For our newbies and pre-ops

Hi guys....I hope you'll let me climb on my soapbox for a bit and talk to you about exercise. It's been about 6 weeks since I joined the gym.  I have been going 3-4 times a week and here is what I have learned: Just because I lost over 100 lbs. does not mean that I am fit or in shape.  I used to say all the time (I think I even have posted here about it) how "active" I am after surgery and all that.  Bull.  Just because I am not out of breath walking to the mailbox does not mean I am active.  I started going for a walk at night now and then and parked farther away from the door when I went shopping.  I honestly considered that active.  HA!  I guess compaired to how I was before.... but it was not the level of fitness I should have been aiming for. Even though it's been 6 weeks, I still can't push past 20 minutes on the treadmill.  And every single minute on it feels like torture.  That's how I know that I am really really out of shape.  I have added a little bit of weights and stairclimber, but those just about kill me too. I have noticed a big change in my body in these past weeks.  I haven't lost any weight (in fact, I've gained 12 lbs. and can't figure out why!)  But bulges that I used to have on my hips are gone.  Little bumps on my legs are smaller...I can actually feel my metabolism getting faster.   So in conclusion, let me offer you some advice.  After surgery, you are going to lose weight.  You might even lose a LOT of weight.  You might not have to exercise for that weight to come off.   But if you start right now, you can be fit while you're losing weight.  It will be hard....your body is overweight and not used to physical activity.  But do something.  Go for a walk every single day.  Add a little more time on as tolerated.  If you don't want to go outside, then rent a DVD from the library and learn the exercises in your living room.   I wish I would have realized while I was dropping all of my weight that my body was not getting more fit just because my clothes were getting smaller.  I am glad that I have found the will power to finally do something about it!! 

AMEN!!! LOL  I go to the gym now too. I can do about 40 flights of stairs on the stairmaster and I used to only be able to do about 5. I can do about 30 minutes on the treadmill. My problem is I get bored and I hate that. I can do miles on the bike too. I cannot however do the freaking eliptical. I cannot get the hang of it not hurting my knees. I guess part of that is that I played catcher for 4 years in high school and my knees are shot. Thank god I am not fat anymore and hopefully will never need a replacement.  You are probably gaining muscle as bad as that sounds. I noticed that my arm muscles are harder since I lift weights. I have gotten bad in the last couple of weeks about the regularity of my gym visits but they do help me so I have to agree with you on that.

I know it's really hard to motivate yourself to exercise at the beginning when you are easily losing weight without lifting a finger.  It's easy to say you'll start later after you lose more weight. BUT ---- during the rapid weight loss phase if you are not exercising your muscles and letting your body that you want to keep the lean muscle mass you own, your body will think it's just excess baggage and use  your muscle for fuel.  It's called muscle wasting.  And remember your heart is a muscle. To avoid muscle wasting during rapid weight loss you MUST be exercising.   It's hard.  I know.  I slacked off at the beginning too.  But I finally realized that if I didn't work my muscles while I was losing weight, that I'd be a wimpy, weak crybaby when I hit my goal weight.   It's not about willpower (that doesn't exist).  It's about knowing you NEED to do it and just doing it.  You wouldn't leave the house without brushing your teeth or putting on deordant, would you?  So why would you try to get healthy and lose weight and let your muscles waste away to nothing.  JMHO Pam

I am pre-op and let me add one thing... It may sound silly and "its just a game" ha! Get the Wii FIT if you have the Nintendo Wii.  I got one and that thing, whew! Wears me out!  I have to stop and my husband says nope, keep moving.... its $89 and I won't go to a gym yet, but this gives HUGE workouts.  Go to a friends house if they have one and just try it.... you'll be amazed.  My hubby was doing the lunges and he couldn't barely walk the next day..  Just try...

I saw that game. i told my bf that i wanted it. Hopefully he will get it for me this week.

wii FIT IS MY 17 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER'S BEST FRIEND. SHE IS PLANNING TO TAKE IT TO COLLEGE WITH HER. THOUGHT IT WOUDL BE GREAT FOR THOSE EVENING WHEN SHE CAN'T MAKE IT TO THE FITNESS CENTER. I TRIED IT WITH HER AND, IT CAN BE CHALLENGING.. A OOD INVESTMENT FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY. AMY

Good luck in finding one at a retail store, they are sold out for a while, but you can get them on ebay, but you will pay like $30 more than retail.  I like it , but I can't do some of the exercises because of my knees, but some of them are super fun...  :)

Brenda, I was just telling a friend who is  5 months post op that the only regret I have after having surgery is that I didn't start exercising sooner.  I just didn't feel like I could do it.  At first it was physical (I weighed almost 400 pounds) and later it was mental.  I lost a lot of my lean muscle mass, which I had a lot of.  It's much harder to build it back up than it is to keep what you have.  I'm not really sure what would have motivated me in the beginning.  Now, I have to force myself to work out every day, but I feel so much better afterward. Like Brenda, I've noticed that many of my bumps are getting smaller and I'm able to wear a smaller size even though I haven't lost any weight.  So, get out there and work it!! Jenn

I know I should join a gym....there's a great place near me, Tamarac, through Gerber Hospital, that is fantastic. I just keep puttingit off and putting it off....my Dr. recommends we start exercising BEFORE wls so that we heal faster and can get on our feet quicker following surgery. My date is Aug 4, and I WILL start (soon ). Thanks for the advice

thankyouthankyouthankyou! As a newbie, I appreciate anything that  people are willing to share.