O.K. - I Know You Jocks Are Gonna Make Me Run Laps For Asking This, But ...

  It seems the more I read on here (TT as well as MF) the more I notice what seems to be a fundamental difference between M and F post-ops who have gotten to goal or otherwise lost a lot of weight ...   

  As to the guys, it seems there is such a (preoccupation?) with engaging in athletic activities, esp. hard-driven stuff like marathons, bike rallies, long-distance swimming, and the like ..           The gals don't really seem to get into that kind of thing, by contrast (although they may do some gym stuff a few days each week or such or go for long walks  )...

  Question:  why is that?   

  I feel so out of place sometimes on here as a Double-Century clubber when I see all my fellow post-op guys talking (bragging?) about entering all those hard knocks compeitions as though it is some expected rite-of-passage, and yet I have no feeling of a need to get out there and give it all hell to see how well I can do or prove myself and see if I can beat others in competition that were never MO or SO before ..    Is the desire to do so a male thing to be expected, or am I just an exception(al nerd/wimp)?  

  This is really bumming me out .. 

 Oh no don't feel alone. I'm the same way. Course I was lazy before the surgery. Some of these guys like NotDave was very active before their surgery so they just continue that path afterwards. I don't think it's a "rite of passage" so to speak, but it is just another way of showing others how much you CAN do once you lose a ton of weight (literally in some cases!). But don't feel bad, I wouldn't enter into a marathon even if I COULD and I can't so maybe that's one reason altogether haha who knows??? 

Ok Counselor.....get down and give me 20 push ups, you frickin' nerd/wimp!   First of all, women kick just as much ass as men when it comes to competitive sports be it WLS women or non WLS women. I've read about some pretty remarkable stories of WLS women who make our activities look tame by comparison.

Secondly, some people, like me, tend to go to extremes with everything they do whether it be eating, exercise, work, shopping, or what have you. I believe this is called being obsessive compulsive or having an addictive personality. 

I believe if you take a look at exercise levels for post-WLSers (both men and women), you would see a big bell curve. Some will not exercise at all, most will exercise moderately and some will become exercise fiends. Where a person lands on the bell curve is dependent on several variables including:

1. The passion developed for the athletic activity
2. The passion to get healthy, lose the weight and maintain the weight loss
3. The competitive nature of the individual
4. How miserable life was being morbidly obese (see 2 above)
5. The amount of time one has to devote to the endeavor
6. Any physical limitations

The list is endless as to what drives people to compete. If you find that when people talk about their accomplishments that it comes off as bragging.....so be it.

For me personally, I try to downplay my accomplishments but feel, if communicated properly, I can motivate others WLSers to reach for the stars with their exercise programs. For example, I get more satisfaction seeing RockyTop complete the extremely difficult Morgal to Bismark loop on his bike than when I first did it. Knowing that I had a hand in helping him do it is priceless.

That said, figure out where YOU are on the exercise bell curve. On the left tail with little or no exercise? You won't be successful with your WL in my opinion. In the middle with most WLSers who have a moderate exercise program? There's a good chance you'll lose the weight and keep it off. Extreme? You know the answer. 

Great thread, Counselor. Really got me thinking. Thanks

Boner 

 Yeah physical limitations should be number 1 b/c that's what is holding me back essentially. 

"Holy emotes Batman"

Sure, we chat up our successes in athletics. We also chat up our failures looking for an ass-kicking. I think a big part of the workout-centric chat is the fact that a TON of us have/had no clue what to do, having never been able to do it before.

We talk about a lot of stuff here, though. I bring up musical theater (btw, YouTube to come tonight...I think), nutrition, World of Warcraft etc. If you want to talk about something...post it.

lol @ "holy remotes", Carrtjeman ..  !

  Actually, that brings to mind something that I noticed one day after I was a few months out :  how it seemed like I had (or at least  tried to get) in my pre-op life remotes to do almost every task I could ..  remotes for the T.V., VCR, DVD player, portable TV, my electric floor fan, electric gate, :"clappers" for the room lights, etc. etc.    I guess tjat agenda was part of my subconscious "Physical Exertion Minimalization Program" or something as a SO pre-op ..   &:-x)  ..   I could (and probably should) throw them all away now ..

In college, I was a thrower who experienced a bit of success.  For me it was never a competition against anyone else, just myself.  If I happened to beat people, great.  As a post-op multi time marathon finisher, I can say that my thought process hasn't changed.  I run for me and to beat my deamons.  I could care less what anyone else does out there.  Again, if I beat people fine but that isn't why I am out there.

If you are having post-op success without the need for attaining super goals, great for you.  I wish that was me.  I have to have something out there in the distance to keep me motivated and to keep where I came from in the fore front.

 Great sentiment there because a lot of us are in the same boat when it comes to not wanting to go back to where we came being super obese and the like. 

I don't think it's just a male thing.  I've seen plenty of females on the exercise board that push themselves to do the endurance events too.  

I personally do it for the excitement of the finish lines and the sense of accomplishment that I feel knowing how hard I've trained for an event.   I've also had the privledge of meeting some of the most amazing people over the last year in the "exercise world". 

I am convinced that post-op individuals that do not establish an exercise routine for the rest of their life will ultimately fail with the surgery.   The concept is rediculously simple.  I know everyone has heard it a million times but the success with the surgery or any weight loss program for that matter is to eat less and move around more.   It's really friggin' unfortunate that most everyone on this board had to result to surgery to get control of their weight but we do what we have to do and everyone that made that sacrifice should be commended.  Our tool has assisted us with the eat less part.  The move around more part is 100% up to us.    Do you have to exercise like you are training for an Ironman or a marathon to be successful?  Hell no!   You just have to move around a little more.   Simple!  You can always make excuses on why you shouldn't exercise.  I play that little game with myself every morning at 4:30 when I roll out of bed to go swim, bike or run.   Even if you are limited physically there is ALWAYS something you can do to get your hearbeat going and burning calories.   Don't make excuses, take action!

I don't attend the support group meetings much anymore but when I did I would listen to this one lady always complain about gaining weight and how the surgery failed her.   She seemed to think that the magic surgery was going to 'fix' her and she didn't need to do anything else.   My question to her?   "Do you exercise?"   Her answer was always a resounding "No".  

I exercise for the enjoyment.   I exercise because I like to challenge myself.   I exercise to live.  

Actually forget everything I said above...   I do it to get to see the triathlete chicks in the tiny, skimpy outfits that I get to race with. 

Chad
www.team464.com

Back when I was in my 30's I developed that mentality you're describing, in the weight room. I got to the point where I felt empty if I missed a workout. It was like my muscles were screaming for more and more heavy lifting. I let myself get out of it about the time I hit 40 and havent' gotten it back. I've done some lifting post-op, but I haven't gotten back in to that "gotta get some" mentality. I need to. Bad.