Hannah Banana Transforms

[MadAlice]

*waves to the lovely Female BB community* this is a neat little niche.

Was thinking about starting a thread for about 3 months, honestly the macros micros and the verbiage of weight lifting had me a bit intimidated (will i know what the heck I'm even saying?)

Honestly no, I won't and learn through experience. I'm OK with my otherness.

So today May 4, 2016 and I start.

I've been using the weight machines at Riverside Wellness and Fitness Center, love the gym I am at because the more I've ventured out to use different machines, different things asking staff, women, men of all ages how weight lifting machines work has broken down a barrier that I had.

I've come to find that there isn't a 'click' that I can sense and it might be because it's a hospital based gym and has been around for about 25 years.

I will be undergoing a gastric sleeve surgery this summer and it has been a journey sense September 2015. I am committed to a healthy lifestyle in more then what I say or type but actually do. I've been working with a team of professionals in the weight loss clinic I've been going to sense January of 2016. I've gotten to know the surgeon, the dietitian/fitness expert over the past six months.

I've had to keep my weight in the range of 255-260 with a BMI of 39.5 to 40 for insurance coverage reasons. I don't have any other issues with being obese (because I workout and lift about three to four times a week.) It's been tricky to maintain and build mussel over this time but I committed to it and amazingly have seen some tangible results. In January I had a 49 inch waist and currently it's 43 inches.

The frustrating thing in this time has been when I've lost too much IE. you no longer qualify for surgery etc. (head desk) :/

The last appointment is this 17th of May (thank the Lord.)

Also, I've been educating myself on the surgery, what to expect once in the post op unit the two days after surgery. Gleaned information from other's who have had the sleeve done and taken in their advice as well as support from the team I am working with. It's been about ten months of preparation for this surgery, and life beyond.

Today I will be getting to the gym. I go at odd times not in a scheduled time etc. But again getting there at least 3 to 4 times a week.

Weight machines, I need to wright down the names when I go today and then type them out. It's not in a fast succession but they are controlled reps and about 2 to 3 sets per machine I use. I do split up the lower and upper body each visit, and wait about 60-150 seconds after a set of reps that is heavy. Started out at 10 pounds on each machine, and on most of them I'm up to 60 pounds.

A note about the free weights, I have tried them and still will continue to try them. However, my eye hand coordination is honestly quiet awful. Even with pin's plates would fall off, some on my foot others rolled across the mirrored room. thankfully no one was in the plate's way. (oh boy)

So for the safety of myself and those around me, I've stuck with the machines! some machines use plates and those I've been using a lot recently with the pulleys etc.

One last side note. I asked the question to my team of per pound of body weight one gram of protein. I haven't reached 200 grams of protein a day, not by a long shot. I instead was told by the nutritionist to aim for 180 grams a day. (an overweight weight for me.) Honestly it's been 130 on a good day! ha. Yea.

Anywho, thanks for joining me on this journey and I cannot wait to get to know you gals better.

[MadAlice]

went to the gym this afternoon from 3pm to 5pm. Feel better (sorta) I'm always pooped after working out. (it's the extra weight.)

[nh4000]

Welcome, looking forward to hear your progress.

[MadAlice]

Welcome, looking forward to hear your progress.

thanks nh400 welcome aboard *toots the horn for the ship*

[anandagirl]

Hi! I am personally going with approximately 1 gram per pound of lean mass because 200+ grams a day on a cut was far too much of my calorie budget. Body fat estimators are not great though so I shoot for about 1.1 grams per pound of lean mass to account for any variances.

Keep up with the journal! I think it definitely helps to stay on track

[MadAlice]

Been working out and writing down what I've been eating religiously sense January of 2016. The last check up at the weight loss center before surgery this summer is this coming 17th of May. I'm so excited! These were hard to take re: the back lordy it was hit and miss but my abdomen, back, arms etc. are in so much better shape then they were 10 months ago. Pre surgery fitness means healing of the new stomach will be that much quicker.



IMG_4386.jpgIMG_4385.jpgIMG_4381.jpg

[MadAlice]

I'm so excited! My waist is now 44 inches! In January it was 49! I've gotten in as much shape as I can before the surgery this summer. tomorrow is my last weight loss appointment and I will know my surgery date! It is very gratifying to see results for a lot of effort put in.

[MadAlice]

*waves to the forum*

Well yesterday I brought a small notepad with me to write down what I do while at the gym. I typically will spend 12 minutes on the stair stepper and 15 speed walking at 3.5 mph or on an elliptical stair stepper for 30 minutes or 30 on the treadmill speed-walking. I try to mix up the cardio as much as I can, same for the weights.

The machines I'm on are hammer stregenth MAS incline press 1 set of 15 with at 30 pounds and I rest for 120 seconds (yes I count) :P

The the ISO Lateral Low Row 2 sets of 8 reps with 25 pounds on both ends again I rest for 120 seconds

The ISO Lateral Front Military Press (I love this machine ) 2 sets of 8 with 25 pounds on both ends rest for 120 seconds

Lateral Bench Press again 25 on each end and 2 sets of 8 reps sometimes 25 reps depending again 120 second rest between each set

Squat Machine 8 reps at 80 pounds and sometimes another 4 reps. I take this machine slow and controlled to avoid injury and because my coordination is not that great.

On the other days I use the leg press machine in place of the squat machine 3 sets of 8 reps rest of 60 seconds between each.

I use the abductor machine (looks weird but works) 3 sets of 8 at 60 pounds. (I switch up the days for this machine too.)

And every time I go to the gym I finish off the weights with the pull up/dip machine I am in lust with this thing! My goal is to be able to do a pull up one day without any counterweights!

Then it's ab work for about 10 minutes to finish up with stretching for 15 minutes.

I get to the gym about 3 to 4 times a week, but this is usually what I do when I am there.

[MadAlice]

I'm heading to my pre operation Nutrition class this afternoon at 1 pm. I've gotten the medial clearance for the gastric bypass! I'm so excited! The month of June 2016 has all my pre operation appointments and surgery should be sometime in late July 2016 or early August 2016.

I know it will be about six months of healing but I will not miss once healed getting so dang tired after workouts...the medications I've been on have hampered my weight and fat-loss goals for about 10 years now...It's been frustrating...

But for the last 11 months I've been preparing for this surgery and the lifestyle change because the buck stops with me. Last September I switched my anti depressant up which was hard as hell...this coming September I'll be healing...the big thing will be giving myself grace to heal up properly...

I'll be posting here for accountability and also on a sleeve forum.

My dad is against the surgery (He's being a protective dad.) I don't bring it up with him, I love him. He's just speaking out of fear. My mother is supportive as is my sister. But I'll be 33 this September. I've prayed about this, asked God, God is OK with it. I've done the homework and the hard work from January to May of this year. Gained mussel mass and lost fat, lost about 6 inches in my waist and have focused on keeping my midsection in good shape getting it into shape etc.

It's exciting and just thought I'd update you gals on the progress! I'll probably hit the gym this afternoon sometime.

[MadAlice]

my lower back mussels hurt like hell today and they did yesterday. It's been gradually getting worse so I'm listening to my body and just doing some cardio that I enjoy like walking outside or other light stuff. I think a good week and a half should be good perhaps two weeks just to be safe.

I tend to go gung-ho with the weight machines, my form and pace are always controlled but I think I upped the weights too fast. :/ And my new lower back mussels are telling me 'what the ef are you doing to us woman?'

At this point I'm going to be using my body weight for resistance before the gastric sleeve I don't need to be out of commission before hand defeats the purpose.

I'm taking it easy just getting up and walking around every hour or so to keep my back from spazzing again (that hurt something awful.)

So fellow females here, what is your advice for a sore lower back?

I've been resting and it's hurt so bad I've not even been that hungry! I have a really high pain threshold so needless to say walking around like I'm 90 at 32 is not good. (scolds self)

[MadAlice]

Hello Ladies of BB! This coming Monday 25th of July I will be having my gallbladder removed. I chose to have this done so that complications down the road with the gastric sleeve and in general wouldn't arise. I swapped the date for my gastric sleeve with the gallbladder. I love the surgeon that I have because she will absolutely not remove both at the same time. She has time and again told me 'I don't want to be the surgeon to tell you that you 'have' to have a gastric sleeve done.' It's shown the depth of her care and also her conservative approach to bariatric surgeries in general.

I feel confidant going under the knife with her as I've gotten to know her and the weight loss clinic team for well over 8 months now.

I've been taking a break from weight lifting for a couple of reasons. The first is I started to have spasms in my inner and outer legs also in my lower back and inside my buttock mussels. :-/ It hurt like a mofo, and I'm sure many of you ladies can relate to spasm pain. My mussels are still there, I'm using resistance bands at home and have been walking for cardio or a workout DVD at home.

I've put my gym membership on hold until this October 2016 due to both surgeries. I'm thinking of investing in two or three sessions with a personal trainer just to get down some basics once I work my way back up to lifting again (which will be a while I'm guessing six months of healing from both surgeries.)

I wasn't not doing things correctly because I to the best of my knowledge looked up and read on proper form. It could have been from one to many reps or any other number of things. It does no good to go into surgery out of order when the point is to be in as best shape before hand.

Just thought I'd update and let you ladies know where I'm at in this journey we are all in. The journey of wellness/weight lifting/etc. and all of us having a fitter earth-suit so that we can live fuller lives. At least that is how I see it.

[anandagirl]

Good luck with the gall bladder surgery!

[MadAlice]

Good luck with the gall bladder surgery!

Thanks! It went really well actually. Was hell the first day that's normal, now almost three days out I feel 120 percent better. In September I get the gastric sleeve done! Now having under the knife experience with my surgeon I am very confident with her hands doing the gastric sleeve about 8 weeks from now. Now I know to ask for the patch behind the ear for the anesthesia the night before.

[MadAlice]

I'm now a week out of having my gallbladder surgery I'm also taking a supplement for weight loss it's a catius herb of some sort. At any rate, I have been logging my food faithfully for the last month and I won't lie to myself or the forum I've been struggling with night eating. Not so much after the gallbladder surgery. I'm missing my dog that passed away. Random moments where something will remind me of her, from taking walks alone and seeing a dog or looking over my bed at night out of habit expecting to see her to take her out to the bathroom. It aches so freaking much, balled my eyes out for hours some nights. Some nights all I can do is sob forget food it never comes to mind. Others nights it is fit full sleep because of the surgery and or the pain of her not being here. Both at the same time have been a doozy.

It would be the same as losing a family member or loved one, she brought me so much joy and was around and with me at my worst periods.

My post op follow up for the gallbladder is tomorrow morning at 10:45 I've invited my dad to come along if he wants to. I still am going to go through with the surgery with strengthened resolve.

Before this gets any longer I'll just say that's where I'm at now in every sense. :/

[anandagirl]

Sorry to hear you are struggling with night eating, and I'm very, very sorry to hear about your pup. I lost my old girl three and a half years ago, and the thought of her stills bring tears to my eyes. I don't know if the feeling ever really goes away, but it does get better. (((HUGS)))

[MadAlice]

Sorry to hear you are struggling with night eating, and I'm very, very sorry to hear about your pup. I lost my old girl three and a half years ago, and the thought of her stills bring tears to my eyes. I don't know if the feeling ever really goes away, but it does get better. (((HUGS)))

Thank you.

[MadAlice]

Well I've been slowly going back to the gym. It's been almost two weeks sense my gallbladder was removed. I'm taking a supplement that claims to help with weight loss and can return it and get a refund.

My night eating and portion sizes have improved! I'm using this gallbladder surgery as a 'reset' button of sorts. As I am paying attention to what I eat also how I feel as I've been listening to my body with the workouts it's been helping overall.

I was at 262 down to 257.4.

It'll take time, but I want to give myself an honest last effort before I take the gastric sleeve plunge, I may not even need surgery.

[anandagirl]

Well I've been slowly going back to the gym. It's been almost two weeks sense my gallbladder was removed. I'm taking a supplement that claims to help with weight loss and can return it and get a refund.

My night eating and portion sizes have improved! I'm using this gallbladder surgery as a 'reset' button of sorts. As I am paying attention to what I eat also how I feel as I've been listening to my body with the workouts it's been helping overall.

I was at 262 down to 257.4.

It'll take time, but I want to give myself an honest last effort before I take the gastric sleeve plunge, I may not even need surgery.

Great job! Yes, not having any surgery is preferable if possible. Fingers crossed for you!

[jsari23]

sorry about the loss of your pup, keep up the good work hope the recovery and healing from surgery is going well

[MadAlice]

Thank you ladies. I'm down to 255.7 and still taking things slow and steady in all aspects. I'm keeping a log calendar and crossing off days that I don't binge from 8pm-8am as a solid way to view and track progress. Again thanks.

[geek23ka]

I considered surgery for weightloss, too, but my insurance won't cover it. In to follow your journey.

[MadAlice]

I considered surgery for weightloss, too, but my insurance won't cover it. In to follow your journey.

Ah, yea mine would but eh if I can do this without it then all the better. Thanks for chiming in. When it came down to it, honestly I don't want the limitation of all the sleeve brings as far as having to struggle to get enough in the way of vitamins protein water etc. I don't mind the struggle mind you, it is just that after thinking hard truly after all the struggle I've been through do I want to add more then necessary? Don't get me wrong it works for a lot of folks.

As I've been addressing the night eating and portions I've slowly started to see change in the scale, nothing earth shattering it'll take time but I'm willing to put in the effort and hard work it will take.

Again thanks for your post.

[MadAlice]

Today I did some house work as my workout. Amazing how much you start sweating when attacking dirt! Not just running in circles burning calories at the gym but getting stuff done, feels good. Thank the Lord it's Shabbat, you guys have no idea how much I cannot wait for Friday nights to worship and fellowship with other believers in the Lord.

[MadAlice]

I forgot how much i love kickboxing! Holy Crap on a pogo pop! 20 minutes of this torched 300 plus calories and I feel bad ass. Snapshot_20160816_3.JPGSnapshot_20160816_7.JPG

Followed by some crunches taking my time on those healing up still. But man i feel so awsome! I had this pent up rawer and now it's just bliss...after kick ass bliss...thank you amazon prime workout video's...yas!

[anandagirl]

Yeah! That's awesome

[MadAlice]

Hello girls *waves* I've been busy lately with getting out to a knitting group, walking outside, etc. I couldn't continue my gym membership because the family member that worked for the riverside system I was piggy backing on for 20 a month now they work for a different health system...boo...

If I stayed it would have been $50 a month no sliding scale or anything. :-/ So, I've gotten creative with the weight lifting at home as far as the cardio walking man, walking. It's very nice outside this time of year and I love walking.

The Gastric Sleeve surgery has been pushed back to January 2017. I decided to stop the process, then thought what am I doing? Insurance might not cover this in a year, so I started the process again.

I had my gallbladder removed and have recovered well from that surgery. I love the surgeon that I have because she will not do two procedures in one operation to reduce risk of infection etc. I'm highly confidant going under the knife with her again because she's very careful.

As far as body building about 3 months after January 2017 I'll be healing and I suspect it will be a bit more time then just the gallbladder.

I've been thinking about getting some weights off of crags list but there is no room at home for the stuff I have now. :-/ Another thing I looked at was a gym nearby that focused on purely bodybuilding but the cheapest they had was 40 a month...blarg, what's a gal to do? *head in hands*

I'm doing a lot better re: my dog passing away, it's bittersweet now more then it was. Part of the motivation to become healthy is in her memory, might sound corny :P number one reason is because of health and I want to do this for me.

If anyone has some creative at home ideas for weight lifting please shoot them my way I'm really looking all over but eh there is so much misinformation that it's best to ask it from the gals who lift weights.

My body in the last year has changed, my back is a whole lot more defined, as are my arms...I have a waist line now! a 43 inch one! It was almost 50 inches in January 2016. Same weight but traded fat for the lean mussel mass...it'll be my goal after the surgery as well...first healing up proper and starting off very slowly...

Also, I've been attending the monthly beareatric support group meetings and have learned so much, and connected with others. All have had the procedure done, I was the only one who had yet to have surgery.

Anywho, that's what's been going on lately.

[MadAlice]

Well I have bought the old Tae Bo DVD (it was 50 bucks) however I used to do this workout all the time and I still remember the moves all these years later. When I have looked at the newer DVD's they just don't hold a candle to the old school 1999 version.

Come to think of it, tae bo has been one of the only remotely enjoyable workouts where I'm sweating up a storm not having to listen to an air head chic and having fun. Yes the price was outrageous, I'm making a copy of it and using the copy to play until it wears out and then making another copy.

I've been thinking about 'what exercise I enjoy' and it's hand's down this one. I love kick boxing in general and workout wise nothing else was cutting it even when I did have the gym membership. :/

I thought about joining the YMCA but the distance is a huge turn off, even though I'd only pay 10 a month why pay anything if I'm not going to use it?

I'm walking outside a lot and it's nice this time of year.

I'm excited about the surgery that I'm having the date is January 9, 2017. So pumped! I've been attending the gastric support group meetings and getting to know some of the folks who've had the surgery done.

I'm also mastering knitting I've gotten good at the basic stitch next up to learn some other stitches before I myself am stitched up. :P

Mood wise I've been good. I still miss my dog more then anything but in honer of her and also for myself I'm moving on with life. I've got an IT internship for the next 6 months which will be a good transition back into the working world a way to get my feet wet.

I'm also going to pass the A plus test this time around. I've got a module online access that is so much better then reading the info from a book and taking notes. And I'll be physically applying what I'm learning at the IT shop so the info is more then just head knowledge but being applied.

Just thought I'd update.

[MadAlice]

There was an opening in the surgery scedule and my new date is the December 12, 2016! I'm excited.

[MadAlice]

Well it's funny how things work out sometimes. Computer Concepts is not far away from the YMCA, how neat is that? So I think I'll join, but I'm still doing the tae bo dvd though there isn't much space in the home so early morning if I do tae bo at all so no one gives me grief about it. there is a kickboxing studio near by however I'm just thinking for the time being I'll continue to walk because my surgery is two weeks away! woop woop. I'll join the Y after I've healed up a bit, I can swing by there after my internship is over at 3pm. Exciting things are on the horizon! Getting my a plus certification out of the way, becoming an IT tech, getting my sleeve. Yes, just yes.

[MadAlice]

among the many ups and downs of this journey for some reason the riverside hospital system chose to cancel all the future surgeries and the cut off date was ironically the date for my dec. surgery.

My gut feeling is that they did so because there was only one surgeon and it was quiet a lot of cases that she had for the entire program. I was refereed out to the bareatric center in Richmond VA where her mentor does surgeries as well.

Bumpy road but I'm learning quiet a bit about myself and others. My family has asked that I have the surgery done in late February as they are busy this time of year and it wouldn't be fair to those that are caring for me the 1st two weeks to not abide by their requests.

I've done a lot of soul searching, spoken with my pastor and some other mentors so that I can hold myself accountable safety in numbers. It also gives me time to reflect and I'm not in a rush for this.

things have been going OK otherwise. I've been doing tae bo the 1999 version, and I've signed up for 4 kickboxing classes at a local i love kickboxing studio so I'll see how that turns out. If I end up loving it, I'll invest in it later on down the road like six months after healing up well.

I've had good conversations with my mom and my dad, they have been very honest with me and I do struggle with night time eating sometimes. They saying 'what will you do when you cannot do that at night and you don't want to go through all of this effort just to slip back into night eating. They are right, and I'm blessed to have honest talk from my parents.

Following the program otherwise I've been putting in the time to get outside and walk or do a workout DVD or house work to help out. I love the fact that my family is being honest with me and that they are willing to root me on surgery or not. It's a powerful tool, but just a tool at the end of the day, the choice to for good change is in my hands.

At any rate thought i'd update you all on the progress. hope all of you bb'ers have a blessed holiday season.