Doc said weight loss plan was a waste of time. I need encouraged.

[Inner Surfer Girl 12,015]

ME! SO far I've lost 117lbs and 90% of that was by doing Water aerobics. I started at 2 days a week and now go 4 - 6 days a week. Your doctor is grossly misinformed. Not everyone is a runner. Weight lifting is could for firming up, but as long as you move, and do it consistently you will lose.

Talk about frustration. I went to my last visit before surgery with my surgeon (whom I don't like and don't mesh with as I've mentioned before) and he asked what my exercise plan was and what goal weight I set. I told him 130 (which is low 150 would be high ) and that I was going to start out with Water aerobics then Aqua Zumba then laps and then when laps were easy see what then. And he basically said that water exercise is useless. It's for people who can't do anything but that and not a good workout. That if I want that kind of weight loss I need to be walking then running 5 times a week plus lifting weights 2-3 times a week and not "fool around with" water exercises.

Well here's the truth. I have immense back and foot pain due to my weight. Just 15 minutes or more walking or standing makes me really hurt. And I also get extremely nauseous if I get overheated. So it seemed like water exercises were a good start. I know I'll be able to do more as I lose more but he seemed to have the opinion that if I'm not doing hard core cardio and strength training right away I can't achieve that kind of loss and any time spent in the water was just a waste

But I don't know how I could do what he wants either. I can barely walk to the mailbox without getting out of breath and barely stand for 15 minutes without being in pain .... I need some

Encouragement.

Has anyone lost 130 pounds on a more moderate exercise plan?

Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Hey, @@BLERDgirl, great to see you.

This is a great example.

Plus, the water is a great place to do weight and resistance work, ab work, etc.

[Tina4heath4ever 27]

I have not had surgery as of yet, nor do I even have a date, but I've pushed myself farther than I felt comfortable with (at the urging of others) and ended up hurting myself. Taking myself completely out of the game where I couldn't even WALK because of it. I think your Water aerobics sounds perfect.

Have he seen what a swimmers body looks like? Are you kidding me? Laps are a perfect exercise. Don't listen to this guy. (are you too far in to go to someone else?)

[SalOdyssey 441]

Talk about frustration. I went to my last visit before surgery with my surgeon (whom I don't like and don't mesh with as I've mentioned before) and he asked what my exercise plan was and what goal weight I set. I told him 130 (which is low 150 would be high ) and that I was going to start out with Water aerobics then Aqua Zumba then laps and then when laps were easy see what then. And he basically said that Water exercise is useless. It's for people who can't do anything but that and not a good workout. That if I want that kind of weight loss I need to be walking then running 5 times a week plus lifting weights 2-3 times a week and not "fool around with" water exercises.

Well here's the truth. I have immense back and foot pain due to my weight. Just 15 minutes or more walking or standing makes me really hurt. And I also get extremely nauseous if I get overheated. So it seemed like water exercises were a good start. I know I'll be able to do more as I lose more but he seemed to have the opinion that if I'm not doing hard core cardio and strength training right away I can't achieve that kind of loss and any time spent in the water was just a waste

But I don't know how I could do what he wants either. I can barely walk to the mailbox without getting out of breath and barely stand for 15 minutes without being in pain .... I need some

Encouragement.

Has anyone lost 130 pounds on a more moderate exercise plan?

Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

First off your Dr is a moron!! My Dr's have applauded my daily efforts to get in the pool and get moving. I'm a pre-surgery, I've lost almost 240 pounds by swimming, using dumbbells, a medicine ball, and a resistance band. Your Dr sound very uneducated when it comes to exercise.

Do whatever exercise you can do today, and try and increase it as your body and pain allows you to. Build of whatever progress you make. Start with small goals like walking to the mailbox and every couple of days or weeks go a little further. Swim for 1/2 hour, the after a few days go 40 minutes, few days or weeks later try for an hour.

Obviously the more you exercise the more it will assist in your weight loss. Whatever you do, just keep going!!

[Inner Surfer Girl 12,015]

...

Have he seen what a swimmers body looks like? Are you kidding me? Laps are a perfect exercise. Don't listen to this guy. (are you too far in to go to someone else?)

Why yes I have!

(Taking another opportunity to post this...)

[jane13 2,256]

@@BLERDgirl - HEY! Where have you been? Missed you!

[VSGAnn2014 12,992]

So many good posts on this thread. Whatever you can do, keep doing it. Do more when you can. And don't hurt yourself!

@@Inner Surfer Girl ... you can post pix of Michael Phelps any time you want.

[Proud2BMe 1,016]

Honestly, I didn't do any exercises before surgery. I was too big as well. I didn't start exercising until three or four months after surgery and then it was only walking. So don't be hard on yourself right now. However, keep in mind that as you lose weight you will no longer be able to lean on excuses for not exercising.

Walking really is the best exercise for people. Start out about 20 minutes a night and then slowly increase it to an hour. When you can handle an hour then increase your pace to "mall walking" speeds. Later on you can start going to the gym.

[dafurrer 11]

Your Dr. is a jerk. Any form of movement is better than nothing. You cannot expect to be running a marathon at this stage. You do your Water aerobics!! It's easy on your joints and the resistance against the Water pressure is good for you. I am 5 weeks out and right now I am walking about 28 blocks at least three days a week. As soon as that becomes a bit easier then I will graduate to more extensive exercise. And I am seeing decent results in my weight loss. Good luck and be assertive and push back on your Dr. if you need to!

[Anna Nim 196]

Your doctor is an ass, if you can, consider to switch to another one-of course, it is surgical expertise that you need.
Don't let him mess with your head!

Water sounds great to me! It is super kind to your joints-which need some babying. Like @@ssflbelle said.

Ever try to swim a lap? Swimming is hard work!

When you are ready or WANT to you can try other things.

Frankly, I feel I agree with the concept that weight loss is 80% what you eat and 20% exercise.

To me, that means high Protein and low carbs.

[Teapot 26]

Well, along with everyone else I think your surgeon sounds like a bit of an asshat. He might be a great surgeon, but he sounds like a male chauvinist with zero empathy. Many forms of exercise are valid, not just what his male ego drives HIM to do. You and I are at a similar BMI and there is simply no way I could run or jog without losing at least 80 lbs.

About 10 years ago I lost 120 pounds with diet and exercise and I started with very low impact activities. First I used a stationary bicycle. Then I did "Walk away the pounds with Leslie Sansone", then I did some Water aerobics, then I did some weight training. I gradually built my way up to doing The Firm videos and step aerobics and Body Bar classes. I did a lot of inclined treadmill walking.

I loathed running with a white hot passion and I never, ever ran. But I was toned and healthy and looked fantastic.

I agree with others that you can get a good workout by swimming laps. You might want to also look at indoor rowing. It's surprisingly fun and effective and low impact.

Best of luck!

*edit Oh, and I had really bad plantar fasciitis foot pain and that got a LOT better as I lost weight, so you might find as the weight comes off your foot problems get better and you feel like doing more on your feet. Now that I'm fat again my knees and feet are quite painful, and I get overheated very, very easily. I'm hoping this all goes away. Fingers crossed.

Edited May 17, 2016 by Teapot

[Tina4heath4ever 27]

@@Inner Surfer Girl LOL Gotta love Michael Phelps!

[kaitlynm 335]

I can give you the names of several Orthopedic Surgeons who will state running is so hard on your back, knees feet, etc. Especially if you are overweight. I do walking on the treadmill and aerobic classes because that is what I like. If you don't like what you are doing you will never keep it up long term.

I would just proceed with your current plan.

[BarrySue 602]

Doctors are very smart and very knowledgeable, and should always be the first person to ask a question to before the internet.

That being said, doctors are also human. They can be biased. They can suffer from pre-conceived notions and faulty assumptions. They can get burned out, discouraged, and disenchanted when their patients don't meet goals. They can get bitter. And sometimes, doctors can be wrong.

Stick with your Water aerobics. That much exercise for many of us simply isn't sustainable, and doing something that isn't ridiculously exhausting and you ENJOY is much more likely to stick than putting in 20+ hours/wk at the gym. I work, go to school, have an internship, and have virtually no free time in my life. For me, my "exercise" is walking to and from the places I want to go, taking stairs, parking far away, and when I have a second to breathe, taking my dogs on a brisk walk. I simply don't have the time for intense exercise, so I'm fanatical about my diet instead. And when the time is right, I'll try to incorporate more physical activity into my life. But it sure as hell won't be five days a week, lol.

It's great that you at least tried to share your plans with your doctor and get his feedback. Now that you have consulted with the dude responsible for your care, carefully consider his words and keep it in mind. Then make the right decision for YOU.

[theantichick 2,204]

I haven't read all the responses yet but I'll join in that your surgeon is an ass. I wasn't losing weight at the time but I had a knee reconstruction and due to pain and weight I had to do most of the rehab in the pool. When it gets easier there are ways to increase the intensity and it is absolutely a good workout.

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[Beck90 189]

You guys are great. Thanks for sticking up for me!