Exercise Woes...Anybody with me?

[bugsy72 117]

hello fellow RNY folks.

Well, today is my six week surgiversary. I'm doing well, feeling great, trying to figure out the learning curve with what food, how much food, etc. But all in all, things are going well.

Except for exercise. I am 61, still weigh 259, and hate it. I have a treadmill and just forced myself to walk 3/4 of a mile in 24 minutes (=slow). I really dread it and am worried about my continued success if i don't exercise much. Are there some of you out there who have had extended success with just the food portion and not the exercise part?

My bariatric center even gives me a year free membership at their fitness club but i have no desire to go there. Even a meeting with a personal trainer. They have a pool so i COULD do the aquacise thing (I used to do that many years ago) but where will i get the ambition to get dressed, in this 5 degree weather, and drive 25 minutes to the gym and then do it, and reverse it all?

I'm sorry I'm having such a pity party. Just feeling down today about it.

[jj7481 363]

Exercise is a part of the weight loss journey. It sucks, but is a necessity to improve life style. There are plenty of workouts you can do at home. There are also home workouts with tools like resistance bands, kettle bells, etc.

One of the programs I've come across is Exercise Launchpad on Youtube. This is geared towards obese and limited mobility patients.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPJKAG0mknI

[Inner Surfer Girl 12,015]

Get in the pool. You will love it. I know I do. If it weren't for the pool I wouldn't get much exercise at all. I can do things in the Water that I could never do on land.

It is so worth it.

[samcl1 52]

I understand. I'm 61, work full time and have spinal stenosis, bulging disks and bad knees. It's really hard to feel like exercising after a 12 hour shift which is what I work. My back is usually killing me by then. I do walk a lot most nights at work. I bought a pedometer and found that I average 3-4 miles a night when working. I just have to call it good at that. On my off days i try to get out and walk a couple if miles knees and back permitting. I tried Water aerobics...can't do them, too much twisting and bending for my spinal stenosis. Better for the knees though.

[bugsy72 117]

@@samcl1

I'd say "averaging 3-4 miles a night" would be just fine!

[samcl1 52]

Lol...I guess, but it's no different tHan the past 35 years and it still seems like I'm out of shape

[Spiceyfrog 269]

Before I exercised and ran, I remember people talking about how they loved it and could not wait to exercise, blah, blah, blah. I was like "what the hell are they people talking about" and now I am one of "those" people. Exercise truly does grow on you. About three years ago I started running (aka fast walking or jogging) and I remember the little milestones. I started with jogging to an entire song, which seemed like an eternity, then up to five minutes, then two songs, then a mile, etc.

Let me share with you that I am a numbers person, so I always end up doing more than I set out to do because I like nice round numbers. If for example I set out to run two miles and when I hit two miles I am at 240 calories, I will have to keep going until I hit 250 calories....weird I know, but that's just me. So, basically hang in there, keep walking on the treadmill, you are doing great things and you will see great results soon!

[mngreeneyes 674]

@samcl1- You can also do Water walking/jogging. If you do it in shallow Water, you don't have to be able to swim and it doesn't have the twisting of aerobics. You still get the extra resistance of the water and its better on joints. If you need to go in the deep end, they should have some belts (our pool's are blue) that will keep you afloat while you "walk". I think they are actually called Aqua Joggers.

Also - @@bugsy72 - if you can find a therapy pool, they are kept warmer. Much easier to talk yourself into getting in when you know the water won't be cold and again, easier on the joints. Also, one of the deals I make with myself when I have to use the colder pool, is that I finish off with either a dip in the hot tub or a quick visit to the sauna or steam room to warm back up. (I don't stay more than a couple of minutes though because all three can dehydrate you really fast.)

Water exercise of any kind is amazing because you can get a great workout and you don't feel like you've worked out because you aren't all sweaty! You are wet, but not sweaty!

Hang in there and keep moving!

pam

[samcl1 52]

Yes, I 'do my on thing' in the pool, but I always feel inferior. ...lol

[rblakely63 11]

I just left my surgeon's office for my second post op visit since my surgery on Dec. 7th of last year. One of the topic of discuss was exercise. He stressed that's a component in the weight loss journey. I too have not started exercising and have stalled in my weight loss. I will start soon. I hope this helps.

[CharlotteKat 90]

Bypass surgery REQUIRES exercise for long term success. There are no shortcuts.

It's OK to hate to have to exercise. You still have to do it. The thing they can't describe to you is how good you are going to feel after each workout. I am always amazed at how good I feel when I finish a workout. It is a shame they can't bottle the feeling.

One simple thing to try is to commit to just 7 continuous days of exercise. Doesn't matter what you do each day as long as you exercise. The idea is to build a string of successful days. It's a great place to start. At the end of the 7 days, take a rest day and think about how you feel. You may really surprise yourself.

[bugsy72 117]

Well, i joined a health club, the one that is associated with my hospital where I had the gastric bypass. I get a free YEAR of membership and all classes are FREE. How can i not at least TRY to take advantage of that? So I joined, and today i had my 'assessment.' I will have two free sessions with a personal trainer on the next two Wednesdays. And this Friday, i will start my first class. It's just a 30 min class for brand new, "older" people like me, on the fitness floor. There are so many machines, so many weights etc, so many fit bodies...it's intimidating! But there are a few older people that I saw, which makes me feel better. And my trainer and teacher seems like a sweetheart, so that will help, too. Ok, people. Onward i go to "the next STEP."

[CharlotteKat 90]

That's awesome! You have made an excellent choice. You are now on the road to feeling and looking great. You will be amazed at how quickly you progress with your stamina and endurance. It is a real ego booster. That initial 30 minutes will slowly expand over time until an hour seems like no big deal.

[bugsy72 117]

I joined the gym, had my assessment, and took my first class on Friday (for beginners) and walked a mile on Saturday. So i have BEGUN. Now...to continue!

[bnbnelson 0]

I hate to say this but I never repeat never feel good after excersise of any kind. I've been at this for 8 months and I just hurt when I excersise. I know I have to do it but it's a forced thing ever time. If I could find something that made me feel better it would be so much easier. On top of all this I do know that I have to do it but at this point haven't found anything that makes me feel good or that is fun.