Hi I'm a Newbie

Hi Everybody-- This seems like a great board. I had my survery on 12/23/04 and I'm down 64 pounds. It seems that I've turned to pudding!!! I don't feel any muscles. I've started working out, but I REALLY want to get into to bodybuilding. It has always fascinated me that people could sculpt their bodies. I don't want to be muscle bound, just toned. I have a belly that is really starting to hang. Will body building help? Cheri

Hi Cheri -Resistance training and bodybuilding should help to fill out some of that space where fat use to be with muscle but it probably won't get rid of loose skin completely. In order to be muscle bound you would need to eat a lot of food, have good genetics, etc. It is very hard to do. Some good info from Krista "In general, women are not able to build monstrous muscle mass in the same manner as men, due to a number of physiological factors. It's a rare woman that can become a competitive bodybuilder, and to get that big she has to combine genetics, extensive long-term training, strict diet, and supplementation (legal or otherwise). " Check out the rest of this article here: http://www.stumptuous.com/gymlies.html With all that said, now is the best time for you to start a good training program that includes both cardio and resistance training. So many benefits beyond even helping filling out that extra space you have from droping the fat. I plan to continue to lift as a post op and have been a gym rat for the last three years although I am much less consistent the last few months due to joint problems. We have a great group of people on these boards and most are post op. I'm sure they well all have some good advice for you as well. Best of luck and glad you are joining us here!! Congrats on your weight loss!!

Welcome!!! It will help, but the skin is just skin, if it hangs it hangs But the muscle underneath is doable. I know a person that is at goal and had her PS, her surgeon let her know how much he appreciated the work she had done on her "core", he said it made his job easier, and gave him a foundation to work from; also gave her better results.

Glad to see a new face! I am still a pre op. For awhile I believe.... Great bunch of people here! Tammy