Long term success without dedicated exercise?

So I'm just curious. I know most everyone that has lost a significant amount of weight has gotten more active. Whether it's taking the dogs for a walk, bicycling, hiking, etc... everyone feels so much better.

But for those that are out from surgery for a significant amount of time, did anyone do it without dedicated exercise days, most likely several times a week? Is it possible to be successful, LONG TERM, without the dedication of working out?

I'm 4 months out, and I'm doing well with the weight loss... my numbers have been good, and my diet has been going along well. But I haven't made that jump to 'dedicated' exercise. I can come up with lots of really good excuses though, but I guess if I really wanted to hit a gym4-5 times a week I could make it happen. Thing is, I'm really not too motivated just yet. Honestly, I don't like aerobic stuff, and walking on a treadmill equates to sheer boredom and it's honestly not something I'm interested in at all.

I am doing more... I am doing the Color Run 5K next weekend... I've been bicycle riding a few times... I can walk further now (although it's not part of a routine for me). I work... I do Real Estate on the side... I have two teenage kids... and a pretty awesome spouse.

But my close friend, who is 5 months ahead of me in this journey is a workout fiend... she's a nurse, so she works 3-4 days/week, is single, and has grown kids... she's running, kickboxing, weight lifting, and gets in more steps that most regular folks who strive for 10K steps... 

I feel the pressure (internal pressure, from myself), to get on the bandwagon and do SOMETHING... dedicated... organized... but I just can't carve out the time (I don't want to)...

So... CAN you be successful - LONG TERM - without belonging to a gym, crossfit, kickboxing place? Can you do it and just be taking the occasional walk, bike ride, or fun run?

I feel like one of these days my life will slow down enough that I may want to join a gym - or similar - but for now, I'm happy in my chaotic life, sans the dedicated working out... But, I also don't want to sabotage anything long term. I want to be thin, and eventually fit!

I don't do any kind of formal exercise because I hate it.  HATE.  I'll do stuff like walk the dog and throw a living room dance party when I'm cleaning, but the thought of joining a gym or taking a class makes me want to dry heave.  Because people.

I did nothing for the first 7-8 months post-op. At that point, I joined a gym and became a crazy gym rat for about 2 years. Then I quit. I really did nothing the next few years and still maintained my weight. Around 17 months ago, my boyfriend had a stroke and I knew I had to do something for my health. I got a fitbit and began focusing on getting in 10,000 steps a day. Over the past 17 months, I have averaged 13,000 steps a day. I have only had one week where I did not get in at least 70,000 for the week. I think that is pretty good. Now I try to get in 15-16,000 steps per day. Walking is all I do to maintain my 200 pound loss at 8 years out. This works for me.

I've done a bunch since surgery- yoga 3 times a week, jogging etc. I have been a slacker for about the past 2 months= just not motivated plus the darn GB surgery. I'm going to get back into it though when I get green lighted. i have 2 5k's next month in OCT so I have to get my butt into it.

I think exercising is good for your heart and bones/muscles. I'm not convinced it helps you keep weight off or we would have never needed this surgery to begin with.

My doctor is really big on pushing the gym. He is dreaming. Such a thing is out the not even a possibility. I homeschool four young kids. My husband works 12 hour shifts. We live rurally, half an hour from the nearest gym. Even if I could work out the time, childcare at the gym does not include 11yo autistic children. So. I did buy an elliptical. I bought some hand weights and found some YouTube videos with exercises to do. I bought a Classical Stretch DVD (my flexibility has really tanked in recent .years. I do the elliptical and alternate the DVD and weights. It is boring and I don't like it. I watch Netflix, lol.

I'm with Pam in wanting to read the answers from the Vets here.  I am way way way more active now but keep having this same guilty feeling around not doing formal exercise. When my doc asks at follow ups I always say, "Yes, I walk five days a week."  This is sort of true..because ...well...I do walk places. LOL

~E 

HA!  That's exactly what I say!  "Yes, I walk every day". 

OMG... me too! Yup, I walk everyday! 

I have legs, therefore I walk LOTS of places....

Legs are for suckers...

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