Diana_in_Philly

My hubby and two teen daughters know. My own sister doesn't know. Anyone who has asked (I'm two months out of surgery and down 56 pounds over 6 months) I say I'm working with my doc and a nutritionist and following their advice religiously and that my diet is very high Protein, very low carb and I'm working with a personal trainer. Every last bit of that is true. Should someone ask directly if I had surgery, I will look them straight in the face and ask them if they had sex last night (which I would do when people asked when I was going to have children.) That generally makes folks realize immediately how far over the line they have gone.

IMG_0001.mp4I'm meeting with a sports registered dietician who understands bariatric patients next week about just this. I'm down about 140 pounds and I've taken my body fat from about 50% to 30% (which is pretty good for a 57 year old mother of two). However, what I'm learning from working with two personal trainers is that to really build muscle mass and replace fat, you need to add carbs (I know - it goes against everything we think) but as I understand the metabolics of it, if you do not have enough carbs in your diet your body cannibalizes muscle for energy rather than the fat. But I have been frustrated with finding the right balance of carbs to make this happen without going down the slippery slope because they are crack to me.
Timing of Protein and carbs around your workout is important as well. You should have some kind of protein within an hour after a workout (usually I go for one of those Muscle Milk kind of things at about 30 grams and 200 calories) and Fiber rich carbs an hour or so before and starchy carbs and hour or two after.
I say this from the standpoint of someone who is 5'3" and now 152. I am a nationally ranked foil fencer in my age group (started fencing after surgery) and I fence 6-7 hours a week and am in the gym doing a crossfit-type class with olympic lifting 3 hours a week, Pilates 1 hour a week and agility/speed/other strength at least one other hour a week.
I spoke with my bariatric nutrition team (all really great RDs) and no one there had experience with feeding a post-bariatric athlete. It took a lot of phone calls, but I found someone who is in my health plan so I can have her visits covered. You may want to speak with your team.
DO NOT EAT ALL OF WHAT YOU BURN! Some of what you burn yes - but not all.
Here's a video of me doing a clean and split jerk from about a week ago. Weight is low (55 pounds) but I'm still learning technique. Did I ever thing I'd be able to do this? Nope. ( Back Squat 215, Deadlift 195, Front Squat 165 - current body weight 152).
IMG_0001.mp4

IMG_0001.mp4I'm meeting with a sports registered dietician who understands bariatric patients next week about just this. I'm down about 140 pounds and I've taken my body fat from about 50% to 30% (which is pretty good for a 57 year old mother of two). However, what I'm learning from working with two personal trainers is that to really build muscle mass and replace fat, you need to add carbs (I know - it goes against everything we think) but as I understand the metabolics of it, if you do not have enough carbs in your diet your body cannibalizes muscle for energy rather than the fat. But I have been frustrated with finding the right balance of carbs to make this happen without going down the slippery slope because they are crack to me.
Timing of Protein and carbs around your workout is important as well. You should have some kind of protein within an hour after a workout (usually I go for one of those Muscle Milk kind of things at about 30 grams and 200 calories) and Fiber rich carbs an hour or so before and starchy carbs and hour or two after.
I say this from the standpoint of someone who is 5'3" and now 152. I am a nationally ranked foil fencer in my age group (started fencing after surgery) and I fence 6-7 hours a week and am in the gym doing a crossfit-type class with olympic lifting 3 hours a week, Pilates 1 hour a week and agility/speed/other strength at least one other hour a week.
I spoke with my bariatric nutrition team (all really great RDs) and no one there had experience with feeding a post-bariatric athlete. It took a lot of phone calls, but I found someone who is in my health plan so I can have her visits covered. You may want to speak with your team.
DO NOT EAT ALL OF WHAT YOU BURN! Some of what you burn yes - but not all.
Here's a video of me doing a clean and split jerk from about a week ago. Weight is low (55 pounds) but I'm still learning technique. Did I ever thing I'd be able to do this? Nope. ( Back Squat 215, Deadlift 195, Front Squat 165 - current body weight 152).
IMG_0001.mp4

This is so hard. I'm almost 3 years out. I've lost 150 pounds. Yet, there are some days, I pull my clothes out of the closet, look at them and go - that can't be mine, it's too small. I consistently go to the wrong size racks in stores. My head says I'm still 300 pounds.
When I see photos - then vs. now type things, I see it. But, when I look in the mirror, I still see the fat girl.
FWIW, I'm an avid athlete now and work out almost daily. I'm ranked in the top 25 of my sport for my age group in the US. I work with a personal trainer and I can deadlift 235 pounds and squat 225. Yet, I still see myself as a size 26 and not a size 6.
The head is the last thing to get on board.

I was 56 when I had my surgery. I'm 2 years out. From my highest (which was not officially recorded) I was probably over 300 pounds in August 2015. I flop between 152-160 right now and am working on getting my body fat down under 28 percent. I've gone from barely fitting into 24s to buying a pair of size 6 Levis this past weekend. I'm a nationally ranked fencer in my age group now and just this weekend won Bronze (all women over 50) and Silver (women 50-59) medals in fencing at the NJ Senior Olympics this weekend. I can dead lift 200 pounds and squat 215.
The only regret I have is not having done this 20 years ago.

2 years out and still buying smaller bras. Just bought a 34DDD today, down from a 42I (eye) in August 2016 before surgery. Now, it's about my body shape changing from working out more than straight weight loss. Keep the girls happy.

I was 55 when I had my VSG. I'm now 57. I've lost about 150 and am a nationally ranked athlete in my sport. I haven't had plastics yet, but I have met with a surgeon and am planning to have a panni with Tummy Tuck (which my insurance will cover) and breast reduction/lift (the reduction will be covered as well). I'd love to have my arms done, but I'm a bit scared of the recovery time on it and the impact on my sport. I'm trying to figure out when to do stuff because having it done will require some time off work and I still have one kid in college and one on the way there.

I'm 3+ years out and can't remember specifics, but I can tell you I'm down 150 pounds and fluctuate between 152-160 most weeks.

I'm 3+ years out and can't remember specifics, but I can tell you I'm down 150 pounds and fluctuate between 152-160 most weeks.

I'm 3+ years out and can't remember specifics, but I can tell you I'm down 150 pounds and fluctuate between 152-160 most weeks.

Get your head in the right place. Start working through why you are doing this and what your goals are. Use the time before your surgery to get your head in the right place - Protein first. Water always. Make peace with the things you won't be able to eat frequently going forward. (I'm 3+ years post op - I can pretty much eat anything, but I pay a price for it. For example, I had a submarine sandwich from a place I loved after a fencing tournament this weekend and my stomach was upset for three days.) If you need to see a therapist about your relationship with food, do it now. Surgery is a tool to jumpstart your weight loss. The hard work will be up to you after the honeymoon phase. Best wishes.

Get your head in the right place. Start working through why you are doing this and what your goals are. Use the time before your surgery to get your head in the right place - Protein first. Water always. Make peace with the things you won't be able to eat frequently going forward. (I'm 3+ years post op - I can pretty much eat anything, but I pay a price for it. For example, I had a submarine sandwich from a place I loved after a fencing tournament this weekend and my stomach was upset for three days.) If you need to see a therapist about your relationship with food, do it now. Surgery is a tool to jumpstart your weight loss. The hard work will be up to you after the honeymoon phase. Best wishes.

Get your head in the right place. Start working through why you are doing this and what your goals are. Use the time before your surgery to get your head in the right place - Protein first. Water always. Make peace with the things you won't be able to eat frequently going forward. (I'm 3+ years post op - I can pretty much eat anything, but I pay a price for it. For example, I had a submarine sandwich from a place I loved after a fencing tournament this weekend and my stomach was upset for three days.) If you need to see a therapist about your relationship with food, do it now. Surgery is a tool to jumpstart your weight loss. The hard work will be up to you after the honeymoon phase. Best wishes.

Get your head in the right place. Start working through why you are doing this and what your goals are. Use the time before your surgery to get your head in the right place - Protein first. Water always. Make peace with the things you won't be able to eat frequently going forward. (I'm 3+ years post op - I can pretty much eat anything, but I pay a price for it. For example, I had a submarine sandwich from a place I loved after a fencing tournament this weekend and my stomach was upset for three days.) If you need to see a therapist about your relationship with food, do it now. Surgery is a tool to jumpstart your weight loss. The hard work will be up to you after the honeymoon phase. Best wishes.

Get your head in the right place. Start working through why you are doing this and what your goals are. Use the time before your surgery to get your head in the right place - Protein first. Water always. Make peace with the things you won't be able to eat frequently going forward. (I'm 3+ years post op - I can pretty much eat anything, but I pay a price for it. For example, I had a submarine sandwich from a place I loved after a fencing tournament this weekend and my stomach was upset for three days.) If you need to see a therapist about your relationship with food, do it now. Surgery is a tool to jumpstart your weight loss. The hard work will be up to you after the honeymoon phase. Best wishes.

About me... HW 300+
Gastric sleeve - August 2016
CW 152 - haven't done body fat analysis in a while and haven't had plastics so I'm sitting around 28%
Age 57 - female

Lifts currently
Squat - 235 on the road to max at 250 in 2 weeks
Bench - I don't
DL - 235 on the road to max at 250 in 2 weeks
I take an Olympic Lifting/Crossfit type class 3x weekly. I lift to support my passion - fencing. I'm ranked 23 among US women age 50-59 in foil and headed for my first ranking in saber in my age group. I'm ranked 33 among women over 40 in the US in foil and #16 on the list for the Veterans World Cup Team (so 12 people have to get hurt or die before I can go.) I fence about 7-8 hours a week and compete almost every weekend.
I do reformer based Pilates for an hour a week and work with a personal trainer another hour a week. We are working on building my upper body strength which is lacking. I can't quite bench 100 pounds yet and can probably do a single overhead press of about 100, but not sure.

Not making the time for myself is what got me to 300 pounds in the first place. Never again. All the gym work I do is to support my fencing - I've set a goal to try to qualify for the women's national team for my age group when I'm in my 60s. My first shot will be in 4 years. I plan to fence at least 2 tournaments a month this season, starting in September - my husband will be running the Navy Half Marathon in DC (he's lost 60 pounds on this journey with me) and the day before his race I'll fence an event in Falls Church, Va. In April, he came to a National tournament with me in Richmond and ran a half marathon that weekend. This has become our recreation. (It helps that we have one kid in college away from home and the other is now high school age and pretty self sufficient and doesn't mind late dinners.)

I have about 10 extra pounds of skin/fat that are going nowhere and I work out like a demon. I fence (as in en garde) 6-7 hours a week, do a cross fit type class three hours a week, work with a personal trainer 1 hour a week and do pilates and yoga another 2 hours a week. Every other weekend I am fencing competitively. I have a pouch. Nothing is going to do anything about it until I have plastics. If I tighten my abdominals under it you can see the six pack that is there, but that fat and skin is going to have to be surgically removed. You can tighten up the muscles, but that won't cure the giggle.

FWIW - 5'3", 55 years old at time of surgery. 3rd surgi-versary in a few days (8/23). Highest weight- roughly 300+. Current weight - about 162. Lowest 152 after contracting e coli.
I told only my immediate family (two teen daughters and husband.) I did not tell my mother or my sister (mom died without knowing and sister still doesn't know).
I am NATIONALLY RANKED as a fencer now in my age group in two weapons (foil and saber). I can deadlift 240 and back squat the same.
Getting your head in the right place is the biggest issues. Learning to deal with emotions without food is huge for most of us. Finding an exercise you love is important. Tell who you choose, or not. But I can tell you that this made a mammoth difference in my life.
Best wishes to you.

FWIW - 5'3", 55 years old at time of surgery. 3rd surgi-versary in a few days (8/23). Highest weight- roughly 300+. Current weight - about 162. Lowest 152 after contracting e coli.
I told only my immediate family (two teen daughters and husband.) I did not tell my mother or my sister (mom died without knowing and sister still doesn't know).
I am NATIONALLY RANKED as a fencer now in my age group in two weapons (foil and saber). I can deadlift 240 and back squat the same.
Getting your head in the right place is the biggest issues. Learning to deal with emotions without food is huge for most of us. Finding an exercise you love is important. Tell who you choose, or not. But I can tell you that this made a mammoth difference in my life.
Best wishes to you.

I probably had GERD before my sleeve, but didn't take anything for it. To be honest, I can live with taking Protonix and Vitamins for the benefits I've gotten.

I'm 3 years out next month. I feel so much better than normal. I pretty much eat what I want (within limits) and give myself the option of the occasional slice of pizza or small plate of Pasta. I still take a PPI for reflux and my Vitamins. But what I can do now that I couldn't do before when I was 300 pounds:
I'm ranked 22 among women in my age group in foil fencing (as in en garde) NATIONALLY
I'm ranked 37 among women in my age group in saber fencing NATIONALLY
I can deadlift and back squat 240 pounds. I can clean and jerk 75 pounds.
If I had the plastics done, you'd see the six pack.
I'm in the best shape I've ever been in during my adult life.
Do I have a cocktail once or twice a week? Sure
Do I eat popcorn occasionally? Sure
But my weight is stable around 152 with about 25% body fat which is pretty darn good for a post menopausal woman who has lost 150 pounds.
Do I know I have a sleeve - sure - if I try to eat too much or eat too fast I'm reminded. But that doesn't happen very often.

I'm 3 years out next month. I feel so much better than normal. I pretty much eat what I want (within limits) and give myself the option of the occasional slice of pizza or small plate of Pasta. I still take a PPI for reflux and my Vitamins. But what I can do now that I couldn't do before when I was 300 pounds:
I'm ranked 22 among women in my age group in foil fencing (as in en garde) NATIONALLY
I'm ranked 37 among women in my age group in saber fencing NATIONALLY
I can deadlift and back squat 240 pounds. I can clean and jerk 75 pounds.
If I had the plastics done, you'd see the six pack.
I'm in the best shape I've ever been in during my adult life.
Do I have a cocktail once or twice a week? Sure
Do I eat popcorn occasionally? Sure
But my weight is stable around 152 with about 25% body fat which is pretty darn good for a post menopausal woman who has lost 150 pounds.
Do I know I have a sleeve - sure - if I try to eat too much or eat too fast I'm reminded. But that doesn't happen very often.

I'm 3 years out next month. I feel so much better than normal. I pretty much eat what I want (within limits) and give myself the option of the occasional slice of pizza or small plate of Pasta. I still take a PPI for reflux and my Vitamins. But what I can do now that I couldn't do before when I was 300 pounds:
I'm ranked 22 among women in my age group in foil fencing (as in en garde) NATIONALLY
I'm ranked 37 among women in my age group in saber fencing NATIONALLY
I can deadlift and back squat 240 pounds. I can clean and jerk 75 pounds.
If I had the plastics done, you'd see the six pack.
I'm in the best shape I've ever been in during my adult life.
Do I have a cocktail once or twice a week? Sure
Do I eat popcorn occasionally? Sure
But my weight is stable around 152 with about 25% body fat which is pretty darn good for a post menopausal woman who has lost 150 pounds.
Do I know I have a sleeve - sure - if I try to eat too much or eat too fast I'm reminded. But that doesn't happen very often.

I probably had GERD before my sleeve, but didn't take anything for it. To be honest, I can live with taking Protonix and Vitamins for the benefits I've gotten.