Let me be clear that I have always hated exercising, even when I was on active duty. Cardio is the worst!

How do I get started without loathing it? What should I do? Nobody in my healthcare group has really discussed with me where to start and how to stick with it. HELP!

Are you pre op or post op? Before my surgery I used to despise exercise. Once I began losing weight exercise got a lot easier and more fun. I try to stay active with things I enjoy such as kayaking, hiking, & swimming.

Find something you like to do that is also fun. Bike riding, bowling, hiking, dancing. etc.....

I had surgery August 26, so I'm 11 days post-op. I feel like I should start doing something.

11 days post-op all you really need to be doing is moving. Walking is fine.

For me, I have to find exercise that I enjoy. I'm a Water baby, so anything in the water is my preference: water aerobics, swimming, etc.

When I am able, I also like dancing. Try signing up for a dance class. You can take exercise classes like Zumba or technique-oriented classes. I've enjoyed belly-dancing in the past. I know people who love to waltz and others who like country line dancing and Salsa. It wouldn't hurt to try something you have never done before.

A lot of people like yoga and I hope to take a yoga class as I become more mobile.

Best of luck. I hope you find exercise that you enjoy doing.

For now walking is enough. Everything else should be a discussion between you and your doctor. I had a easy surgical experience. I walked in recovery, then walked regularly once home. After my 2 week follow up I started using 3 lb hand weights. By week 3 I resumed Water aerobics. The first month or so I probably went 3 times a week. Currently I go 5 -6 days a week. Listen to your body, double check with your medical team.

You know, you don't HAVE to excerise to lose weight. It's really 90% diet. Obviously excerise has it's benefits (keeping your muscle that you will lose with the weight loss, increasing your metabolism, good for your heart etc....) but weight loss is mostly diet. How about just walking? Taking your dog on walks, taking the stairs instead of the elevator, parking further away to get a good walk in?

I am with you. I HATE any kind of "intentional exercise". So, I just have to find more ways to move more naturally or doing things that I enjoy like gardening. Yesterday, I needed some new clothes badly so I went to the mall. I walked quickly from one end to the other and back before beginning my shopping, and by the end of the day, I had walked over 130000 steps! (I work from home and on days when I don't go anywhere, it's really easy for me to get less than 2000!) And the good thing was I really enjoyed it and it didn't feel like exercise. It wasn't going to a gym, feeling like people were looking at me, being confused about how to use equipment, doing boring exercise videos or anything that I despise. Other days I will find somewhere interesting to explore. I use stairs when I can, park further away from stores and just do whatever I can to add at least a little more activity to my day like getting up during commercials and cleaning something. Every little bit helps.

I have found that I need to do some toning though after losing over 100 lbs. So I have some small hand weights and use tone to try to get rid of my bat wings. I know crunches are the best way to firm my tummy so I don't mind doing a few minutes of those. Since it's a heck of a lot easier now to get up off the floor, those are easier too!

Start by walking - seriously, it's the best thing you can do for recovery.

Once you're cleared for more than walking, maybe try a class like spinning or Zumba. Try getting a personal trainer to get you started. I have also found the buddy system does work - I didn't believe in it at first, but knowing there is someone at the gym waiting for me, got me motivated.

I found hot yoga a year ago - I didn't think I would like it, but I stuck with it for the first 2 week trial membership. I absolutely love it. I never thought I would. It is now my passion. But I know that I have to do other things as well - I have found I love hiking. I have also found a renewed passion for biking.

One thing that keeps me motivated is goals - I set out to log 1000 miles of intentional exercise this year. I set out each month with a goal (maybe 100 miles and 15 yoga practices or something like that). I verbalize my goals to friends and co-workers - that helps me with accountability. They check in on my progress periodically.

Just find something you like to do and do it - commit to it. If that gets boring, find something else.

Once i reached the point where I could do more than walk, I went to a local gym and spoke to a trainer and told him he had to keep me going. I go three days a week to the gym and other days I get on my elliptical at home for a little bit in the morning. I try and be active on non-gym days by mowing the lawn or parking a block away from things.

I have been simply walking as I have been on restriction for nearly 4 months. I am not a fan of exercise myself but I do love the way I feel after.

I am with you. I HATE any kind of "intentional exercise". So, I just have to find more ways to move more naturally or doing things that I enjoy like gardening. Yesterday, I needed some new clothes badly so I went to the mall. I walked quickly from one end to the other and back before beginning my shopping, and by the end of the day, I had walked over 130000 steps! (I work from home and on days when I don't go anywhere, it's really easy for me to get less than 2000!) And the good thing was I really enjoyed it and it didn't feel like exercise. It wasn't going to a gym, feeling like people were looking at me, being confused about how to use equipment, doing boring exercise videos or anything that I despise. Other days I will find somewhere interesting to explore. I use stairs when I can, park further away from stores and just do whatever I can to add at least a little more activity to my day like getting up during commercials and cleaning something. Every little bit helps.

I have found that I need to do some toning though after losing over 100 lbs. So I have some small hand weights and use tone to try to get rid of my bat wings. I know crunches are the best way to firm my tummy so I don't mind doing a few minutes of those. Since it's a heck of a lot easier now to get up off the floor, those are easier too!

I am of the school of thought that any strenuous activity is exercise. I count gardening and walking as exercise. People get too caught up in traditional gym related activities and it can impede them from exercising. The key is to move more. Find something you love. If it's gardening do that. If it's dancing, do that. Just get your body moving!

@@Sunshine3073 - As well stated by Babbs, most of the weight loss will come from food choices. However, the tone, contour of your body as well the quality of your life are going to be determined by exercise. So you have some choices, if you have the mind set that I can take my medicine in small doses - use this method: http://www.mercola.com/infographics/what-is-peak-fitness.htm - best results, small time commitment. Or if you want to get it all done in one or two weekends a month, climb a mountain (6000 calories burned in one day: http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/346873-once-a-wish-now-done-what-makes-you-proud/).

Now my personal experience has been I have been so turned on by how much more I can do because of the weight loss it has turned me on and I've become a gym rat and I like 5K's. My neighbors commented at my Home Owners meeting "what in the world happened to you, you've lost weight, your coming running down the street all the time."

Now, my favorite trick that I am only sharing with you is really good audio books. I load those on my iPod. I am only allowed to listen when I am working out. So if I want to continue listening, I have to take a walk or run.

I hate it too! I've lost over 100 pounds and I still have to make myself exercise. I did find a few things I can do that I don't HATE. I do Zumba on Monday, Body Pump on Tuesday and thursday, Aquacize on Saturdays, hit the treadmill on Wednesdays, and the row machine on Fridays. I schedule it in my planner. I have become a regular so I feel as if I need to be there. Find something that is bearable. I cannot just run on the treadmill everyday...boring! I am NOT a runner anyway. If I can't make it to the gym I just turn on some music and dance like no one is watching! I burn as many calories doing that as I do at the gym. DVDs are a great way to work out at home. There are some really good ones out there.

I hated it, too. Do it anyway. Have music, a friend, a movie... something or someone to focus on and just get it done. Eventually you'll find something you hate less and less. Swimming has gotten to be very enjoyable. The treadmill and I are discussing terms...

I am so happy to have found this thread. I have been exercising since pre-op (over a year now). I remember people telling me that I will start to love doing it. And they were wrong! I still hate it.

But it does make me feel better. So I carry on...