How much is exercise helping???

Hi everyone! I am 5 months post-op, and I've lost 74 pounds. I started at 250 at 5ft 3inches, and by my surgeons charts I'm ahead of schedule....they predict I'll get to about 150 (100 lb. loss) but I think I'd like to lose 120, putting me at 130 pounds. ANYWAY! I have a new addiction since April....ROLLERBLADING! I know, it sounds ridiculous, and I can't actually believe I'm typing that I think I'm addicted, but it's true! I go anywhere from 10 to 15 miles approx. 5-7 days a week. I JUST LOVE IT! I feel so much better, and I KNOW that the most important thing is that I am getting a fantastic cardiac workout and making the most of this gift I've been given. BUt as I suppose is human nature, I'm feeling a little jipped! I have been doing all this exercise, and was assuming that the weight would start dropping faster - nope. About the same - in fact, with a new plateau. However, I am still losing inches, and I feel more fit than I have in years (obviously!!). So, I'm trying to keep it all in perspective, but it's hard! I am also doing some intensive weight toning/training. I have hired a personal trainer at my gym to help with this, and she is kicking my butt! Anyway, I just wondered if anyone else is in this boat! Keep up the good work, everyone! Jen

Hello Jen, Funny you should mention exercise...until just last week; I have not been doing any kind of exercise. I have just felt so tired that I never could get myself up do anything except go to work. BUT, I finally got to the point where I felt that I was feeling so so so out of shape so I forced myself up and started walking on my treadmill. Iv been at it a week now and I am absolutely loving every minute of it...FINALLY. As for Rollerblades, I just got on mine for the first time two nights ago...It scared the hell out of me. When I was young, I used to go rollerskating all the time and I loved it. So I am hoping that I will get comfortable enough with the rollerblades to enjoy it as much as I did the roller-skating when I was younger. As for toning....i was told that its kind of hard on you because your insides dont heal as fast as the outside, and that you can cause yourself to get a hernia if you do to much toning within the first year. Anyway, any tips on rollerblading?????

One way to look at exercising is that a pound of lean muscle mass takes up less space than a pound of fat. When it's all over those of us that exercise should look thinner and be healthier than our weight shows. Maybe there is such a thing as exercising too much. I weighed last week on a scale that gives the lean muscle mass and fat. I had 166 lbs of lean muscle mass which pretty much says I will NEVER fit the insurance tables. We aren't suppose to lose any lean muscle mass and if you add 23 % (minimum recommended fat) of fat I will be over 200 lbs when my wls journey is complete. How depressing. Like you I feel great already and I can only imagine how much better it is going to be at the end of the journey. Keep up the exercise and enjoy.

Hi Jennifer, I think it's great that you've found something you love. They say (whom ever they are) that when you look forward to your exercise and can't get along without it, you reached a milestone. I go to curves 4-5 times a week and I miss it when I don't go. I also work with my horse almost every evening and on the weekends when I don't go to curves. Those things have given me so much more energy and I can face so many things that would have worn me out before. I'm just glad to be able to do this. I have a friend that is working with a personal trainer right now (she had wls may 03 114 lbs lost) and she would not give it up for anything. So, keep up the good work and continued success with your program. Barbara

Wow you are doing awesome and yes the exercise is helping you tremendously. I wish I could get out and do more on a daily basis. Just remember muscle weights more than fat. So don't let the scale get you down. Best of wishes Dawn -78 (been on plateau for 6 weeks)

thanks, gals! just what I needed to keep this all in perspective... I'm crawling to my van right after I log off here to go see the trainer again tonight...oh, my. I'm NOT exaggerating when I say "crawl" - now, I'm glad we're getting TO these muscles, but who knew so many could get so sore!! Yikes.... take care! Jen

jen, good for you and i hope some day to get on roller blades. huggs elsa

OK, Not to sound stupid or anything,.....what is the difference between roller skating and roller blading???? I roller skated as a kid, but I've never roller bladed. I know exercise is better for us, builds lean muscle mass which in turn hypes up our metabolism, helps out the heart, circulatory and respiratory system too. I started Pilates a month out of surgery (with surgeon's approval) and have been going 2X/week, and it is amazing the things I can do now that I couldn't do then! The instructors and other regular classmates are all so very encouraging! I have now added weighted workout and treadmill, and ex about 10-12 hours a week. Last night on my way into the Y, the guy at the desk looked at me kinda funny and said, "ok, I have been wanting to ask you and I apologize if I offend you, BUT how much weight have you lost since you started coming here?" It was great to see his jaw drop when I told him 103# and I was glad he asked! I felt so high and positive that I whipped through the treadmill without even thinking hard! 40 min at 9% incline at 3.7 mph! The time just flew by cause I was thinking about what he said. Of course it did not hurt that he was cute too!!! But he is baby (I am 48), but maybe someone else more, shall we say, mature, will notice soon???? I might have to post at a later time and ask for some dating tips!!!!! Sarah

I think it is wonderful that you found something that you like to do. Regarding the exercises, well we should do it not just to lose weight but also to be more energetic, firm, etc. I think you are doing great keep up the good work. Celines 01/20/04 286/208/150(cross my fingers, that's my goal, the more I write the more I think about getting there,LOL)

Sounds to me like you might be turning fat into muscle which is a good thing. A pound of fat takes up a lot more space than a pound of muscle even though they both weigh a pound. You will look thinner when your journey ends because you will have a lot of lean muscle mass. I have lost 75 lbs in five months but I started out a hundred pounds heavier than you. I am building a lot of muscle with intense workouts in the gym 5 days a week. The best thing about exercise is how you feel the rest of the day. We can't control how fast we lose the weight. All we can do is follow our food, exercise, water plan and allow our tool to work. Darn it. I get discouraged at the slow weight loss sometimes, then I think back to how I felt a few short months ago compared to today. Suddenly I become very encouraged because I know I've been given my life back. Best of luck to you!