Ceradad

xt-that is a great idea. I started off with 2 wks of light walks on the treadmill. Prior to surgery, I talked with my surgeon and discussed what I could do and when I could do it. He said after 2 wks, I could start on light weights w/no ab works until after 4 wks. Nothing says you cannot lift heavy though. Just start off with lighter weights and then add weight as you gain your strength back. You may not ever get to the same weights as before, but compared to your new body weight, it will be more. I know when I was 380 lbs, I could never do 90% of my bw for 3 sets of 12 (90% of 380=342, 90% of 250=225) and that is what I am doing now. And, that is circuit training on top of that. Not 1 set, rest, another set, rest, another set. I do 8 other exercises btwn sets. You'll get there.

lapbandtalker, you are correct in your assertian that sleep deprived people are less likely to lose weight. What they are talking about is people that only get about 4 hrs of sleep each and every night. Studies show everyone needs at least 7 hrs of sleep each night. Without that, you cannot stay healthy for long. I will not say for sure as you should not say for sure she lost the weight by staying in bed. We cannot say for sure either way. But, IMO, your advice to stay in bed with all the conveniences and food and drinks w/i arms reach was not good advice. Just because she could not walk on her leg does not mean she has to be bedridden. There are crutches. As a nurse, I would hope she knows about those. I will say that your sister most likely did gain 15 lbs of muscle. If she was with a personal trainer, she must have been with them for awhile to lose that much weight properly. I am willing to bet she lost the 15 lbs by losing that muscle weight gain. I know from personal experience that if you lift weights, you are going to gain muscle. If you gain muscle and do cardio, you are going to lose overall weight much slower.

Great job TQUAD! The first step is the hardest. Keep it up and you will see the results. As for me, 45 minutes of upper body workout last night. Today will be leg workout and maybe some cardio if I have the time.

Ok gentlemen, another update. Another 2 workouts done and I felt like I was getting stronger as both of them went on. Even to the point of repping out 12 reps on the bench @ 225 instead of the prescribed 8. I can't believe how much the added protein helps. If I had not gone through the struggles over the past 4-6 wks, I wouldn't have believed it. Thanks for the help guys.:grouphug:

Update: Monday p.m.-killed another upper body workout. Again, felt stronger as the workout went on. So glad I started back on the protein supplement.:grouphug: Tuesday a.m.-Off from work so I hit both legs and cardio back to back. Another great workout. You know you are doing very good when one of the regulars, and former steroid user, tells you you are throwing around some real weight on the leg press:biggrin: Wed a.m.-Ran 1.69 miles in 15 minutes on treadmill followed by 55 minutes on elliptical. Working 0000-0800 and 1600-2400 on today so workout is out of the question. We'll see how Friday feels. HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!!!!!!!

Good luck TC. I am thinking about concentrating this winter on doing a 10k right off the bat next spring. Should be interesting.

saninbham, we've all been there. It is always easier to simply sleep. As someone mentioned, if you are newly banded, take it a little easier and let yourself heal. For the first wk or so after surgery, I could only manage walking around the neighborhood in the afternoon. And, at the start, if I got 4 blocks, I felt lucky......and exhausted. Not because I was in terrible shape (though I was) but because my body was healing. Once I started hitting the gym, I had to force myself to get in. When I went back to work after 4 wks (I'm a police officer) I made myself get up @ 0430 to do my cardio and back after my shift to lift. It gets easier as I am still doing this schedule. Good luck. If you have any questions, talk to luluc. She knows what she is talking about and an inspiration to alot. Even if she is a filthy Giants fan.:thumbup:

whosya, once again, you and I are right on the same path. I'm stuck right around the 245-250 range myself. Like you, my workouts are still happening, but the foods need to be watched a little closer. We'll get around it soon, I'm sure. Good luck if you run on Thursday. I was going to run in one here, but I'm working a double shift for the holiday OT.

Thank you, thank you.:thumbup: Seriously, I don't think I have a recent one. My avatar is from June of this year. I'll see what I can do. As for the NO's causing cramping and other problems, I do find I tend to have to get to the restroom prior to working out. Always have. I just look at it as a minor annoyance.

Oh, and to update, after almost a week back on Protein supplements, I had my best upper body workout in months last Thursday. I KILLED my workout and felt like I was getting stronger on the 3 circuit as opposed to losing strength. Thanks for the support guys.:thumbup:

B-Man, I use NO Xplode. I like it alot. Fruit Punch tastes pretty darn good too. However, I was told not to take any Protein w/i 3 hrs prior to taking it or it will effect how it works. Found out the hard way that it is true for me. Forgot one time and had a really bad workout. Mike and mrboswell, I just turned 38 last week, so I gained a little on you "old" men.:thumbup:

Thursday night-KILLED my upper body workout. As mentioned previously, it was my b-day and I turned 38. Had my best workout in probably 2 mos. I walked out of the gym feeling like king sh*t!:thumbup: Followed that up with a great leg workout on Friday morning and cardio of 65 minutes. No workouts over weekend. Down in Des Moines for early turkey day with my family. This morning was 45 minutes on elliptical. Tonight will be upper body and another 15-20 minutes of cardio.

Thanks lulu. All I want for my b-day is for my 'Boys to win their next 2 games. Oh, and to whoop up on the Gnats on Dec. 14th.:cursing:

That's only because it took me a couple days to stop crying.:cursing: Mike, I went to the Vikings/Cowboys game last Oct. down in Dallas. Had a blast. Got invited to numerous tailgating areas to partake in goodies and such. Of course, I was wearing my Cowboys jersey. But, I saw a lot of the Vikings fans being asked too. Couple years ago, I went to a game up here btwn the same 2 teams and most of the Vikings fans were arses to me. Plus, I had numerous Vikes fans ask me if Rod Woodson was playing that day for the Cowboys. Had to laugh in their faces and tell them Rod Woodson never played for the Cowboys, but Darren Woodson was out for that game. If you're going to talk smack, at least know what you're talking about. Cowboys fans seem to be very nice to opposing fans.

But it is true. You even said afterwards you wanted to tease me about the outcome of the game a couple weeks ago. And you knowing all along how upset I would be.:eek::crying::crying::crying: :cursing:

Great suggestion mike.:cursing: Considering I had that problem, I should have thought of that one first. Even better idea is to see if a company would want to throw some sponsorship $ our way. Even if it was just for that little seminar area. As for the Jets issue, no biggie there. I can accept a Jets fan way before a Gnats fan. Except for luluc who shows her true colors when the Cowboys play her hometown Gnats.

Not sure I can make the trip, but something to do with incorporating weightlifting in with your cardio. I am a believer that by increasing your lean muscle to bf% ratio, you will look better/healthier. On a sidenote, I'm listening to your latest radio talk show and it was great to hear you give a shout out to the Cowboys. I love hearing from real football fans down in TX like yourself and luluc. It gets frustrating up here in Norsland being a Cowboys fan.:thumbup:

Scarecrow, thanks for the advice. Anything I can get my hands on that works for others, I will at least try to incorporate and see if it works for me.

Gave myself a little b-day present and slept in this morning. At the time, seemed like a great idea. Now, I'm kicking myself.:eek: In tonight for my upper body workout. Can't fit in any cardio as I have a financial class to get to tonight with DW. Off tomorrow so I may try to fit some extra cardio work in after my leg workout tomorrow morning. This weekend we're going to Des Moines to have early turkey day with my family. I'll have to borrow my sisters card to the 24/7 gym she belongs to. Her brother in law owns it, so it's cool.:thumbup:

Just an update. I started the protein shakes up this past Saturday and have already seen improvement in the gym. While I decided to simply start a new 6 wk cycle of reps on the circuit training, meaning only 7 reps/exercise/circuit, I didn't feel "weak" at all. Hopefully, as I continue the protein and the workouts, my strength will increase as the reps do.

Monday- a.m.-45 minutes of cardio on elliptical p.m.-35 minutes upper body workout. Tuesday- a.m.-too tired from staying up too late watching football for fantasy football results.:rolleyes2: p.m.-30 min, leg workout Wed- a.m.-65 minutes of cardio on elliptical. p.m.-non lifting day. P.S. started up Protein shakes again and already feel the difference in weight training. Hopefully, it will stick.

If you check out my "advice from weightlifters" thread, I let my protein intake lapse and I suffered tremendously. I've started up the Protein shakes again and, after taking one week off, will start back up this coming Monday. However, I am able to bench 70 lbs over my weight now. I've NEVER been able to claim that. My all time max bench was 375 and I weighed approx 340 at that time.

Keep poking the bear.......:Dancing_sorry:

Nicely done Beth!:Dancing_wub: I got a couple new tat's last Oct. and this past January on both forearms. Neither had much to do with my lb, but I like them. I've got a total of 6 so far. DW hates them, but it is my body. She just has to look at it.:Dancing_sorry: Tattoos are a great way of expressing yourself and what means alot to you.

mrboswell, to answer your question, it came extremely quick. Like you, I've lifted weights ever since hs and would start and stop all the time. I would get into the gym for maybe 6 mos straight and then something would happen and I would stop for a longer period of time. This cycle went on for YEARS! When I finally got the band, it was almost like a switch went on. I decided I would not let the band do all the work. I figured if I was going to go to the extreme of having my body cut open (small incisions, I know), I was going to make a lifestyle change. I never liked cardio, hated it even, but I decided I needed it. I started that before the lifting, per dr orders, and haven't looked back. I would imagine if you and your son were to do it together, and he showed enthusiasm, that will make it so much easier for you. Good luck.