Fitness & Exercise

I had gastric bypass surgery on 1/24/17, and went back to the gym the second week after. I was sore and swollen, but I was more than ready to start losing the weight....plus I vpulndt stand to lay and sit around and only walk around my house. I started light, just walking the track at my local gym, everyday for at least 30 minutes a day. From there I have progressed to running a mile and half, 30 minutes of weight training, and swimming laps in the pool for an hour a day, 4 days a week. I have lost 50 lbs so far and 15 inches. My heaviest weight was 330, pre surgery weight was 274, and now I'm at 224. I'm feeling alive again. The problems I was having with my osteoarthr…

What have you found to be either really fun or super effective? I'm dying to try orange theory, ufc fit and zengo (which is like soul cycle)

I love this thing! Anybody else use one? If so, what are your favorite exercises for it? I'm pre-op, so I'm trying to target the areas that will be the worst on loose skin. For me, that's my upper arms and tummy. I enjoyed doing this upper body routine:

So, I need to get my butt in gear. This week I have fallen off the walking wagon. Ever since my RNY surgery I have tried to walk at least 10000 steps a day. Well this week I didn't make it at all. I need to get my rear in gear and start walking at lunch (again) so that I can get back on track. There have been things going on at work this week that have prevented me from walking at lunch and at the end of the day I am mentally drained and just don't feel like walking.

My wife and I completed our first official 5K walk on Sunday. We completed it in 56 minutes 38 seconds. I could have run it but my wife thinks she cant run so I walked it with her. It was fun and I am sure that we will do it again in the future.

Any tips on what to eat before running my first 10k this weekend? So far protein bars and a banana or grapes have been the best combination.

Hi All, I've kind of come to my wits end with seeing any kind of results. For the past 5-6 weeks I've completely cut out all form of breads/carbs cheese, dairy etc. I've been working out consistently from 4-5 times a week doing elliptical, boxing and lifting and the scale does nothing but creep up and sometime flux down. If I take off from the gym for 2 days it goes down. I've noticed my clothes do fit differently but the scale hasn't reflected anything and it's very frustrating. So much so I'm considering going to see my doctor, but before I did that I wanted to reach out to you all and see if anyone has struggled with something similar. I was originally sleeved i…

Are there any other bariatric patients that also have fibromyalgia? My surgery was May 1, 2017 and I am struggling with the pain. When I had the revision surgery from band to sleeve I knew there was a good chance I would take a little longer to recover. I was in the hospital three days. Since the surgery I have lost 15 pounds. I realize each individual's journey is different as are our medical conditions. I have ended up in a infusion center 4 times had to go back into the hospital May 17 for another three days because we could not control the pain and dehydration. And then to top it off The day before Labor Day we were in a car accident. I have been going to physical th…

Hey beautiful people! I'm almost a year post surgery and I'm super happy with my progress. I am healthy and happy and pushing myself to become more fit. Although I went from a size 20 to size 8, my abdomen is where I hold excess fat, which I want to work on. I run 2.5-3 miles 4 days , and am pretty new to running. I also swim 1-2 days a week but I'm not a.great swimmer. is there an effective way to lose belly with cardio? I do some weight training but I'm not as consist as I could be.

Hey everyone, My wife is three months post surgery and she's doing phenomenal. I've just scheduled my initial consult with the surgeon, so I'm very early in the process here. I did have some questions/concerns that I'd love some input on. I currently enjoy obstacle races such as Spartan and Tough Mudder. I also do Crossfit 3-4x per week. Post surgery, will I be able to fuel and hydrate myself to handle a 16-mile race on a mountain? I worry with the smaller stomach size, I won't be able to take in enough calories to function, or enough water to keep hydrated. Anyone have experience with this? Thanks! Ray

I am now 3.5 years post op, struggling with some regain after some serious life events. A co-worker of mine has an incredible trainer at a local gym where she prepares for her women's fitness competitions. I am thinking about hiring this trainer to start working with me, but curious about how gym trainers approach nutrition, and specifically with bariatric patients??

How did running change the shape of your body? Sent from my LGLS991 using BariatricPal mobile app

I have been athletic most of my life with weight fluctuations. I am finally taking the plunge next week when I have my surgery. I was wondering if any one has done a high intensity weight lifting program. With the weight automatically coming off due to the surgery has anyone done a high intensity, light weight routine to try and maintain the muscle you have and tighten up the body and skin? I am thinking of giving this a shot after the month I have to take off post surgery. Thanks.

Does anyone know of an accurate scale for body weight? Bough a digital and it put me up 10 pounds.

is it safe to do stretching exercises in the first 3 weeks after surgery?

I've finally been able to start back up with part of my former exercise routine. Yesterday and today I workouted out on the exercise bike. I'm anxiously awaiting when I can resume swimming. Prior to surgery I generally swam an hour of laps three to four days a week. I can't walk very well due to a genetic skin condition that causes extreme blistering on my feet even with short distances, so getting exercise in the first three weeks post op has been limited. HW-292 • SW (6/29/17) 256.6 • CW 240.8

Started using the C25K app from Zennlabs. I did really good. It didn't seem to be too hard.

I'm trying to decide if I want to go for full Ironman at some point, but the nutrition part... Last August I did 70.3, I feel as I could of faired a little better with better nutrition during race...but I finished and had an amazing time! any other triathletes? When doing long training segments, what do you eat/drink along ride or run?

Help! I had Gastric Bypass Feb 2016... I've lost 144lbs and I feel great. My current struggle is the lose skin, particularly in my stomach and thighs. It's not enough for skin removal surgery to be covered by insurance and I can't afford to pay out of pocket. I go to the gym at least 5 days a week. I try to focus on lifting weights and building muscle all over. Does anyone have any tips that they found helped them with tightening up the problem areas without surgery? Thank you.

Before wls I used to train with a trainer who was all about super sets, hiit, tabata etc, but super sets are kind of hard in the gym because I doknt want to be obnoxious and I started last week with lots of cardio which was great but if like to start with some weights to try and tone so what are your favorite things? Weights at the gym is pretty self explanatory, but wls patients tend to drupe and that's what is like to avoid.

Has anyone else had it? How did you manage it?

I just signed up for my first race, a 10k in October. I'm following a RunKeeper training plan. Who else races, and how did you get started? Any tips?

I have heard different things about the size of compression shirt that you should wear. I heard that you are supposed to wear your "normal" size shirt and I have heard that you should wear one that is a size smaller. Any advice?

I have seen questions asked before about macros, and it can actually get a bit confusing, so I sat down with my nut who also has a degree in physical training. For those who are interests this is what she came up with, it is a pretty simple break down 55-60% Protein 35-40% carbs 10% fats this applies to what ever your caloric intake needs might be. just food for thought

So I have been really into working out both pre and post vsg--mostly Zumba and other group classes. I've lost about 50 lbs and I've noticed there's much more jiggle and bouncing when I move--butt, back, stomach, just everywhere. Does anyone have a good brand of workout clothes that help keep your body in place? I've never gotten any special work out gear before. Thanks in advance!!

I am thinking of having the sleeve done, but I'm also planning on running a half-marathon on Jan 14. I'll have to start training at the end of August (8 week c25k, 12 week 5k2half). I'm wondering if I should wait until after the half to get the surgery, or risk getting it now? Are there other runners that can chime in as to when they were able to start running again post-op? Sent from my SM-S320VL using BariatricPal mobile app

I have been a slave to the taste of the podiatrist who made my orthotics. I would love to hear that once I lose some of my weight, I can get rid of them. I am hoping if some of you out there have any experience with orthotics, you will share what those experiences have been.

I'm curious what some of your fat burning activities are during the rainy days. I'm personally not quite ready for the gym world, as I am conditioning and learning my limits and this rain on the east coast has been cramping my style but I want to stay active. What are some things you guys like to do on rainy/bad weather days to get the sweat dripping? (I realize the obvious answer to this question will probably be straight from the gutter of everyone's mind lol but lets say other than that... )

Hi, so I work a ton.. usually 60+hrs a week. I've still been walking a lot. I had RNY on Sept. 6th. And down 177lbs. I've already mentioned in another post that I'm looking at doing a half marathon in January at Disney. I'm planning on joining a team and collecting donations for "Give Kids the World". I have had some unforeseen expenses with my daughter so even the $150 entry fee would be tight. But I will figure it out if I get some interest. I have to have $1000 in donations minimum but of course would like ad much as possible. It would be making the donations in the name of son who passed away in 2015 from NF1 and my daughter who has it too. Both got Disney wishes and …

Indoor rock climbing. Challenging and fun at the same time.

Last year I learned everything there was to know about electric bikes. Of course I've probably forgotten a bunch of it now, but I have test ridden a few, and they are an absolute blast! They can be pricey, but they are generally marketed as a car replacement. The thing I love about them is it makes riding possible when the biker is out of shape and/or there are hills. The electric assist levels the playing field. For those that haven't heard of them, e-bikes are usually pedalled like a regular bike, but have a large battery and motor that helps boost the bike forward. The operation is virtually silent, unlike a gas powered motor bike. So, anyone …

Hi everyone! I was sleeved on 1/23/15 and reached my goal of 145 on 12/24/15. I never bounced more than 2-3 pounds over my goal weight for a long while, at least until I went on vacation in November 2016. I jumped up to 153, but was able to get down around 150, but no lower. I haven't been able to drop under 150 since (despite being incredibly strict) and after getting up to around 153, I enrolled in a personal training program at the hospital where I'd had my surgery (also endorsed by my surgeon). I started two weeks ago and have 45 minute sessions 2x per week, mixing up strength training with cardio. I'm also trying to tighten up my body prior to considering plasti…

I am looking to buy a wearable device from Garmin and am currently considering 3 devices: 1) Vivosmart HR+; 2) Vivoactive HR; and 3) Forerunner 235. Does anyone have any experience with these Garmin products or others? I am not a runner, so I think that the Forerunner 235 might not be worth the cost. I would like to monitor heart rate, and steps at a minimum.

I need a way to keep track of the calories I am burning doing my Couch to 5k and just being active. Is the Fitbit worth buying for this purpose? For those who have Fitbit's do you like them? How do they work?

Does anyone have a recommendation for a good hydration belt for running? There are so many of them on Amazon I am not really sure what to look for. Was looking at something like this: https://smile.amazon.com/Hydration-Adjustable-Neoprene-BPA-free-Marathon/dp/B01DK00JDO/ref=sr_1_15?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1493215587&sr=1-15&keywords=hydration+belts

I'm looking for a few more Fitbit friends to keep me motivated. I have a pretty sedentary life and I'm slowly fixing it. So far I think I get about 4-5k steps a day

Hey all, So I've been using Couch to 5K and it's been absolutely brilliant for me. I need some guidance and Couch to 5K provides it for me. It's also forced me to walk a lot more (I'm at 11K~ average steps a day). Now I need something for weight training. I don't want to get big, I want to get lean. I need to add muscle. Basically - my question is, I need something similar to Couch to 5K - something that will start me off easy. I'm absolutely horrible with weight training so I need some guidance! Thanks.

Hey, do you guys think that if i exercise my arms, legs and tummy after surgery I wont get loose skin? Im really scared of getting it...do you think young people can avoid loose skin? Thanks!

I'm at 109 pounds down from my starting weight and 73 pounds down from my surgery weight. I set a "mega" goal for myself of running a 10K at Disneyland over Labor Day weekend. Things have been going well. I started with walking on the treadmill pretty briskly and then moved to a run walk cycle after I dropped into the 200's. I have worked through some significant hip pain from my osteoarthritis and my endurance and breathing are improving almost daily. I'm using one of the couch to 10k apps on my iPhone and on Sunday I went for 72 minutes/5.4 miles and felt pretty good. But Monday morning I woke up with severe knee pain and stiffness in my right knee which has p…

Im newly sleeved and was wondering if anyone tried to specifically build up muscles in their inner thighs or triceps....as an example.....to try to minimize sagging skin? I know genetics, starting size etc. is all a factor. I really just want a muscle building perspective on the subject please. Is it possible to target an area to build muscle?

Hello all! I'm hoping to get surgery in June and I had always been very active prior to gaining this weight 3 years ago, and I know once I start seeing it come off I'm going to be out there again working out! how long after surgery were you able to run/cardio! Summer is my month and I love running

So here's a question I've always had. When I lift, I tend to focus on volume. By this I mean picking a weight and sticking with it for a given number of reps, even if that means breaking sets into smaller pieces. For example, I may start out doing leg extensions with 100 pounds intending to do 4 sets of 10. First two sets, no problem. Next set, I get to 8 before failure. Next set, 6. Next set 4, and finally 2. I got my 40 reps. It took six sets instead of four. I don't think I've read about this technique anywhere. They all say, or the ones I've read say, to pick the weight you can complete every rep of every set on. Personally, I like my method because it takes me to…

I'm having Sleeve surgery Monday the 10th.My question is how long til I can get a know the gym?Get back and get on the treadmill and ultimately back on weights and more rigorous training?A couple friends have said anywhere from a month to another one saying your body will let you know?And I always drank a pre workout in the past (N.O. explode,Hyper ) etc,are these types recommended POST op?

I'm seven months post-op and I've hit a wall. I'm pretty bad with water intake and I'm working on improving it. But I'm about to join a gym to get more exercise in. I've been doing the basics at home and I need to up my workout. I'm thinking I'll do 20ish minutes cardio and 20-30 strength. I know cardio will help with weight loss but I need to tone really bad. So what is everyone's routine at the gym? What equipment do you use?

Hi, so there is not many who would understand the excitement I feel but I think this group can appreciate it. Today I went for a walk, and well, frankly, I could. I manage ged to go and enjoy a walk without huffing and puffing and stopping every few feet. I'm so excited. I've lost enough weight that it wasn't a huge struggle! Before I couldn't walk a block without being winded, today I walked 2-3 km. I haven't even had surgery yet! What victories have you celebrated?

I've been lifting 4 times a week for a month now and have made good progress, but I'm hungry often despite getting 1200 calories a day or more. Any ideas on the best foods to control hunger while maintaining decent nutrition for a lifting routine? Are any supplements, such as an amino acid complex, worth while? I'm generally distrustful of supplements and don't go info for more than basic vitamins.

Has anyone tried it.... Don't want to waste my money on a gimmick. The commercial makes it out to be a great core exercise and low impact on the knees. Let me know if you have tried it.

I have enjoyed weight training for a while now and am going to start moving toward training to be a powerlifter. I haven't even started the shift yet and I'm already in a debate with my trainer about my nutrition needs. My trainer is a competitive powerlifter but she's also naturally really thin and I don't think she understands my nutritional needs and how they vary from a non-bariatric patient. She is stressing the need to carb load and/or carb back loading. She swears that without it I could injure myself by trying to force my muscles to use different forms of energy and at the least will never achieve great powerlifting goals without it. Is this true? Even if I did ea…

Before surgery I wore men's New Balance sneakers with a width size of 4EE or could be 4EEEE. I just know they're really wide. And ugly. Even though I've lost 100 lbs my feet are still really wide. Tried on sneakers in the normal wide sizes, but still too tight. So where can I find some cute WOMAN'S sneakers (that I can get different colors) and cute styles?