An Important Point about Exercise

An Important Point about Exercise
by Katie Jay, MSW, CTA-certified Wellness Coach
Director, National Association for Weight Loss Surgery
www.nawls.com

If it's not enjoyable, you won't do it.

I wish my willpower was enough to get me to exercise
every day, but it's not. When I had WLS, I was told
by the dietitian who taught my pre-op class that I
would need to exercise if I wanted to do well with
my weight loss.

Over the years, I've met people who claim to stay
slim without exercise, but they are rare. Most of us
need to do it. So, we give exercise a try, but then
we back off from it.

Here's why we back off:

1. Exercise is time consuming.
2. Exercise makes you sweat.
3. Exercise hurts.
4. Exercise is boring.
5. Exercise requires coordination.
6. Exercise is embarrassing.
7. Exercise is torture.
8. Exercise is expensive.
9. Exercise requires a companion.
10. Exercise makes you stinky.
11. Exercise is something you have to plan.

Clearly, any bad feelings associated with exercise
can undermine your efforts.

So you have a dilemma. If you're like most WLS
patients, you have to exercise to lose weight and
maintain the loss.

But, you justify your lack of exercise with one
of the reasons listed above (or find another creative
reason), and you won't get moving.

I been there, myself, and worked my way back into
exercise. For me that breakthrough has happened
three times.

The first time was right after my WLS. I found a
friend to walk with me regularly. We walked together
almost every night for two years -- but then we
both moved. So, I stopped exercising and put on a
few pounds.

The second time was right after my lower body lift
and then (11 days later) my bowel obstruction surgery.
I was weak and full of self pity, but I knew I had
to get moving. But, I didn't have a friend to walk
with, so I got Ruby the dog. She got me walking twice
a day!

It get's hot and humid in my town during the summer,
and dogs do not chat with you while you walk them, so
the boredom and the sweating got to me. I cut our
walks shorter and shorter. I gained a couple of pounds.

The third time I set out to make my exercise
enjoyable, I devised a strategy to deal with the
boredom and discomfort. And it worked yet again.

I now walk very early in the morning, before the heat
of the day, and I listen to motivational audio books.

There is no magic wand to wave over ourselves to
make us fall in love with exercise. But if we
enjoy it, we are much more likely to do it. So,
we must take the initiative to find a way.

Your Assignment

Don't give yourself an out. Find some movement you
can do, make it as comfortable as possible to do it,
and find a way to make it enjoyable. Use music,
companionship, goal sheets -- whatever works for you.
But do it.

#1, 4 and 11 - my issues to overcome every day!

#2 is my issue. I HATE being hot. Hate it. Hate the beach, even, because I hate being out in the sun even if I'm just sitting still!

thanks for posting! I needed the encouragement! i know what to do, it is just moving my tookas!