Any external motivating factors used to get back into shape

Thank you Dan. You make excellent points. It's very true that if all of us were gym rats there would probably not be a need for any bariatric surgery. Ditto the second point about when we were younger doing yard work or playing in the monkey bars or chasing dogs that we did it for fun and never thought of it as exercise:)
I need to find something that I like and keep to it till I get to the point that I'm so used to it that it becomes a part of my regular lifestyle and without it, I get what could best be described as withdrawl symptoms:)
I just need to find out what makes me happy and go for it. Your right, the surgery has been 6+ months of going to nutritionists and following their plans to a certain point.

I've got to run to work... it's 1:30pm EST. I appreciate your input and feedback. I really do.
Have a great day!
Lawrence

I work out because I am in my 50's and needed all the help I could get to help tone me up. I don't plan on having plastic surgery. I know others will tell you that skin does not shrink....well it does. It also helps it to have muscle underneath it.

I also use how my clothes fit. If they start getting snug, I increase certain parts of my workout. I have never been able to maintain my weight for longer than 6 months before wls. I have been at about the same weight for 1-1/2 years. I have been a size 6 for over a year. It's a great motivator to be able to wear my clothes.

Just get out there and move. It will help you in your weightloss journey.

I think you make a lot of sense with what your saying. Just do something...whatever it is that I decide to do is up to me but make sure that it's consistent. I have been giving this more thought and I think that I will join a gym in my neighborhood. It's got treadmills, weights etc... I think it will be a good place to start. If I feel like I'm leaning more to aerobic exercises I can always run too. It's going to be a total lifestyle adjustment... I'm honestly nervous.
But I will get out there and move.

Lawrence

You are so right. It is definitely a life style change. I love to eat also. That is another reason I work out.

Consistency is also the key. But even if you fall off the wagon (so to speak), you can get up and start over.

Good luck in your journey.

As we talk, I'm asking a couple of people who are bodybuilders for a beginner's guide to weightlifting in your 50's. Hopefully they won't come back and give me some rubberish so I'm counting on their help to at least get me started with some sort of training schedule. I think that's how I'd like to proceed for now. I used to work out with weights, never really got into it all the way, but definitely liked the results it provided. I think now would be a wonderful time to start it back up.... but in a sensible fashion. I'm not looking to be mr. olympia, and I don't need 20" arms. I just want to be firm and solid, which is actually how I described my situation to them. If not, I can always ask a trainer at a gym! Thanks for your support.

Lawrence