BigViffer

For me it was at least 3 months. You are going through the grieving process. Sent from my phone, please forgive brevity and misspelling

Most of what has been said is pretty good, so I'll let them stand on their own. I do want to clue you in on a place that was a lifesaver for me. There is a business called The Vitamin Shoppe that when you buy the Protein powders, it is guaranteed you will like it. Doesn't matter the brand or if it was on sale/clearanced. You buy a big-assed tub of it and only make one shake and find you don't like it; take it back for a full in-store credit. The one that I go to has a very knowledgeable staff. I told them I had the sleeve and needed to find a powder that didn't make me want to gag. I probably went through 4 different brands before finding Gold Standard. Now when I go, I buy whatever flavor sounds good to me without the worry if I don't like it I'll be stuck with it.

Hmm... That pic makes my waist look thick. Here is one after changing: Sent from my phone, please forgive brevity and misspelling

I was telling my wife how I was having a good arm workout today. So she asked for a picture while I was at the gym. Then I remembered this thread and I thought I would post it. As you can see in the picture, I am still in love with the bands! I can do a full set of 8 of 100lbs curls with the straight bar, but there is nothing like the pump you get from the bands.

I just answered this question recently, so I am just going to paste the links: http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/365483-men-and-muscle-loss/#entry4129930 http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/353597-male-before-and-after-pictures/page-16#entry4128408 Feel free to look at the few pictures in my gallery too.

@@jenn1 I agree with @@Renkoss in regards to oatmeal. My surgeon recommended oatmeal as a healthy carb. It helps with regularity too which we all know is an issue for people post surgery. I know you weren't playing food cop, only looking out for the best interest of newer members I do also want to say that just because it is a good carb, we should be eating it every day. I like to have oatmeal and shredded wheat about once a week for the Fiber benefit and the energy from the carbs.

I'm in this boat with you guys. I work out a lot and with pretty high intensity. I am pretty solid everywhere. However, I feel like a shar-pei dog. My belly skin can be pulled out and tugged to the left or right and almost folded! Only thing I can do is shake my head at the fact. It's my own fault for getting as big as I did. No amount of exercise will get rid of it nor make it taut again. It's not painful in and of itself, but it does get pinched sometimes and I am constantly getting ingrown hairs on my stomach and waist. Those are a real problem. Another problem is that the solid muscle underneath curves outward from belly hanging all those years. Same thing with my lower ribs, the push out from being in that place for so long. My surgeon said it's not an issue as far as health is concerned, only aesthetic.

Damn... killjoy!

Yeah, I wouldn't recommend hot yoga for beginners like us. I go to a local rec center. Most of the people there are seniors or young people curious about yoga. I have no clue about the options in a monster city like New York Sent from my phone, please forgive brevity and misspelling

I need to make that my sig line!

Sweet! I'm about to be 42! What do I get??!

If I am correct in my thinking, Bikram Yoga is the correct name for hot yoga, is it not? I have not done hot yoga, but I understand how the heat would loosen muscles for the stretches. There are two things to be aware of though: 1st - we don't know your yoga proficiency so forgive me if I state the obvious. A prolonged session of really deep stretchs will leave you in agony the day after. I would describe it as rigor mortis for the living. The heat will allow you to get a bigger stretch than you would normally so you can over extend yourself thinking you are OK. 2nd - how are you at hitting your Fluid intake goal? Hot yoga has to be at 100+ degrees! In my regular yoga class, it is not uncommon for me to drip sweat. I would be a puddle in a hot yoga class. If you are not really well hydrated that day, you are risking dehydration, muscle cramps, heat stroke... and something else I am sure. I really enjoy yoga and I know there is benefit to doing it, so I hope you are able to take a yoga class. Is hot yoga the right one just now? That I cannot say for sure. Best of luck to you!

I'm going to second @@OKCPirate suggestion of yoga. It has really helped me with several joint issues. As for a good core exercise, I am going to recommend bodyweight squats and reverse lunges. Using no additional weights, you will use everything from your chest down in each squat/lunge. Legs, butt, abs, and back are all engaged for those exercises. You may want to look into Pilates as well, but there are some pretty strenuous abs movements and lots of planking.

OK, you'll have to clue me in. I don't get the reference. Comedian?.. Sent from my phone, please forgive brevity and misspelling

Oh, and for those considering watching Babylon 5, Andreas Katsulas (G'Kar) reading soliloquies written by J. Micheal Strazinski (the show creator and writer, abbreviated to JMS by his fans) by the end of season 3 are the stuff of legends and awards. What is really funny, you will see where Star Trek DS9 ripped off JMS. JMS originally pitched the idea to Berman and the studio and they shot him down. So he left the show and made his own. They still had the show bible and stole from it whenever they needed. Dick move Berman.

Oh man, I LOVED the reimagining of BSG! Until the writer strike. After that, they even admitted that they didn't know WTF they were doing. I hated the last season and the series finale was enough to ruin the entire show for me. It all started so well too. Great mythos, seemingly one long story arc... ugh. I literaly ordered cable TV for that show and would cancel my service after the season end. I haven't had so much as an antenna hooked up to my TV since 2007 with the exception of that show until it's end. Even though I didn't like the last 1.5 season, I was already committed.

I have to agree with your friend on that count. If you are not already a fan, check out Babylon 5. IMO, best sci-fi space opera ever put on TV are seasons 1-4. You have to forgive the tight budget they had in the beginning, but there is no doubt that the acting and story arc blows away any of the Star Treks.

Huge Star Trek fan here. I have all of the series on DVD. Just can't seem to get my kids interested though. Oh, but I am no where near NJ!

Gonna gave to call BS on that Babbs. I saw your picture recently; you're getting checked out all the time whether you know it or not.

I've got a squatty potty and it helps. But honestly the only thing that I *know* works is real fiber. Shredded wheat, apricots, figs, prunes, and fresh vegetables. On a high protein diet like mine, they get neglected all too often.

I'm a grouchy kind of fellow. I honestly believe that half of the reason for that is I just cannot keep regular. I eat well, a fair amount of Fiber and supplement with Benefiber; but honestly only 1 in 5 BM's are the type that are satisfying. You know the type, where you leave the stall with a smirk and know that you have bested the commode instead shaking your head saying that next time will be different. Lately, my relationship with the john has been one of menace. I step into the stall and immediately cop an attitude with the shitter: But more often than not, I leave like this: You know, head hung low in shame. I'm happy to report that today, I have bested that porcelain SOB. Now I can't wait to go to the gym and weigh in for the week!

lol, this craving is funny to me. I had the exact same one. As a matter of fact, a hot wing was the first "normal" food I had after my surgeon gave the all clear. I took the kids to BW3's and grabbed one of their wings. And then I promptly threw it back up. I haven't craved a wing since. Now I will have shredded or canned chicken with wing sauce, but not a proper wing. I liken it to that time you get really drunk on bourbon and puked. You'll never drink it again. So it is with the chicken wing.

I buy Fage plain yogurt and flavor it with any of the syrups. Then I'll stick them in the freezer until they are just about solid. Stir it up as best as I can, boom! Froyo!

Me too! If I ever get married, it will be a miracle, because I'm way too intimidated to flirt. Oh, I don't think you will suffer single life too long. Just flash that smile from your avatar and the men will come running.

Not knowing your pre-surgery conditions, I'll just speak of my own experiences. I am over a year out and I still cannot do burpees (squat thrusts). Ever since surgery, my blood pressure is just low. When I jump up too fast I get extremely light-headed. Like, to the point of passing out. I have to really make sure I have some sodium and tons of Water the day I am doing anything that requires going from prone to standing. Anything involving your core you need to take it easy on. Don't try and build muscle while still healing. All of your limited Protein intake is going towards healing at the moment.