Hello all... It's been a VERY long time since I've posted (not since right before my op in February) but I have been "lurking" on a somewhat regular occassion (I get the digest) and I am happy to share that my journey has been going excellent thus far -thanx in large part to (the pouch and...) weight- & resistance training! I came in here in February and got some sound advice about weight training and I have been using it ever since. I've always been a fan of Men's Health so when I combined the pouch with their food and fitness tips man the results have been off-da'-chain! I normally weigh in once a month but I couldn't resist the other night and I have lost 139 pounds since February and gone from a size 56-58 ****assionally 60) to... (and I just bought some much needed clothes about a week ago) and size 42-44! I am actually buying and fitting a size medium in underwear! I offer this "praise" report not to boast but merely to affirm what we know...weight training makes all the difference in the world when it comes to weight loss. When I look at the folk who swear by cardio I really feel sorry for them, their loss happens slower, the amount of sagging skin they have is incredibly more and they seem to have zero muscle development/definition (despite the reduced body fat)...okay enough about that... I have a question, ...but first some background ('cause perhaps it may help someone answer the question) every workout starts with 10-20min on the stationary bike, about 10 min stretching, 3 sets (12 each side) of oblique extension cruches (using the hyperextension station), 3 sets (12 each side) of trunk rotation curls (using the decline bench or swiss ball) and a set dips and -multiple sets of pull-ups twice a week (trying to improve my pull-up) then doing a two-consecutive-one-day-off rotation I do chest, shoulders arms (day 1) then legs, back and abs (day2) (new routine, I'm now using the pull-out posters from Men's Health-up until about 2-3 weeks ago I was using the Men's Health Hard Body Plan, Beg. thru Adv.).... I do a daily course of supplements (iron w/vit c, calcium citrate, B-12, multi, innermint chlorophyll, glutamine, GNC triflex) plus glutamine and a protein shake (syntrax nectars -da' bomb!) before and after my workouts My concern...as my abs lose fat and gain definition man I have a seriously protruding "ball" just right of center (nearly straddling my scar line) in the center of my abdominal area. I'm pretty sure it's a hernia but I haven't had it checked out yet -no it's not bothering me at all- but the concern is: Should I get it checked out? I was going to try to wait until I'm fully a year out (in February 2006) in order to consider getting the excess skin around my abs removed at the same time. Has anyone else had a similar issue? Please advise. Shout me a holla, japii "...to get what you've never had, you must do what you've never done..."

Thanks for the heads up - i am going to head down there tomorrow!

Thanks all. I wasn't trying to suggest that I stop working out after surgery, just wondered about the weight training. Thanks for the help. Mark.

Mark, The more you work out, the less hungry you will be, ONCE your body is more efficient at handling insulin and responding to the exertion. I don't want to get into (and probably would foul it up anyway) the specifics, but if you look at the old book "fit or fat", Covert Bailey describes just how the biochemistry works in layman's terms. On a more practical level, if you don't eat enough carbohydrate before you work out, and you don't replenish your sugar after you work out, your will bottom out with low blood sugar and feel hungry. So, whatever way you choose to eat, you need to fuel your body for workouts, and always eat protein, carbs and fat at each meal. I don'****ch the biggest loser (I live in France currently, we don't get the show here), but a wise doctor once said to me, (Grasshopper!!!) "we in medical science don't know everything. If weight loss were a simple game of mathematics, everyone would be at the weight that they desire. But there is more going on with the human body than plusses and minuses". She was also a great believer in the mind-body connection, which I also believe palys a huge role in shedding excess fat. So, don't worry. Keep on that recumbent bike and keep on lifting! Good luck! cheers, KarenK

Does anyone here watch the Biggest Loser on television? The reason I ask, is that this week one of the contestants lost no weight after working out all week hard, and it was mentioned breifly that his working out has brought on increased hunger. I have recently started lifting again, as well as riding the recumbant bike. I am so much more hungry then usual. My surgery is (hopefully) going to be in late Nov/early Dec. Do any of you find that the more you work out the hungrier you get? Also, it was mentioned on the show that working out without adding some food to your diet can slow your metabolism. Is this true after surgery? Is it better to keep the strength training to a minimum until youve dropped a magority of the weight, and then start? I have always been a fairly strong and active fat guy, and don't want to lose the muscle well I'm losing weight, but at the same time, I want to drop the excess 140 lbs of lard that I carry around. Any help is appreciated.