Question:
PostOp Poll: Exercise or No? How much, what time, how often? Effect on wt loss?

I'm curious about the differences between people who exercise and what type of exercises versus people who do not exercise post op and weight loss or size loss. If you exercise, how much, what type of exercise and how often and how much weight have you lost or how many sizes have you dropped (for people who weight train, the size might be more revealing). If you don't really exercise, has your activity increased and what is your weight loss, size drop?    — susanje (posted on December 17, 2002)

December 17, 2002
I don't really exercise, though it remains my constant goal. A New Year's resolution (again). My activity level has increased significantly, though, and I am approaching a weight where I actually believe I'll be capable of exercise. When I do, it will be primarily swimming and I think Curves. I've lost 110 at 4 1/2 months.
   — jen41766

December 17, 2002
Susan, early on, you do not have to exercise to lose weight. The weight will drop off because of the rerouted intenstines(malabsorbtion) and the small quantity we eat. However, further down the road, as we eat more, it does become harder to lose and maintain the loss, especially a few years down the road. Exercise is one of those habits that you are encouraged to get into early and make it a part of your life, like the protein first, and water, water, water, and vitamins, and lo carb rules that we are taught early on. Exercise will help to tone as you lose weight, it also helps to build muscle weight which burns calories more efficiently and quickly, and helps us to lose the fat and not the muscle. I know there are some that cannot exercise due to medical problems-I have a herniated disc that limits what I can do, but I do get on the treadmill a few times a week and use small hand weights for the upper body. Before my disc problem and when I was heavier and just starting to lose the weight, yoga was a great strengthening, non-impact exercise, to start with as is swimming. And walking is always good, no matter what weight you are.
   — Cindy R.

December 17, 2002
I started off by walking right after I got home from the hospital. I had an open RNY on 7/2/02. By mid-September I was walking about 5 miles every-other-night. At that point, I decided to go the the gym and start lifting weights. I go to the gym MWF for about 90 minutes each time. On Mondays I do Legs - squats, leg press, hamstring, and inner/outer thigh. Wednesdays I work Back and Bicep - bicep curls (machine and free weight), Lat pull downs, etc. On Fridays I work Tricep and chest - military press, bench press, french curls, etc. 90% of my workout is on the free weights (in the "big boy room") and not on the machines on the main gym floor. I dont do alot of cardio - although not resting too much in between sets DOES keep your heart rate up when lifting heavy. Since I started lifting weights in mid-September.. Ive dropped almost 3 pant sizes and my skin isnt as saggy because the fat filler is being replaced by toned muscle.
   — Valerie H.

December 17, 2002
Susan, I work out 5X/week (M-F)...I walk 20 min every morning at 6am to the gym (I live in NYC) and then work outr for 30-40 minutes. I do water areobics, eliptical machine, recumbant bike, yoga, etc...I am 4 mos out and down 72lbs from (305/233).
   — heathercross

December 17, 2002
I don't do a whole lot of exercise except for walking (and I do mean walking) my 7 month old dog (see my "before" photo--there he is). I'm 2.5 months post-op and am probably down a good 45 lbs. I am VERY happy with my weight-loss and do intend to up my exercise after the holidays. I haven't purposedly neglected exercise, it's just that life has kinda gotten in the way (family stuff, weddings...guests...). Again, I'm happy with the loss, though I'm sure if I'd incorporated exercise, I'd have lost more. I started out with a 41 BMI, I'm considered a relative lightweight. Hope this helps.
   — Karen K.

December 17, 2002
Since my tt in August, I haven't exercised at all. Before that, I exercised 4 to 5 days a week (walking on a treadmill for 30 minutes) from January to August. At the time I started exercising I was 2 months post-op Lap RNY. So from January to August I went from approximately 210 pounds to 140. Not bad considering I was a lightweight (248 was starting weight). I felt better exercising and felt my body looked better. Since my tt, I've taken off my remaining weight (12 to 15 pounds) and am comfortable at 128 pounds now. I would like to start exercising again, not for weight loss, just to be more toned and feel better. It definately does make you feel better.
   — Patty H.

December 18, 2002
I have been shallow water walking since I was 2 weeks out from surgery(open RNY). I've also been back to teaching water exercise classes (shallow and deep) since I was 4 weeks out. I spend on average 9-10 hours in the pool a week and my energy level was back in 3 weeks and my husband is contemplating buying rollerskates to keep up with me!! I've lost 63+lbs(I only weigh once a month) and 36.5+ inches(only measure once a month) so far and am 3 months out. I'm planning to start a weight training program after the 1st of the year as well. My body is definately bouncing back better than I had expected and I think keeping my muscle tone is the key!!
   — Deanna_K

December 18, 2002
I have never been much of an excerciser. However, I knew that if I had the surgery I was going to have to make some changes. I looked around to find something I could do, some type of machine, that would be helpful in motivating me in excercising. I decided to buy a really nice eliptical trainer, which is non-jarring on the knees and easy to use. I used it for 30-60 minutes a day, and then walked two miles at lunch time from work, and within six months had lost 150 lbs. Then the weight started to taper off and I lost my momentum in excersing. I have not lost any weight since my seventh or eighth month post-op. I had surgery on 06/2000. Personally, I feel that excercise is deffinately the key, and had I continued to excercise I would probably be way below my current weight!
   — twenc