Hi Carmen! Bug us! Please! We love to help where we can! Basically the best thing to start off with is walking. You really shouldn't do any weight training until you are at least 6 weeks post op. You will be tired, and trying to get the diet down, and until you start to feel some energy return, walking is the perfect thing to do. Always check with your MD before starting your workouts to make sure you are ready. Now, the question is, you just want to "tone" up, right? I would basically start with some all over body training. Low weights and high reps. I mean really start basic. Earl has a great beginners plan that he can send you. The gym should have some trainers there to help you out as well. Starting with the machines is a good way to start, so you can get the movements down and start working those muscles. Once you get into the routine and your energy has returned I would say that 3 days a week is a good starting point. If you combine weight (reisistance training) with cardio you will be getting the best of everything. Building up lean muscle mass will help with calorie consumption and weight loss. You won't end up looking like a guy or anything, you won't be eating and training to be a body builder, so you don't have to worry about that. But the more lean muscle mass you have the better your results will be. Plus, it helps to tighten up some of the loose skin areas. Body for life has a great link that shows you the basic movements on some of the most basic exercises. Here it is: http://www.bodyforlife.com/exercise/animations.asp? I will make sure Earl posts what he has mapped out as a beginners program. It is a pretty good one, it is how he started me. It sure helped me a lot. Good luck with your surgery! Keep us posted! Valerie

Awesome Linda! I do not know, I have never done the assisted pull-ups. One of the gyms we were looking at had an attachment, but I went with the gym with leg press. it seems like a cool idea though.

Hi Linda. You are close to me. I am in Sacramento. I work out at California Family Fitness. I LOVE the Laguna location! It is 2 stories (is that a word?), 3 swimming pools, rock climbing wall, sand volley ball court, juice bar and lot's more. I have been a member FOREVER and never went. Thank God my daughter did not take after me and is always at the gym. As far as being a BBW. Well, I just never viewed myself as that. When I am at the gym, every once in a while I do see someone looking at me (sometimes makes me a little embarrassed) but I don't care . I am determined to get this fat off. I cannot wait to get enough weight off to play racquetball. I might knock myself out with the ball or my own racquet but I will have fun! LOL LOL What gym do you beling to? I am looking for more workout partners. This weekend I am going to buy myself a cute gym bag and some other things to take with me so I look official! Oh can't forget a cute pink lock for the lockers ;) Take care, Kelly in California

I just started a college class "circuit training" what a blast and yes it was hard. I never sweated so much doing a non-cardio workout. The coach kept saying he was sorry for the heat being on, so I guess it will get cooler, but I doubt I will feel any cooler. This is my first time on the weight assisted pull up and quite frankly I don't know what I was afraid of, it was a piece of cake! Since the coach has so many students he didn't explain how much weight to use, so weighing 280 I figured the highest would work, but it wouldn't move. I finally went to 250 and seemed too easy. So what is the rule of thumb?

You can whine if you worked it hard Welcome to the best place ever, it is the one board you will not get flamed, or a negative response.