Working Out?

I can relate 100%. I was actually more active before surgery, working out about 4 times a week. I'm now lucky if I do it twice. It took me about 2 months to kick the anasthesia that was making me all draggy-butt, so it was hard to get enough sleep and feel energized in the mornings to work out, so I just slept in. Then, I think I got to the point where losing about 3 lbs a week was good enough and I just stopped trying to get up in the mornings early enough to work out before work. I'm busy almost every night of the week, and I hate working out in the evening anyway, so it all just got away from me. I know you asked for inspiration, so this might help: I truly believe that very few things will give you the continuous feeling of accomplishment, the way working out will do. Every single day that I work out, I have a secret "pick me up" in my head that says, "today, I did it." For those of us who have spent most of our lives sedentary, it really is a true gift to yourself that keeps on giving. Plus, even though you have lost 70 lbs (SOOO AWESOME, BTW), it will either go faster, or you will be able to sustain that lightening-quick weight loss speed for longer. I hope that helps. And, if you do find the inspiration you need, feel free to send me a kick in the a** too! Good luck to you. Shana

Shana, thanks for your inspiring point of view! I had been swimming and weight training pretty regularly, but haven't been near the gym in 3 weeks. I am definitely going to get back on track this week, though. You're so right about the feeling of accomplishment-I had somehow forgotten that! Lisa

I love the water. My pool is not big enough to swim laps, but I have been doing exercises w/ my legs by putting two "noodles" under my arms and holding on to the side of the pool and kicking w/ all my might! I also go to the deep end w/ the noodles and do leg lifts, using the knees to bring up toward my torso. I then do scissor kicks out to the side and then front to back. After about an hour of those four, my legs feel like jelly. The best thing happened to me today too - I realized that my 36" lift at the back of the pool was p-e-r-f-e-c-t for doing chin ups w/ the assistance of water. I'm still wrapped in a towel right now, and my arms are actually feeling like jello too. It's amazing to find something that you enjoy and is technically exercise. Who knew?

SL... I am sooo with you. It is hard to get motivated to work out. I have tried a few times and well, haven't yet kept with it. BUT, I am doing all kinds of things that I would not or could not do 3 months ago...so I am taking that as progress. I went to a personal trainer twice now and after each visit I hurt for 2-3 weeks! (even bending over to put on my shoes was hard for a while!) She really didn't do anything hard, it is just that I am that out of shape. So, between the pain of her visits and my plain lack of motivation, I have the ridiculous notion that working out should be doing something very vigorous for 45 min to 1 hr (I know better than to think that, but that is what comes to mind every time I think of exercising!) and I just don't have the energy or time right now - I have lots of excuses...I go back to my trainer tomorrow to have some more fun and well, be honest that I am not working out yet! Bottom line...as others are commenting...sagging skin will be no fun, so I am going to try to prevent my bottom line from sagging by trying smaller goals ...such as working for shorter periods several times per week...for now....until it feels better. Or, maybe our April Surgery Group might be able to band together and motivate each other with a weekly check in to see how our exercise is going along with our weight loss? I know this might also help me too! Any takers?