Need experience/words of wisdon on RNY and extremely active lifestyle/contact sports

Hello Everyone!

I recently decided originally I wanted the sleeve, only to be disappointed to find out that my insurance only covers the band and RNY. The band scares me, and I almost decided to give up until someone told me most people can't tell a difference in the sleeve and RNY who have had one and had a revision to the other.

My biggest concern has been that I will not get enough nutrients to sustain my body when I am living an incredibly active lifestyle. I play roller derby which burns 1500 calories in a 2 hour practice and 2300 in a 3 hour practice and I attend practices 2-4 times weekly, on top of running. It's physically and sometimes mentally demanding but it is my vitality, my heart, and my soul. Giving it up is not an option.

I was also worried about the osteoporosis risk as obviously, broken bones is a big risk in roller derby already. I don't want to put myself at any further risk of injury or a broken ankle.

Anyone have a few words of wisdom they could share with me? How have you fared so far? Have you had problems with staying healthy and being super active?

Here is my story. It may be different for you or others. I was very active. I used to bicycle 30-50 miles daily and do hill repeats. I have been on @ 40 week long bike rides over 500 miles, some in the mountains. (Not the last 20 pounds, that put a crimp on my normal lifestyle.) I roller skate, artistic dance. I have 2 sisters who did roller derby and I have watched their practice. I think the artistic dance burns about the same calories. So, everything has slowed down considerably. I used to walk 5 hilly miles with the Sierra Club at a moderate pace, now I walk 2-3 hilly miles at a slower pace.

My skating is starting to bump up. I can do 8-10 records of 3-4 minutes of dances. I used to only be able to do 1 or 2 complete records. In my skaing, I can stop and get off the floor. In the derby practice, you have to stay with the group.

If I ride with my bicycle club 30 miles, I need a 3 hour nap and am exhausted the next day. I am improving, but slowly.

Sometimes you have to move backward to make forward progress. I am only 3 months out so I know it will change. There are many bariatric people who compete in ironmans and marathons.

When I asked my doctor how I was going to fuel my body for bike riding, his response was I would not need so much food and water when I am 100 pounds thinner. The cycling would be much easier and not such a workout. The only problem is the transition from high weight to low weight. I started back skating and biking at 2 weeks post surgery. My intensity was about 20%. On skating I worked on form and memorizing dances. On cycling I worked on technique - scraping mud off your feet at the bottom of the pedal stroke rather than up/down motion. I lightly worked on stomach muscles to balance weight off my hands on the road bike handlebars-proper form. I did not work on speed or endurance.

So, I don't know that much about derby, but maybe you can work on technique for a couple of months.

It will take some time, but your body simply adjusts. I play ringette and I am playing better simply because I am fitter. Thankfully my equipment keep all of my wobbly bits under control.

I sent you a friend request. I hope you don't mind, but you are the closest person I've come to find being in my situation, lol.

I was the fittest fat person you ever met :) But exercising at 250 lbs is nothing like exercising at 138 lbs. I work out vigorously every day. I sometimes do 2 classes in a row at the Y. RNY was the best decision I've ever made. I just placed 3rd overall female in a 5K (not 3rd in my age group - I was literally the third female to cross the finish line). I won a plaque. It was one of the best days of my life. I'm faster and fitter than ever at age 41. I never had a problem staying super active. It just keeps getting easier and easier. Good luck.

This is what I'm looking forward to the most. I know it's not just me struggling with footwork on skates, as I'm seeing other girls around my size struggle as well, even the good ones. It upsets me so much I know what to do, I know how to break it down, but I feel my body's physical limitations stopping me due to weight.

Also, I pretty much run an entire 5k in about 40-45 minutes currently, but I want to be able to increase that speed and actually run an entire 10K at some point. No, actually, I want to do the Disney World Marathon. That's my dream.

I also added you as a friend because you and I seem to have similar cir****tances.

Here's a link to my exercise story - https://www.myvsg.net/2-uncategorised/398-my-exercise-story

I think you'll be happily surprised to see just how easy things will be once you're post-op. I know it's a lot to worry about now, but, when you're a year out, you'll look back on a post like this and smile. :)

As for the bone health - make sure that you keep up with your vitamins (and do your own research with the ASMBS guidelines, don't just take your doctor's word as truth), get your labs done regularly, and you'll be fine.