Personal Trainer Consultation (I've got questions!)

I'll admit, I was kind of bummed that all the time I've put in walking, both outside and in the gym was viewed by him as not all that valuable.  He isn't really a big fan of cardio in general.  He said the only way I'd see impressive results with that would be if I were doing a session like that (1 hour/3 miles) four or five times a day, as if I were training for a marathon.  I don't think I'm ready to commit quite that much time to something like that.

From what you've put in this post, his advice seems very solid.   Maybe step up the calories/food etc slowly so you feel comfortable with it and can monitor the results you are getting.   Don't freak out if you get a stall - your body may well need to adjust to the new nutrition/exercise regime.

 I have always eaten a diet with good fats and it pains me to see people on here eating super low fat diets - that is so 1990's!!!!    He obviously does know some about nutrition - although I think the 6 year old analogy was a bit odd - but I agree that if you are going to do some HARD CORE training, you will need to up your nutrition to match.

Thanks for the response.  I can see the need for a few more calories, but I see people who are a couple years out who are doing 1,200 calories.  Given that my surgery was only 16 weeks ago, I worry about jumping up to that level so soon.  I guess I'll burn it off if he works me as hard as I suspect he will.  But I'll admit I'm nervous.  Plus, I'm just not hungry!  I hate to eat when that's the case.

I think the people that are only eating 1200 calories after a few years are those that don't do any exercise and have metabolism problems.   Personally,  I would think I am more in the 1800-2000 per day realm - which is great for me because I had this surgery to lose weight and then live a healthy lifestyle!     I am 51 and so expect to have to cut back my calories as I get older - one of the reasons this whole getting old thing sucks!!!

I maybe watch WHAT I eat more than a lot of long termers because I am more food and health conscious than your average person - I try to eat as cleanly as possible and buy organic where I can and forego most processed food (hence no protein shakes or bars).  Having said that - I clearly do NOT exist on salads or on any sort of deprivation diet    I would definitely think of myself as a foodie and have a great interest in nutrition and satisfying my body's nutritional and health needs.

There is no need to force yourself to eat, but that's not to say that missing meals and not eating for hours is healthy, because it's not!   Low blood sugar is dangerous for anyone health wise, and so eating is a commitment to yourself and your body - you just have to find something that is tolerable and that you know is WORTH eating!   It's a mindset and many of us eat to the clock, particularly when RH becomes a factor.   We chose this surgery and so don't have the option of not eating because we don't feel hungry.   Sounds harsh, but I'm being realistic ...

I think in my previous post I suggested upping your calorie intake slowly?   Do it in a way you feel comfortable and what you need nutritionally.   Anyone that says they are a hardcore exerciser and eat 6-800 calories is fooling themselves one way or the other - your body needs fuel to be able to exercise and build muscle AND remain healthy.

When I look at people on here that have lost weight to be tiny but don't exercise, I wonder what is going to happen to them in future years - it takes A LOT of effort for most of us to lose to BMI's in the teens - some people are naturally thin, but none of us are because we are all formerly obese!   Those of us that exercise tend to be heavier in weight and sometimes even bigger clothes sizes (you can't pack a well muscled body into a smaller size jeans as well as you can a squishy one) - but we tend to look better naked and are probably healthier because we are nutritionally sound too.

It is all a choice, to be honest, but I have seen more nonsense spouted by surgeons, nutritionists and dieticians than what your trainer advised you - and that's not just because I have a penchant for Scottish men 

I would interview a few more trainers first...Can you request one that has experience working with bariatric surgery patients? I think his knowledge of this area is limited or nonexistent. I would never take a trainer's advice over my surgeon or Nutritionist/dietician about what limitations/restrictions calorically or otherwise I should be following that early out especially. I also  think he is far too critical of your current exercise regimen...I'm lucky if I get a mile a day, considering where you are coming from and working your way up to, that is fantastic how far you are walking everyday (and he absolutely should've recognized that). His expectations are skewed for a newly post-op patient...

If I were in the States, I'd probably do exactly what you suggest.  But I live in Qatar and the only organization that has certified trainers is the one I'm working with.  My guess (though admittedly I don't know this for sure) is they would all have a pretty similar philosophy when it comes to training.  My assumption is the manager of the company would want to be consistent in how they treated their clients.

Thanks for the kind words about my exercise regime. :-)  Like I said above, I was kind of bummed that he dismissed it so quickly.

I'll preface this by saying I don't do any specific exercise however I rarely sit still so my knowledge on exercising is nil. 

Kim has given you some good advice on increasing your calories and you will as time progresses.  I also want to commend you on the exercising you are currently doing.  Although the trainer may not view that as what you should do and wants to look at more weight-bearing exercise, don't stop the cardio if it's enjoyable and working for you.

As others stated the 6 year analogy seems crazy.  Although our metabolisms vary, you have to burn more calories than you consume for your body. 

Good luck with the trainer......just remember it may take some playing around with what works for you and have patience as you figure this out.

Thanks so much for the encouraging words.  I'll be stopping by the boards to let you guys know how it's going.

I have a consult with a personal trainer on Sunday.  I'm interested to see how different, or not so different, his approach will be.

Oh, please share the info after you guys meet!  I'm curious too.