kypdurran

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Based on a few posts a few weeks ago on the Men's message board I went out and bought a jug of creatine and NO-Xplode. Both somewhat kick my ass and I have experienced dumping from the carbs they have in them but I just suck it up and drive on. :) (the creatine has 84 grams of carbs a dose and the NO-Xplode has 21 grams of carbs a dose)

NO-Xplode
While I haven't experienced the "mentail clarity" that the NO-Xplode promotes I do feel more 'swollen" after lifting, especially on arm day. I also think the NO-Xplode is the culprit behind the extreme cramps and dumping that I experienced though. The two days this week when I did take the recommeded 3 scoops I got extreme cramps similar, but not as intense pain, as the twisted bowel / hernia that I had surgery for around 6 months ago. Oh, and the NO-Xplode tastes HORRIBLE! It's worse than that crap they give you after your initial surgery. If you can imagine the pro-stat protein liquid carbonated that would be how I would describe NO-Xplode.

Creatine
I think it's a little too early to tell if the creatine is paying off. It tastes like Kool-Aid though. When I've taken it in the past it took a few weeks to tell.

Supplements I'm currently taking... CoQ10, Milk Thistle, Up Your Gas, Multivitamin (2X day), fish oil, Vitamin C, B12 and ZMA before bedtime.

On another side note, the creatine makes my pee smell like I just ate around 25 sticks of asparagus I guess that's normal. I drink over a gallon and a half of water a day so I figured it would at least dilute it a bit.

And here's the latest 'before and after' pics...
 

464

220

Well I guess I will eat my words from a previous post now.   I'm doing a new workout regimen to try to finally hit my goal weight of 205.   I gained around 5 - 7 pounds over the last month which I'd love to belive was muscle but I pretty much know it's not because of the crap I've been eating lately.   I incresed my cardio in the mornings to 36 minutes (2 X 18 minutes on the Stairmaster) from 30 minutes (2 X 15 minutes) and running on Tuesday and Thursday to 3.3 miles for the main workout.   I still do pretty intense weight training on Monday, Wednesday and Friday and I've been trying to run 2 miles in the evening too.    So, I'll see how the 3-A-Day routine will work to get me to my goal.   

This wasn't one of my original goals but I wanted to see what my max was on bench earlier this week.   I was able to get 325 which is approximately 100 pounds over my weight.    I never thought I'd be able to do that again.  :)

Wow, I guess it's been awhile since I've posted.  I'm still chugging along.  Total weight loss of around 257 pounds or so.   I never did hit 205 but I really don't care too much about that these days since that actually may be a little too thin for me.   I'm in a Large shirt down from a 6X and in size 34 pants down from 60.  :)   

I met one of my last goals yesterday by benching 275 eight times.  I've tried to do it for the past few weeks but came up one or two reps short every time.   Yesterday I finally did it and it was a good feeling.  

I knocked out a couple of my big goals today and that leaves me with only a couple goals left.   I ran the New Orleans Crescent City Classic this morning.  Running the C.C.C. was one of the driving motivations to have weight loss surgery and needless to say I was a little teary eyed at the start and finish of the race.   I've been running for 8 months now and I've run a bunch of races in the last year but doing this race was definately something special.   The constant thought running through my mind was "Oh my God!  I'm doing it!   I'm actually RUNNING this race!"   I finished the 10K (6.2 mile) run in 58:15 which I'm told is respectable.   Looking back on the past year I surely feel blessed to have lost the weight I have and to be able to do what I've been able to do.   I never thought it could happen to me.    I guess even after I had the surgery deep down I was still thinking that I wouldn't be able to lose the weight.   I guess I was wrong.  :)

Here's a few pictures:


Finish Line

My Parents and I

Beth and I

 

I've had a couple episodes over the past couple weeks that have really scared me and gotten my attention.   I thought it was dumping but my last episode wasn't food related.   I'd appreciate some insight if anyone has possible experienced anything like this because it has me a little frustrated and scared. 

I had my gall bladder taken at 4 months post-op so it is not gall bladder related.   I've been eating and going to the bathroom with no problems since the first episode and even since the second episode.   I have normal BM and don't have any issues at all eating pretty much anything.   

I'll start at the beginning of the first episode.     A couple weeks ago I experienced a new pain in my abdomen after drinking some wine.  I've been drinking wine with no problems since I was around 3 months post-op but this wasn't a kind I usually drank.   It was a little sweeter than the cab sav that I usually drink.   The pain started out as just an uncomfortable cramp and escalated to extreme pain over a 15 minute period.  I was having trouble talking and was sweating bullets.   The climax of the pain lasted around 5 minutes or so then subsided and went away.    I was thinking the entire time that I needed to go to the hospital but I didn't want to ruin my buddy's bachelor party so I just sucked it up and took the pain.   Being the dumbass that I am after the pain went away I resumed my drinking and around 15 minutes later it happened again.   It didn't last as long the second time around but it was still painful and very uncomfortable.   It passed as quickly as it came and I enjoyed my night.   I drank and ate with no problems throughout the night and figured that I had a dumping episode that was related to the wine.  

On Tuesday of this week I started to experience the same pain in my lower right abdomen.  It came on slow and steadily increased over a 20 - 30 minute period with the climax of the pain again lasting for around 10 minutes.   I once again thought I needed medical attention is was so bad and was sweating huge bullets of prespiration again.   It went away as quickly as it came again and I was pretty much good to go the rest of the day.   THIS time it was not related to food.  I hadn 't eaten or drank anything (with the exception of 3 grapes) in the last 2 hours or so.   

I called my doctor and they said that my bowel could have possibly twisted and untwisted and that's what caused the pain.   They said it was related to the 'spaces' that were present because all the fat is now gone.   They said there was a 'fix' and it would be something that could only be done with exploratory surgery.   I guess I don't understand why a cat scan or xrays won't work but I'd rather be safe than sorry when it comes to something like this because from what I've read it's nothing to play around with.   

Has anyone experienced anything like this?   I wish I could say it was dumping but I didn't think dumping involved extreme physical pain like I was experiencing.   

**UPDATE**

So....  Another day, another surgery.   I had to go in for exploratory lap surgery last week because I had a few episodes of extreme pain in my abdomen over the past month or so.   Each time the pain started out as an uncomfortable cramp them escalated to extreme, unbearable pain over a 25 minute period.  The doctor went in and found a small hernia and closed up the 'space' that was causing the bowels to twist.   I find it amusing that I now have 16 'battle scars' on my belly now from where they've gone in.  Overall it was a success and they assured me this is the last surgery that I'll have to have.

Wow was it cold this morning for the LCRE 5K run in downtown Baton Rouge.   My buddy Hunter and I ran it and finished in 25 minutes.   I'd say that we were once again within the top 50 to 75 runners.  Here's a pic at the finish line.

Well I hit another big goal today.   BMI is now under 30.  :)

Almost there!  I'm just over 20 pounds to my goal now.   I took some updated pictures last night of 

http://www.chadsoileau.com/wls/

I ran the Celebration in the Oaks 2 mile run today.   We all had a great time and we ended up finishing in around 18:30.   (Placed 147, 148 and 149 out of around 2500 runners.)

Here's a pic at the finish line:

Well after a little over a month of boxing training I'm getting in the ring tonight to spar.   Do I think I'm ready?  Nah, probably not.  :)   I only know three basic punches and 3 combos.   I figure the only way I am gonna learn and eventually improve is to go up against someone.   I'm going into it like I can't be beat though.   We'll see what happens.  

I'll post again later tonight with pictures and the 'results' of my training.  

POST SPAR ROUNDUP
Well, my nose is bleeding.   My left cheek is swelling.   My lip is busted.    It was the BEST time I've had in YEARS!!!   I got in the ring with a guy that had 2 years training compared to my 1.5 months.  He basically took me to school.   I now know what getting hit with a 3 punch combo feels like. :)   And, my greatest fear of getting hit in the belly was put to rest.   He got me with some big blasts to the stomach and I'm not spitting up blood and everything still seems to be working.     I did get in a few shots here and there but if this bout had to be judged then unfortunately I'm the big loser and not in the weight loss way this time.  :)  The pics are below: