Recent Posts
No worries, Brian. I've worked very hard to keep my muscle mass. I've got a physically demanding occupation and a large property to maintain. Besides, I need to maintain my aura as a strong man. Ive got three sons-in-law I need to keep in line. 
Thanks Bill...My bad!! I had no idea of your frame!! When I was 300-290 my dietician said I was a medium frame...I just laughed at him. I played high school football. I was a lineman...How could I be a medium frame?? But thinking back, I did get to a low of just under 180 with very little body fat in my days. So yeah, I was a medium frame. I am surprised you retained most of your muscle mass. But since you had the sleeve you may not lose much muscle mass. You are doing great!! A picture is worth a 1000 words. So I agree with you of trying to stay within 265-275 would be an ideal goal. Your muscles say it all concerning BMI and percent of fat on you. I have heard over the years, as long as you don't drop below 2% body fat (excluding skin) you can remain there. But the doctors (from support groups) said you should not drop below 2% because of health and reserves (flu or sicknesses). So you are at goal plus!!
Yeah, I would add more good food to your diet. Even some sugar or simple carbs can be OK. They are addicting and can cause emotional eating to arise. But adding fruits, nuts, vegetables, protein shakes, protein bars only make sense since you are very active and want to retain your muscles. Keep up the good work. Brian
Brian, thank you for a very thoughtful reply. You make some very good points and ask some good questions, and I do not take any offense at all. I am 6'1" and have a fairly stocky frame. I set my original goals based on numbers from the surgeon's office on body fat and other things. For example, the fancy electronic scale claimed my non fat mass was 281 when I started. In asking some pointed questions of my surgeon about those numbers and how they changed, I have since learned those scales use WAG circuitry to make their calculations. WAG, just in case anyone is not familiar with the term is Wild Ass Guess. But anyway...
I am adding two pictures, one somewhat recent, and one from long ago. The recent picture was taken on the occasion of my one year surgery anniversary. I am 285 lbs in that picture, 20 lbs heavier than I am today. The second picture is from my yute, taken in 1982. I am approximately 250 lbs in that one. My doc told me my BMI would always be high, but it is clear to anyone who sees me in person that I am not fat. Except for some loose skin, I'm not even pudgy anymore. My doc is tickled pink with my progress, as am I and my family. Probably the most negativity I encounter comes from women I know locally who got fat again after their own surgeries.
I am right there with you on the sugar thing. The good news for me is sugar will make me uncomfortable - not quite nauseous, but it upsets my stomach. That makes it easy to avoid. It is protein and fruit for me. I can take the sugar in a little bit of fruit, but even a small glass of orange juice will upset my stomach.
I am getting used to the idea of being where I am at. I've leveled out again for the past week. I am not sure I want to stay right here, but I am pretty sure I don't want to get any lower. At this point I would not want to go back above my 1 year mark of 285, and if I hit 275 again the warning lights will be flashing. It'll be interesting to see what comes with the warmer weather and the resumption of my biking. At the end of the season last year I was knocking out 12-14 miles in about an hour three times a week or more. That burns quite a bit of calories, but it also builds some muscle, muscles that have gone a little soft here in the cold of winter.
Hi Bill, watching you progress has been an honor. Yeah, life's issues arise and we have to face them. Many times when family members die we walk around numb for many days. Each day the numbness is less and less...But still is there.
Please don't take offense with what I'm about to say...Just asking. Bill, just wondering about your height and frame. It seems like no one (except Andre the Giant) would have a normal weight of 300 pounds. The goal for you and your doctor was probably 300 to try and attain. Excluding excess skin (which may be 12 pounds plus), you may be in a normal range or near normal. In fact you still may be overweight!! Believe me, I am not discounting your accomplishment...It has been one great ride. To get down to 265 is a great thing. I'm sure you can move better and have more endurance. Just wondering who set that goal and where is the "normal" goal for you? It may be something you and your doctor need to decide. I know what you are talking about concerning the loss of the muscle mass. I would bench press a certain amount (it's been over 12 years so memory isn't great) pre surgery. When I got near normal weight I could only lift about 60% of what I was lifting before surgery.
One last thought. My surgeon and I decided my goal was to be 190. I hit goal and shot past it...To 187. I freaked out...Wondering if I would become skin and bones...Wasting away in a rest home somewhere!! If I had gone with my surgeon's partner, he would have set my goal at 180 (5' 11" medium frame). So when I hit 187 I freaked out...And started eating everything in sight to regain. Big mistake. I should have just added a small amount of fruit and some more plain nuts. Also a few more vegetables. Going back to the sugar was my big downfall. Over the years I started to justify my rewards for being so low. I started to think..."Hey, you're doing great...Reward yourself...Don't take this dieting thing too serious". Big mistake. I started to go back to Pepsi and chips. I regained to about 235 over the years. It took a second heart attack to wake me up to get back on track. Eyes wide open. Keep up the good work. Brian
It was cold in Tampa this morning as I headed to the Gym. I had to put on my hoodie for the 55 degrees at 5am. It sure beat the heck out of the -6 I left yesterday morning.
My wide is stuck at home in MN, so I need to be careful how I phrase being cold while I'm down here. Temp this afternoon is supposed to be around 80. Perhaps dinner outdoors would be nice.
Colder than the north end of a southbound polar bear! The wind chill was around -12°.
I did penance this morning by spending an hour or so in 15° weather running the snowblower and shoveling cars out.
John - I didn't notice you are also from MN - we put on a pretty good show IMHO
Bob....pain the in ass :) HA!
My favorite holiday might be the superbowl. It's getting over done and it's painful when your team is last one cut/out, but it's still a spectacle that entertains me.
I ended a streak of days eating well this week to suffer through the flu. Y'all know what the flu includes - yuck, yuck, and more yuck. It was a struggle to stay hydrated. I finally felt good Sunday am. Spent Sunday eating queso dip, chips, homemade pizza, and beer while watching pregame, the Game, This is Us, and Jimmy Fallon. On the plus side I made 1/2 of what I'd usually make and ate less than 1/2 of what I made.
I waited to weigh in today, after my Superbowl calories.
Last week 316.0
This week 313.2
Change -2.8#'s
Goal 310 next week, it will feel nice to be back under 300 sooner than later.
5'10" Male : Consult Weight 428 1/16/14 : Pre-op m1 -3, m2 -12, m3 0, m4 -27 : SW 386 : m1 -25, m2 -22 m3 -15 4 -12: LW 278 CW 320 : Total Loss 108
Knowledge is power!
5'10" Male : Consult Weight 428 1/16/14 : Pre-op m1 -3, m2 -12, m3 0, m4 -27 : SW 386 : m1 -25, m2 -22 m3 -15 4 -12: LW 278 CW 320 : Total Loss 108
