I'm still pre-op (bypass in June hopefully) but I want to increase my exercise now and hopefully become one of these people who loves to work out afterward Currently, I walk, usually just 1.5 miles/day taking my dog, so it's not always fast or continuous, depending on his need to sniff. I also have a nice bike I plan to start using again soon but I know doing some weights would help with strength and possibly reduce the loose skin a little bit afterward (I'm 53 and realistic!)

I bought a Jillian Michaels DVD for kettlebells and still need to buy a/some bells but was wondering if anyone else uses them?

I have a 22 pound kettlebell left in the house from when my hubbyman's son lived here. I could not lift it pre-op and I can't lift it now at 15 months post-op. However, I have 1lb, 2lb, 5lb and 10lb handweights which I use varying according to the exercise or how my energy level is on any given strength training day. I use one of the 10 pound weights as a kettle bell and just grab it in the middle with both hands.

My doctors instructions post-op was to lift nothing more than five pounds. I was three months out before I was allowed to go to the 10 pound weights.

I also have one pound ankle weights I wear when walking, one pound wrist weights, and one pound weighted gloves for my chair-boxing DVD. On a tired day I have gone through the kettle bell motions with the wrist weights and boxing gloves on and gone through the kettlebell motions with those.

thanks for the reminder about post-op weight lifting restrictions. I was planning on getting a set which has either multiple weights (2,5,10) or the kind where you add/remove discs. But we do have a few handweights I was going to start out with, to see how I like it. I've heard good things about kettlebells, but was surprised when I watched part of the DVD, how much is swinging it out and up, rather than lifting slowly. Not sure how that is for joints.

Well, my right knee is seven years old, and my left knee is four years old, and my hips, shoulders, elbows, and wrists are 63 years old. They don't mind at all. The most kickback I get from strength training days is that my inner thighs object strongly to squats.

I used kettlebells off and on for the first year. Got settled into some other types of things. I will pick it up, like several others, on and off/on basis to keep me fresh.

I like kettlebells, try to follow a video 2 x a week.

Part of my circuit when at the gym....they are excellent for "Core" strengthening.

I only need to use one.

I take kettelbell classes. Be careful swinging them, make sure your back is flat and not arched. Proper form is necessary so you don't damage your lower back. Use no more than 5 pound bells until that becomes too easy, then slowly move up to 10. I was using a 13 lb. bell for a while, but I stopped the classes, so now I have to start out with a 5lb. bell again. It is worth it

though!