BT816

Howdy, neighbor. Raymore, MO here!

This is awesome, Mike, way to go! I just signed up for my first trail half marathon, it's the first weekend in October. I did a road half marathon last month, but I love hiking and I'm way more interested in doing more trail running than road. Love all the pics, keep up the great work!

I've used the FitBit Blaze for 18 months or so, and it is still in great condition. I'm happy with it, overall, but was thinking about moving to one of the Garmin Forerunner's soon. I'd like to get some more advanced running/HR stats that the FitBit doesn't offer.

I found the Kirkland brand stool softeners worked fairly well. On the opposite end of the spectrum, I had to cut my run short this morning and walk the last mile home with my cheeks clenched for dear life. Of course, I can go a few days without a BM and then it hits at the absolute worst time. Now, that was stressful!

Fantastic work, sir!

I'm almost always in the 1200-1500 range right now at nine months post-op. My dietitian increased my calorie intake a bit following my six-month follow-up visit based on my increased ability to exercise. Typically, I'll hit 100-110g protein and I'm not perfect so my calorie count does include a cookie now and then. At this point I'm running ~4 hours a week and doing strength training 2-3 times a week, so I try to stay closer to 1500 cal/day. Weight-loss wise, I've shed about 85% of my excess weight (225 being my initial goal, but looking at myself at 243 right now I think I should aim for something lower than 225) so I am only losing a pound or two a week right now. That's the way it goes so I'm fine with that, have still seen difference in measurements & clothes fitting over the past few months despite the slower weight loss.

Way to go!

Oh snap, thanks for the heads up on the Sam's sale! It's already a good deal at the $16.99 or whatever they are normally, but I'll be loading up at $12.99! I think the last ones I got had a Feb. 2019 expiration so I can store up. I might have to go this evening and avoid the Saturday morning crowd.

Kansas City, MO here!

I'm just over four months out now, and usually end the day around 1000-1100 calories. I've never received a specific target from my doc or nutritionist, but since I recently increased my protein goals my calories went up a bit as well.

Great work!!!

I had 1 vodka water with lime at around 2 months post-op; I'm wasn't a regular drinker before surgery (a few beers every now and then, but won't go back to that due to calories and carbonation), and I felt nothing out of the ordinary after one drink. No passing out or any feeling tipsy or anything like that, maybe that bar just serves weak drinks.

At four weeks I mostly kept it to walking on the treadmill and doing pretty short stints on the elliptical, aiming for 90 minutes of activity a week. At 5 weeks post-op I was able to do some moderate hiking & backpacking while on vacation, about 4-5 miles at a time max and my pack was only 20-25 lbs. I started back with strength training around 8 weeks post-op, was weak as all heck and still building back up to where I was pre-op. Now (four months post-op) my routine is a 3 mile jog early each morning, free weights 2-3 times a week and yoga 1-2 hours a week.

I'll post a "before & during" pic since I'm four months post-op today and have about 50 lbs. left to hit my initial goal. Before picture is from January 2017, the during is from a week ago. First time I had put on decent clothes in a while, I had to run to J.C. Penney to pick up a cheap pair of slacks and dress shirt since I plan on dropping a few more sizes.

I count them as a meal, so I try not to drink any water 15 minutes before a shake and at least 30-45 minutes after finishing one.

That could get better! Pre-op, with my diabetes not in check, I probably should have been using a pill. Now 90 lbs. later, happy to say everything is fully-functioning and in better shape than it's been in a long time! Great name, BTW.

I've had a couple of the individual sized bags of Skinny Pop, no issues at all. My only mental problem was briefly wishing I had a nice Diet Dr. Pepper to wash it down, but that passed quickly.

Hi there, fellow June sleevers! Glad to see everyone kicking butt! I'm in a bit of a stall right now, but overall things have been going well. I went on vacation for a few weeks at the end of July and probably snuck in some carbs that I should not be eating right now (or ever), and am trying to stay on track with protein, water and logging my food. Fortunately, I was able to be very active on vacation and do many things I would not have been able to just a few months ago. Need to gather up some "good" before pictures now that I have plenty of after/during pics.

I lost 22.6 lbs. on my two-week pre-op diet. My plan was two shakes during the day, and then one high protein meal (usually grilled chicken/beef and veggies) for dinner.

That is so awesome, keep up the great work! I hope to join you soon; I'm down -78.2 and have 85.8 to go. Almost halfway!

Hi there - My experience with Cigna was positive throughout the process, and I did not have any issues getting approved. My time frame began when I first met with the surgeon (Jan 21 in my case), and then I needed to have 3 additional visits with exercise physiologist/dietitian over the next 89 days (as well as complete psych evaluation and get my PCP and cardiologist to sign off). The only weight stipulation I had was that I needed to weigh less than the weight recorded on my 1st visit with the surgeon; I ended down -0.5 pounds. After the 89 days was up and my paperwork (with all completed tests/appointments) sent in to Cigna, I was approved within a week. My surgery date ended up being June 16, so it was all-in a five-month process from first visit with surgeon to surgery. Good luck with everything!

That is awesome, keep crushing it man! Hope to be right there with you someday soon!

Ha, reading the other responses I now remember that I definitely had something on my legs. It wasn't a sock, more like a really big blood pressure cuff that must've been the squeezing device to prevent clotting. Man, I must've been really out of it that first day...completely forgot about that until now. Like others said, once I was up and walking they took them off.