Question:
Did anyone hate exercise before surgery, but like it now?

I know that exercise will be an important part of my post-op success, but I cannot imagine enjoying it. Right now, I don't like doing anything that makes me move too much. Seems like everything is a major effort. When does this get easier --- or does it?    — lpsrabbit (posted on January 21, 2001)

January 21, 2001
Yes, exercise is more fun now than it was 124 pounds ago! Go slowly, though. Start off just trying to do little things- park at the end of a parking lot and walk, go up and down every aisle of the grocery store (without buying anything!), stand and watch TV instead of sitting. As you lose weight and feel better, try different things to see what you like: bowling, organized sports (I play on a ladies soccer team- I never played before) swimming, jogging (yes, you will be able to!), walking, rollerblading, skiing (any kind). The idea is to have fun and be active, not necessarily to hit a target heart weight and burn X amount of calories- that comes later if you want to. Have fun!
   — M B.

January 21, 2001
The most exercise I got pre-op was opening and closing the refrigerator door. I was very, VERY good at it. Of course, it's hard to think about exercise when you get out of breath bending over to tie your shoes. I couldn't walk half a block or up a flight of stairs without practically needing medical attention. I didn't exercise because I COULDN'T exercise. Now -- nine months and 120 pounds later -- I go to an Aquafit class once a week, walk everywhere, park my car far away from the mall, etc. -- and LOVE it. I started walking when I had been home about two weeks -- every day, I'd go one driveway further up the street. Thank God I live in a bedroom community where most people aren't home during the day, or several of my neighbours would have feared mightily for my sanity. I started with three driveways and, by the time I went back to work four weeks post-op, was all the way down the block. I introduced Aquafit into my routine when I was five months post-op and able to move better. Now, I wouldn't miss it for the world, and have driven to class in a snowstorm. I wouldn't have gotten out of bed in a snowstorm pre-op. Trust me, you will come to like it, because doing it will be easier. When you can actually go more than ten feet without needing an oxygen mask, walking is actually FUN! But, as someone else suggested, go slow and build gradually ... warm skinny thoughts,
   — Cheryl Denomy

January 22, 2001
When I was fat (6'00" & 360), it used to take 2.5 hours to hike the Scuppernong Trail. Now @ goal weight, it takes 40 minutes. Being skinny is a blast. Getting up, getting out, and getting moving is a thrill a minute. Yes, walk; a little further in the parking lot, just to the end of the drive-way, to the street corner, and then around the block. <The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.> See you on the other side.
   — blank first name B.

January 22, 2001
You will begin to enjoy exercise when you don't have so much excess weight to drag around. Obviosuly you must start slow, but you can work your way up. Is there any particular type of activity you have always wanted to do but never did it because you didn't want to try it being so heavy? Mine was rollerblading. I bought my blades a few years ago but my 300 pound body just couldn't support them. Now I have rediscovered it again, and it's a blast!
   — Paula G.

February 7, 2001
I found out that it takes 6 weeks to break a habit and 3 weeks to create one. I have been exercising for over 3 weeks now and I do like it. I love the accomplished feeling I get afterwards and I am proud of myself when I am done. I am going back to work on Monday and am making myself get up at 3:30am to make sure I get it in because I will not be able to get a treadmill at the gym by the time I get home. Belive me, I never thought I would feel this way about it, but I do feel it will get better every week. Sure, I count down EVERY minute I am on the treadmill, but make sure I am there every day. This surgery will not work if I do not do this.
   — Christine C.

February 8, 2001
It's weird, but I've found that if I'm upset or frustrated, I find myself heading for the stairstepper or, in better weather, outside for a walk. I've discovered that excersise is a sure-fire cure for the crabbies. It makes me feel that I'm getting somewhere, that at least I've done something positive for myself. Also, you get a kind of 'high' from excersising, which has replaced the 'high' I used to get from eating junk. It took a while for this effect to kick in, and for me to realize what was going on inside my head. Now, I KNOW that when life in general is getting to me, I can sweat off some frustrations along with some poundage.
   — Jennifer G.

February 8, 2001
I am 1 year post-op and down 80 lbs. I exercise almost 7 days a week and I hate every minute of it. I can't wait to finish my work out and I push myself to the gym--but even though I hate it I still go. Some people never feel that "exercise high" and some people never like working out. I can say working out is easier now that I've lost the weight, but as for enjoying it, that's a huge NO! Maybe you'll be one of the lucky ones who does enjoy it!
   — prissb

February 9, 2001
Hi Leigh and everyone... I just read the greatest article and it made me realize the whole thing about excercise... and a BIG difference between men, women and children. SPORTS, GAMES and PLAYING. Women tend to "think" of excercise as a chore, men tend to like to throw the football around and play sports, kid's play game... run, kick the ball... do fun stuff. Stairmasters are not fun, roller skating is fun... bikes that go no where are no fun, bikes that go fast and far are fun... Walking won't be much fun but a treasure hunt would be great fun! Making excercise FUN to me is the important thing... it is the only way I know I'll keep active is if it FUN! 80 lbs ago it wasn't possible to do the fun things and now it isn't even thinkable to NOT do the fun things... go dancing, roller skating, running around the park, riding my bike fast and far, getting up a game of softball, swimming. I guess excercise is supposed to be routine and count the time you spend or how far you walk and all that stuff but that didn't work for me... playing does work for me... just a thought ~denise
   — blank first name B.

July 2, 2001
I guess I must be kind of weird, but I am pre-op and morbidly obese but exercise (sports) is one thing I really, really miss. After I lose part of my weight I want to take Karate.
   — Virginia J.

August 9, 2001
Here's the way I look at it. Pre-op I was trying to burn part of the calories that I had eaten. Post-op it takes me only an hour to burn my DAILY calories. Before I had this surgery I worked out 3 hours every other day and after 3 months only lost 15 lbs. Now I know I'm loosing weight and I enjoy exercising. I find it a challenge to see if I can change up or increase exercise every week. I am 4 weeks post-op and currently walk 2 miles a day and then do two 5 minute bursts on a cyclical type machine.
   — Memory C.

August 17, 2001
I used to hate to exercise, too. That was 140 pounds ago. Now I love it! Don't get me wrong. At first, it was horrible. A friend told me to use the three month rule to motivate me. She told me that any new habit takes three months to form. I stuck with it, as hard as it was, for those first months, and I found she was right! It is now an integral part of my life! If you can afford it, hire a personal trainer. Schedule your exercise, and treat those scheduled times like you would any other important appointment. Do what you can to find the motivation, and don't give up just because it is so hard at first. When I first started, I hadn't done any exercise more than walking in years! Now I weight train 5 days a week and run 3-5 miles twice a week, and I can't get away from it! It will get better, easier! It will start to feel good!
   — jenroberts

December 8, 2001
I am with the Previous poster named Virginia. I want to take Karate Lessaons also. I have always wanted to be able to do Karate, especially when I was younger, and my Cousin(and Best friend) was taking Karate lessons. I knew at that time I would not be able to keep up with the classes because of my wieght. I am still Pre-op for another 6 days, but After I am healed I am definately going to persue that as a part of my Excersize regimen!
   — sbinkerd1

January 28, 2003
I used to stay away from anything that even resumbled exercising. Today, just over 4 months post-op, I can't wait to get to the gym! I walk or ride the bike 30 minutes and then do weights. I love the feeling I get afterward. I feel like I'm on the top of the world and what I just did I did for myself. No kids, no phones, no problems; just you and the machines. Time to think, if you want, time to reflect. I feel I need that me time. I hate sweating in public but I love knowing I did something important for myself.
   — Traci S.

June 2, 2003
I find most of my motivation comes from my scale. A bad thing to do but I usually weigh myself every day or every other day. If the number goes down, I am super happy and willing to walk TEN miles a day. I hit a 3-week plateau and I just had to tell myself that when the numbers DO move, all this exercise will pay off. My suggestion is find something you kinda like doing, like bikes or a treadmill. I walk outside early in the morning, which is peaceful and relaxing. I also keep a set path, which lets me walk on autopilot where I can just think for a while. Join a gym or get an exercise buddy!!
   — Angela G.

July 19, 2003
I too did everything I could to avoid exercise. It was a struggle to make it through the day much less actually spend time lifting weights or doing aerobics. At 500 pounds I was having trouble just walking and breathing. After having lost 175 pounds, I exercise 3 times a week at The YMCA and always leave there feeling wonderful. Sweaty, but wonderful. It's my escape. No phone calls, pages, etc. It's my time to devote to myself. To best sum it up, it makes me feel alive. Before the surgey I was almost dead.
   — Kevin S.

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