EXERCISE-someone be real with me!

[MoTown22 1]

I get banded on March 4th.... Currently I'm doing the elliptical for 30 min 4-5 times a week with additional walking on lunch breaks etc. This to me is huge, compared to a lifetime of doing no physical activity. But after reading through forums about how people are "exercise freaks" and training for marathons etc etc, it's a bit discouraging. Am I REALLY going to need to devote 2 hrs a day to exercising!? I want to lose and I want to be healthy, but I also want to maintain my sanity and life the way it is. I work full time and go to school full time and I just know that I won't have that kind of time. The standards across the board are for 30 min physical activity every day (or 4/5 times a week) and so at what point beyond that does it go from over achieving to obsession?

[trystelle 3]

Hi-

I have been banded since 2007 and have maintained a 140+ weight loss and continue to lose slowly. In the beginning I exercised about an hour a day 5-6 times a week-mostly walking, Now I try to exercise 3 times a week for 20 minutes. Since it is so cold here, I am riding my inside bike and doing some yoga. With this in mind though I probably spend 4-5 hours a day on my feet. I think exercise is important-it helps with depression and overall health and it is something good I can do to take care of myself. Like everything else with this lapband experience, everyone is different, Marathon running is not mandatory. We hear more about this on the board because people enjoy it as a "hobby" and are rightly proud of themselves for earning such an accomplishment after a lifetime of inactivity, Find what fits into your lifestyle-If it is not doable you won't do it!!!

[reverie 49]

Some people have different exercise goals. I started off slow and have gradually increased the amount of exercise I do. Nowadays I workout for about 1.5-2 hours a day. Why? Because I have the time, I like how it makes me feel, and I want to tone as much as possible before I consider having PS. Would I call it over achieving? Hardly. An obsession? Maybe so, but at least it's a healthy one.

Does this mean you have to do the same? Nope. If 30 minutes a day or every other day is keeping you sane and is helping the pounds drop, I'd stick to it. Of course when your weight loss slows down as you near your goal, you may want to intensify what you're doing, but no, there is no need to overwork yourself by doing exercise if you don't want to/don't have the time for it.

Exercise should be a de-stresser, not the other way around. Find an exercise routine you like and it'll become more of a fun activity rather than a chore.

[Miss A 1]

I was banded on Jan 5th and at first I started off just working out in my basement (using video game workouts) then about 3 weeks ago I joined the gym. I go in the morning while my kids are in school and try to go for an hour 5 days a week. I was told by my pcp and the office staff that did my lapband that 30 min a day is good.

Good Luck to you!

Alison

[MoTown22 1]

You're right and like you said-once I hit that plateau or as the weight comes off making it easier to do activity, that I will inherently want to intensify the workouts. I can see that coming. I like to introduce change in regards to this slowly so that I don't set myself up for failure. But I guess just reading about how awesome some daily activities were I was starting to feel like I wasn't doing enough....and I know I should not base off my success or goals on anyone else's BUT I also want to be realistic and know as much as I can up front!

Thank you!!

Some people have different exercise goals. I started off slow and have gradually increased the amount of exercise I do. Nowadays I workout for about 1.5-2 hours a day. Why? Because I have the time, I like how it makes me feel, and I want to tone as much as possible before I consider having PS. Would I call it over achieving? Hardly. An obsession? Maybe so, but at least it's a healthy one.

Does this mean you have to do the same? Nope. If 30 minutes a day or every other day is keeping you sane and is helping the pounds drop, I'd stick to it. Of course when your weight loss slows down as you near your goal, you may want to intensify what you're doing, but no, there is no need to overwork yourself by doing exercise if you don't want to/don't have the time for it.

Exercise should be a de-stresser, not the other way around. Find an exercise routine you like and it'll become more of a fun activity rather than a chore.

[MoTown22 1]

Hey, thanks for the response! You have some great points. I'm also glad to hear about success from someone who was focusing on walking mainly and also on what I would consider even more manageable workouts now with your 20 min 3X a week. I would much rather walk all day everyday for exercise but I feel like if I'm not breaking a sweat I'm not doing enough, so I tend to forget the benefits of that I guess. Who is to say if 30 min on the elliptical is better or worse than 60 min walking? Anyway, thanks for your support!

Hi-

I have been banded since 2007 and have maintained a 140+ weight loss and continue to lose slowly. In the beginning I exercised about an hour a day 5-6 times a week-mostly walking, Now I try to exercise 3 times a week for 20 minutes. Since it is so cold here, I am riding my inside bike and doing some yoga. With this in mind though I probably spend 4-5 hours a day on my feet. I think exercise is important-it helps with depression and overall health and it is something good I can do to take care of myself. Like everything else with this lapband experience, everyone is different, Marathon running is not mandatory. We hear more about this on the board because people enjoy it as a "hobby" and are rightly proud of themselves for earning such an accomplishment after a lifetime of inactivity, Find what fits into your lifestyle-If it is not doable you won't do it!!!

[MoTown22 1]

Good for you and thank you!!

I was banded on Jan 5th and at first I started off just working out in my basement (using video game workouts) then about 3 weeks ago I joined the gym. I go in the morning while my kids are in school and try to go for an hour 5 days a week. I was told by my pcp and the office staff that did my lapband that 30 min a day is good.

Good Luck to you!

Alison

[HeatherinCA 10]

I get banded on March 4th.... Currently I'm doing the elliptical for 30 min 4-5 times a week with additional walking on lunch breaks etc. This to me is huge, compared to a lifetime of doing no physical activity. But after reading through forums about how people are "exercise freaks" and training for marathons etc etc, it's a bit discouraging. Am I REALLY going to need to devote 2 hrs a day to exercising!? I want to lose and I want to be healthy, but I also want to maintain my sanity and life the way it is. I work full time and go to school full time and I just know that I won't have that kind of time. The standards across the board are for 30 min physical activity every day (or 4/5 times a week) and so at what point beyond that does it go from over achieving to obsession?

That should be a good amount. Well, 30 minutes is to stay healthy, to lose fat, you gotta do more.. it depends on the person. I do about what you do. I find when I work my ass off at the gym for over an hour 5 days a week, I don't lose anymore weight then when I do my simple walking video. But the toning can help saggy skin. Do what is manageable to you. Also depends what you eat, it's easier to eat less calories than to burn off the calories you over ate.

[peprmentpati 8]

Hey Mo!

My only advice is to try very hard not to compare your progress with anyone else.

It's very discouraging if you don't meet the mark of someone else.

Besides, this is your time to do for you!

Your progress will increase and your body gets healthier and stronger.

One bit about me is that I don't get to workout everyday or have a set routine (I work f/t and go to school p/t). But, when I do get to workout - I push myself beyond what I think I can do, I don't give up.

Good Luck & God Bless!

Rebecca

[Kalipso2 25]

it's sad to say but i've never worked out. i'm almost 3 years post-op and it's taken me that long to get to my goal weight probably because i haven't exercised. but... i haven't gained any weight back either.

i guess i just felt this was a more realistic goal for me. i knew i'd never keep the exercise up and i didn't want to gain weight when i stopped.

[L12 13]

I get banded on March 4th.... Currently I'm doing the elliptical for 30 min 4-5 times a week with additional walking on lunch breaks etc. This to me is huge, compared to a lifetime of doing no physical activity. But after reading through forums about how people are "exercise freaks" and training for marathons etc etc, it's a bit discouraging. Am I REALLY going to need to devote 2 hrs a day to exercising!? I want to lose and I want to be healthy, but I also want to maintain my sanity and life the way it is. I work full time and go to school full time and I just know that I won't have that kind of time. The standards across the board are for 30 min physical activity every day (or 4/5 times a week) and so at what point beyond that does it go from over achieving to obsession?

I'm one of those who has turned into an exercise freak with my running...but the good news is that I had already surpassed my goal before I even started running (at 145 lbs.), or even exercising regularly for that matter...but I do have an active job, so that probably helped a lot with the weight loss even without additional exercise. I've started to really like exercise, it makes me feel good and I get the "runner's high" now. However, I also find that setting goals (marathons, etc.) keeps me motivated to exercise every single week--there's no way of running 13.1 or 26.2 miles succesfully without running at least three times a week. Without a goal I'm working towards, I tend to burn out or get lazy. Just keep in mind that for many of us, its not what we NEED to do, but what we WANT to do now! And its thrilling to be physically able to do these things when at one time, I couldn't even walk without being winded or in pain.

[Jachut 487]

I have to confess to being a freak too - but I do it because I want to, not because I'm forcing myself too. I'm home at the moment not working due to having chemotherapy and other treatment, so I'm spending 2 hours at the gym most mornings - its a goal, its something to focus on, it fills the days because I just dont have that much to do at the moment. I truly love runnning, absolutely love it.

Does it help weight loss to be a 'freak'. I think it does to a degree, I mean I lost about 130% of my excess weight, I dont look like I've ever been fat, I'm toned and very fit. But that doesnt mean that everyone has to do it. When I am working, I have about 45 minutes a day to devote, and running is intense enought to burn 500 calories or so in that time. I've had times when I've dropped to half an hour or so a day, and not gained weight, its intensity and what yoiu do with the time you have that matters. If you're going to devote the time, then you may as well make the most of it is my motto. For me personally, walking doesnt meet that criteria but it is more intense for a more overweight, less fit person, so that's an individual thing.

This is YOUR lifestyle change and the best changes to make are the ones that you can live with and stick to. Dont beat yourself up over what other people are doing, there's too many variables in everyone's lives.

[JJLaw08 4]

I have to be honest. I don't exercise other than walking at my job or getting my dogs out to play. I did exercise for about a month or two back right after I had surgery in Feb. 2010. I do run/walk in some races every once in awhile, but I don't train for them or anything. I plan on getting back into things once it warms up, but I have lost over 90 pounds not really exercising, and I only like maybe 10 or so pounds from being at my goal. Everyone is different.

[FeelingGroovy 2]

I say keep at what you are doing for now...Its way more then I do. I have visions of doing the couch to 5k but I have yet started to do any exersize...I need to get off my butt and go down 2 flights to the gym in my building...

I'm not sure what always blocks me from working out. I can't seem to do it.

Way to go keep it up.

[stateofzen 46]

I don't exercise.

Well, I've started to do Zumba twice a week (for about a month now), but other than that i don't exercise.

I've been losing fine without it, SO FAR. I fully expect to have to add it in at some point when diet alone stalls my loss, which is why I'm trying to find things I enjoy now.

I do think my body would look better if I spent some time exercising. For instance, I've been trying on size 12 shorts and being thrilled that they fit. But I sure as heck am not going to buy them because my thighs need some major toning before being uncovered in public That just might be my motivation to finally exercise more.