Gym is Open (Monday 1/28)

The gym is open! I plan to do killer treadmill and some strength training.  I also have my monthly WLS support group tonight, which I feel like skipping, but I won't. I'll post my actual exercise later. What did you do to move your body today? Kix

Everytime I think I'm doing fine, my body finds a way to remind me that I'm still recovering from surgery lol..... just because I can get out and about doesn't mean I should, either... sigh   I spent yesterday morning walking the aisles at Wally World and pushing a heavy cart part of the way and then spent all afternoon at my daughter's sitting at the kitchen table working on a jigsaw puzzle.... came home with tired achy feet and took my shoes off to discover swollen ankles.... so today's another day in the recliner with my feet up all day.... LOL enjoy your workout!

Would light compression socks help with your post-op swelling?  I wear mild knee-high compression athletic socks and they work wonders. Walking around Wally World can be an adventure in itself, especially when the fellow shoppers are particularly zombified!  Kix

Its going to be 65 degrees today, so I will be going out to the track. I will try to walk around at least 4 times. I can do two laps wit out feeling so tired. So we will see!!!!   I also have a support group meeting tonite that will be the first time I have been to one. Definlity will post how it went when I get back tonite.  So good luck 2 everyone!!!!!!!! 

It sounds like you're getting the 65 degree weather we had on Sunday.  We're now expecting temperatures in the 30s the rest of the week, BOO! Good work on the walking!  Every bit helps.  Do you wear a pedometer to count how many steps you walk each day?  I wear one, and it's fun to keep track and try to improve each day. Kix

Good morning, Kix.  How is your killer treadmill routine going?  Is it getting any easier?  Or are you pushing it a little more each time?  Either way, I hope it's still working for you!   I'm going to hit the gym twice today; strength training at lunch for lower body and core, plus cardio after work.   I'm feeling pretty stressed about some stuff that's going on at work, plus my MIL is still in the hospital, and we're worried about her.  The exercise is a great stress reliever for me; I think it's how the exercise affects our brain chemistry that helps me so much.  Plus, I finally got a clip for my iPod so I can wear it when I lift weights and when I do cardio.  So I can tune out the world for a couple hours each day, and that is a true blessing for me; helps me stay centered and calms me down.   Anyway, that's my story for today.  Is it time to go to the gym yet??? Kellie

Hey, Kellie! Killer treadmill is progressing nicely.  I add one minute each day, and today I moved the speed up to 2.5. I don't want it to get too easy, the whole idea is to sweat and keep my heart rate up to 111.  The treadmill adjusts the incline automatically as it measures my heart rate, and I noticed the incline is getting steeper each day as the treadmill pushes me to get to my target heart rate. I do like Ballys much better than my rec center, I have more options in terms of strength training and the treadmills are more sophisticated, so I feel like I'm getting a better workout.  What really kills me are the folks who do elliptical at 100 MPH and do sudoku puzzles while they are exercising!  My IPod is a Shuffle, I bought it specifically for its clip-on feature (and the fact that I didn't have a lot of money to buy it's larger sibling).  I love exercising to my music, in fact, when the Tito Puente tunes fire up, my heart rate really gets pumping because I love mambo!  I need to load some classic Motown this weekend, I have a bunch on CD.  What motivates me to exercise is that I feel better afterwards, and I know I don't burn a single calorie at all if I don't stay active.  I never want to weigh 500+ lbs again. Sorry your MIL is still ill.  I'm still trying to imagine how on earth she managed to pass such a big gallstone!  The pain must have been off the charts.  I'll think good thoughts for her speedy recovery. Kix

I was feeling really bad but now I'm feeling better, so I went back to my old standby, Just My Size Yoga.  It was very relaxing and 125 lbs lost definitely made some of the positions easier!

Just My Size yoga?  Do tell! Kix

Its an exercise video - yoga for heavier people.  The teacher is a plus size model and yoga guru who does a really nice job instructing you.  She isn't annoying like a lot of video instructors They provide some modified positions for people with mobility/flexibility issues, and the positions in the regular workout are mostly easier positions too.  Its not hard, but it is relaxing.  My husband has even done it with me a few times and was impressed with how he felt doing it.  It used to be my primary form of working out but I don't do it very often anymore because I just don't think about it.  If you can find a copy, I'd recommend it, with your knees some of the modified positions would be easier.   I originally rented it from flickr and burned it.   Its very good for stress, and I was definitely the most flexible 440lb person I know!  Actually I still am, the physical trainer was amazed with my reach on the stretch test - he said that was one of the best scores he'd ever seen on a "newbie."  Flexibility was the only part of physical fitness tests that I ever passed in school, so yoga was a natural fit - I didn't want to do exercises I wasn't good at afterall.  Good job on the treadmill.  Its cool that you think your thighs are shrinking!  Woohoo!