Yay! I have a date!
I just got a call today and my date is..... November 4th. I am so excited. Now over the next few weeks will be my many many questions.
I do have one for starters though. I have a BMI of 57 right now. What was your experience with energy levels going up? I mean I don't want to set myself up for failure so how long did it take you before you wanted to exercise. How slow did you start? Any input would be greatly appreciated. I am already doing small things to increase my activity level but I am such a huge fatty that I am out of breathe, sweating and feel down right terrible. I figure if I continue to do small things now though I won't be in huge shock later.
I do have one for starters though. I have a BMI of 57 right now. What was your experience with energy levels going up? I mean I don't want to set myself up for failure so how long did it take you before you wanted to exercise. How slow did you start? Any input would be greatly appreciated. I am already doing small things to increase my activity level but I am such a huge fatty that I am out of breathe, sweating and feel down right terrible. I figure if I continue to do small things now though I won't be in huge shock later.
Congrats on getting your date!!!
I started with a BMI just over 60. I was able to start walking the very night of surgery. I kept up the walking for the first week. Often I would go to one of the big box stores and walk holding onto a shopping cart. After my one week check up, I was released to start exercising. I started out slow, doing the treadmill, and eliptical. Then added the bike and some weights by like week 3.
Hope this helps. Feel free to ask any questions you have!!!!
Congrats on getting your date again. The next few weeks will fly by!!
Caroline
I started with a BMI just over 60. I was able to start walking the very night of surgery. I kept up the walking for the first week. Often I would go to one of the big box stores and walk holding onto a shopping cart. After my one week check up, I was released to start exercising. I started out slow, doing the treadmill, and eliptical. Then added the bike and some weights by like week 3.
Hope this helps. Feel free to ask any questions you have!!!!
Congrats on getting your date again. The next few weeks will fly by!!
Caroline
MY JOURNEY BEGINS...
First, let me say CONGRATULATIONS !! 
it's so exciting to get your date!!
I also started with a BMI of 57. I didn't start walking until I was two weeks out, I had a lot of pain in my knees with the weight and it too****il I lost the first 25 pounds to be able to go on a walk relatively pain free. I'm now six weeks out and walking a mile a day, no pain. I also noticed an increase in my energy level by the third week. It's so amazing to experience these little improvements, and it's baffling how we can get so used to feeling bad we don't even realize how bad it is!!
Use the next few weeks to keep doing whatever it is that you're doing to increase your activity and to prepare for your new life!
Diane
it's so exciting to get your date!! I also started with a BMI of 57. I didn't start walking until I was two weeks out, I had a lot of pain in my knees with the weight and it too****il I lost the first 25 pounds to be able to go on a walk relatively pain free. I'm now six weeks out and walking a mile a day, no pain. I also noticed an increase in my energy level by the third week. It's so amazing to experience these little improvements, and it's baffling how we can get so used to feeling bad we don't even realize how bad it is!!
Use the next few weeks to keep doing whatever it is that you're doing to increase your activity and to prepare for your new life!
Diane
Walking has always been hard for me too. I get out of breath and my lower back screams at me. Amazon.com carries chair aerobics and chair dancing dvds. They are easy to do and you can feel that you really do get a workout. I'm 2 weeks out and still not able to walk but i do the chair exercises and will probably star****er aerobics next week. Congrats on your date! We're here to help!
(deactivated member)
on 9/9/08 11:36 am - San Antonio, TX
on 9/9/08 11:36 am - San Antonio, TX
Congrats!
I exercised regularly before surgery and within a few hours of surgery.. they had me up and walking every 2 hours. I have been somewhat lax lately, but still exercise regularly. Starting slow is essential, and everyone has different energy levels. I never had a great increase in energy level. My stamina has improved somewhat but I still don't feel like I have much energy. I still think I had more pre-op. Everyone is different though.
I exercised regularly before surgery and within a few hours of surgery.. they had me up and walking every 2 hours. I have been somewhat lax lately, but still exercise regularly. Starting slow is essential, and everyone has different energy levels. I never had a great increase in energy level. My stamina has improved somewhat but I still don't feel like I have much energy. I still think I had more pre-op. Everyone is different though.
Congratulations on your surgery date. My surgiversary is 11/7 so I'll be at one year when you have surgery.
I was 58.6 at surgery. I was at the YMCA at 3 weeks out bound and determined to make exercise a part of every day. That was 10 months ago and I've never been happier. I still hate to exercise, but I LOVE the way I feel when I am done.
I remember the first day of walking on the treadmill. I was going at 2.2 mph and by 10 minutes I was holding on to the sides of the treadmill. Back was killing me and my legs felt like jello when I was done. Now I can go for an hour on the elliptical at an average speed of 4.4 mph. I could only do 7 minutes when I first started that.
One of the things that I did for exercise after surgery and to help with the gas was to walk through the big box stores like walmart, target, kmart, lowes. home depot, etc. I went there because they had shopping carts that I could hold on to. I walked each and every aisle. This got expensive as I would buy things along the way, but it was a good help in getting back to feeling normal.
I also saw a huge increase in my energy level about 4 weeks out.
Good luck on your surgery and keep us posted.
I was 58.6 at surgery. I was at the YMCA at 3 weeks out bound and determined to make exercise a part of every day. That was 10 months ago and I've never been happier. I still hate to exercise, but I LOVE the way I feel when I am done.
I remember the first day of walking on the treadmill. I was going at 2.2 mph and by 10 minutes I was holding on to the sides of the treadmill. Back was killing me and my legs felt like jello when I was done. Now I can go for an hour on the elliptical at an average speed of 4.4 mph. I could only do 7 minutes when I first started that.
One of the things that I did for exercise after surgery and to help with the gas was to walk through the big box stores like walmart, target, kmart, lowes. home depot, etc. I went there because they had shopping carts that I could hold on to. I walked each and every aisle. This got expensive as I would buy things along the way, but it was a good help in getting back to feeling normal.
I also saw a huge increase in my energy level about 4 weeks out.
Good luck on your surgery and keep us posted.
kathsum
I always think of shopping carts as walkers I don't need to drag in and out of the car!
I still can't walk too much without pain at the end of the day, but it is getting much better. I find it much easier to exercise in water, as there is so much less stress on my joints. The biggest problem at first wasn't the bathing suit issue, but the fact that I had to do a fair amount of walking, between parking and getting to the locker room & pool. Sometimes I had to rest partway - luckily my health club has couches!
Chair exercises are also a surprisingly good workout to start with. My local cable system back in PA showed them on Public access.
A pedometer or step counter in also helpful to measure your progress. I keep meaning to get one myself, but there's that shopping thing again. I should just order one online.
The most important thing I'd recommend is that you start now - before surgery. That way you don't have to start from scratch afterward. Plus it helps get you in better shape for the surgery and recovery, I hear.
Congrats on your date!
I still can't walk too much without pain at the end of the day, but it is getting much better. I find it much easier to exercise in water, as there is so much less stress on my joints. The biggest problem at first wasn't the bathing suit issue, but the fact that I had to do a fair amount of walking, between parking and getting to the locker room & pool. Sometimes I had to rest partway - luckily my health club has couches!
Chair exercises are also a surprisingly good workout to start with. My local cable system back in PA showed them on Public access.
A pedometer or step counter in also helpful to measure your progress. I keep meaning to get one myself, but there's that shopping thing again. I should just order one online.
The most important thing I'd recommend is that you start now - before surgery. That way you don't have to start from scratch afterward. Plus it helps get you in better shape for the surgery and recovery, I hear.
Congrats on your date!
Congrats on getting the date! 
I, for whatever reason, can't remember my starting BMI right now - it was over 60, maybe even over 70 (I think it was)? Anyway, it was high.
I physically recovered quickly from the surgery and it didn't take long for me to feel physically able to do more than I was able to pre-op or at least before my liquid diet. Like Kathy I started out (and still mostly) walking through lots and lots of stores. I don't need the cart to hang on to, but I do need it because I love to shop! This in and of itself is a miracle because I did all of my shopping (including grocery shopping) online when I was pre-op because I didn't have the stamina to get through the whole store. I also try to incorporate more active recreational activities in my life - going to festivals, farmer's markets, playing with my nephews. I put a lot of effort into doing thorough housekeeping. Anyway, I try to stay active and moving in ways that I didn't pre-op, but I haven't been really good at establishing a formal exercise routine - and this is something that I'd like to change. I do go for ocassional 1 mile walks.
Keep doing the little things and it will help you in the end. I was really surprised by how quickly the changes happen and how quickly you feel better. I started the liquid diet at 465 and now weigh under 400 (stopped weighing myself at 399 until Friday - my 3-month anniversary) and even though I still weigh in the high 300s I feel *so* much better than I did before! I wish you the best.
Patty, if you check this again and want to PM me your address I have an extra pedometer that I bought using my flex spending money that I really don't need.
I, for whatever reason, can't remember my starting BMI right now - it was over 60, maybe even over 70 (I think it was)? Anyway, it was high.
I physically recovered quickly from the surgery and it didn't take long for me to feel physically able to do more than I was able to pre-op or at least before my liquid diet. Like Kathy I started out (and still mostly) walking through lots and lots of stores. I don't need the cart to hang on to, but I do need it because I love to shop! This in and of itself is a miracle because I did all of my shopping (including grocery shopping) online when I was pre-op because I didn't have the stamina to get through the whole store. I also try to incorporate more active recreational activities in my life - going to festivals, farmer's markets, playing with my nephews. I put a lot of effort into doing thorough housekeeping. Anyway, I try to stay active and moving in ways that I didn't pre-op, but I haven't been really good at establishing a formal exercise routine - and this is something that I'd like to change. I do go for ocassional 1 mile walks.
Keep doing the little things and it will help you in the end. I was really surprised by how quickly the changes happen and how quickly you feel better. I started the liquid diet at 465 and now weigh under 400 (stopped weighing myself at 399 until Friday - my 3-month anniversary) and even though I still weigh in the high 300s I feel *so* much better than I did before! I wish you the best.
Patty, if you check this again and want to PM me your address I have an extra pedometer that I bought using my flex spending money that I really don't need.
"Keep your eyes on the stars and your feet on the ground" - T. Roosevelt
Thank you all for the well wishes! I am very pleased and still processing it all.
I have a first grade son and I force myself to stay mildly active when it comes to him. Although I live a mostly sedintary life I do go to all soccer practices, volunteer at school, aide in the catechism class etc. For now I can handle most of it but I have social anxieties about just being out and about.
I really like the idea of walking while in stores. The safety net of having a shopping cart will help me feel more comfortable. I don't have the money to shop but some window shopping is harmless.
I do have a pedometer but I couldn't figure out how to program it. lol You had to enter in your stride and it seemed very confusing. Maybe I will have to force myself to figure it out.
I have a first grade son and I force myself to stay mildly active when it comes to him. Although I live a mostly sedintary life I do go to all soccer practices, volunteer at school, aide in the catechism class etc. For now I can handle most of it but I have social anxieties about just being out and about.
I really like the idea of walking while in stores. The safety net of having a shopping cart will help me feel more comfortable. I don't have the money to shop but some window shopping is harmless.
I do have a pedometer but I couldn't figure out how to program it. lol You had to enter in your stride and it seemed very confusing. Maybe I will have to force myself to figure it out.
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