Exercise - the ugly truth

  

I went to support group for the first time in six years and had an epiphany.

 

If you have WLS and don’t exercise, you can wind up looking like crap.

 

When I first arrived at the building, there were a number of people in the lobby, but before the meeting even started, I could look at people and tell which ones had had WLS.  They had “that look" that people talk about that we post ops (for the most part) vehemently deny - the wrinkly, sickly pallor in the face and mushy-looking asymmetrical bodies. 

 

When I got to the meeting room, sure enough they were there.  There were several people there who didn’t have “that look".  The people that worked in the office and a few post ops.  Because I’ve been looking for tips to control head hunger, I was asking all kinds of questions.  

 

                  I asked the group “Who in here exercises?"

 

Without exception, all of the people that answered “Yes" looked better.  They looked healthier, regardless of how far out they were or how much weight they had lost.  Their faces looked better.  Their skin looked better.  They carried themselves like they had more energy.  One really pretty girl in the room looked like an athlete.  At first I thought she might have been on staff at the doctor’s office.  You would have never been able to look at her and tell that she’d ever been obese.

 

I’ve been pretty much a couch potato for years, but when I looked around that room, I saw my future and I . didn’t . like . it.

 

I start Zumba class this afternoon. 

 

I want to look good, dammit. 

 

 

 

Oh hell yes!  I agree 100%. 

Exercise is the key to looking good at any size.  I looked damned good at 285 lbs because I was well toned under all that fat.  Folks thought I was post op at my pre op class.  Of course even fat peoople assume other fat people can't/ don't do weights and cardio. 

Pre op, post o***** op, start working out today.  There are routines for elderly and disabled folks you can begin with if you are way out of shape.  I have a disability and some days I can't hold a tea cup or even a book to read.  I can still modify an exercise routine. 

I was way to vain to look big and sloppy.  I'm way to vain to look petite and sloppy.  I've been exercising at home since age 13 and I'm about to turn 49.  No excuses people.  Look good, feel good, exercise daily. 

This is so true people tell me all the time I do not have that look it is because I have exercised since the begining.

I have to agree the best looking WLS people are those who exercise.  When I was thin people would always say did she have a WLS (talking about Becca) but not once did they ever suspect me of having it.

Becca never exercised and her weight just fell off and I worked out like a dam fool and my weight came off slow but came back on fast, so I would rather trade the yuck look if I could be thin and not have to worry about my weight 24/7.

 Umm - yeah.  Knowing in the beginning that I had 200lbs to lose - no WAY was that shyt gonna look good if I just sat and molted......

I actually get a lil pissed at those who don't exercise.  The weight loss is the gift to allow you to be ABLE to move - you're wasting it by not doing what you can NOW do!!! 

We may not all end up running marathons, scaling mountains or swimming the Atlantic - but damn - hitting the gym 3xs a week ain't that much. 

I bet before WLS mofos ain't have a problem hitting Mickey D's that much.  Or KFC. 

So - good for you for seeing it - STICK with it! 

MM, I had major negative reinforcement regarding exercise.  There were just too many cycles of starvation and exercising like a fiend followed by the heartbreak of regain.

Mentally I'm in a better place now.  For the first time in my life, I'm not doing it because I feel like I'm fat.

I'm actually excited that I'm starting to lose so that I *can* exercise! I still have to wait another 2 months to do anything very aerobic per doctor's orders. But I've been walking every day, and I just got a Wii fit. I can't wait to sign up for Zumba again, though, I LOVED it pre-op.