New, Intro and questions (5'4/270ish)

Hi I am Stacy and so glad I found these boards!!I am awaiting a consultation date with a WLS surgeon. I have a followup with my primary on Monday the 3rd. Warning...this is going to be long. Questions: For those of you who were active in the gym prior to WLS, how long did it take you to get back up to speed in the gym? Are you able to get enough nutrition to support bodybuilding? Will I be able to get enough calories so that my muscles can recover? Today I might burn anywhere between 400 - 1100 calories in a workout (based on read out from my polar heart rate monitor). I know I probably won't burn as much as I become smaller but if I do burn alot is is possible to get the nutrition I need. With WLS will I still be able to workout as hard once I have fully recovered? Does the pouch limit any kinds of activity? Can I still do eveything in the gym a non WLS person does? Example - If I want to train for a sprint triathlon or get more into bodybuilding will my body be able to handle it? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Background/Intro My husband is a triathlete and personal trainer so he is a huge inspiration. We work out together a few times a week and do our own workouts as well. I alternate days between full body resistance training and cardio. Sessions usually last from 45 - 90 minutes depending on what I am doing and always include warm-ups and cool downs. I have been working out 6 days a week 95% of the time for the last three years but have never been able to take off the weight/fat. I eat healthy foods *most* of the time and am up to date on the latest nutrition trends and research. I even moderated my own fitness and nutrition message board in the past. My biggest nutritional challenge is portion control and sticking with well balanced meals. I switched a couple years ago from 3 meals to eating balanced smaller meals about every 3 hours but the smaller meals just got bigger and bigger. I tend to overeat the high fat/ calorie dense foods more on the weekends and holidays - chinese food, pizza, etc. I've been really bad with grazing (the candy dishes, etc) at work the last year and not getting in enough fluids or missing meals when I get busy. It is time for me to get back to basics and start the food journal again. I also think the WLS will help if it is approved. I was able to make amazing progress in the gym and build an incredible amount of muscle. I can lift more than most of the women in my gym. My balance and flexibility are also good. My endurance is good as well. I have been able to do long cardio sessions at lower heart rates (120 - 135) for 90 minutes. I also like to do high intensity or interval cardio for 20 - 40 minutes. I got down from 283 to 233 just with exercise and changing diet over the three years of working out. Now after my wedding/honeymoon in October, a back injury, increase joint pain/ multiple ankle issues, and of course the holidays, I have not been as consistent in the gym. My weight is back up again to 270 (Body fat - 46%). I'm so tired of the yo-yo game. More concerning is that the workouts have been getting harder on my body and the joint, knee, and back pain is overwhelming sometimes. I have to slow down a lot now in the gym to avoid risking injury (ie- no regular deadlifts for a few months due to on and off back pain- forget lunges). Over the last year I've had more trouble with recovery rates and I know it is because of all the weight/body fat that I continue to carry and regain. My last checkup I found out my blood pressure is also up from normal to 140/90. When I was back down at 233 it was a nice 120/70. I'm hoping that WLS will help give me the tool that I need so I can continue to live a healthy lifestyle and get a grip on the portion control as well as prevent all of the risks assoicated with being overweight.

You came to the right place. I would love to answer all your questions on this board, but it would take me an hour to type it. I will email you my cell phone number and you can call me. Also Earl and Valerie Curry are a great resource on surgery. Both are serious power lifters and had WLS. Good luck