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Everyone exercises?



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@@Casey235, Welcome to the forum!



You don’t have to exercise to lose weight and keep it off, but it sure helps. It’s not just about the calorie burn, although it does help to burn off a couple hundred extra calories each day. Exercise also helps you lose weight because it helps you stay focused on your goal. You can feel yourself getting stronger



And exercise isn’t just about the weight loss. It makes you feel good – proud, confident, and strong. And it puts you in a better mood and relaxes you. But you’ve probably heard all that before.



You don’t ever have to set foot in a gym. You can walk, hula hoop, dance, or do workout video. You can work out at home or in the park. Shoot hoops in your backyard or at the park. The point is, you can find something fun. It doesn’t matter what, as long as you’re moving. Even the gym can be fun, even if you don’t like the traditional treadmill, bike, or weights. Try a new exercise class – almost all of them can be modified to your own level of ability. Work out with a buddy. Whatever you do, make it fun. That’s the key. And don’t be afraid! Nobody cares if you look silly. We all start out as beginners.


Good luck on your journey, and it’s great that you’re thinking ahead so carefully.


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@AlexBrecher

Thank you for your response! I've gotten a lot of great feedback from this post! As you read I'm sure, I'm scared! But I'm sure we all were!!!

I'm looking forward to this journey and so far I believe this site will be good for helping me along, holding me accountable, and much more!

Most everyone gives support that I have yet to find in others who have not had WLS! (friends, family) :(

So thank you again :)

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I started 3 days after I was sleeved and I've been everyday since.

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I was working 5 days a week now I just do 3 days. My dietician told me to up my Protein since I have been doing high impact stuff... Monday is kickboxing Wednesday is zumba then Saturday it a cardio class. I'm very blessed that my church offers the classes for free. But I still have a gym member ship just in case I cant get to the class

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I became very active after surgery - I find that I feel better when I exercise, if I don't, my energy level plummets. I tend to do the same thing over and over again, get bored, then quit. This has been my trend forever. I knew I needed to break that cycle...

Now I hike, I bike, I jog, I even do hot yoga. Those are all things I would never guess I would have done or even enjoyed.

I've committed to running a 5K every month between now and the Run Turkey Run in November.

I also reconnected with a good friend - she's my exercise buddy. We set exercise appointments. I was never a believe in the buddy system before...I'm a firm believer now!

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I am not good about exercising, though I did walk a couple of miles today. But, find some music you like and just dance!

My go-to song was Blurred Lines, but I can play Bruno Mars' Uptown Funk for hours on end! But I do need to seriously work out--weights, especially.

We can try to encourage each other.

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I will be honest, 5-6 days of the week my exercise consists of nothing more than going up and down the stairs in my house, grocery shopping, getting the mail or other exercise that happens as part of life. One day of the week I go walk on the beach, but at a snail's pace because I'm always looking for seashells, which I'd miss if I was in a hurry.

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I hated it too. Then I started walking enjoyed it. Then I started stretching and toning exercise, liked that too. Got a treadmill last week, love it. As your body changes, so will your opinion of working out. Get a fitbit zip and keep it attached to your bra. Amazing how much motivation that little thing is!

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I exercised religiously the first year. Then I got a new job and couldn't find the time. Then I had a couple of plastic surgeries and couldn't/didn't due to slow healing and complications. I'm hoping that's about over and I'm ready to get active again...though I'm not sure what I'll do.

I really have a love/hate relationship with exercise. I love it when I do it because I feel like I'm really accomplishing something, but sometimes I just can't force myself to take or make the time because I'm so busy. It is something I have to consciously force myself to do.

You can lose weight without, but exercise absolutely contributes to improved health and wellbeing.

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I waited almost 4 months after surgery to start an exercise program. At 4 months I joined a gym, got myself a personal trainer, and started working out about 5-6 days a week. Cardio and weight training. I a so glad I did! I've lost about 25 total inches and 10% of body fat since working out the last 3 1/2 months. Now, it is just part of my day!

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I fought it, I did. I had a LOT more weight to lose than many fine folks here as I was in the super obese category. I thought surely I wouldn't need to exercise until I got closer to my goal. Certainly eating less than 800 calories a day would be good enough, right? Wrong.

I hit a stall six months after surgery (right around Christmas) and my scale would NOT move except the gaining and losing of the same two pounds. I was so frustrated because I knew I wasn't eating enough to gain weight so why wasn't I losing?

I felt my clothes still being looser so maybe my body was just moving things around? Still, like a fool I fought it for almost three months. Finally mid March I broke down and took advantage of Sears' 12 months same as cash offer on my card and bought a treadmill.

I'm so woefully out of shape from 20 years of sedentary living and being in that super obese category for so long, but since March 20th when I got the treadmill I've been walking 30 minutes each day. At first I would do three times a day for ten minutes each. For the last week I've been doing two different 15 minute walks. As I build endurance I'll keep changing.

Since the 20th of March? I've lost 11 pounds. So exercise, it works!

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@@une nouvelle vie - I probably count in the super obese category as well. However despite my size I had always been active. I knew from previous weight loss attempt that I only lose when I am both eating properly and exercising. I swear being a regular exerciser had a lot to do with how easy my hospital experience was.

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@@une nouvelle vie - I probably count in the super obese category as well. However despite my size I had always been active. I knew from previous weight loss attempt that I only lose when I am both eating properly and exercising. I swear being a regular exerciser had a lot to do with how easy my hospital experience was.

I guess just good luck got me through my hospital experience. I was an outpatient for the sleeve. My surgery was at 10am and I was discharged to a nearby hotel at 3pm. It was easy breezy.

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One of the reasons I pursued surgery was to get my weight down low enough to begin running again. I started running in 2010, really got into it in 2011 when I did my first half marathon, did my second half in May of 2012. Didn't change my diet, and weight-wise hovered around 225. It was June of last year when my weight got to be too much for my knees and I had a meniscus tear. Waiting for the surgery and then the post-op process, I didn't get any exercise for almost 6 months and my weight just ballooned.

I love running outdoors (only use treadmills if I am training for a race and it's pouring outside), I love lap swimming, and I am enjoying weight lifting. I exercise about 5 days a week, sometimes 6. It was hard for me immediately post-op when I couldn't do much more than walk around the block, but now that I can start running (starting from the beginning using the Couch to 5K program), I'm much happier!

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    • LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
      · 2 replies
      1. Selina333

        I'm so happy for you! You are about to change your life. I was so glad to get the sleeve done in Dec. I didn't have feelings of regret overall. And I'm down almost 60 lbs. I do feel a little sad at restaurants. I can barely eat half a kid's meal. I get adults meals often because kid ones don't have the same offerings at times. Then I feel obligated to eat on that until it's gone and that can be days. So the restaurant thing isn't great for me. All the rest is fine by me! I love feeling full with very little. I do wish I could drink when eating. And will sip at the end. Just a strong habit to stop. But I'm working on it! You will do fine! Just keep focused on your desire to be different. Not better or worse. But different. I am happy both ways but my low back doesn't like me that heavy. So I listened (also my feet!). LOL! Update us on your journey! I'm not far from you. I'm in Houston. Good luck and I hope it all goes smoothly! Would love to see pics of the town you go to for this. I've never been there. Neat you will be traveling for this! Enjoy the journey. Take it one day at a time. Sometimes a few hours at a time. Follow all recommendations as best you can. 💗

      2. Doughgurl

        Thank you so much for your well wishes. I am hoping that everything goes easy for me as well. We don't eat out much as it is, so it wont be too bad in that department. Thankfully. Also, I hear you regarding your back and feet!! I'd like to add knees to the list. Killing me as we speak! I'm only 5' so the weight has to go. Too short to carry all this weight. Menopause really did a doosey on me. (😶lol) My daughter also lives in Houston. with her Husband and my 5 grand-littles. I grew up in Beaumont, so I know Houston well, I will be sure to keep in touch and update you on my journey. I may need some advice in the future, or just motivation. Thank You so much for reaching out, I was hoping to connect with someone in the community. I really appreciate it. 💜

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
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