To Those Of You Who Say You Don't Have Time For Exercise...

[KartMan 58]

I actually loveeeee fitness now. Like many of you, I didn’t at first. It was a chore, but I did because I had a goal. But then I found something that I truly enjoy (for me, it’s running and Triathlon). Now I have a passion for it. I’m a middle of the pack guy in the races I compete in. I don’t ever see myself competing for a top spot on the podium but I do consider myself an athlete all the same. I run, bike, or swim 5-6 days a week and really really enjoy it. I no longer do it for weight loss because I am at goal, now I do it because I enjoy it and I know it is good for my overall health.

Allison, I don’t mean to be rude – but that is a careless comment and one that can give people false hope.. While there may not necessarily always be a link between exercise and weight loss, there is actually a concern about the type of weight you lose. You want to lose fat, not muscle. For the first 6 months after banding my weight was flying off without exercise, but I found out that I was losing too much muscle. I know this because I had proof by way of a hydrostatic dunk test. After that discovery, I started eating more Protein and got into a regular exercise routine. I was quickly able to turn the trend around and started to gain muscle and to lose fat. I got down to 15% body fat and have never looked back.

[Allison0927 329]

For anyone offended by my post - I want to say this. Clearly I am a PROPONENT of exercise. I said that not exercising has had little to no bearing on MY weight loss and that it worked FOR ME. Obviously I and everyone else in the world knows that you have to exercise to be healthy. The original poster - unless I read it wrong - was (rather angrily) stating that you HAVE to exercise to LOSE WEIGHT. That has not been my reality - I may not be healthy, I may not be toned but I have lost a lot of weight with little exercise (on average 1-2x per week for an hour each on a treadmill). I should have completed my post with the following: I sit on these forums day in and day out - and I see people complaining the band is not working for them or they are not losing weight - and the minute someone starts digging a little deeper and asking questions we find out that the person is exceeding the surgeon recommended caloric intake (we've all seen multiple posts like this). The person is not following the rules, is eating sliders/junk whatever the case may be. And I think to myself - weight loss is about CALORIES. Exercising helps burn calories - but in the end you can exercise all day and if you're eating way too many calories - more than the exercise is burning - then you will not lose weight period. I am a "bad bandster" for not exercising that much - but I will say this for myself - I religiously stick to the caloric intake recommended by my surgeon. That is often a difficult thing to do and took a ton of discipline in the first 4.5 months when I had no restriction - but was still losing. I'll end with YES YOU NEED TO EXERCISE AND SO DO I. But to say that there will be no weightloss without exercise isn't accurate. Again, you may not be healthy, you may not be toned and a lot of other bad stuff may occur without exercise - and maintenance of weight loss once at goal may not happen without exercise - but weight loss is largely about calories. So if you are going to exercise be sure to keep in mind calories (surgeon/nutritionist recommended - whatever that is for you). BEST OF LUCK TO US ALL ON OUR JOURNEYS!!!!

[KartMan 58]

Allison, thanks for the clarification. You make some very good points.

[Violet953 46]

Hey...what can I say...I was pretty annoyed when I made this post and while I have cooled down...I still pretty much feel the same way...I don't want to do this the unhealthy way...I want to do it the healthy way. I want to be active and toned not only for my body...but for my mind. I went into this wanting to change my lifestyle- that means not only eating less, but getting off my butt and working out everyday. How can I make a lifestyle change if I'm still sitting on the couch all day? I really do think you need both for more ways than one.

And Kartman is very right...your body is designed to MOVE...it is SO unhealthy to just waste away your muscles with no exercise and fast weight loss...and no muscle is what causes loose skin!!!!!!

[Humming Bird 275]

I'm not sure the lecture is very helpful.

I have not exercised and dropped the weight at a rapid rate with the band ..... no excuses either.

[123crod 170]

I have seen people lose both ways some working out and some not. I on the other hand have to workout even to maintain but I am 51 years old.

Cheri

[Violet953 46]

So hummingbird how much loose skin do you have?

[Humming Bird 275]

I lucked out and don't have much ....flat stomach .... I would guess the worst area is my arms. FYI, exercise does nothing for loose skin. Of course the loose skin may look a bit better as it sags over harder muscles. We will all be different when it comes to loose skin. It depends on age, how many times pregnant, where we carry the weight, sun exposure, how much excess weight we have .......

In my case, I carried my excess weight all over. I am 47 years old and have quite a few years of excess sun exposure. I was only pregnant one time in my life and only gained 19 pounds. I now weigh about 2 pounds less than I did the day I delivered my son (who is 5 years older than you). I feel great with my results. At my age now, I would look too thin if I lost any more weight. A BMI of 24 is a good place for me. I don't need any plastic surgery.

[Violet953 46]

Well, lucky you! You lost the weight in a very unhealthy way by not exercising..and didn't listen to what your doctor told you. That is not reality for most of us here...so the fact that you lost all the weight is your case..not everybody elses...I for sure don't want to loose my muscle ...I want my body to be strong and healthy..but ppl are gonna do what they want...that's what I have to come to realize...and its sad.

Exercise does nothing for loose skin that's already established yeah...but I know for a fact that it helps prevent it...from more than one person on here! Sure it doesn't work for everybody...but it definitely helps ..and makes you stronger and healthier!

[Humming Bird 275]

At this stage you sure seem to know it all

[Violet953 46]

No actually I'm just using common sense and everything I learned from this forum & my surgeon! Are you really trying to argue that exercise is not beneficial? That its just "optional"? Its people like you on here who give false hope to the newcomers. There is no way I'd be able to loose the weight without exercising- and I wouldn't want to! Most of us here have to struggle every day! To make people think that you can just breeze through this is ridiculous!

[Humming Bird 275]

No, I'm not saying exercise isn't benificial. Yes it is optional. A person can choose to do it or not just like many other things in life. I did breeze through over 100 pounds of weightloss with the help of lapband.

Your lecture in your first post is what bothered me. Like ..... who does that chick think she is lecturing people like that talking about people's excuses and such. It really shouldn't be your concern if someone else doesn't exercise or makes excuses. If you want to do it your way that's cool.

It should not be your concern how I lost my weight. The last few times I spoke with my surgeon he is thrilled with my results. I am thrilled with my results. There is nothing "sad" about my success.

[Violet953 46]

Who do I think I am? Hmm Lets see...I think I am an overweight woman who is trying to take a new lease on life and do things right for a change...and I think I should try to get people to do it the RIGHT way...not the wrong way...so whoever reads this...please think about whats right and whats healthy.

And they are excuses! I see people make excuses all day long in my own personal life and in here! And yeah its not my concern about how you lost your weight! You are the one who shared it with me though!

[Amanda1982 142]

Alright ladies...lets calm our heads and just agree to disagree. Exercise is important for health. You may get results without it. But your life, health, and overall wellbeing will be great if you include it in your life style changes. At the end of the day, the choice is yours...and my definition of success my be different from your definition of success depending on what our goals are. Me is to live longer and be s healthier me. And "I" need exercise to accomplish this. Your goal may just be to lose weight....and you only need the band. Whatever the case its your life and your decision. Not for us to judge eachother. We are here to support eachother.

[Amanda1982 142]

Alright ladies...lets calm our heads and just agree to disagree. Exercise is important for health. You may get results without it. But your life, health, and overall wellbeing will be great if you include it in your life style changes. At the end of the day, the choice is yours...and my definition of success my be different from your definition of success depending on what our

goals are. Me is to live longer and be s healthier me. And "I" need exercise to accomplish this. Your goal may just be to lose weight....and you only need the band. Whatever the case its your life and your decision. Not for us to judge eachother. We are here to support eachother.