For the physically active sleevers...

[HopeandAgony 566]

My surgery is Monday. I have really fought a battle thru the months leading up to this with my relationship with food. Although I'm sure that is a battle that will live to see another day, I want to hear your advice on exercise.

My personal experience this far is that I don't love it. Before I got heavy I didn't enjoy it. Don't get me wrong, I can and do walk a few miles regularly, I can and will exercise on an elliptical for 45 minutes, but I have never enjoyed it. Or looked forward to it. I don't expect that to change with surgery. Or does it? What have you done to get yourself motivated. Do you like to exercise now?

[OKCPirate 5,323]

Well the bulk of weightloss is diet. But exercise is vital for two reasons:

1) It is important for your overall health

2) It gives you form for your new skin to go around

It would really stink for you to lose significant weight only to look like a bag of saggy skin. The first month following surgery was all walking. Light weights for a month after that and then really started ramping up things by starting couch to 5K program and heavier weights. Hint yoga is great for tone (I'm a masachosit, so I do the hot version).

As far as staying motivated, I kept my Protein levels high, so I had lots of energy. I enjoy audio books, so that's what I listen to when I work out. BUT I can only listen to them when I work out. So it's a game I play with myself. And motivation for yoga? Easy, hot girls in yoga pants, nuf said there (and there are stud muffins there for the rest).

Good luck.

Edited November 11, 2015 by OKCPirate

[glitter eyes 1,398]

I used to despise exercise. I still don't love it passionately. What worked for me was finding something I do love. I have found the love of kayaking and hiking. So what I do at the gym is use the rowing machine, treadmill and elliptical. This way when I am "trapped" in the gym I know what I am doing will help me be stronger when I participate in my hobbies.

I also swim a lot during the summer.

[Inner Surfer Girl 12,015]

The only exercise I have consistently loved is swimming.

For me the motivation is how good it feels.

Once I was cleared to get in the pool (after my incisions had healed), I got in our pool at home every day weather permitted during the summer.

Once I reminded myself how good it felt it became easier until I started to look forward to it.

Now that it is colder I joined our local wellness center. It is still a bit of a challenge to get there, but once I get into the pool it's hard to get out.

One thing that has always helped me throughout the years is to find some classes to go to at a specific time. That way I am less likely to put off going and after a few classes I look forward to the social interaction.

Find something that is fun and enjoyable and you will be much more likely to participate if you are like me.

[OutsideMatchInside 10,166]

Well I cheated and got a dog a month after surgery so I had to walk. We walk about 2 miles or so a day, and then I do more on my own. Walking with my dog takes it from exercise to activity. He has to be walked, he deserves to be walked, he needs to be walked it has nothing to do with me.

I quit going to the gym because it was slowing my weight loss. The weather is changing and I will have to go back. When I go back I am going to do what I like, weights, and maybe a little on the elliptical. I can do an hour on the elliptical but it seems to stress my body out, so I am going to have to experiment with it.

I think the key is being more active in general, and making it a part of your life instead of a task. I live near a lot of cool trails, so I walk the trails. I go to the mall and before I shop I walk 2 rounds around the mall, then shop, then I walk around one maybe 2 more times when I am done shopping. When I go to Walmart I purposely cross the whole store several times. This adds up to a ton of extra steps. If you do it all the time it racks up really high over a week.

[livvsmum 2,369]

I used to hate exercise, but as the pounds fell off it became super motivating to see all the new things that I could do with ease. I started to really crave exercise. It also helps me to sign up for classes and races so that i have something to work towards.

[dlappjr 467]

Like you @@HopeandAgony I was never the type that loved exercise. I still have never done a pull up in my life. But, like @@livvsmum, I also found that I look forward to my workouts now post-op. Two reasons mainly. Number 1 motivator being that I know I have a window of time where I can be the most efficient at losing not just pounds, but mostly fat. I have always been a fairly straightforward thinker who hates to waste time or effort. Thus, why I was so out of shape. Why excerpt more than I have to, right? But I know that for this first 8-10 months, I will lose fat so much easier than anytime after that. The Number 2 motivator is that I feel so much better now when I exercise. I never could get that feeling that people describe of feeling better and more energized after working out. I would get on the treadmill and walk for 15 minutes or lift some little weights a few times and just want to stop and shove cheetos in my face. Now, I can relate to that feeling of more energy and feeling great later in the day after a good workout. Not to say that you will have the same experience, nor do you have to, but I can attest to going from #teamcouchpotato to #teamfatburn. And it happened within a month of surgery. I was already walking as much as I had time for. I couldn't wait to be able to lift and exert more energy. At first, my subconscious would shut off my alarm and I would fall back asleep, but after a couple weeks, I got so used to getting up that one night I forgot to set my alarm. That next morning I woke up and freaked out, only to look at the clock and have it be the exact time the alarm was supposed to go off. I hope for you it changes. Even if it doesn't get to the point where you crave it, at least get to a better place where instead of saying you don't hate it, you can say you enjoy it. Best of luck on the procedure!

Edited November 11, 2015 by dlappjr

[HopeandAgony 566]

Thank you everyone. I hope it comes for me. Normally I can stick with it for a few weeks, or months, but I always quit for one reason or another. I will definitely try different things to find something I really enjoy.

Edited November 11, 2015 by HopeandAgony

[KindaFamiliar 3,867]

Or just quit after a few months, and then find something else...

Exercise usually gets tedious and repetitive after a while anyway...

So, when you feel your mind starting to wander, rather than give up completely, just find something new..

I hate the treadmill...

Hate it!!

But I was doing it...

Then one day, the treadmills at the gym hadn't been turned on yet (yes, I'm an early starter)...

So I tried the stationery bike..

I'd tried it many pounds ago but didn't like it...

My fat bits got in the way and my everything hurt...

But this time, it was different...

I'd lost a few pounds and things were more comfortable...

Now, a few weeks on, I'm all over that bad boy...

I've made it my b***h for up to 90 minutes each day and I'm loving it!!

So try new things...

And try old things that might be new again...

But with exercise, like most things, variety is the spice of life..

Good luck to you..

[Inner Surfer Girl 12,015]

Thank you everyone. I hope it come for me. Normally I can stick with it for a few weeks, or months, but I always quit for one reason or another. I will definitely try different things to find something I really enjoy.

That another reason I like classes. For example, you could sign up for a belly dancing class and then when it's over sign up for a Salsa class, etc.

My Wellness Center and the YMCA I belonged to before I moved also offer drop-in classes so you don't have to commit to just one. There is an option to try different kinds of exercise. This is great if you like variety or get bored easily.

[OKCPirate 5,323]

@@dlappjr - If you want to get to the point of doing pull ups try this:

When I was getting ready for my mountain climb I knew I was going to need some new muscles to get me over some key humps, so I started preparing a few months in advance, this is a great technique to get you started. Now it looks really cool at the gym for the 52 year old guy to get off the elliptical and pop out a few pull ups....he he he...take that 20 somethings

[HopeandAgony 566]

Thank you everyone. I hope it come for me. Normally I can stick with it for a few weeks, or months, but I always quit for one reason or another. I will definitely try different things to find something I really enjoy.

That another reason I like classes. For example, you could sign up for a belly dancing class and then when it's over sign up for a Salsa class, etc.

My Wellness Center and the YMCA I belonged to before I moved also offer drop-in classes so you don't have to commit to just one. There is an option to try different kinds of exercise. This is great if you like variety or get bored easily.

Love the dancing ideas!

[dlappjr 467]

@@dlappjr - If you want to get to the point of doing pull ups try this:

When I was getting ready for my mountain climb I knew I was going to need some new muscles to get me over some key humps, so I started preparing a few months in advance, this is a great technique to get you started. Now it looks really cool at the gym for the 52 year old guy to get off the elliptical and pop out a few pull ups....he he he...take that 20 somethings

Thanks! Wow, that is motivational. May have to try the assisted ones. I bet it would help me get to an unassisted faster than just lifting.

[pindoctor 49]

I am 9 weeks post-op. I used to love to exercise and was looking forward to being able to do it again after losing some weight (which I have done). I have started trying to walk and sometimes attend a bariatric exercise class. However I am finding that I just don't seem to have the energy to enjoy this. I am doing well with my fluids and Protein and am eating 800-900 cal/day. I'm wondering if I am just not eating enough. I used to love to walk and now it is not enjoyable and is a real struggle. I'd love to get some suggestions. I wanted to be in shape for ski season but the energy thing is really holding me back.

[OKCPirate 5,323]

@@pindoctor - What is your Protein level? Are you tracking it? I was surprised how much I had to supplement early on, and I still use 15g a day to get over 100g.

The reason I ask is I was one of those few people who enjoys Isopure clear drinks. I used them from the beginning and my energy level never dropped post surgery. It's worth looking into.