Today's rant: Exercise

Sometimes I feel like I am the only person who works out after WLS. Someone posted on the main board about how she had lost to goal and wanted to know how to maintain. She had lost alot of weight so I replied to her and said "Well I don't know anything about it except to keep eating right and working out but congrats on your weight loss!" She posted back basically telling me that she had NEVER worked out, NEVER done any formal exercise in the 18 months since her surgery. She has 2 children and assumes that working with them all day is her exercise. I am not trying minimize her work as a stay at home mom, its hard work and I could never do it. (Please don't yell at me stay at home moms, I think the world of you!) My point is that this isn't the first time that I have heard about people losing all sorts of weight who never stepped foot in a gym. If I don't do some sort of formal exercise for a few days, I automatically start gaining weight. I guess I am simply jealous that some people can lose weight differently than I can. I will admit that I am that petty. lol I guess my frustration is that I just exercised for 30 minutes today although I have a horrible cold and should be in bed, feeling a little emotional today. But I suppose that some people would want to slap me when I lose weight and eat the way I do at times (Pringles, Fried Chicken, etc...). I guess WLS isn't really easy for anyone.

It sounds like one of the "Pam Anderson's" of the world. Always thin, no fat, no excersize, can eat any & everything and still not gain a pound. I can only wish. Don't let it get to you, be proud of what you have done for yourself. Girl, I'm in the same boat as you when it comes to weight, there is no "easy", "quick fix" to lose it. Cheer up!!!!!

Christine- If it makes you feel any better, I too am one of those people who never set foot in a gym and who thought that staying active with his kids (I am my girls' primary care-giver and work around their school and activity schedule) was sufficient exercise. Did I lose my weight really fast despite not exercising? Yep (250 pounds in 11 months). But, I also lost out on a great opportunity to develop a very healthy habit of exercise that would have toned me, helped to improve my cardiovascular fitness and given me a great source of distraction when life gets stressed. At over 3 years out, I am only now starting to exercise a little and do wish that I had started earlier. So, although exercise might not be absolutely necessary for our post-operative weight loss, it provides so many other wonderful emotional and physical health benefits that those of us who avoid it wish that we hadn't.

Hey Buddy, I am full time working mom who have full hands with two active kids after work which keep me running around and I do exercise for my own time for an hour to keep my body toner, feel great after workout ( I do have stressful job at work) and it will be good for my joint bones to keep moving around. You know me, I do still have fear in my back of my head is regain weight back so keep exercise 5 or 6 times a week to give me peaceful of mind for me. I strongly believe that it is important to do exercise 3 or 4 time per weekly for our bodies. For me I feel proud of myself after I had workout and it gave my mind of peace to know I won't regain. Just follow your heart what your body tells you. If you live near me then you know what I am going to do is dragging you to join with me for nordic walking SMILE!!! Please research your inner soul and listen what your body tells you Hugs Kathy K

Hey Girl, I like you do work out and as in both our cases, "IT SHOWS"! Depening on the lifestyles some people have, the level of excersize one needs varies. If I had a few kids to take care of, besides spouses and work, and house cleaning, yada, yada, yada. I sure a regiment of excersize would not be needed. The Important thing is to focus on is what works for us! So, just keep doing what your doing and give that Beautiful Lady you see in the mirror every morning a "You Go Girl!" Your doing Great! Take Care and hope that cold gets better real soon! Julio

Statistics say... 95% of those (not just WLS folks) will GAIN weight back if they DO NOT INCLUDE some sort of regular physical exercise in their routine of life. scary but true. I keep reminding myself of this and with the help of my CT OH pals... I will make it happen. Jumping Jacks! Right Kim? Right MaryJo? My future (oh pleeeese!) exercise buddies! Thanks Christine AND Kathy AND Julio for just another reminder and 'YOU CAN DO IT' post. T.

Hey T, Your right my dear, this is your future exercise buddy, ready and willing to start up with you. If anyone knows about slacking its me, I hate gyms and won't set foot in one, too many bad memories for me. I want to do things on my own, and I do slack off on them. I need alot of encouragement from my fellow OH buddies. Especially T, Mare and Kathy and my big brother Julio. So Christine I know where your coming from my dear. Its so hard. You are doing great and your gorgeous. Keep up the good work and you will get there. I know I have to keep telling myself that too. Love you all KimC

I want in on the exercise rant..... I can sure tell the difference in how I feel and by what the scale says when I go a few days without exercising. A lot of times I dont have anything to do with the kids for me to go to the gym so I dont go, and I can tell on Monday when the scale says the same damn thing as Friday. I for one like to exercise as I can sure see the results already. That is my motivation to keep going and going! I do try to keep active on the weekends as a single mom of 2 kids, like shooting hoops in the driveway or playing on the playground w/ the 2 yr old while the 11yr old is at baseball practice etc... but there is nothing like a gym workout and my scale likes it too. I do have to say I am certainly jealous of those people who dont have to work out....but what are you gonna do. Like Julio says, you have to do what works for you. Bree

Thanks for the replies everyone. I was just annoyed that this woman is 130 lbs without any formal exercise and I am 196 lbs kickboxing with a fever b/c I am so scared to regain. I have read many posts that I have thought were pretty silly but for some reason I really wanted to slap this particular woman b/c I was so jealous and I just needed to get all that off my chest. But yes, everyone has to do what works for them and ultimately I am happy with the way things have turned out for me. Thanks for listening to my rant guys!

Oh man Christine I can relate to this - I remember going to weigh****chers meetings and there would be those women there (you know the type) that looked wonderful but had 10 pounds to lose and I was supposed to RELATE to them??? Give me a break! I swear if they just went to the bathroom they could get to goal! I remember at work there were 7 of us all going on the slim fast diet together - everyone lost weight but me I used to work with a girl that ate non-stop - she even had a little toaster oven in her area and would be cooking stuff all day - she was 5'8" with legs up to her neck and a to die for figure - she never worked out - she just ate, ate, ate and walked around looking beautiful.... It wasn't fair then and it's still not fair now! Some of us are just dealt this hand and we have to learn how to play our cards - is it fair? NO way - but does it give us character? Absolutely (hey I had to say something to make us feel better). You are not alone and never will be - the majority of us are like you - we have to really battle the obesity beast Keep on keeping on! Best Regards, Tammy