Hi folks - I wanted to ask a question that has been on my mind for awhile. Is there a difference in the way your body changes (physically) when you lose weight with exercise vs losing weight without exercise? I have been exercising pretty vigorously for the past 2 months or so and have lost almost 40 pounds with exercise and food logs. In my mind, I feel like I see changes in my body (like in the shape of things) that I didnt see when I wasnt working out (which is basically how I lost weight the first time around, no working out, just calorie counting...I lost 80 pounds initially preop + post op, but then gained 50 back and have lost 40 of the 50 I had gained back with exercise), but I would love to know if its just in my mind. Anyone have any opinions or experiences?

I definitely see changes from exercising. I can actually see and feel muscles in my arms and legs. Though not sure if I will actually ever see my abs. lol

I definitely see changes from exercising. I can actually see and feel muscles in my arms and legs. Though not sure if I will actually ever see my abs. lol

Yea that is one of the things that I have been noticing - I can feel some muscles where maybe there werent any before. I'm wondering if the distribution of things is changing. Someone once told me that you lose fat from the top down. Is that actually true? It seems like it can't be. I wonder if exercising helps you burn fat more evenly.

And yea, I don't think I'll ever have abs. And I'm pear shaped so I'm scared I'm going to have a tire around my abs for the rest of my life.

I think loosing weight with excersise has a differnt effect on the body than loosing it without. It's not in your head. You are building lean muscle, wich takes up less room on the body than fat. You are doing great, keep up the good work!

I am the weight I was when I got married....and wearing 2 sizes smaller than I was back then :frown: the difference? I work out 5 days a week. its a hug difference for me between working out and not working out:)

Thanks so much for all of the responses! This is something I've been wondering about for awhile, so I appreciate hearing everyone's experiences. And I guess I will give myself a little credit from now on, since my body is really changing in a good way, instead of telling myself its just in my head :frown:

BTW.. being pear shaped isn't such a bad thing.

It helps protect our hips from fractures from falls as we get older.

It's much healthier for our hearts to be pear shaped than apple shaped.

I too am pear shaped and very happy that my dh likes pears. :frown: Working on being hourglass.. but I think the sand will always be more on the bottom than the top. ::grin::

I do see changes I haven't seen, in past efforts, when I haven't been religious about exercising.

I haven't really decided, though, whether what I am perceiving really is largely due to the physical effects of exercise, or to the emotional effects of exercise.

I mean, sure--exercise is great for the body, and there are definitely physical changes.

But for me, I think that the main benefit of exercise has been to get me really in touch with my body for the first time---and make me more accepting of it.

I am really happy with the changes in my body, but they don't come without some inelastic skin that isn't rebounding, and stubborn bulges, etc.

Exercising daily has made me appreciate other aspects of the experience. I'm much, much more forgiving of the "flaws" and much more appreciative of what my body can do.

As someone who's sort of cursed her flaws all her life--even when young, thin, and relatively unflawed--this is really huge for me.

Doesn't quite mean that I'm eager to wear sleeveless shirts all the time (though I now will when exercising). It doesn't mean that I don't have a consult with a plastic surgeon set up (though I'm not yet committed to having surgery).

It does mean that I'm very, very happy with what my body is doing for me. And I think that, for me, it has as much to do with the fact that exercise has forced me to stay in daily, intimate contact with the body I avoided in the mirror for so long as it is with the changes I see in the mirror.

Just a slightly different perspective :frown:

Mel - yes I have heard this about pear shapes, that it is healthier than apple shapes as it's not such a strain on your heart. So I am grateful for that for sure. I'm also hoping for an hour glass shape. Hopefully when I'm at goal I'll be able to get a tt which will reduce the "tire" effect. But that's a ways away from now.

Betsy - yes I understand completely what you're saying. I definitely feel more in touch with myself physically and sometimes I feel like I'm getting to know my body all over again. I'm constantly in awe of how the body works and exercising really helps me to be aware of just how incredible the human body really is. And for the most part, the emotional benefits of exercising are just as rewarding as the physical ones!