Exercise - A Healthy Habit

By Arrin Fleck, BS, NSCA-CPT

Exercise is an important habit to develop. It is essential to weight-loss and optimal health. Exercise is one of the most important keys to one’s success as a weight manager. Developing exercise as a part of your lifestyle is a process involving several things.

First, you need to make a decision to incorporate exercise into your life. Second, determine your motivation. Make it powerful. Once you have decided why you want to exercise and make a commitment, then you can set a goal and make a plan.

To view the rest of this article, please click here OAC * Obesity Action Coalition - Exercise - A Healthy Habit.

I agree. Exercise is absolutely critical to obtaining maximal success following bariatric surgery. Durability of weight loss is predicated on compliance of diet but predominately on exercise habits. This is even more true for the Lap-Band than with gastric bypass or duodenal switch because these surgeries have a malabsorptive component. We should exercise at least 30 minutes a day, 7 days a week. Any activity that increases the heart rate for an extended period of time can be chosen. This can include walking, swimming, running, aerobics, or hiking. The key is to find something that is enjoyable to you and make it part of your daily routine. I realize this is sometimes easier said than done, but it is most critical to our success and meeting our goals.