BlueCrush

You need to get a good quality carb about 30-45 minutes before you workout to give you some fuel. Think like oatmeal. I usually eat one serving of oatmeal with Protein Powder mixed into it that I ordered custom online. I noticed I can go way harder in the gym if I do so.

I've embraced talking about the surgery AS PART of a lifestyle change. I've actually had a few coworkers pursue the surgery after seeing my success with it.
I'm not sure why some are so ashamed to discuss surgery. I see it as an opportunity to better educate people and perhaps help a few with their own struggles along the way. No shame in my game.

12/11/17 here. I hit my goal about a month ago and have been holding steady since. I'm up to about 2200 calories/day now and maintaining. I work out 6 days a week. All in all, life is great!

I am fortunate enough to have access to a certified Starting Strength coach about 45 minutes away. She believes that my diet and injuries contribute to the lack of progress. I am finally coming around to believing her.

Well I would say that cinches it, it has taken me years to get to 245-ish on squat. In regards to squat form, get that nailed down before going up in weight. As a matter of fact, you should drop that weight down until you can go below parallel. You are going to hurt your knees and probably your lumbar spine. Find the Starting Strength 3rd edition and read it cover to cover. Amazing book.
If you are wanting raw strength, seriously consider doing 5 reps for 3 sets after a warmup. Drop sets good for size, but for strength, titration to a working set weight is superior.
I know I shouldn't complain and whine about these weights, pro-op my left leg was virtually dead. I couldn't even pick it up to climb the stairs. But I guess that is the nature of the male ego.

Today was chest and shoulders day:
Three sets of incline dumbbell bench press
Three sets of dumbbell chest flies
Three sets of machine bench press
Three sets of military shoulder press
Three sets of dumbbell front shoulder raises
3 sets of dumbbell shrugs
Today's top workout tracks (was feeling the 2000's hip hop today):
Nelly - Hot in Here
Dr. Dre - Forgot About Dre
Chest and shoulders current state (these are the body parts I'm most self conscious about as most of my loose skin is in my moobs and stomach):

A bit about me: I had the sleeve surgery in December 2017 period. I've lost a total of 181 pounds since last May, and now I'm looking to gain some muscle mass. I'm currently sitting at 225lbs pounds and 6'2.5" tall.
So many unanswered questions of not been able to find good responses to. Things such as how to start eating any calorie surplus now that I want to add muscle. Will I be able to eat enough to add muscle? Follow me on this thread and I will track my journey for any others that may follow the same path.
Starting status:
8/17/18 - 225lbs

I've been trying to incorporate more complex lifts into my routine. Specifically deadlifts, squats, lunges, pull-ups, etc. I've been seeing some good gains in my arms, shoulders, and legs.
20180923_100751.mp4

I've been trying to incorporate more complex lifts into my routine. Specifically deadlifts, squats, lunges, pull-ups, etc. I've been seeing some good gains in my arms, shoulders, and legs.
20180923_100751.mp4

Hold up. Everyone elses hair grew back?!?

Hold up. Everyone elses hair grew back?!?

Hold up. Everyone elses hair grew back?!?

HW - 406lbs May 30, 2017
SW - 318lbs Dec 11, 2017
CW - 225lbs
I'm 6'3"

HW - 406lbs May 30, 2017
SW - 318lbs Dec 11, 2017
CW - 225lbs
I'm 6'3"

I can tell especially in the upper part of your stomach and your neck area. Keep up the awesome work man, it will melt off faster than you know.

5lbs from final goal of 127!

Absolutely. I'm up to about 2100 calories per day and STILL losing between 0.5-1lb per week. I've hit my goal weight and am trying to adjust up and add calories until I find my maintenance calories.

Congrats!!

I can tell especially in the upper part of your stomach and your neck area. Keep up the awesome work man, it will melt off faster than you know.

HW - 406lbs May 30, 2017
SW - 318lbs Dec 11, 2017
CW - 225lbs
I'm 6'3"

Hello fellow sleevers. I have been on this site very little in the past couple of years but have logged in today to respond to a question. Since I'm here, I feel obligated to tell you all the things I've learned after 5 years.
1. The people that told me my approach to living life with the sleeve was all wrong and that I would fail, gain weight in a few years, stretch my sleeve, and regret my actions are mostly gone now. I have seen a couple of them around but the most are long gone. Do not pay much attention to the know-it-alls. They know no more than anyone else and are just as likely to fail.
2. Obviously you want to follow your Dr's instructions but don't get too hung up on strict rules and diets. If you make reasonable decisions and balance your good and bad food choices, your sleeve will do most of the work for you. I have eaten anything I wanted since day one. I try to pay attention to Protein etc., but I do not deny myself anything. You have the sleeve for a reason. Let it do it's job. Don't force it to hold more than it can and do not deny yourself the things that make you happy. Balance - just do it.
3. WLS is much more than losing weight. It is getting to the bottom of the issues that cause us to compensate with food in the first place. Pay more attention to your mental well being than the numbers on the scale. Your long term success depends on it.
4. Know that even after you reach your goal weight you will still be the same person with the same insecurities. Being thin changes nothing. If you did it for health reasons then hopefully those will no longer be an issue, but the person you are and how you feel inside doesn't change from losing weight. That has to change on the inside. No way around it.
5. Know that once you have made the necessary changes inside and out there will be some people that don't relate to you the same or just plain don't like you anymore. Also know that what they think is completely irrelevant . Physical and mental changes for the better intimidate those with small minds. Don't give them a second thought.
Thanks for reading.

Great job everyone. I’m 65 down since surgery in March of this year and 121 down from my max weight of 362lbs back during December 2016.

 


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Im 39 days away from my 1 year surgiversary and couldn't be happier with my results. I was able to spend 10 days hiking/roaming in England, Ireland & Scotland in July with my oldest son. The most real comment he made to me was 3 days into the trip when we got done with several miles and were sitting in Green Park outside Buckingham Palace. He looked at me and said we never could've done this when I was fat! Ouch...but so true. So glad I decided to get healthy and live life to the fullest!
   
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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

175 lbs down.