yadda yadda... Go talk to as many lifters as possible and see if any of them use that crap. Sent from my phone. Please forgive brevity and spelling.

I am pushing 2 years out and gas pain is still a very real issue. It's not up in the shoulder, it is just like normal gas pains. The problem is that it is easier to get it now than prior to surgery. You don't have the fundus any longer to compact food in your stomach and then burp it out. Now we push those air bubbles through our digestive tract. The key here is to make sure that you are always chewing your food as much as possible. oh yeah... never gets old.

Unfortunately you have answered your question. Nothing is slaking your thirst because you are still thirsty! I know it is difficult in the beginning, and you may never regain your taste for water (I haven't yet). All you can do is keep sipping. Don't forget that broth and milk count towards your fluid intake. And you may need a little bit of sodium to help you retain some fluids as well.

Staggering your calories to "mix things up" or "trick your body" are just fad diets. You don't gain weight by the day nor lose it. It's a gradual decline or incline. You would have to mix things up by the week. And then you would only be teaching your body to hold on reserve on the lean weeks. This is why we had the surgery, to get away from the fad diets. Just stick to the plan your surgeon provided.