Exercise...

I have to say that I'm not, have never been and am not likely to be one that likes to exercise. That said, I recognize that it's necessary to support my new life;

- It helps me build muscle so that I'm more toned and my body's metabolism allows me to enjoy more of the foods I'd like to have.

- It helps me build bone density that helps me fight osteoporosis.

- It helps me manage my my emotional eating by providing an effective distraction and elevating my mood.

So while I'll probably never be a 'Gym Rat', I've found ways to incorporate it into my routine. Since, I'm not so good at 'exercise', here are a few things that I do to support my health and well-being: 

* Wear a pedometer - it helps me remember to move my tail as I work to make sure that I'm getting in at least 10K steps a day. It prompts me to park farther away from my destination, take the stairs, etc... so that I can rack up those steps. 

* Dance - I never really equate dancing with exercise, so even though I'm no Ginger Rodgers, I will crank up the music in the house and dance while I do my household chores, enjoy a Zumba or Jazzercise class or go dancing. It gets my heart rate up and I feel wonderful while doing it. 

* Gardening - I have never really liked getting dirty or sweaty, so gardening was something I always hired out or got someone else to do, in part because I didn't like doing it and in part because it was just to hard to do. Now, I still don't 'like' doing it, but I love the result I see in my garden and my body, and absolutely LOVE that I can do it. 

* Swimming - Swimming was one of the few exercises I enjoyed even when I was heavy. I used to be somewhat concerned about what I looked like in a suit when I was heavy and I still have concerns now that I'm slender, but it's an activity I enjoy so I do it when I have the opportunity.

What do you do to get moving and how does it impact your life?

Hi Barbara,

     I have seen you on here many times and find you inspiring.  I am looking into RNY and I was wondering if you could tell me anything about what to expect.  My story, lapband July, 2009.  Lost about 35 punds including preop diet.  I have kept it off but feel stuck.  My insurance will only cover those two surgeries, otherwise I would look into the sleeve.  I exercise at least three days a week if not four.  I eat less, can eat anything and don't feel I have ever reached a sweet spot.  I have no conplications.  I have a fill Tuesday.  My insurance said they need another form from my drs. office.  So it will take some time to see if I even can be approved.  I guess I would just like to hear from someone as knowledgable as you are about the RNY.  Any thoughts would be appreciated.  I have fear about the RNY just as others have had before.  I am willing to take the risk.

Hi -

Thank you for your compliment. While I've had the RNY, I have learned about the other surgery types and to be honest, I don't think that there is a single 'best' surgery. Instead, each surgery had it's own strengths and weaknesses.  There are a number of factors to consider when looking at each of the surgeries. You may want to look at the overall amount of weight you want to lose, your co-morbidities/health issues and your ability to comply with program guidelines, such as the requirement to take the prescribed supplements. I know people that have had some serious side effects with the RNY, but I also know people that have had serious side effects with the LabBand. I think that the thing that most people are concerned about regarding the RNY is malabsorption and the issues you might face associated with malabsorption; however, if you can be compliant with the supplementation regimen (which to be honest, isn't that difficult; I take 2 multivitamins, 4 calcium citrate w/D, and 1 sublingual B12 a day) and have your labs drawn to make sure that everything is where it needs to be, you should be just fine. RNY will push your weight loss forward with the malabsorption and of course, you need to eat according your WLS program's plan to maximize your weight loss potential. An RNY pouch doesn't have a high pyloric valve to keep the food in pouch, so you need load it with dense protein first to create ball or bolus to keep the food in the pouch and help you feel satisfied. After the dense protein, you add colorful carbs and then, if you have room you have simpler carbs. This leverages the power of your tool allowing your maximize your weight loss and maintenance. While many RNY patients have some level of 'sensitivity' to carbs and fats right after surgery, that normal subsides as the intestinal tract matures. So while there is a percentage that will always be sensitive to carbs and fats and may have some level of dumping syndrome if they ingest too many carbs, this normally resolves within the first year or so and doesn't last as a deterrent. It does sometimes last during first few months, into the first year, but for many it doesn't. I am like many and I can eat ANYTHING I want and it doesn't make me sick; I don't dump, so I can't use that to gate my behavior/activity. I have learned to leverage my tool. Once I lost my weight and moved to maintenance, I learned that I could eat anything I wanted as long as I followed these guidelines: Load with 4 to 6 ounces of dense protein. Follow with colorful carbs. Enjoy whatever else I want and have room for after I take care of 'business'... i.e., Protein/Colorful Carbs. This ensures that I get the nutrition that my body needs and deserves, it also makes sure that if I do indulge, that I don't have much real estate left to do much damage. Know that when you first have surgery it can take 15 minutes to sip 2 ounces of liquid protein, but the swelling goes down and the pouch will 'stretch' to it's final size which varies from surgeon to surgeon, but usually allows you to consume a meal that is about the size of 'Lean Cuisine' at any one sitting. This works for me because I don't do well with deprivation and with this method, I can literally have anything I want as long as 'take care of business' first. I can tell you that if I eat too many carbs I can and will put on weight. This means I need to pay attention to what I'm doing. I need to be mindful. I need to be aware and accountable to myself. In doing this, I am able to enjoy the health and quality of life I want. 

Please know that there are cir****tances where an RNY may not be a good idea, such as for someone *****quires NSAID medications because NSAIDS are contraindicated for RNY patients and can cause signficant pain and damage to the juncture of the pouch to the intestines. 

I also want to be sure that you understand that while the RNY will do a great deal of the work to help you peel off the excess weight, that you will have to make changes to maximize your result and in the long term to help ensure long-term success.

I don't know if you have some specific questions or concerns about the RNY. If you do, please feel free to ask. While I am not a medical professional, I will do my best to answer your question with my own experience or information I have gathered from reliable sources.

I hope that this helps some.

Wow!!!  Thank you!!!!!

I wish you luck. Have you considered the sleeve? I have a Lap Band and have so many friends who have had RNY and some have regained their weight. Once your body gets used to the dumping - if you haven't learned how to eat properly - you may regain. I have two friends who are getting Bands over their RNY's.

It's such a tough situation for all of us. I know I've researched the Sleeve and if I ever lose my band, I would get the Sleeve. Nothing is perfect, but the thought of having a WLS and still gaining later in life is scary to me.

BTW, I have a few friends who have been very successful with the RNY, but they have really stayed very strict with their eating and have really never allowed the malabsorption to take over.