Exercise *RANT*

I love this post.  But I have such a hard time not counting my calories. If my calories go above 700 I feel like I've failed for that day.  I know that it's just my old way of thinking (calories in vs. calories burned) and I need to focus more on protein than anything else.  My plan calls for low fat but I have heard that fat doesn't matter.  What kinds of fats are considered good fats? I know that I can't just go and eat chicken wings and expect to lose weight!

I know, I was there with you for the 1st year after VSG.  Feeling like you "fell off the wagon" or "failed for the day" are part of the calorie counting mentality when you're still a prisoner of the "it's calories in vs. calories out" thinking.

The only way to escape is through a solid education.  To get started, go to YouTube and watch videos on Gary Taubes, Prof. Tim Noakes, Dr. Robert Lustig.  There are others, but those will get you started.  Keep chasing the links down until you get the full message and believe in it.

Once you get educated, you can walk away from calorie counting and be free of obesity forever.  I eat over 2,000 calories a day and I'm loosing those last inches around my waist still.  In fact, I'm doing just as well as back when I ate only 800 calories.

The simple truth is calories don't matter, it's the substance of the calories in conjunction with your hormones that matters.

Who told you that you had to get sweaty to exercise? Ok running or doing a lot of cardio to get your heart rate up is good for you, but the exercise that you're likely to keep up with is one that you'll like, or the kind that doesn't feel like you're exercising at all, why, cuz you enjoy it. It's part of your lifestyle.

Just work on getting moving, doing things like walking & walk further & longer. It doesn't have to be outdoors, walk inside the building you work at, take the stairs for a flight or 2 sometimes. Walk every other hour., or every hour. Try yoga, go to those places that has a rock wall inside & climb! & they got the wii for exercising while playing video games. You can do those dance games or compete against your boyfriend in tennis., or whatever is out there. The point is find something you like that you'll keep up with.

Variety is the spice of life!

I can't believe I never thought of the Wii.  We actually have a Wii but we never use it.  Thank you so much for your reply! I've gotta go game hunting now!

I really enjoyed the bowling on the Wii. I would walk thru it just like I was bowling and I burned calories like that!!! 

hey chickie,

           I used to hate running/ jogging too.. I used to be gasping for air also.  what helped me was 1- I would download Pandora and type in a band that I liked and would get me amped up, (for me its heavy metal like slipknot and static-X) 2- start slow. take your time, walk as long as you need to, then I would  try to jog for a min, then would walk 2-3mins and back to jogging for a min. soon I began to try to run as long as the song played.  now I can run for about 15 mins straight. try to focus more on the time not the distance. ( if need to use a towel to cover the time and distance) I can run @ a steady pace of 4.5 and somedays when I wanna push myself I try to go for 5.0-5.2 and I do take my time between running and walking. I do about 4 miles in an hour. 3- make sure you put in a rest day. LISTEN to your body and DRINK plenty of water!!. 4- change it up. bike one day and walk/jog the next.

The more you do it , the easier it will get. you will be sore and yes for some its uncomfortable. I take warm/hot baths and soak my muscles ( that just works for me and may not others)  I also try to look at it as a positive that I am building muscle  and burning fat.  It is every hard and difficult to do, but you can do it.  and you will find what works for you. I wish you the best  and I hope this kinda helped you out somewhat..

good inspiration is to check out pintrest, they have great motivation quotes. and different exercise Ideas.

I hated exercising when I was heavy, but now that I had RNY I committed to making lifestyle changes and that included exercising.  I joined a gym a couple of months ago and I go 5 times a week.  I get home from work, have a quick snack and head right back out to the gym.  I either do a Zumba class or I walk for an hour on the treadmill.  I have my iPad and ibooks and read a book.  Time flies when you are reading and exciting novel.  I end up walking more than I thought because I was so engrossed in my book and then when my fitbit goes off in the middle of the walk, I know i have hit my 10,000 steps.  You get at least 7000 steps in a Zumba class.  I look forward to going to the gym now.  The scale is moving and I get out of the house.  I even enjoy my days of from the gym because I know if did my 5 days.  I also journal my workouts and my food intake.  

I committed to this new lifestyle and I am trying to make sure I stick to it.  I will not waste this gift I've been given.  It's your life, you choose to do with it what you will.  It's that plain and simple.  

Ok, first of all I suggest you ditch the exercise bike. That is never going to be an exercise that you can do and enjoy. Believe me, I've cycled probably a million miles in my bedroom and never, ever enjoyed it. I do love, however, my treadmill. I get up early, have a cup of coffee and then jump on my treadmill. I have my TV on to a channel I enjoy and I walk (fast--3.9 to 4.0 mph). I also have a stair stepper that I use every morning. I do 30 minutes on each and try to mix it up a little (20 on each machine 3 times or something like that). I LOVE my mornings. I drink a bottle of water while I exercise and I get into the groove and just go. It wakes me up and makes me feel great. It really doesn't take too long until it becomes a habit. I love being sweaty and then jumping in a hot shower. I also go to the gym or do Yoga, but the treadmill is really something I do because I honestly love it. I think that anyone can get into the habit of walking and then after a while your body just feels so good that you really want to do it. All things are hard at first and somedays I don't feel like doing it but once I get started (after 5 minutes or so) I just really feel good. I say, hang in there and you too can find something you love. Look how much you've done already.

I Totally understand I'm dreading the cold winter.... I hate the gym and the treadmill. ... ughhhhhhhhh but if I'm outside I love it!!! We go to our local state parks and hike all the time you don't even realize you exercising hours and hours go by !!! I work in an outlet so everyday I walk it very very brisk power walk ... it's either 2 miles or 4 depends how much time I have...  who doesn't like to Window shop !!! ... it's always more fun outdoors .. I don't even realize I'm exercising !!! Best of luck to you ... you got this !!!! :-)

♡ Kelly

My question is HOW did you do it?!?! When I was in my first month post op after a very slow 1 mile walk I would be exhausted and ready to die.  Then I would look at the forum and read about someone 2 weeks post op walking 3 miles a day like it's nothing.  It was extremely frustrating and I didn't understand how someone who JUST had surgery could already be so far along in exercising. 

So, I was one of those people walking 60 minutes a day after I got home from the hospital. How did I do it? Well, a year and change before surgery I started walking. I worked up to 20 minutes a day. Then I started seeing a personal trainer at the Y. So for a whole year, I was physically active. My point is not to make you feel bad or anything, just to say that A) you can't compare yourself to other people because everyone's cir****tances are unique and B) everyone starts somewhere. When I was at my heaviest, I had to walk 5 minutes at a time. It was all I could do. I worked up from there.

Secondly, you're a grown up. If you really don't want to exercise, you don't have to. It's a choice you can make. I don't think it will affect your weight loss, your food choices matter wayyy more than your exercise. If you choose to exercise, you might feel less like it's an unpleasant obligation and more like it's a thing you do.

I choose to exercise because it feels good to be strong and more physically able, and because it's really good for treating my anxiety and mental health. I've gotten to the point where stretching my legs with a walk after work just feels amazing.

I will say that from my perspective, I always thought of myself as a bookish/gamer/couch potato type of person. I thought I was just inherently lazy. But I have found that as I become more active, I am able to do more, and I feel better physically. It feels good to be able to help my parents around the house, lift heavy boxes, bound up the stairs and not get winded. I love my video games and movies and books as much as ever but I make time to get out and go walk in the woods. 

If I absolutely did not want to do more than the bare minimum, I would lift heavy weights 2-3 times a week for 30 minutes at a go and that would give you the most bang for your buck. You would feel better, stronger, tougher, sexier, and it won't eat up your life.