Good Morning. Your mama!

That's what I am hoping for. My body has changed a lot already since I have been at goal.

Shannon, once I got the loss to stop, my left-over body fat (about 22%) has been redistributing.  My upper chest is no longer as bony,  It will happen!!

I say "Go for it Gina."  Be sure you get a trainer that knows what they are doing so your back doesn't get hurt.

I have a hard time opening things and know that I don't feel nearly as strong as I used to. I tried to move something the other day and I couldn't even slide it at all.  I was like what is the problem, then I remembered I don't have all that weight helping me slide things around!!

Maybe you will motivate me to get back to the gym. 

Linda

Go for it Gina!   Do they offer a family membership?  Would that be something hubby would be interested in too?   We joined our gym in Sept.  We did the family plan.  LOVE it!!!   Of course there's days like today when its freezing outside and we have our first 2 hour delay of the season and Im trying really hard to convince myself that I need to leave my warm house and face the bitter temps outside to go to the gym.  Cindy

Hmm, Gina - absolutely! I support the strength-building efforts 100%!

But I don't know if that will do the trick.  There should be something more to make you feel like your physical presence is formidable, in a way.  That can get at the soldier-think.  

I'm trying to think of what that more would be, and I feel like I'm close but don't have it quite yet.  I'm going to keep thinking about it and get back to you with some ideas.  

More soon...

You know, I think part of the problem is not wearing the uniform with my rank on my collar. It used to be smaller was better and I didn't feel so vulnerable because my rank projected authority. I don't have that authority riding on my collar any more.... 

Go for it, Gina! It's worth a try to see if you enjoy it. If the gym and machines aren't for you, you might want to consider getting some hand weights, maybe 3, 5, & 8 pounds, and a fitness ball. There are lots of videos for doing arm and core work.

Good morning!

Grands... my mom's parents were both dead of heart disease by the time she was 16 (makes you understand why WLS is so important to me).  Dad's parents were last seen driving into Warsaw Poland in 1940 so we figure what happened to them, since they were never heard from again.

So I have nothing to base my heritage on.  My mom was 5'2" and my dad was 5".  Mom died at 88 with advanced Altzheimers.  She had a stroke at 87 and was a veggie after that until she died.  Dad died at 91.  He was on dialysis at the time and had a quadruple bypass in his 70's.  I guess you can say my family is all about heart.   My parents each weighed around 115 when they passed.  They ate a lot, just very carefully etc, well at least until Mom's stroke when she was put on a feeding tube.  I never saw people more committed to avoiding anything with fat in it, in order to attain better heart health.

So that's my family history, and why I wanted WLS.

You know Gina, the thing about being bigger didn't make me stronger because I was exhausted all the time.  A flight of stairs could whoop me.  The six flights at Zach's house 3 months pre-op and I was embarrased and ashamed of my physical ability. 

I think it's great that you're going to join a gym because so much about strength is our own perception of ourselves.  I am lucky to have a good gym right downstairs in my condo.  I'm considering a trainer again as soon as my back heals enough to do weights again.  I think sharing a trainer is a great way to save money if you have a buddy to do it with.

Have a fun day everyone!!

My favorite TV channel (I have comcast cable) is channel 222  FitTV.  They have fitness classes all day long.  This week I am downloading to my TiVo, every Yoga class because that's something that I think I can do with my back problem.  They have classes that use weights, balls, bands, everything that you can imagine.  From 6-7am they have a Master Class every morning.  It's always something different and fun.  The only thing I haven't found yet is Zumba which I keep looking for.  Check it out if you haven't already.

 Gina - I LOVE the gym dont get me wrong -  and its a GREAT idea  particularly if they have a steam room and /or a pool   ;)  

but  for the lower back   the ablounge is  an amazing  piece of equipment that will  SOLVE  the problem .

U may have a slightly herniated disk there from  carrying the weight when U were heavy  .. im betting something like  that is whats bothering U  .  U need to strengthen not just  Ur abs (  sounds / looks like theyre ROCK HARD )   but also the strong chords  that  EQUAL ur  abs strength on the  OTHER  side  in order to build a girdle of MUSCLE  that  will  allow Ur  disks to lift andseparate  and give U  some RELIEF  .   

In other words  U are   SUPPORTING   that  weak part of the  back  by building up the muscle on both sides  .....  and compensating for losing the natural God- Given cushioning .    It WORKS !! 

U can also do this with the roman chair -  a  piece of exercise equipment every gym has ...  

I  just love my ablounge  ...... 

I too have  sciatica from   overuse playing ice hockey  .....  and  the ablounge  gives  me a midsection (  can be used for sideways crunches  as well as for and aft and stretching )  .  The thing i really LOVE about it  is its EASY  and FUN ...

find me ANOTHER piece of Ab  equipment U can say that about lol !!!