New and have a fitness question...

I went to the hospital yesterday and did my initial assessment with the Nurse - she had said for me to start exercising to start building 'muscle' said that i should work on the arms and legs so when the weight starts to disappear won't have alot of excess skin - does anyone have any recommendations?

Any info would be greatly appreciated.

Corina 

I think that the nurse kind of misled you. I would still exercise to get ready for the surgery and be in as good a shape as you can be but I don't think it's going to help with the skin much. The fact is that you really don't know what your skin is going to do anyway. It may tighten a bit on its own but it may not at all. I would exercise anyway though.

I use an elliptical trainer. The ones at my gym have movable arms and I loosen up before using hand weights.

I use a lot of resistance machines... leg press, triceps, biceps, butterfly... but I also use hand weights at home. I have ankle weights that I use to trek around some days, too. It's an easy way to build up some tone in your legs. After you get used to them, you don't really notice them anymore.

You could simply walk on the treadmill and use handweights, too.

I know the elliptical trainer DO work... but they totally kick my butt when i tried using them - i've done the treadmill but must try the weights too - at this point not really comfortable at the gym stand out like a sore thumb thanks for the info

 
Your uneasy feelings at the gym and perception that you stand out is a knee-jerk reaction.   In reality, the regulars are saying to themselves, "I admire her for taking the initiative to improve her health.  Good for her."    

As for those elliptical trainers, be patient with yourself.  I could hardly do 9 minutes on one when I first committed myself to exercise; now I'm up to 70 minutes when I have the time.

You could also do the hand bike. That way you are getting your heart rate up and working your arms. Then when you are able to move more and ready to try other equpment you can move on. But muscle will tone up, lose skin does not. Toned muscles however improves your overall look. It may not be that bad, everyone is  different. Start saving for plastic surgery if it is a big concern for you.