Hello, has anyone managed to pass their plateau period and continue to lose without exercising? How important is the exercising part for the weight loss to continue? If so, what's the right amount of exercise to jump start my weight loss again?

Exercise is very important for losing weight and even more so, for keeping it from creeping back on. At 7 months out, I can tell you that I can definitely consume more calories than I need - so if not for my 4-5x/week gym habit and generally trying to walk more, I'd probably be a lot more worried about potentially regaining. What happens when you diet without exercising is you lose a ton of muscle in addition to fat - it can be as high as 50% of overall weight loss. So first of all, you continue to be out of shape; second, you are more likely to look like a melted snowman after the weight comes off, rather than having a trim, taut body; and most importantly, your metabolism slows down drastically, compared to someone who exercised and maintained their muscle mass or minimized muscle loss. Slower metabolism = less food needed to overeat and gain weight = greater odds of regaining the weight (or, as in your case, lower odds of losing more).

Not to mention, exercise has tons of other benefits besides helping you lose or maintain weight. Overweight (<30 BMI) people who exercise regularly do better on basic health tests such as lipid profile than slim people who are inactive. There's a proven connection between being sedentary and being in poorer health, whether you are overweight or not. There are also mental benefits - exercise improves moods and decreases stress. I recently went to a talk by a public health researcher who suggested that there may be a direct connection between the lack of physical activity in our society and the high rate of depression and other mental health problems. And, anecdotal personal experience - if I don't exercise for a while, I feel like crap, and once I exercise, I feel tons better.

So regardless of what your focus is, I would add some form of exercise to your program.

It really varies from person to person. Not that exercise isn't important and good for you (blah, blah, blah). We've all heard it before. I've gone to the gym twice since surgery and have lost steadily every week. Obviously, I am not as toned as i want to be and that is what will send me back to the gym. But as far and impacting my weight loss-I hope not. I can't image losing more per week than I already do. However, someone else may be totally different. You just need to find what works for you.

Exercise is huge... Protein, Water, Exercise... To me it's the 3 pillars of the sleeve, I'm only 8 months out so maybe I don't know all there is to know yet but those are the three biggest things to me.

I mean yes there's plenty of other important stuff like Vitamins, support, and for me monitoring carb intake but if you stick with protein first, 64+ ounces of water and regular exercise you will most likely be successful.

I was going to the gym four times a week but i'm stepping it up as the weather is getting nice out and I have gone every day this week. Start slow though and find some form of exercise you enjoy... I used to like water aerobics and swimming but my taste has changed and now it's walking, the elliptical, and weight training...

Walking 30 minutes a day helped me break my first stall. Nothing strenuous. I just walk the dogs every evening.

Exercise is huge... Protein, Water, Exercise... To me it's the 3 pillars of the sleeve, I'm only 8 months out so maybe I don't know all there is to know yet but those are the three biggest things to me.

I mean yes there's plenty of other important stuff like Vitamins, support, and for me monitoring carb intake but if you stick with protein first, 64+ ounces of water and regular exercise you will most likely be successful.

I was going to the gym four times a week but i'm stepping it up as the weather is getting nice out and I have gone every day this week. Start slow though and find some form of exercise you enjoy... I used to like water aerobics and swimming but my taste has changed and now it's walking, the elliptical, and weight training...

this is exactly what my Doctor says- in fact he says that he has never had a non exercising patient keep their weight off- period. Luckily I already take a kick butt water aerobics class four times a week and plan to step up to six. He also explains that you need to feed yourself protein so your body turns to the fat cells for the quick burn fuel.

I totally recommend water aerobics for anyone who hates exercise and wants a great way to do it and love it. I do not hate exercise, I just can't do it on land due to several disabilities. Water aerobics has saved my life- it is a great workout and enjoyable too. We do 300 crunches!

this is exactly what my Doctor says- in fact he says that he has never had a non exercising patient keep their weight off- period. Luckily I already take a kick butt Water aerobics class four times a week and plan to step up to six. He also explains that you need to feed yourself Protein so your body turns to the fat cells for the quick burn fuel.

I totally recommend water aerobics for anyone who hates exercise and wants a great way to do it and love it. I do not hate exercise, I just can't do it on land due to several disabilities. Water aerobics has saved my life- it is a great workout and enjoyable too. We do 300 crunches!

I had a 4 week stall before I was allowed to go back to the Gym... the week I went back I broke the stall.

I'm exercising quite vigorously (weights, step/aerobics,body combat) 3 to 4 times a week. I'm on a hge stall now and will try to up my exercise by at least an hour more a week. I feel fantastive even though I haven't lost any weight in a while.