Dedicated Non-Exerciser

[jamma]

This is the first time I've actually generated a post, usually only respond to others asking questions, etc. I was wondering if there were any people out there that are like me. When I was considering the Gastric Sleeve, one thing I was concerned about was that I would have to start exercising in order to make the most of my surgery. I would be a fool to think that the sleeve would work the miracle all by itself. I actually put off my surgery because I could not wrap my head around getting a lot more active. I know other people on this forum have expressed how they desired to be more active and needed to lose excess weight to make it happen. So as you shrink, YOU are happy you can do more. I am totally the opposite! As I shrink, it worries me that I will have to do more and more to keep it coming!

Now, don't get me wrong, I am a person who loves to play. I play a lot of golf, bowl, bike, swim. But as far as taking a class or, horror--running--not something I really look forward to. I have signed up with a personal trainer who, hopefully, will help me get over my fear of fitness classes and machines. Any feedback would be welcome.

[sraebaer]

You don't have to do anything you don't like, there are a zillion options to be active. Golf, bowling, biking and swimming are great exercise, just do those things and you'll be great. If you enjoy your personal trainer, keep it up, if you don't, go back to what you enjoy. Variety helps too.

I'm a hiker, runner, and skier. I HATE gyms, and will only enter one if it's about 100 degrees or below zero. I love being outdoors, refreshes my mind, body, and soul. I can't swim (well I wouldn't drown, but I sure couldn't do laps in a pool) and can't golf (totally uncoordinated). Biking hurts my knees. So I guess the only point i'm making is we are all different; do what you like! No one says you have to take a class or run, just like no one says I have to swim, golf, or bike.

Congrats on your decision to be sleeved, it's a miracle in my book! Best of luck to you.

[Merry Mary]

You don't have to do any specific exercise, just be more active. Walk, park further from the door at work, chop wood, cut grass..etc. golfing, swimming, biking and bowling are all exercise. Find something you enjoy doing and it won't seem like work.

[Pam G]

So far I've been completely sedentary. The only time I get off the couch or out of bed is to go to work.

once in a blue moon, I'll do a bit of yard work, like pruning, but nothing very strenuous. I don't want my weight loss to depend on activity, because I have never been very active. I have a gym membership just in case, though.

im 56 yrs old and I know me....I've never been able to keep any exercise routine going for longer than a couple of months, so it's really important to me to not have to be active.

[Kindle]

I have not stepped foot in a gym in over 10 years. I don't workout. I don't train for marathons. No yoga, no Zumba, no personal trainer, no cardio, no weight training, no laps in the pool, etc. in fact, I hate "excercise". I do, however, have a physical job where I am on my feet, bending, squatting and lifting 40-60 pounds regularly. For "fun" in the summer I kayak, ride horse, take my dog on hikes, and ride my bike a little. In the winter I mostly sit on my butt in front of the TV and my only exercise is shoveling snow and feeding horses. I normally park as far away from a store entrance as I can and take stairs instead of elevators/escalators whenever I can.

I lost over 100% of my excess weight and kept it off for 3 years with absolutely no formal excercise. So no, you do not need to excercise to be successful postop. Excercise will, of course, improve your health in other ways and maintaining muscle mass will, in turns fuel your metabolism, but it's what you put in your mouth that mostly controls weight loss/gain.

[sraebaer]

So far I've been completely sedentary. The only time I get off the couch or out of bed is to go to work.

once in a blue moon, I'll do a bit of yard work, like pruning, but nothing very strenuous. I don't want my weight loss to depend on activity, because I have never been very active. I have a gym membership just in case, though.

im 56 yrs old and I know me....I've never been able to keep any exercise routine going for longer than a couple of months, so it's really important to me to not have to be active.

Really important to you NOT to be active? No way could I have kept my weight off for almost 3 years without being active. After a while you can eat more and your hunger returns with a vengeance. You have to exercise in order to avoid regain. Not to mention it tones your extra skin and makes you look better. But probably the most important is your heart health. You had the surgery to be more healthy, how can you be healthy without some activity? This is a lifestyle change, if you're totally unwilling to change I'm not sure if it will work for your lifetime. (By the way, I'm 60, so you're not talking so some young person by any means.)

[sraebaer]

I have not stepped foot in a gym in over 10 years. I don't workout. I don't train for marathons. No yoga, no Zumba, no personal trainer, no cardio, no weight training, no laps in the pool, etc. in fact, I hate "excercise". I do, however, have a physical job where I am on my feet, bending, squatting and lifting 40-60 pounds regularly. For "fun" in the summer I kayak, ride horse, take my dog on hikes, and ride my bike a little. In the winter I mostly sit on my butt in front of the TV and my only exercise is shoveling snow and feeding horses. I normally park as far away from a store entrance as I can and take stairs instead of elevators/escalators whenever I can.

I lost over 100% of my excess weight and kept it off for 3 years with absolutely no formal excercise. So no, you do not need to excercise to be successful postop. Excercise will, of course, improve your health in other ways and maintaining muscle mass will, in turns fuel your metabolism, but it's what you put in your mouth that mostly controls weight loss/gain.

Kindle, your life is exercise!

[Cherub]

Really appreciate all the posts on this topic I also am not a lover of exercise. Never kept an exercise routine. I will say that now that I feel better, I do enjoy my 30 min walks 4-5 times a week. It is helping me with stress. So it is comforting to know that I can continue to control my weight loss with the food and use the activity to enjoy myself or to reduce stress like those of you successful folks who posted your habits!

[Shirl]

If I get too complacent after a few weeks I start getting restless leg syndrome. It's an achy painful feeling throughout my muscles and bones.

I also knew a friend whose grandmother had muscle atrophy because dhe never did any type of exercise. She wasn't fat or obese, in fact she was skin and bones. That always scared the s**t out of me!

[jamma]

Thanks for all the posts. Even though I hate to "exercise", I DO find myself doing more and more everyday. I can walk further and longer, golf doesn't exhaust me and more things are coming naturally. Hopefully, with a little strength training with this trainer, I will feel like doing even more!

[Ann2]

I wish I played golf. It's so social and can be good exercise. Unfortunately, the way most of my friends play the game is by riding golf carts and drinking beer for 18-36 holes. That's a LOT of beer!

But seriously, I agree that "exercise" shouldn't be defined as "going to the gym five days a week."

That's SO not my definition. I don't think a lot of folks here define it that way either. I define exercise as any activity that makes me move my body, walk, bend or lift.

When I weighed 100 pounds more than I do now, it was very hard to move, much less get any exercise. The first time I counted my steps I was able to do only 900 in a day. Now, three seasons out of the year I move at least 10,000 steps a day. Since I have gotten healthier the types of exercise I do vary with the seasons.

Year-round:
Housework
Shopping and errands
Yoga classes (twice a week)
Walking outside (when the weather cooperates)

Winter:
Aquarobics (3 times a week)
Walking on the treadmill (we have one at home)

Spring, Summer, Fall:
Mowing (we mow a LOT of acres)
Gardening
Spraywashing and other seasonal cleaning chores
Cleaning fencelines
Kayaking
Hiking

And then there are all the extra calories we now burn by leaving the house to attend social, sporting, and other public events. Many overweight and obese people are sidelined from life by social embarrassment and agoraphobia. I certainly was!

The exercise "tools" that have helped me get and stay healthy include:

* Classes and qualified teachers and fellow students (yoga and aquarobics)
* Our old home treadmill
* My Fitbit and other step- and mileage-tracking apps I use
* GOOD walking shoes (Saucony brand)
* Exercise clothes (hey, cute ones can get you up and moving)
* Walking poles
* My therapist -- who rides my ass about exercise
* My Fitness Pal (where I log some of my exercise to learn how many calories I'm burning while not sitting around)
* Hubby's cheerleading -- he calls me his "senior athlete"

I don't believe I could maintain my weight or keep my head in the game as well as I do if exercise weren't part of my new lifestyle. Other direct rewards of exercise and movement are that I have more energy, have more physical stamina, sleep so much better, and don't have the aches and pains I once had.

AND I GET TO EAT 200-400 CALORIES MORE EVERY DAY THAN I COULD IF I DIDN'T EXERCISE OR MOVE THIS MUCH!

[Pam G]

In 56 yrs I've not been an active person.. I've tried. Many times. It's just not me. I have no desire to walk in the woods, ride a horse or golf. I thought maybe being overweight was the reason, but no.

Maybe a little bit longer at this new weight and I'll add some activity, but for now, it's not part of my lifestyle (as it has never been).

i also don't like traveling, just sayin.

Really important to you NOT to be active? No way could I have kept my weight off for almost 3 years without being active. After a while you can eat more and your hunger returns with a vengeance. You have to exercise in order to avoid regain. Not to mention it tones your extra skin and makes you look better. But probably the most important is your heart health. You had the surgery to be more healthy, how can you be healthy without some activity? This is a lifestyle change, if you're totally unwilling to change I'm not sure if it will work for your lifetime. (By the way, I'm 60, so you're not talking so some young person by any means.)

[Katrina]

Not an exerciser here either. Not once. No way. I am the very definition of a couch potato. I average way fewer than 1,000 steps per day. Sad, but true. Never once had any trouble losing the weight. No stalls. No problems keeping it off so far at more than 2 years out. I eat whatever I want whenever I want. It just works for me. If that begins to change, I will reevaluate. As for now, why fix what ain't broken?

[Christie13]

If you want to exercise you should find an exercise that you enjoy. Don't exercise with something that you don't enjoy. Because then you won't keep doing it. Sounds like you have plenty of activities that you enjoy. Stick with those. The important thing to remember is that everyone is different and everyone reacts differently with the surgery. I will say that they say losing weight is about 75-80% diet. But exercising can keep your heart healthier and give you more energy.

[Kindle]

Kindle, your life is exercise!

LOL. Not this weekend it wasn't. Lazed around in bed till 9am both days, did the bare minimum feeding horses and a couple loads of laundry and then spent the majority of the time binge watching Netflix. The only time I moved was to go from my couch to my BF's couch or to bed to take a nap. Blew off shoveling, plowing and passed on a snowshoe trip and improv comedy night out with the girls. It felt GREAT!