How much do you exercise?
I am still pre-op (only 6 days left) but I attend an aqua aerobics class twice a week and try to get in 2-3 "land" workouts of 30 min treadmill, 30 min recumbant bike and 15 min elipticle machine. I have kind of been slacking on my land workouts though due to a busy evening schedule lately, but I hope to get back in the groove this week.
I belong to a fitness club and work out there 6 days a week and walk outside on Sunday's with my fiance. I always do 30 minutes of cardio and alternate weight training, upper body and lower body 3 days a week each. I've just begun to take the spinning classes on Tues & Thurs which will add intensity to my cardio. I really enjoy exercise.
DH and I walk every night for an hour (7 days a week) usually on the weekends it ends up being a longer walk. Our goal is to keep on even in the winter. We've got all kinds of outdoor gear to keep us from freezing to death, of course. Our Christmas present to each other way snowshoes to keep going on our goal - that will be fun! We do have an eliptical machine at home too - for those days when it'll get way too cold to bundle up and braze the elements.
I'd say you can definitely lose weight without exercising - for a while anyway - but as my surgeon put it to me...."The 1st 100 pounds is free, the rest is up to you." I guess I see it as though I chose this for myself, I'm going to make the most of the process and not cheat myself on the outcome. I've taken the easy way out my entire life and this is a new me that wants to be around and healthy for a long time to come - definitely worth the hour each night!!