Weight Loss Surgery - moving and groovin Exercise April 19-25

hi everyone... well.. no cardio for me today. im completely worn out. will try to do weights this afternoon. adn if i feel up to it, i'll take a swim as well.

gotta scoot...

Pookie asks: When you first went to the gym was it embarrassing for you?

YES! YES! YES! Walking into the gym weighing 257 pounds was one of the HARDEST things I've ever done in my life! (of course, in retrospect, it's one of the BEST things I've done in my life). I was SO self-conscious about my size and convinced that everyone was staring at me and my huge butt. I didn't fit on some of the equipment and had no idea what I was doing. It was as if I had landed on an alien planet. It took every bit of self-discipline that I had not to turn and run.

What made it work was that I signed up with one of the personal trainers there so that I could learn how to exercise and use the equipment. I had never exercised in my life other than walking so I was clueless about lifting weights and cardio. Having an appointment there with the trainer made me show up and he made me feel comfortable and a little more confident about what I was doing. He told me that I had as much right to be there as anyone else (and of course he was right).

Here's the most important thing that I learned -- everyone in a gym is so busy paying attention to what they're doing that they're not watching you at all. And if they do notice you, they think it's wonderful that you're heavy and working out. Because you're not home on the couch, eating Doritos, like too many others. Instead, you're in there, sweating, trying to improve yourself. I NEVER heard anything rude or disrespectful or unkind from anyone. Instead, I got tons of encouragement and compliments from the gym regulars as I was losing. Even the big scary guys with their big dumbbells would come over and tell me I was doing a great job.

I hope Jiff chimes in with her gym experiences and I'm going to ask Jack-150 to pop in and tell you his story. He joined my gym at well over 400 pounds and has lost more than 160 to date.

Don't give another thought to those thin ladies in their spandex. Anyway, how do you know that they didn't used to weigh 300 pounds?? Pookie, I wish I lived next door to you because I would march right over and take you by the hand and take you to the gym with me! :)

I noticed that our Megster posted here so I couldn't resist adding my two cents.

YES to everything Meg said! For God's sake, DON'T be afraid of going to the gym!! If only I could take an overhead snapshot of a typical morning in *my* gym - there are ALL sorts of folks there - young, old (actually, a LOT of oldsters), obese, fat, muscular, skinny...they run the gamut. And NOONE talks about anyone else or points fingers or looks at them funny (unless, of course, there's a line for the cardio machines and there's someone who's been on a machine for longer than the "30-minutes when other people are waiting").

In fact, let me give you some advice on HOW to be looked at and talked about in the gym:

* Not bringing a towel and wiping down the equipment
* Leaving old newspapers strewn around the floor
* Peeing in the shower (okay, had to add that from Seinfeld :lol: )
* Hogging a machine for longer than 30 minutes when others are waiting (worse yet - hogging a machine and NOT working out, but having a little chat on your cell phone or with the person next to you or whatever)
* Grabbing a weight bench, then getting all the 'good' dumbbells that you're planning on using for 8 sets gathered around you, hogging them from others who are waiting to use those same dumbbells
* Leaving empty bottles or cans all over the weight floor
* Not putting the weights back from whence they came
* Wearing a whole bunch of stinky perfume or cologne to the gym
* Not wearing deodorant to the gym (I really don't know what's worse...too much cologne or no deodorant! Bleagh!)

Of course, Meg and I NEVER EVER EVER do any of this stuff. Right, Meg???

Anyway, Pookster, ya need to seriously check out a gym. All the big chains (Gold's, World, 24 Hour Fitness) have coupons on their site for a free week or so. Of course, that means you'll get THE BIG SELL your first time in, but at least you'll have time to check out the facilities...give it a chance - try it, you'll like it!!!

Hi! Walked for 10 minutes today, and didn't take a nap after! LOL--I did collapse on the couch for a while....Thanks!

Who says you are too fat to join a gym? Not me! Let me tell you a little story of a guy who had a mini stroke and was laying in a hospital on 9/11/01 while airplanes crashed into buildings and innocent people died while he felt sorry for himself because a doctor was late coming to discharge him. It was me and I swore that day I would do something about it and after I got the go ahead from my primary care physician I began the process of shopping around for a gym. I went to several and found many reasons not to join them. One place the guy who came to show me around was built like Batman and I figured I wouldn't fit in. One place was filled with old people and I didn't want to fit in there. Finally I found a place where the manager came out and was shaped like a pear, round in the middle, narrow on top and friendly as heck. He showed me around, introduced me to some people, made me feel comfortable. I decided that I could do it. YOU CAN DO IT. It isn't easy. If it was, we would have done it already. Everybody in the gym wants you to suceed. Because they have been right where you are now. Listen to Meg and Mrs. Jim. Except don't wear deodorant to the gym! You are going to sweat. You are going to want to quit. You are going to want to stop at the ice cream place. You are going to want to sneak treats. Don't! Sometime soon you are going to go to the store and buy smaller clothes and guess what- they ARE going to fit! No fooling! Guess how that is going to feel! Jack

I can't say I was embarrassed, as I've been in gyms before, but I did make a point of being sensitive to the "vibe." Different gyms have very different institutional "personalities," and it does help if you get a good fit. It's like finding a church or a school. I personally like a very low-key, non-bureaucratic, laid back atmosphere, a quiet place-- and that's what I found. Other people want lots of hard pumping music, like a disco, because it gives them energy. Many people are into the classes, and not so much into the equipment. And yes, it can be a social scene for the singles crowd especially. Nothing wrong with that. Moms appreciate a family atmosphere with child care and classes for kids.

I'd say go to a few, and get a short-term pass to use the gym for a day or a week. Try it out at different times to get a feel for the place. Is it clean? How's the smell-- sweat is inevitable, but moldy/mildewed is not o.k. Does it have the facilities you want? Are people nice, or pushy? Is it crowded at the times you need it? Does it feel safe, e.g. well-lit parkiing lot, not a dangerous neighborhood? Is the equipment well-cared for, clean, oiled, calibrated, no wobbling, excessive squeaking, no ripped seats? Can you live with the price, both monthly and the initial fee?

After you go to a couple of gyms, you might want to mull over the experience before you sign any contract-- pick the contract up with your short-term pass, and read it at home. You don't want to stand there, frantically skimming legal material while a salesperson breathes down your neck.

That's all I can think of for now. I'd say once you choose a gym, try to relax, get a sound safety orientation to the equipment, learn the basic rules and etiquette, and then just start, slowly and very gently. Just breathe, you can do it. Go Pookie! :strong:

Here's the most important thing that I learned -- everyone in a gym is so busy paying attention to what they're doing that they're not watching you at all. And if they do notice you, they think it's wonderful that you're heavy and working out. Because you're not home on the couch, eating Doritos, like too many others. Instead, you're in there, sweating, trying to improve yourself. I NEVER heard anything rude or disrespectful or unkind from anyone. Instead, I got tons of encouragement and compliments from the gym regulars as I was losing. Even the big scary guys with their big dumbbells would come over and tell me I was doing a great job.

Meg said it all there Pook.... NO ONE will say a word, respect is what you will gain for yourself and from others... specially when everyone sees the weight peeling away.....

Listen to Meg and Mrs. Jim. Except don't wear deodorant to the gym!

Aaaccck!!! Eeeeekkkk!! :lol: :dizzy:

look at all the cheerleaders we have here today!!!!!

and apologies for not sticky-ing the thread this morning, folks. work got in the way.

and no gym for me tonight. i'm just still waaayyyy too worn out. i simply did the basics this evening with my lovely big ball. 65 sit ups. 45 push ups. hamstring/quad squats.

early to bed for me!!! tomorrow will be better.

and congrats to all of you for moving.. and especially to misty for


4 CONSECUTIVE DAYS OF MOVING!!!!!

Pookie you have had a lot of good advice. I agree with all of it. I take my almost 300 pound body to the health club 5 days a week and I feel right at home, and I work my little heart out, and know that I'm doing it for me, and not caring what anyone else thinks. But I agree that no one pays any attention to you in a negative way. Everyone is very encouraging and helpful and they do miss you if you are not there.

A few weeks ago when I was not feeling well, I missed almost two weeks and I had one lady call me at home and one lady came by my office because she said everyone knew something must be wrong with me, or I'd be there, and they didn;t even know my last name, but this lady remembered where I worked. That really made me feel good.

<sigh> so much responsibility, so little time!!!!

so far today, a 45 minute walk.

gotta go . love you all

Hi! I made it 15 minutes walking today, I'm ready to collapse now, lol.

more exercise!!!! made it to the gym.. 15 minute warmup on the elliptical. no injuries either!!

and then almost 2 hours of weights and some stretching.

felt good!!!!

Thanks Pookie, but I feel rotten this morning, hope I can walk later, don't feel like it right now, thinking of crawling back into bed... I have a gazelle too, but have never been on it longer then a minute, lol. It seems like it will be fun, but with my leg, they rub together right now, and it hurts so I cant do it. It's collecting dust in my family room. I will use it someday! Do you enjoy it?

Wow what a busy week. It's Wednesday and I have not been on this web site since Sunday! I made it to the gym two nights so far. I did the usual 1-1/2 work out on the machines (treadmill, bike and weights)
Today I'm home with a sick grandchild. OOH he has such a bad cough. Going to the doctor soon. I'm sure he will be ok, but he sure is grouchy when he does not feel good! No gym tonight, I think I have a appointment with a vaporizor, and a sick kid

Ditzy...you have my sympathies on the sick kid...nothing worse.

Misty? sometimes we all need a day off (is that me saying that?) Tomorrow just do your 5 or 10 or 15 minutes. Just a little bit each day really makes a difference and it is a great start for the bigger and better things to come.

Oh and Pookster, I have been meaning to write this for days. Geeze I hope I am on the right thread! :rolleyes: The gym is about YOU. don't you dare give a flying fig or a rats tail about what other people think. This is YOUR time for YOU. IT IS ALL ABOUT YOU DOING FOR YOU!!!!

40 minutes on the treadmill for me. My knee hurts, I choose to ignore it.

peach

peachie... your language is usually much ... um... stronger... than 'rats tail' or 'flying fig' i'm proud that you don't have to be moderated!!!!

take some vioxx or advil before you use the treadmill.

as for me.. an hour and 20 minute walk this morning,a nd another half hour tonight.

misty misty misty... if you're too tired to move, you've earned a rest. take it.

love you all...

my children were looking over my shoulder...I live to be moderated. :lol3:

Hey Pookie- I smile at people real big at the gym, it disarms them. Plus I find having a plan before I get there, a written plan is awesome, people know your serious if you keep looking at your notebook. Got to go with what Peach said, it is all about you :D

Today I did 22 min of hula hooping, then for toning some light weightlifting, stretching, and sit-ups the whole thing took about 45 min. This evening while I was waiting for a lift for my meeting I walked my sidewalks. Felt good to be outside. Must get outside more :)

Miss Chris

good morning to all you busy busy folks!!!

so far, an hour hike. it was a nice morning to be out. the little wood violets are in bloom.

But Rochemist, if I go to the gym and get disarmed, how can I do bench presses? :) I need my arms!

I (yes me, Ms. Chickadee, well-meaning, but somewhat lazy bandster) went for a lovely walk this morning. I only did a mile, but I actually DID it. I went out to get the mail and all of the sudden found myself briskly walking down my road to the river park, where I proceeded to keep going around a path that goes up and down hills. It was wonderful. The funny part is that the minute I stepped inside it started snowing to beat the band. It is snowing so hard now that I can't see much out my window. Do you think maybe this was meant to be and it's a sign from above to get my *** moving? I do!

Ooh, Jif, can I get moderated now? I said the "A" word!

Chickadee
p.s. Pookie, you're not even close to being a wimp!

good heavens!!!!! with chicka-banded-dee actually taking a walk, it REALLY IS freezing over!!!! she has the evidence to prove it!!!!!! :faint: :faint: :faint: :rofl: :lol3: :lol3:

did you take to your bed afterwards???? oh my goodness!!! i gotta call peachie!!!!!

Woo hoo! :dance: Went to the doc's yesterday and am cleared to do whatever I feel up to doing. Guess what that was? Yep, hit the gym last night for a light arm workout, a little time on the cross-trainer, and some walking. And I got up this morning, threw on my shoes, grabbed my iPod and did 30 minutes on the elliptical (you're gonna :love: it, Pookie!). Back to the gym this afternoon for a light back workout, abs, and calves.

I'm not very strong yet and don't have tons of stamina but am SOOOOO happy to be back in the gym and MOVIN' and GROOVIN' :D :D :D

The best thing is that I didn't gain any weight during my almost three week lay-off. It would have been so tempting to feel sorry for myself and end up face first in :cookie: :cookie: :cookie: or :chockiss: :chockiss: :chockiss: or :jeno: :jeno: :jeno: but I ate my protein bars and chicken breasts and egg whites (just like Pookie :) ) and stayed the same.

Next goal? Be in the best shape of my life!

oh meg... that's wonderful news!!!! and you didn't overdo, right? you're not achy and sore, right? just nicely stretched and relaxed... and you're not trying to regain all your muscle and stamina over night, right???

ok. i'll stop fussing now.

it's wonderful that you're back into your life. and at only 3 weeks!!! you KNOW i'm watching you carefully since i'll be following fairly soon...

Overdo? Moi??? :lol: Nope, just feeling good. ;) But YES my triceps are sore from working out last night -- and I love it!

As to you following in my footsteps -- this is where the healthy eating and all that gym time will pay off for you BIG TIME! And that goes for Pookie and anyone else who's pre-op. Being in the best possible shape physically before any surgery will help you get you the easiest and quickest recovery. Eating lots of protein helps with the healing process and building muscle gives the docs an anchor for the skin after they get rid of all the excess.

What was cool was doing my arm exercises and not having my triceps wave back at me. Yep, there's scars but I'll take them over bat wings any day! :lol:

PS -- you're cute when you fuss. Is that the mother hen in you??

wow!!!someone thinks i'm cute!!!! no one's called me cute in years!!!!! adorable, yes. but not cute!!!!

but i'm real glad you're being careful. the last thing you need is to rip something or pull a muscle to lay you up even longer!!

Just got in from the gym. full body. no buddy patrick to yack with, but that's ok.

and i'm sitting here struggling to eat my 'dinner' <not sure what to call it!!!> a slice of whole grain sourdough toast from TJs with about 2 oz of ham and 1/2 oz of cheese. and 1/2 red pepper and 4-5 cherry tomatoes. it's not going down well. but i'm trying!!!

Sit down Jif, because I'm posting here again! Yep, I walked again today, in the cold, about 1.5 miles. Aren't I special?

Pooks - The snow SUCKS! I know, I know, we need the moisture, but sheesh, can't it just rain or something?

Meg - I'm not sure that I'd choose "cute" when our lovely Moderator Chick is fussing. Annoying, naggy perhaps, but cute? I think not! At least that's what Peach told me :)
(Jif, I love yanking your chain! Does that count as exercise?)

Chickadee

OMG!!!!!!! what's gotten into chickadeedeedear??? could it be.... ENERGY????? oh dear!!!

<actually, i'm so happy for you i could just about POP!!!!> it's actually a good thing that it's on the cool side for you right now. at your weight, the heat is a problem when you exercise. so for right now, enjoy the cool!! by the time the summer heat shows up, you won't notice it. and that's a WONDERFUL thing about all this weight loss. last summer was the first one in about 10 years or more that i actually was out and about for, and ENJOYING myself.

hmmm gotta think about this summer, too. maybe i will indeed try kayaking!!!

peachie NEVER thinks i'm cute. especially when i'm an annoying nag [but she's about the only one i do that to, isn't she lucky??? and you should hear HER too when she gets going...]

chickadee.. about the chain yanking. i don't even feel it... try it again after a few months of bicep curls with something over 10 pounds...


oh wait. this is the EXERCISE thread... not the MODERATOR TRASH TALK thread

exercise today: a 2 mile walk [about 45 minutes]

that's pretty much it for me!!!

Hi--after taking 2 days off, I managed to walk a whole 5 minutes today....