The BEST Exercise?

In support group, you hear many questions asked and answered over and over again.  This one came up again and it tickled me when my doctor once again gave my favorite answer.

What is the BEST exercise to do?  The best exercise is the one that you will do!  Enjoy moving your body!  That's the secret I was always missing! 

I hated the thought of exercise because I remembered days of gym class and being picked last, the awful uniforms that showed how big I was, and of course, every fat kids nightmare...dodge ball days.  ugh.  No wonder I hated physical activities of the sort. 

When I first started this journey at 450 pounds, I used my weight to my advantage.  I would get up and down out of chairs.  I would step up and down one step on the stair case over and over.  I used the weight of my body to build muscle.  I remember trying to walk around one block in the early days.  I got three houses away and was bright red, sweating and felt like I was going to die.  I could not catch my breath.  My knees screamed and the tops of my feet hurt so bad I wanted to cry.  I keep those memories close because I never want to feel that kind of pain again.

Today I have found ways to move my body that are fun!  I play a lot of dance video games with the kids.  I am uncoordinated so it ends up being a lot of laughter and free style moves but it is fun and an hour goes by so fast.  The kids love it.  I also love the range of motion in the water.  No pressure on the joints and a great workout.  Try running in the shallow end.  You look silly and it is a workout out!  lol.  Swimming with the kids is fun and we stay in motion.  Shooting hoops is another fun one.  If you ever see me shoot a basket, you would know i get a LOT of running in when we play.  lol.  I also love bike riding with them and walking in the walk park.  We gather things to make fairy houses or other crafty projects we like to do. 

Whenever i exercise, I enjoy that I can move my body without pain and with greater ease.  It is a blessing and it is so fun to feel muscles work that I didnt even know I had. 

I am always open to new ideas though.  Change is good.  What do you all like to do?  What do you ENJOY doing?  I need motivation even though I like exercising so please feel free to share your story!  Thanks!!!

Well..... since you twisted my arm. LOL.  First on my list would be sex, love it and gotta have it.  swimming, I play sports on a league from my cities community recreation center, I've always been athletic so I love it as well.  I'm currently doing co-ed softball, then volleyball, kick ball, and last soccer.  Zumba is soo much fun especially when u have a room full of people laughing and dancing, also when smells arise and you dont know where they came from. Did you poot?  I always end up asking my partner. LOL.  Just have fun like u suggested, be safe.

 Walking.

It's the only exercise I did as a pre-op and post-op and lost 160 lbs that way. 

Of course, that's probably not going to be enough once one is at goal, to maintain that goal weight. Adding in some strength training, and probably some cross training helps to keep one from getting bored with their routine.  As we lose the weight, exercise becomes so much easier and believe it or not, it can actually be fun!  LOL

Currently, I go to the gym 3-4x a week, lift weights and include cardio in my routine. However, I know that walking is what got me here....and if I could only ever do ONE thing exercise-wise, I would again turn to walking. 

Ive been told on many occasions by folks that seem to know... swimming is the most complete single form of exercise