AnubhavL

I can't speak to the HRT side since I don't have personal experience with that, but I've seen how much hormonal changes can affect both energy levels and expectations around progress. One thing that really stuck with me came from my friend Noelle McKenzie, who works as a personal trainer at Leading Edge NY. She always says that during phases like perimenopause, it's helpful to focus on building sustainable habits rather than judging progress only by the number on the scale. Strength training a couple of times a week, combined with regular walking and enough protein, can help maintain muscle while you're working toward your goal, even if the scale moves more slowly than you'd like. It sounds like you're already making progress, even if it's slower than expected. I'd keep working closely with your bariatric team and try not to compare your timeline with someone else's. Everyone's body responds differently, especially when hormones are part of the picture. Wishing you the very best with your surgery and recovery. I'd also be interested to hear from others who've gone through bariatric surgery during perimenopause and how they managed their expectations.

Three months post-op is still pretty early, so I wouldn’t be too hard on yourself. From what I’ve seen with my wife, who has gone through major lifestyle changes, the biggest challenge usually isn’t knowing which exercises to do—it’s making movement part of your regular routine. One piece of advice that really stayed with me came from my friend Noelle McKenzie, who happens to be a personal trainer. She always says it’s better to do 15–20 minutes consistently than to aim for an hour and end up skipping it altogether. That mindset helped me stop thinking of exercise as an all-or-nothing commitment. If I were starting out, I'd focus on walking every day and adding two or three short strength sessions each week using bodyweight exercises or resistance bands. Once that starts feeling like part of your normal routine, it's much easier to build from there. You're already making good progress at three months post-op, so I'd focus on consistency rather than intensity. Small habits tend to add up much more than occasional hard workouts.

I’m not a gastric sleeve patient myself, so I can’t speak from that side directly, but from what I’ve seen, the most sustainable approach is usually less about finding the perfect YouTube workout and more about building a routine you can repeat consistently. For at-home workouts, I’d personally start with simple strength training and walking rather than anything too intense. I was also lucky to get advice from my friend Noelle McKenzie, who works as a trainer in Brooklyn, and she suggested activities like chair squats, wall push-ups, step-ups, light dumbbell rows, resistance band work, and short walking sessions that can be easier to stick with and gradually build from. Once those feel manageable, you can slowly increase time, reps, or resistance. I’d also be careful with random “fat-burning” videos because some can be too aggressive or not easy to modify. A beginner strength or low-impact routine may be a better place to start, especially if your goal is long-term maintenance. Of course, it’s best to check with your doctor or care team first, but I think consistency, strength training, and gradual progression matter more than doing the hardest workout.

My uncle has type 2 diabetes and honestly walking after meals helped him more than he expected. Nothing too intense, just being consistent with it. Later he added some light strength stuff too, mostly simple exercises he could actually keep doing without feeling wiped out. His daughter, Noelle McKenzie, is a personal trainer, so she helped him figure out what was safe and realistic for him. I think that part matters a lot too, because with diabetes it’s easy to overdo it or not know where to start. Getting some guidance can really help.

Hi everyone, Living in NYC, food is everywhere. Quick bites between meetings, late dinners, endless takeout options. Add bariatric surgery into the mix and it can feel even more confusing. Protein goals, portions, hydration timing, balanced meals—it’s a lot to think about. What’s helped me is learning the “why” behind nutrition instead of just following food lists. Once I understood what protein actually does for healing and muscle, how balanced meals help steady energy, and why meal timing matters, choices felt less overwhelming. It shifted things from feeling restrictive to feeling intentional. Especially after surgery, hitting protein targets and building balanced meals makes more sense when you understand how it supports recovery and long-term progress. For those in busy cities or fast-paced routines, how do you stay consistent with your nutrition goals? What parts still feel confusing?

From my own experience, yes—you should absolutely tell your trainer about your surgery. I had a knee injury a little over two years ago, and at first I didn’t realize how important it was to explain everything to the trainers I worked with. I bounced around between a few trainers because some didn’t really understand my limitations, or they’d push me into movements that made my knee feel worse instead of better. That was frustrating, and it made me hesitant to keep going. Eventually, I connected with an in-home personal trainer (from Leading Edge Personal Trainers) here in NYC who really took the time to listen and adapt workouts around my condition. We focused on rebuilding strength without putting too much stress on my knee, and over time I was able to make progress without constant setbacks. Being upfront about your surgery helps your trainer create a plan that works for you. It might take a little trial and error to find someone who really gets it, but once you do, the difference is huge.