Question:
Are you exercising and how often?

I am writing a proposal for a college class. My idea is to have a personal trainer who is familiar with gastric bypass and morbidly obese people to work along with a surgeon to prepare patients for the need to exercise. It is proven to keep weight off longer and help increase positive mental stimulants. So here it is...it would be a great help for all who are working out to just type how often and what types of exercise you do. I would like to use this info for my project. Also if exercising increases your self-esteem or not would be fab! Thanks in advance! Adriane (soon to be personal trainer)    — Adriane T. (posted on December 2, 2002)

December 2, 2002
I exercise 30-40 minutes 3-5 times a week..I either walk/jog or do step aerobics. Working out makes me feel SOOOO much better! When I slack off I feel BLAH!!
   — Binxalways

December 2, 2002
Good luck with your proposal, Adriane. I think exercise is the key to maintaining a good healthy weight, with or without WLS! When I don't do it, I feel crummy, my metabolism slows down, and I get run down.<P>I exercise 3-4 times a week, for about 35-40 minutes apiece, using a treadmill (interval training: walking and running), a recumbent bike, or a stairmaster. I also do some weightlifting 2-3 times a week.
   — Suzy C.

December 2, 2002
I have never been lacking in the self-esteem department, so that hasn't been an issue with me. Here is what I do every week: Monday, Friday and Sunday I do a 45min spinning class; Tue, Thur and Sat I do 30min treadmill, 30 min weights. Wed is usually an off day for me. Sat is just treadmill for about 45 mintues or nothing at all. Besides this I walk a mile in the AM and PM with the dogs. I hope this helps
   — barbara A.

December 2, 2002
Good luck with your project, it is well worth the research. I work out five days a week, sometimes six days. 30-40 minutes doing cardio (switching machines several times a week) trying to always stay in or slightly above my target heart rate, then 25-30 minutes of weight lifting. This is done on machines and free weights. I have been doing this for about 15 months, and I am about 20 months post operative. Down approxmately 180 pounds. I hope this helps.
   — sheron H.

December 2, 2002
Best of luck with your project. I am 9 weeks post-op and I have just started to workout at a gym again(although I did workout a bit prior to surgery. I use the treadmill for about 30 minutes (1mile) and then using weight machines about 30 minutes. I am planning 4 days a week. I am not someone who loves to workout, but I do believe that the exercise does and is helping my self esteem.
   — Leslie A. J.

December 3, 2002
I, too, think this is a great project. I would LOVE it if my trainer knew anything about WLS (she's clueless). I am just about 4 months post-op and for the last 2 months I've been working out 5 days a week. I do 30 minutes of intervals (b/t 3.9 and 4.3 mph) on the treadmill, 15 minutes on the stairmaster and then weight training 3-4 times a week. I still HATE every second of it, but I do it anyways because I want to be healthy (and the guilt KILLS me when I don't go).
   — mandajuice

December 3, 2002
GREAT PROJECT!!! I was a very active participant in the YMCA aquatic department pre-op and am again now post-op and I truely believe that helped my recovery time immensely!! I deep water walk 5 times a week for 1 hour and shallow water walk 2 times a week for 1 hour. I also take a few water exercise classes during the week depending on how I'm feeling and have just recently started a full body workout in the weight room one day a week for about an hour. I feel MUCH better mentally and physically when I can exercise.
   — Deanna_K

December 3, 2002
I love to exercise!!! I lift weights 3 days a week for 45-60 minutes (depends on rest time between sets). I do cardio for 45-60 min 6 days a week. I live in a small rural town in Ohio and we have an exercise physiologist who is familiar with wls. I have lost 126 pounds in almost 11 months. For cardio I do stairmaster, bike, treadmill,nordictrack and elliptical. My weeight lifting routine is changed about every 4-6 weeks so my body does not get accustomed to the routine. My self esteeem has really improved and continues to improve as I exercise. Good Luck Nancy Pennington
   — Nancy P.