As a person with an addictive personality I have one of the most illogical fears. I have a very sporatic relationship with exercise and I have failed so miserably time and time again.. What if I start exercising again like I always do and lose a ton of weight and then stop. will I gain it all back even with the sleeve. I am too afraid to start this cycle but I want to lose weight. Do I have to exercise like crazy to lose weight with the sleeve? Anyone else have this fear?

You don't have to exercise like crazy to lose weight with the sleeve. But, you should exercise some, at least. Start slow and gradually work up to a routine that you can live with for life. You'll find that you have better muscle tone, that your skin recovers better and that you feel better in general. I started out with just walking inside my apartment and doing 10 reps with 2 pound weights of biceps curls, triceps extensions and front arm raises.

I'm now up to walking daily, using the exercise bike at least 4 days a week, and I carry that 2 pound weight in my car so I can get in arm work while I'm driving. I do a LOT of driving. I also have 5 pound weights at home and I do quite a few arm exercises at home, plus ab exercises and I just added squats and lunges. I'm seriously working to add in a little at a time and keep my workout routine under an hour a day...and not all at once. I keep the home weights on top of the entertainment center. If I walk by there, I'll grab the weights and do a few reps for my arms. If I'm sitting to watch tv, I'll do a few ab crunches. It takes under 10 minutes to do 30 crunches, even when doing them slowly to make sure you maintain proper form.

You don't have to spend hours a day in the gym to work out. But, if you're going to be addicted to something, why not exercise?

I am fairly active now at 260 lbs as I pretty much walk about a mile or so a day. I used to work at a gym many years ago before I had kids. I haven't exercised in a couple weeks but I could go to the gym and do the elliptical for 40 minutes with no problem. I think that's my problem. When I go the gym I feel like I have to be challenged and then slowly but surely life either gets in the way and I fall off. I don't want to set myself up for failure. If I go all out like I normally do will I ruin things if I stop. By the way I am a mother, work full time and go to graduate school at night.

wow i have a very addictive personallity also. my fear is that I will go from morbidly obese to a body builder or something. I don't want to get crazy become a dare devil either.

wow i have a very addictive personallity also. my fear is that I will go from morbidly obese to a body builder or something. I don't want to get crazy become a dare devil either.

Bodybuilder, yeah I so get that. Lol.

Seriously? If you have to be addicted to something, why not exercise? However, I get your point about not wanting to go hard and heavy, then drop off to nothing. Part of this journey is learning how to LIVE with the sleeve and with food. Some of us, me included, need a little help to deal with the mental aspects of this journey. If becoming addicted to exercise (or anything else) is a real concern for you, maybe talking to a therapist will help.

You don't have to exercise like crazy to lose weight with the sleeve. But, you should exercise some, at least. Start slow and gradually work up to a routine that you can live with for life. You'll find that you have better muscle tone, that your skin recovers better and that you feel better in general. I started out with just walking inside my apartment and doing 10 reps with 2 pound weights of biceps curls, triceps extensions and front arm raises.

I'm now up to walking daily, using the exercise bike at least 4 days a week, and I carry that 2 pound weight in my car so I can get in arm work while I'm driving. I do a LOT of driving. I also have 5 pound weights at home and I do quite a few arm exercises at home, plus ab exercises and I just added squats and lunges. I'm seriously working to add in a little at a time and keep my workout routine under an hour a day...and not all at once. I keep the home weights on top of the entertainment center. If I walk by there, I'll grab the weights and do a few reps for my arms. If I'm sitting to watch tv, I'll do a few ab crunches. It takes under 10 minutes to do 30 crunches, even when doing them slowly to make sure you maintain proper form.

You don't have to spend hours a day in the gym to work out. But, if you're going to be addicted to something, why not exercise?

Hey, I really like your idea of keeping a weight in the car for arm exercises! I think I'll do the same - thanks for that!