another state-the-obvious post by Ellen

Just in case Annie's exercise posts aren't inspirational enough for you (and they should be), here are my two cents:

In December I stopped exercising regularly.  I know, bad Ellen, no gold star.  Anyway, since that time, I stopped losing nearly completely.  I gained and lost the same 5 pounds over and over.  Each time I thought this time it's moving again, it would come right back.  I had dropped to 187, then went back up to settle around 195 pretty faithfully.  I thought over and over, this can't be it, I want to lose at least to 175 before plastics, I want more.  Never did it occur to me that my lack of regular exercise was significant. 

I had begun slipping back into my old patterns of eating without much thought about calorie or fat content, only protein concerned me.  I was drinking my calories and of course had let my water intake fall to nearly zero.   I wasn't exercising  hardly at all.

About three weeks ago, it dawned on me that it had been a month since I'd been to the gym.  Thankfully, ViQuest sends you monthly print-outs of your activities and mine said zero.  That got my attention.  I went out that week, bought a new pair of walking shoes and started walking again.  To my delight I was able to walk 3 1/2 miles in an hour and 10 minutes.  I had been very afraid that my stamina was gone again and I'd have to start from scratch.  What a feeling, I'd forgotten how good it feels when you start out your day walking.

In any event, in the last two weeks I have dropped 9 pounds and weighed today at 186.  I know that this is probabaly predominately water weight, but hey, I'll take it.  It isn't fluctuating daily like it was before.  Thank God for that email, or I am not sure I would have woken up and smelled the coffee!

I just wanted to share that exercise is a crucial part of your long term success.  I have been told on several occasions that regular exercise is the number one predictor of long term success in weight loss surgery.  I wanted to be transparent with you all too, that it is startlingly easy to fall back into old destructive patterns.  I also wanted to put out there that even at 15 months post op, you can still be actively losing weight.  It is possible, even probable, when you follow your doctors guidelines.  I know there are other long term post ops that can verify that. 

Keep up the fight people, it's so incredibly worth it!
Take care.
Ellen

I am so glad I am reading all these helpful posts as I begin my own journey toward eventual lap RNY. At 62 BMI with heel spurs and degenerative arthritis in my hips I can hardly get around at all anymore. My only options at exercise right now are upper body movement sitting down and the pool. I see my doctor on Monday to see what he says I should do. I'm hoping he will PRESCRIBE some physical therapy before I jump in the pool. The thought of wearing a bathing suit in a public place makes me want to cry!!! I'm not even sure I could find a bathing suit that fits me very well.
Meredith

Meredith:

Please don't get nervous about the water classes! I love my class and we are a group with a variety of all shapes, sizes and ages as well. If you don't have a swimsuit then go in the pool with shorts and tshirt if need be. I have seen it done! It doesn't matter as long as you get in there and move. There is a site called junonia.com that specializes in larger sizes. Good luck and let me tell you that the water classes are an excellent source of exercise! Take care.

Lisa

I think that at this point, doing whatever you can to move is important.  If it's in the pool, then that's what you have to do.  I remember watching a tv show, forget which one, where a woman had lost 600+ pounds.  She had to take part of it off prior to surgery, but she couldn't walk or manage other traditional forms of exercise.  So she started sitting on a stool lifting cans of soup up and down with her arms.  As she lost weight she was able to increase to half gallons of milk, then full gallons, etc.  She was able to lose enough to start her journey to wellness. 

As far as wearing a bathing suit, after the first time putting it on, it gets easier.  My BMI was around 70 at my highest and I still wore one and went swimming.  I loved it too much not to.  I would check out the Catherine's website, I know we had some that went as high as 36W in the store, but that was in the Spring and early Summer.  I think you'll have to look at the website now.

Take care and good luck on your journey.
Ellen

Meredith,
My highest weight was 680.
When I was at that weight it was very hard to get around.
I started in the water and soon was able to do more and more.
Hold your head up high if you go to a water class because others will look at you but they will also think "she is trying to help herself".
Please check out my pictures on my profile.
My bad about not writting alot but I share my journey through my pictures.
                                          Annie

Congrats Ellen on the great post and for jumpstarting your loss once again. I do believe that we all have to exercise to have the constant success and an easier job with maintenance as well. I know that it has helped me out a great deal. I have tried to remain diligent and faithful to a workout program. I find that I really need it for my sanity as well. There are days when I am going to my water class that I think...uugggghs and even when I am in there exercising, but I always leave feeling so much better. Thanks for the reminder about why I need to continue to make it a part of my forever life!

Lisa

When I'm getting up at 5:30 or 6 to walk I'm thinking the same thing... Uggghhh, what am I doing?  But by the time I get home, I feel fantastic.  It's better than a cup of coffee for energy.  Keep up the great work Lisa!

Take care.
Ellen

Great post Ellen and you are so right, exercise is important to long term success.  I have not been able to exercise since my colon surgery at the end of May.  I had done very good up until then, but with the complications I've had, I just have not been able to do it.  I hope after next Friday when they put a stent in to fix the stricture, I'll get back on the road to feeling like my old self.  I have continuted to lose weight since the surgery, but it's mostly becasue I have not felt like eating.  I have tried to eat protein and some fruit but that's about it.  I really look foward to getting back into the habit of exercise! 

Hope everyone is having a great weekend!  Alice

I do hope you feel better soon Alice.  The exercise is important, but you need to take care of yourself too.  You are looking great!  Maybe someday we'll manage to get together.

Take care.
Ellen

Hey Ellen,

THanks for the such a thought provoking thread! You are so very right that the main predictors of long term success are those who become and remain physically active and with support groups. I believe that your participation in both are going to hold you in good stead and I expect that we'll both be 'successful' in the long term. I really appreciate your forthrightness. I think it's so important that we let others following in our footsteps know what happens when we stub our toes, but more importantly what happens when we get back in the saddle and follow the course our surgeons have set for us. KUDOS my friend!!

Keep taking good care of yourself,

Barb