I am 56 years old and except for a very brief try at a Curves a few years ago, had never exercised. Somehow I thought that I was different and dieting would be enough. Well, my highest weight 7 years ago was 512" and 308 lbs. At surgery I was at 252. Eleven days after the sleeve surgery I joined a small gym and started working with an exercise physiologist. Best decision I ever made. I could barely do anything! But I am doing so much more now and guess what?! I LIKE IT! I never thought I would. So, 2 weeks ago my trainer said "let's try planking." In my innocence, I said "sure - whatever you say". Of course I had no idea what it was. I did 10 of the longest seconds of my life..... last Friday I did 3 sets of 60 seconds each! In case you can't tell, I am very excited! I'm patting myself on the back, which, incidentally, I can now actually do!!!

So what are you all doing that you can't believe you can now do?

Ellen

I can actually go up the stairs without running out of breath, asthma not bothering me. Lower back pain almost nonexistent. Diabetes gone too. I found out I actually have a neck and collarbone! Actually I haven't seen these bones in over 30 years. You are quite inspirational. Your story is wonderful. I have no idea what planking is though. Sounds like torture.

Well have a merry Christmas and happy new year. Keep going!

Great job on planking! I am not very good at planking at all, lol, so I can appreciate that sets that long are awesome. I'm glad that you have found you enjoy exercise!

@@MeAndTinyTina

i never liked working out before surgery. It was always a chore. Now I'm up for doing anything! I work out regularly, I'm active in community event's. Just loving life. I'm amazed at what this surgery has done for so many people. Keep up doing the things you enjoy. you are doing fantastic.

I ran seven miles without stopping last week! Planning on running a half marathon in April, the day before my 42nd birthday.

Holy cow! You guys are hard core! But I will catch up! BTW, planking is sorta like doing a pushup and holding the position. It strengthensure your core.

Awesome! Congrats!

How cool - I too am a fellow member of the Gym Rat club! I'm finding i love it as well. And yes - a great personal trainer makes ALL the difference! I saw mine tonight and did my body composition (we do it every two months) and in two months i'm down from 41.6% body fat to 34.45! I'm so happy!

My thing i don't think I ever did before (at least recently) was tonight--I was walking through the kitchen and put my hand on my waist and felt my own healthy body there, instead of rolls of fat, and thought to myself, "I like my body"... I even said it out loud. Twice. I don't think i've ever said or done that before!

I am not sleeved yet I am 56 I because if back knee left rotator cuff issues been pretty slack on excercise. I hope I can over come my shyness and join a gym.

I can't believe I've joined the local YMCA and take the aqua exercise classes I'm so excited the night before that I can hardly sleep. I love the one hour workout.Never thought this would happen for me. I've had the sleeve 16 months out. And it works

I can see how people can get addicted. I had been doing strength training, but since the sleeve five months ago I've added Pilates once a week, Water aerobics two nights a week and just finished week one of an eight week couch to 5K program. The increase in energy is wonderful.

That and I told a few people I couldn't work on their priorities until the fall because my needs come first for once. And I need to work out hard for the next few months!

@@Lani789 -- wow, that's a lot of exercise! I don't think I'll be comfortable in a bathing suite ever, without skin removal surgery, and maybe vein removal surgery too. My legs look horrendous without pants on.

I think a lot of what I do at the gym is a bit like Pilates - a lot of exercises on the mat to work on my core, balance and flexibility. But you say you do a Pilates class --my gym doesn't offer that. I have been thinking of going to the local Yoga center for some classes, but now I'm wondering if I should find a Pilates instructor. What do you think? I looked up Pilates on line, and I'm intrigued.

I'm almost 70 years old with arthritic knees, and I'm now doing 10,000 steps or more on most days.

It blows my mind!

@@VSGAnn2014 - are you using a tracker? I've been debating getting one. No so much because of the cost, but because I'm not sure if I want to obsess over another gadget. But, if you have one, does it motivate you to get all those steps in? BTW -- 10,000 steps with bad news is great!

Ellen

I also use a tracker but I'm not up to 10K a day yet! That is awesome!

As for Pilates, it is at my gym but the gym is small and mostly concentrated on strength training. I do it privately since I was not ready to try with others there. Plus since there is just me we use the reformer which looks like something out of a torture chamber. It has bars and springs (for resistance). So I would look for private training where they use a reformer. I am more supple with Pilates.

And Water aerobics....the class is mostly women of a certain age and it is dark (evening class outside!), so no one is oogling. Only thing looked at is those who have a warmer outer layer (rash guard) because it is cold getting in and out of pool!

Having said that, I now want thigh plastics when I reach goal. I was near an underwater light for part of the time and I saw jiggling. Plus the water magnifies, so it big jiggling. So thigh skin plastics is now on the list.

Now I have to really plank. My trainer said it is great for flapping arms. It won't fix loose skin but it helps.

By the way only the trainers at the gym know about the WL surgery (and three friends). They have been so encouraging and are always ready for suggestions of what next. I strongly recommend finding a good gym since I put that third in importance after finding the best surgeon and your own self.

@@MeAndTinyTina

Yes, I use a Fitbit ...a Flex. It's not fancy, but I sync it using my laptop. I love it. And yes, it motivates me SO MUCH to move more. Many of my skinny friends wear it 24 hours a day, like I do.

I think you'd love it. FYI, I started wearing it in June of 2014, so it took me over 6 months to get my fat ass (not so fat now though) up to 10,000 steps.

Good luck.