newbie greetings and a question

Hi All,

I have been lurking- hate that term -  here for the  last few weeks and I appreciate the support, good info and a few laughs I've had since I been logging on.   I thought I'd introduce myself. I am pre-op and I hope - God willing- to have WLS early next year sometime.  I just got word my Vitamin D levels were low and I have to take this Vitamin D pill every week for three months and I'm told I have H. Pylori antibodies in my blood hat could cause ulcers so now I gotta take literally 10 pills a day for the next two weeks [guess its good practice for post WLS]  ...

My question is this:  I really hate exercise - yet I know its essential to exercise to be successful. So I am committing to doing it.  ( I also hate feeling out of breath just walking up a flignt of stairs. )Ok, its probably fairer to say, I don't really hate exercise, I hate exercising at this size.  How did you all get started working out.  - I joined a gym (or rather, I'm making a monthly charitable donation to Lucille Roberts gym)  but right now, I'm not in good enough shape to participate in the classes  and so when I go I get stuck waiting for a treadmill - I'm whine-ing now) and can find all kinds of excuses not to go. 

Any advice or tips would be much appreciated.

Peace,

Rhonda

Hey and welcome

Congrats on getting WLS!  I just started working out (I'm 5 months post op).  As you get smaller, it really does get easier.  I would just wait until after surgery.  I mean it sounds good to say go to the gym now and do it, but I know how hard it is to get that motivation when it really doesn't feel good to do it.  When you get smaller, exercise really can feel good. 

Good luck on your journey!

Start slow.  I weighed over 400 lbs and I started by walking.  I did what I could and slowly increased the speed and length of my walk.  Now I jog on my treadmill and I do a complete workout with weight training.  Ask your doctor for advice.  My doctor advised not to exercie until I lost 50lbs because of the damage I was doing to my knees  (I have arthritis).  I insisted on exercising but  I listened and started walking slowly.
Welcome!

Hi Rhonda!
Congrats on your surgery.  Im pre-op, hoping to have a date by Feb 2009.  As far as exercise is concerned, perhaps just walking may be easier for you?  If Im too tired to do anything else, I find walking to be not so hard...put your favorite tunes on an IPOD and you will be surprised how quickly 30-45 minutes passes sometimes.  And not necessarily on the treadmills.  If your gym has an indoor track, it may be a good idea to start there.  Good luck to you!  Nicci

Hi Rhonda and Ms. Nicci and welcometo the family. 


There is tons of support and information here.  I have found it to be very comforting and straight forward.  No sugar coating it here it is true care and concern.  I to lurked around for months until finally reaching out.  I commend you guys on reaching out for the support some time before your surgery.  So if you don't know or just curious ask, you will recieve the information you are seeking.  Again welcome and congratulations on your WLS.

Well I think the first thing you might wanna do is put some actual pictures of yourself up on your profile.  For all we know you might be "da man" coming up in here trying to shut us down or sumpin'.  I mean real pictures this time too.  None of those copied .jpegs or .gif files from the internet cut and pasted into your avatar. 

I don't wanna see no pix of a black Tinkerbell flashing her butt in some AppleBottom jeans, pink stilletos, sportin a new Beyonce doo, and dirty gold wings.  Nor do I wanna see a hand drawn picture of a very large black woman on her knees trying to hold onto her open bathing suit with her arms on her breasts, spilling out of the top of it, with a caption that reads, "Big gurls have more fun..."  or some other nonsensical malarkey like that.  Nah, none of that mess. 

We be som' sur-ree-us folks 'round here supportin' each otha and whatnot and can't allow no shady types to just bust up in da joint and start reporting back to Mr. Cholly on our comings and gwoins 'round here.  Ya heard?! 

Now up against the wall and assume the position.  Ms. RoRo, bring that Foxy Cleopatra doo a' yours around here and let me see if my handcuffs are still in there.  Mack Mama, make sure that the suspect has been properly cleared before we dispense any more free advice... 

Respect my autho-rit-tay!  Respect my autho-rit-tay! 

THIS HAS TO BE A JOKE.

IM SURE SHE GOING TO GET A PHOTO UP SOON!

Hello Rhonda and welcome!!

I am 3 months post-op.  I started at 280 and I am now at 221.  Regarding your exercise program, first, follow what your doctor says.  You have a gym membership so use it.  It doesn't have to be you staying in the gym for hours at a time.  I think you will be surprised at what consistent time at the gym will do for you.  My trainer just told me that so many people think they have to spend hours in the gym but they really don't.  He stated that what people need to do is be consistent and have a good work out program.  I can understand where you are coming from regarding "hating" exercise.  I thought that I hated it too but it really was because I was embarrassed to be at the gym.  My brother (who is the ultimate work out man) told me, and I quote "you don't need to be ashamed to be in the gym because that is where you need to be.  You are not there to socialize, make friends or anything else. You are there to get healthy. Forget everything else"....So I basically took his advice and joined the gym.  The trainers are an excellent resource and if they are available, most of them will give you a free consultation to go over the machines, exercises etc.   

Again, welcome to BAF. This is a great group of people.  You will have fun but you will also learn so much.  God bless you on your journey.

I am the last person who should be telling you anything about exercise but I am going to anyway.

Most folks think that exercise mean only going to the gym, that they are not exercising if they are not in the gym on a piece of equipment.

For now take that thought out of your head.  Exercising is anything that get your heart rate up.

So you cant do much in the gym?  Do you work? Do you drive to work? Once you get to work, you have to get in the building right?

Stop parking in the closest parking space, go a little early, part that car in the farthest safest spot and walk to the building, this will build up your endurance?

Have stairs at work? Work on another floor other than the first? walk up at least a flight of stairs, then take the elevator the rest of the way, when that get easy, add another flight of stairs until you can go from the first floor to your floor and back down.

And I think the best thing you can do is to start now, it will make your healing after surgery better, but then again, I am not the one who should be on this thread talking about exercise.

Welcome to BAF

I agree with Vernie....the KEY to successful exercising is to find something YOU love!  That way, you will be motivated, excited, and interesting.  For instance, I love outside....I love lifting weights....I love boxing.....and I love dancing.....walking on a treadmill TOTALLY depresses me so to even think about going into a gym and get on one makes me sick to my stomach!  But I will walk the neighborhood or park without even counting the time or miles....I just walk and think and think and walk ~I even attempt jogging~.  Dancing ~oh my~ it can aerobic style or anything...I just like to dance....it releases and relaxes me.....I love the feel of the burn when I am on the weight machines.....it's totally awesome.  But for me, I also get physical at work....I take some stairs (some b/c my asse work on the 46th flo)....I get up and walk every 2 hours----about 10-15 minutes---for my body and my eyes----I walk on lunch.....don't be too hard on YOU!  Just find something you like so you will STICK with it.....

and welcome to BAF!