Your Opinions/Advice/

[mlm 0]

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Hey Everyone,

Here is the deal I admit in highschool i was average size and really didnt exercise all that much .Now the older I got I put on more weight and tried exercising and got discouraged because exercising never really made a difference,.Then over time I found I was always hungry and just gave up.....

I was ready another post that if people are have a hungry feeling alot and are into exersising then the LAP-BAND<SUP>®</SUP> is a right choice for them.

If not then the Gastric by pass would be a more acceptable procedure for them?

I dont have a treadmill here and am saving for one. I walk the dogs daily -harder in winter but am saving for a treadmill. To be honest I know the band is a toll to aid in WL but I am more apt to exercise when some of this 236 lbs is off my 5'3" body frame for physical reasons and emotional......

What is your opion on this about the reasons for the different types of surgery and the excersie? How many of you didnt excersise before the LAP-BAND<SUP>®</SUP> but were more motivated to after ?How was your success or non sucess?

Thanks,

Melanie

[RestlessMonkey 7]

If you're trying to decide between weight loss surgeries, I'd suggest going to a seminar (or two, or three!) and getting some info that way. It may just lead to more questions, but is a good start. They want you to exercise, to be healthy, WLS or no. That's not something unique to the lap band.

[mlm 0]

Hey restless Monkey,

Oh I understand 110% that with either route(surgery) you take exercise is part of teh program. But I am wondering if any of you went from coach potatoe to really getting into the exercise?

Was there limitations/lack of motivation before your surgery?

Melanie

[gentylwind 1]

It sounds like your real question is whether losing weight magically makes exercise easier and motivation easier to come by. I will offer you my personal thoughts on this.

While success does tend to breed success and losing weight makes exercise slightly less unpleasant, the behaviors that resulted in getting fat in the first place take a conscious choice to change. You'll have to start exercising long before the "urge" to do so strikes...because frankly, it probably never will.

Its just as easy to say "Oh, I have lost 20+ pounds, so skipping today won't matter" as it is to say "Oh, I have lost 20+ pounds and exercise will be easier now!". In fact, probably easier to say the first one. As a species we are pretty much biologically tuned to get as much out of life as we can with the least effort possible. When all our needs are met without having to put in the effort to exercise (food, clothing, shelter), we tend to not be biologically driven to do it. Therefore you have to discover other benefits to it, and those discoveries come won on the back of hard work done when it isn't particularly pleasant. They don't come fast or easy as a general rule.

So no. I don't think that having ANY kind of weight loss surgery is going to suddenly make you feel like getting up off the couch, regardless of how much weight you do or don't do. At some point you have to choose to. And the benefit of enjoying it and/or it becoming habit comes later, after doing it allllll those times you didn't feel like doing it, alllllll those times you had to make yourself do it through the inner whining "I don't wanna!"....a process that has nothing to do with the kind of surgery and everything to do with the kind of determination with which you go into it, regardless of which you choose.

[TQUAD64 9]

Hi MLM: I totally here your question. Before band, I really tried to exercise, but with so much extra weight on my frame it was difficult. My ankles and knees were always in pain, so I did not keep up with exercise on a regular basis.

After surgery, about 2.5 weeks after surgery, I started to dilengtly exercise every day. I lost 30 pounds so far, so the pain in my knees and ankles is gone. It made my treadmill workouts so much more enjoyable.

I do have a treadmill. I work out on it at least 5-days a week, unless I am sick. I walk 50-55 minutes at a 6% incline. It really does help with my weight loss and I have lost a great deal of inches. I am down three pant sizes and need to go shopping for a size 16 now, but I am waiting. I was wearing a size 22.

[mlm 0]

TQuad64,

Thank you for your reply. I feel like why bother when I am this weight.I get out of breath ,my hips hurt and I get depressed because i know I have done all the exercising before it never made a dent and I was in bed for days depressed and then eat tons.

I am worried I wont be able to get into this routine once or if I decide to have the LapBand. I wanted to know that other people were like me.

Gentle Wind,

Your take on it makes sense.While I do believe exercise is unjoyable and never will be ,I believe with losing a bit of weight will make it easier.

I am off to get a treadmill and start out slow but steady.Everyday maybe 20 mins at first and so on from there.

Melanie

Edited January 8, 2009 by mlm

[gentylwind 1]

In terms of it being physically taxing, definitely it will make it easier. But for me the head thing is what has made it hard.

20 minutes is a great start!

[TQUAD64 9]

I have always found exercise unjoyable when it produces pain, because of the excessive weight. And when I don't see results.

Having the surgery was the best thing I ever did. It boosted my energy level and really is giving me the results I want. The biggest thing I wanted from the Band was to be more physically active and since surgery I have gotten off the couch. I also feel more empowered and can do more activities. I am no longer a hermit at home.