Any external motivating factors used to get back into shape

This is for all of the former couch potatoes, and arm chair quarterbacks that used to be out there before they had their bariatric surgery. I just turned 51 and I'm thinking about exercising remembering way back when I was in my early 20's I used to love the way exercising made me feel. It was a high that money couldn't buy let alone a drug. Well the years haven't been kind to me as you might have imagined. The weight was put on during this time frame and I have to say that I don't look forward to working out with the same urgency or purpose that I used to at an earlier point in my life. I'm looking to find some external reason or internal that motivated you to start working out again, after taking a break in between for like 20-30 years. I'm not talking about the people who have always been fitness buffs. They never needed a reason to work out. They were just gym rats:)! Im looking for the people that had the surgery and decided that they were going to take better care of themselves after surgery than they had in years. What motivated you?

Thanks,
Lawrence

I wanted to give myself every chance to succeed with the weight loss and I believe exercise is an important part of maintaining the success. As the weight came off, it was easier to work-out and it became more fun. For me, I always dreamed of running in the NYC marathon. After surgery, I gradually moved from walking to running and the rest is history.

I do think having goals is helpful. For me when I have races scheduled I focus more on making sure I got my training runs done.

I think that's wonderful how you were able to accomplish that in short order:) I'm sure I'll find my niche given the time. I do want to exercise and believe that it's an important and vital step to maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

I looked at what successful post-ops had in common. Exercise was a biggie. Plus, there is all this research that shows that you need to exercise to be healthy. I didn't want to go through all this work and end up "skinny fat" and just as unhealthy as before.

You know your absolutely right! That is the one thing that most successful weight loss people have in common. I guess I'll just need to schedule it into my day. Not that I'm complaining by any stretch of the imagination. I know that once I start and see results, I'll be more than motivated to continue.

I rope myself into challenges.  several years ago I fell off my exercise routine, so my friend and I signed up for the Breast Cancer 3 day - we spent months training - and i stuck to the workouts.  Too bad I didn't keep up after the event!

So now, I have the next thing in mind before the 1st event takes place.  I had a 10 Mile planned since December (to run in April).  In March I signed up for a June race, so that after the April race I had something to work towards afterward. 

I might decide to work on my 5K time after running a 1/2 marathon, or I might plan another 1/2.   I just gotta have a goal!

I think that's great. You sound like a real inspiration! I wish you the best of luck. I'm sure I'll find my workout to be in due time. I will be open to all things however, unlike in the past.

Being the aged man of this forum, I can tell you that I also was never a gym rat.   I am 56 and had never thought of exercising as being a vital part or important part of my life.  When I had this surgery at 50, I realized that I was being given the opportunity to change my life if I had the commitment. 

I took to the gym immediately, finding that high from doing things like spinning and weight classes.  I also discovered a new class of people that I used to stimulate and inspire me.  I found that I could actually set my "impossible" goals like cycling a century and make them happen.  I found that sitting at the starting line and feeling comfortable chatting about the event about ot happen, got my adrenaline flowing.  Crossing the finish line convinced me that all the hard work was worth the effort.  Getting called out at a spinning class to allow the class to catch up also does a lot for your confidence.  The highlight of my gym experience is when I decided to captain a team (The Hard Butt Spinners) for our Colerectol Cancer Awareness Campaign, and 25 people joined my team in the first two hours.  Most of these people were total strangers to me but everyone asked to be on my team because they had watched me workout at the gym,  Life sure takes funny turns. 

About three years ago, I used the inspiration of several people on this site (Cassie, Mary, Scott, and others) to take the plunge and start running.  100 yards of running turned into running marathons last year.  The continued support of my running buddy who pushed and chided me into running has helped me.  In three years, I have never had a weekend where I have slept in past seven, because training and pushing myself has become so important.

Now with the PostOp PRs about to become the toast of the RNY community, there will be so many more opportunities to keep motivated and push the limits of  our bodies.  I will never be confused as a speed runner, or be called an elite athlete, but I use my success now to help convince others than they can change their lives and be healthier and fitter.

The last reason to workout is that I can eat and enjoy foods, and not worry about weight.  Worrying about a challenging goal is a more positive way to spend your energy.  Wow, sorry I got on the stand but this topic obviously pushes my buttons.

Get motivated and stay there,
Rob

I think you pretty much hit the nail on the head there Rob. I realize that I will shortly be given a gift. A second chance at life if you will. You hit all my buttons for me in your response. That's exactly what I wanted, no needed someone to tell me was out there. Thank you and everyone else who engaged me and tried to encourage me. I know now what it is that I am fighting for.

I do plan on getting motivated and staying there!
Lawrence

Hey Lawrence,

I don't think anyone who has had WLS was a fitness or gym buff, otherwise, there wouldn't have been a need for surgery. So with that being said, I think we all had to come to grips with what you are talking about.... MOTIVATION! I think if you use the same motivation that compels you to have surgery and apply that to excercise, you will be right on target! I think this is the logical progression with most things in our life that require work:

1) We force ourselves to do it, even though it is not fun or pleasant
2) It becomes habit, and we no longer have to fight internally with ourselves everyday if you we going to workout today or not.
3) Only after the first 2 things mentioned is when we learn to love it!

I think another problem is now that we are adults, we tend to think the only excercise to be had is at the gym or on the road running or cycling.... Remember when we were younger, and we didnt think twice to chase dogs around the neighborhood, play outside and goof off all day with our friends, play on the monkey bars at the playground, splash around in the pool, do our chores / yardwork without thought of it being excercise, the only thing we really did, was try to find ways to have fun, and NEVER thought of the fun we were having as excercise, even though it was. That's what we have to do now. Best of luck to you my friend, but please realize, the motivation to become healthy has to come from YOU! We are certainly happy to help give you ideas, but in reality, YOU have to do a "Gut Check", and determine what your goals / priorities / motivating factors are...