Ceradad

Holy crap, no kidding! I can't believe how far out I have to park in the evenings right now. It amazes me how many people think that they can go in, do maybe 20 minutes of cardio, then lift for 30 minutes (most of which they are socializing with others) and lose weight. I have NEVER done a New Years resolution to lose weight. Why? Because you don't accomplish anything. If that is your reason to hit the gym, you're going to quit in 1 1/2 mos. TOPS! Not being rude or anything, but I hate it when someone gets on a machine or bench and sits there between sets doing nothing or talking. Let others work in so they can get the F out.. Oh well, I'm done and off my soapbox. Thanks. Needed that:biggrin:

Ok, I'm still in the process of checking out all of the areas on the site. So, I was banded Aug. 28, 2007 at Methodist by Dr. Jones. Couldn't be happier with the results. I'm down almost 90 lbs since and been working my butt off at the gym. I live in Shakopee with my DW, daughter and our dog. Nice to see others from MN on here.

Nice pics Manatee! Great job!

I am a Sgt in Minneapolis for the Federal Reserve Police. I've not worn my body armor in forever due to the fact that it made me look "bigger" than I already was. Next week, I am taking the physical tests to try to get back on our SWAT team. They still have all my equipment from before when I had to leave the team due to my weight issues. Not sure any of it will fit right anymore.:biggrin: Sorry, I can't answer your questions directly right now, but hopefully soon. Any thoughts and/or prayers next week would be nice on Wed. Thanks.

Wow, I guess I didn't realize there were more rooms on the main page until just now. I saw there were other men around, but it's nice to see we have our own room. I've only read the first page and looks like I'll need alot of time to read the rest.:biggrin: My name is Jeff. I am a police sergeant in the Twin Cities. I was banded in St. Louis Park, MN on Aug 28, 2007 by Dr. Jones. Insurance covered, after being denied once and put into appeal. So far, I'm down 89 lbs. w/no restrictions. But, I feel I may need one soon. I do real good during the day. But at night, I start to feel the need to snack. May just be old habits as well.:hurray: I'm in the gym every morning doing my cardio. Days I work, for 50 minutes at least. Days I'm off, for at least 1 hr 40 minutes. 4 nights a week, I lift weights. I know if I wasn't lifting, my actual weight loss would be over 100 lbs, but I also know muscle burns more calories. So, I'll keep. Thanks for starting this thread. I think it will be a huge help to see more men going through the same things.

My thoughts exactly. I told a few people close to me when I was considering it. After I got my surgery date, I told a few more people. It was never that I was ashamed I was getting the surgery, it was more that I was ashamed I had let myself get to the point I needed the surgery. (Does that make sense to anyone else?) I told my DW after I started the process with the surgeon and all. I wanted to make sure I was committed before telling her. She had concerns as well. Said it shouldn't be necessary or that there were risks. I finally sat her down and told her I needed to lose "one of her" to be healthy. That stopped her cold. I don't think she had ever thought about my weight in those terms. My friends I told were very supportive. They knew the struggles I had and that things weren't quite right with me. Since the surgery, I've had many people walk right up to me that have never really talked to me before, and ask if I'm losing weight. (Amazes me how people think this is acceptable and their business, especially skinny people. But, that's for another time). I tell them I had the surgery and EMPHASIZE that I am literally working my butt off. I tell them I am in the gym EVERY morning doing cardio and 4 nights a week lifting. I tell them about the struggles I've had in the past. And, I tell them how much better I feel. Ultimately, it is your decision. Both as to whether the surgery is right for you and whether you want to tell others about it. I figured if I chose the right people, I would have more moral support. I was right. As for you DW, she is probably worried about the surgery itself and what could happen to you during that if a complication arose. Just let her know that there are less complications during this than the full bypass. Good luck!

I do not have the low profile port, but I was told about it a couple months ago at my monthly appt. The PA said I may need it somewhere down the line if I were to choose it. I just don't know if I would want to go through the whole hassle of surgery again simply for that. We'll see when I get to my goal weight and see if it is even necessary.

Exactly what I was going to say. My insurance turned me down initially due to "not learning anything from my dietician over 6 mos." Their reasoning was that I had not lost weight during that time and I would not be able to lose weight after the band. They were just trying to get me to quit. I was told by the clinic they have this particular branch of BC/BS do this all the time to their patients. I didn't even have to put it into appeal. When the clinic called the insurance company and were told this, along with some other very unflattering items about "those people", the lady from the clinic went ballistic. She flamed them good and told them to put it into appeal w/o even asking me. Solved all my problems and worries. The best part is that it is a neutral 3rd party that looks over everything and decides. Both parties have to abide by the decision at that time. Don't give up even if they decline you. The appeal took about two day, but they have like a week to decide. Good luck and keep the faith!

Ok, last night went back in for upper body circuits. Here's how it went: Assisted chin ups: 160 x 7 Bench: 185 x 7 DB flyes: 30 x 7 Preacher curls: 75 x 7 Rope cable pushdowns: 70 x 7 DB military press: 35 x 7 Roman chair (back ext): 50 x 7 BB shrug: 185 x 7 Repeat for a total of 3 circuits. Had some difficulty, no biggie just seemed a little too much effort, with some of the exercises due to my week off for recuperating. Should get better by next week. Cardio this morning. Due to cold, I drove into work instead of riding the bus and walking 4 blocks in the -40 deg. windchill. As a result, I was able to do 65 minutes on the treadmill. Burned 927 calories and walked 4.32 miles. No lifting today as it is my recupe day.

Ok, last night went back in for upper body circuits. Here's how it went: Assisted chin ups: 160 x 7 Bench: 185 x 7 DB flyes: 30 x 7 Preacher curls: 75 x 7 Rope cable pushdowns: 70 x 7 DB military press: 35 x 7 Roman chair (back ext): 50 x 7 BB shrug: 185 x 7 Repeat for a total of 3 circuits. Had some difficulty, no biggie just seemed a little too much effort, with some of the exercises due to my week off for recuperating. Should get better by next week. Cardio this morning. Due to cold, I drove into work instead of riding the bus and walking 4 blocks in the -40 deg. windchill. As a result, I was able to do 65 minutes on the treadmill. Burned 927 calories and walked 4.32 miles. No lifting today as it is my recupe day.

Ok, hit the gym last night for lower body circuit. Here is what I did: Leg press: 540 x 7 Calf raise: 540 x 7 Strt leg deadlift: 155 x 7 Leg ext.: 180 x 7 Abductor: 140 x 7 Adductor: 140 x 7 Repeat for a total of 3 circuits. This morning I did cardio on treadmill for 50 minutes for 3.32 miles and 702 calories burned. Tonight is upper body circuits.

Ok, hit the gym last night for lower body circuit. Here is what I did: Leg press: 540 x 7 Calf raise: 540 x 7 Strt leg deadlift: 155 x 7 Leg ext.: 180 x 7 Abductor: 140 x 7 Adductor: 140 x 7 Repeat for a total of 3 circuits. This morning I did cardio on treadmill for 50 minutes for 3.32 miles and 702 calories burned. Tonight is upper body circuits.

Totals from last week: C-650 S-0 (week off after 6 strt wks of lifting) W-291 Hope everyone is having a good wk.

I had no guidelines set out for me by my Dr/P.A. Of course, I've been lifting weights since h.s., so I never had a problem with lifting. Cardio on the other hand has always been boring. Now, I simply suck it up and do the cardio. I do cardio every morning before work for 50 minutes and on my days off I go for at least 90 minutes. 4 nights a wk I do strength training. But, I only do it for toning now and not for bulk.

Great job Val and Princesst! The key I've found is not to get down when things are going so easy. Just keep working at it and you'll get back on track.

Ok, I know I don't come in here too often, but I had my monthly PA appt. last Thurs. Down 16 lbs in the last month. 291 as of last Thur. WOOOOT!!!!! Hope I can continue to at least avg. around 8 lbs/mo of weight loss. That way, when softball comes around, I'll be down about 115 lbs from the end of last summers league play. Should be quite an improvement in performance.

Ok, been a few days since my last entry. Took last week off from lifting. Concentrated on cardio only. Ended up doing approx. 650 minutes on the treadmill from Jan. 21-26. Lot of time on there and it proved to be a killer over the weekend. Completely wiped me out even though I still got in 240 on Sat and Sun. Oh well, now I know I have some limitations. Hit the gym @ 0500 this morning for 50 minutes on the treadmill. Back around 1715 to start my next cycle of lower body workout. Tomorrow will be upper body.

Ok, been a few days since my last entry. Took last week off from lifting. Concentrated on cardio only. Ended up doing approx. 650 minutes on the treadmill from Jan. 21-26. Lot of time on there and it proved to be a killer over the weekend. Completely wiped me out even though I still got in 240 on Sat and Sun. Oh well, now I know I have some limitations. Hit the gym @ 0500 this morning for 50 minutes on the treadmill. Back around 1715 to start my next cycle of lower body workout. Tomorrow will be upper body.

Here is my routine for a week: Sunday: Lower body circuit training w/3 circuits. 1 to 1 1/2 hrs on a treadmill (4 mph w/3% incl) Monday: am-50 min on trdmll (same spd/incl), pm-upper body circuit training w/3 circuits Tues-am-50 min on trdmll (same spd/incl) Wed-am-50 min on trdmll (you know the routine:biggrin:) Thur-am-50 min on trdmll, pm lower body circ. trng w/3 circuits. Fri-am-50 min on trdmll, pm-upper body circ. trng w/3 circuits Sat-1 1/2 to 2 hrs on trdmll. This has been since I was banded in late Aug., 07. I've only missed 5 days since I started up 1 wk post op. Seems I almost live at the gym sometimes.

Ok, been gone most of this week from work. That's where I get on here to check up on everyone. Taking this week off from lifting, so I've been concentrating on cardio exclusively. So far, since Sat., I done about 40 miles on the treadmill. Plus, had my monthly check with the PA yesterday. Down to 291!!!!!!! Couldn't believe it. I'm officially below 300. Never again will I be anywhere near that level. About another 50 lbs to go. Can't wait for softball season. I keep telling my leftfielder I'm taking his position this year.:redface:

Sorry, forgot all the important stats. Lost 2 lbs last week. Cardio-605 minutes. Resistance-130 minutes.

Sorry I'm a little late this to get in this week. Down to 299 for a weight total, -80 total.

Too true. That is what I think is happening w/me. Even though I am still averaging 2 lbs a wk of weight loss, I find myself thinking it should be more. Oh well, as of now I still am not off the deep end. If I feel it start to take over my way of thinking, I'll talk to my dr.

I'm far from an expert, but I would say anything you are doing to get in better shape will only help you long term. If that is all your body can handle now, so be it. Work your way up to more gradually. Your body will let you know when it is ready to go more. Just keep in mind that your body will get used to the stress quicker than your mind will. You need to push yourself just a little more each week than the last. Otherwise, your body "gets used" to the amount your doing and you won't see the same results. One thing I had to learn, and have to keep telling myself, is NEVER compare yourself to others. Especially in working out. Everyone is different. I've always been big and tall (6'3") and have been into weightlifting since I was a frosh in hs. Always felt the need to look like one of the strongest in the gym by pushing the most weight. If someone was doing more, I felt bad. Now, I don't care what others are doing in the gym. I only care about myself and what I am comfortable doing. I know I could do more if I wanted to, but why? I'm not in that mode anymore. As I said, I still need to tell myself this often. Even doing cardio next to slimmer, younger kids running on the treadmill. Keep up the good work and you'll accomplish your goals. Never let anyone else tell you what you should be doing. Except your dr, of course.

I know what you are talking about there daddy. I'm in the Twin Cities and therm. in my truck read -16 @ 0530 this morning on the way to the gym. SUCKED!!!!! I'm soooo glad I had a remote starter put on my Explorer when we bought it last year. It's saved my hide more than one cold morning. As my Cowboys choked last week, I have no choice to root for your Pack. No way I can cheer for the Gnats. And, the Pack are so much easier to watch than the Vikings over here.