Quote:
Originally Posted by GrandmaRose
Holy Cow! If my surgeon tells me to do all that exercise, he'd better be doing it himself, too!
I thought I was doing great to walk three times a week for an hour! Part of it is uphill (a little steeper than basement stairs - and about 4 times a long). I HATE exercise, but have to admit that walking really feels good - and I feel better afterwards and don't eat as much.
As the benefits of exercise worth the sweat? Won't you "flab up" if you stop? Our YMCA has a water aerobics class - MAYBE I could try it. It all sounds painful, to me.
GrandmaRose
Lap RNY 05/08/08
58 pounds gone.
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Rosie! (You're about to become so much livelier, GrandmaR won't cut it anymore!)
I understand your plight and worry. I'm 54, which qualifies me as one of the older ones on the board, and I'm severely disabled with back issues--nearly bed-bound. So tearing up the gym is not something I will ever be doing, and I'm mostly resigned to that. These are some things that I can do, with my limitations, that have helped me keep my weight stable for the last 2 years--I
never had stability--that in itself is wonderful.
1. Stretch like your cat or dog. Notice how when they get up, they
always stretch up, down, front, back, left, right? Try to consciously build that into your life. It helps.
2. A regular sized can of just about anything weighs 15.5oz...free 1lb weights. In between choosing your contents and opening the can, play with it a little. Grab its neighbor and play with both hands/arms.
3. Inject your favorite music more strongly in your life. When you are listening to music you love, you tap your foot, snap your fingers, wag your head, and smile! All of those things are over and above what you used to do--it all helps!
4. Ask your lady friends if any of them would like to go for a walk--You will all be supporting each other (what woman wouldn't enjoy dropping a few lbs, and you will have the advantage of the WLS!) Nothing beats a good support system.
5. This one is goofy, but I have done it every day for the last 30 years. When I brush my teeth, I bend as deeply at the hip as I can, hold it, then without changing that, I bend a knee. It stretches different muscles. I usually do this twice on each side while I brush. As those muscles loosen up and tone, wearing shoes with higher heels adds another dimension to the stretch.
Basically, Rosie,
You don't have to turn into Michael Phelps because you had the surgery. Just
moving your body through space is more exercise than you're used to. If you like it, step it up when you can. If all you can do due to your physical limitations forevermore is walk around the block, then walk around the block every day. One day you'll have a titch more energy after you get back, and oh.....unload and load the dishwasher before you sit down. Honey, you just exercised!
I'm not able to do much in the way of physical movement, but I am grateful for little things like being able to go to the grocery without needing a nap after. It's a slow start, but if you don't think of it as an exercise program and instead challenge your brain to think up funny little ways of moving your body through space...singing to a favorite cd and dancing from furniture piece to piece while dusting...it's doable! And if you have days when you can't even do that, Rosie, just tell yourself that it's okay, and that you'll try tomorrow.
Rosie
, I hope you will stay connected to the board and let us know how you're doing. I'm interested in how you do, and will shamelessly steal any fun new ways not to exercise!
Love to you! Now YOU try love to you!
Donna
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