For our newbies and pre-ops

Thank you so much for this much-needed advice.  I'm pre-op and exercise will be the hardest part for me.  I never looked at the way you put it.  I'm out of breath walking from my car to the building at work.  But no time like the present, eh?  I'll make a conscious effort to step it up.  You're absolutely right. 

I joined curves and although some don't consider it a "real" gym, it does give a good workout - especailly to those who haven't done that kind of thing before.  I haven't been in over a month due to surgery and illness in my house.....I miss it!  In no time I had picked up repititions and had to work harder to get my heart rate up.  In the first month I lost 5 lbs and over 8" in combination all over! The bonus - you could say - is that when you have the extra weight I think it aids the weight training part.  That squatter machine about kills me.  I know the lbs of pressure is supposed to be 100 lbs or something, but that isn't counting the weight on the frame you are trying to push back up from the squat.  It is a love/hate relationship for me, because I can really FEEL the burn.