Gastric Bypass People Unite!!!!

I had my surgery about 4 months ago...and so far I have lost 54 lbs.  Problem is...I'm having a problem getting motivated to exercise...I don't have much of an appetite so there is no issue there...just the fact that I'm always sooooo tired.  Find it hard to work out...Anyone have any fun activities as suggestions?

Thanks,

Lil Shining Star

If you don't mind, why did you get the surgery?  I find almost all of the people I know who have had the sugery are not motivated people.  Not even for medical reasons, just because they were not motivated and still aren't.  None of them exercise, one still drinks alcohol like crazy, another is 7 weeks post op and is trying to eat 3 fish sticks and mac and cheese, and the other has gained weight back.

Start with just a few minutes, get out and breathe the fresh air and stroll.  Just do it, that's what I have to tell my husband.  You'll be less tired if your less stressed about something.  It goes hand in hand.

You've got to get started, first.  Find something you enjoy to do and keep doing it.  Go for a walk, do an exercise video, pilates, yoga, lift weights.  Just find something.  Once you start it's not going to be a lot of fun, but keep doing it. 

I found myself watching TV and just got the urge to exercise.  So I popped in a vidoe and worked out.  When you're bored, then find something to do. 

Hey there Jenny,

I got the surgery for health reasons.  I was 90 lbs overweight, was diagnosed with diabetes, high blood pressure, infertility, and sleep apnea, and metabolic syndrome...and now due to my weight lose I'm no longer stricken with any of this anymore. 

My problem is definetely not the eating...I got that down...no bingeing here.  Its just I work full time, go to school full time, and its hard to find the energy to get out to the gym. 

I love pilates.-at the gym...but I find myself trying to clean when I'm at home.

thanks mgi01515...I will try....

hey cleaning burns cals!  get down on the hands and knees and clean the floor--- best way i know to burn cals while cleaning--- that and the bathtub. 


how are you feeling after the surgery?  are you glad that you got it?  i know a few people who have had it--some who love it and some who have regained a lot of the weight-- mostly b/c  you still have to change things from where you were before.  its not like its a magic pill or it means you have less motivation. 

good luck on the exercise parts of things!

Drea99,

I do feel the BURN when cleaning...lol

Post surgery is great....at first when I couldn't hold any food down...I was wondering WHAT IN THE WORLD DID I JUST DO TO MYSELF...lol...but the benefits are so rewarding. 

Now as silly as this may sound...I CAN SEE MY COLLAR BONE...thats something I haven't seen years....I haven't regained anything but its only been four months.  From what I understand I may gain a little bit of back...but nevertheless I will not be the size I was before-I promised myself that.  I didn't have any complications at all...probably because I'm pretty young-25.  No saggy skin...no dumping...just a little hair loss from the anesthesia...but I know for sure that I would do it again...my life is so much better...

No its definetly not a magic pill...but it is a pretty good tool..

Thanks on the encouragement!

Lil Shining Star

Well jjlewis.....YOUR COMMENT IS VERY...ahem? Not sure what to say!

 I find almost all of the people I know who have had the surgery are not motivated people.  Not even for medical reasons, just because they were not motivated and still aren't.  None of them exercise, one still drinks alcohol like crazy, another is 7 weeks post op and is trying to eat 3 fish sticks and mac and cheese, and the other has gained weight back.

First off not ALL are unmotivated! On the contrary we are very motivated! Not ALL drink like crazy and eat fish sticks and mac & cheese. Most of us do exercise and are very motivated. There are a lot of medical problems that one might consider before making such rash judgments about other people; especially if you have  never needed the surgery! Don't judge EVERYONE by the same book!

Thanks coffeelover, I would have written the same thing if you hadn't!

lilshiningstar - With working full time and going to school full time it definitely sounds like you are a very motivated person. When I tried doing both full time work and going for my master's I ended up in the hospital with exhaustion so I applaud your energy! If you are going to school, maybe a walk around the campus after class, taking the "scenic route" to your car or the bus to get home. For me, walks after class worked in 2 ways, depending on what I needed -  helped me clear my mind if I was feeling overwhelmed or helped me focus on a class project or paper to prioritize what I would do next. If there's someone at work or in your class that wants to get more exercise too, invite them to walk and talk.

I had gastric bypass 3 and a half years ago and it saved my life.  I lost over 200 lbs.  I was morbidly obese from childhood.

I was tired for a few months after the surgery too.  I am not sure what type of surgery you had but my surgeon told me that Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass is one of the most difficult procedures to recover from because they total rework your entire digestive system.  Being tired is normal.  That said, go exercise anyway.  Believe it or not it will give you more exercise and help ease your healing time and adaptation.

jjlewis, don't assume you know what it is like to have lived anyone else's life.  Maybe you are surrounded by people with bad attitudes, but that doesn't mean that everyone else is the same way.

So sensitive...First I don't judge. I was simply making a statement about people I know that have had the surgery. Did I say, "you are like them" no. I mentioned them because they lack energy as well, but are still destroying their bodies and I'm in disbelief. Just because you work and have children does not mean you are not motivated. I have four children myself and attending school, simply gaining motivation for exercise is hard! Was the original poster offended? Gastric Bypass is huge and lack of energy is daunting due to servere calorie restriction. I don't know why I am trying to defend myself. I'm through. I thought about the surgery many times, I like to chew and eat, bottom line. Good Luck to all!

Hi all, I am in the finale stages of getting ready for the surgery.  I am 50 years old and as of 3 weeks ago wieghed 379.8 lbs.  I take full respocibility for my situation up to this point and going forward.  If you all have gone through the process i did for the last 6 months you are extremely motivated people and my hat is off to you.  With the reasearch, mindset and life changing decisions this is the hardest thing I have ever done.  I have type 2 Diabetis, High Blood Pressure, Sleep Apnia and have already had 1 knee restucture...I have no other choices.

Like I said 3 wks ago I was 379.8...for my insuance to cover the operation I had to lose 5% of the weight as of right now I am down to 364 even, thanks to cc (that is the lightest I have been in 3 years).

My biggest question and concern now is what to expect after the surgery (from those that have had it) and developing a stong support network. 

Hi everyone here looking for some post surg advice first off a liitle about me im 34 i have 3 kids and this is the biggest  i have been all my life im just starting the program with surg for Jan or Feb  have started losing weight on my own but i have 200 to lose wanted to hear what people think about the surgrey and if they would do it again...

Hmmm...working full-time and going to school full-time.  How do you find time to eat??  That's a lame excuse.  Sorry, but I find surgery a major cop-out.

BLAH BLAH BLAH...TO YOU FALLING STARS   MAYBE YOU NEED TO DO MORE RESEARCH ON IT ALL.....HAVE A GREAT DAY

copout? After looking at all the prep-work and post-work they have to do you think it's a cop out? Perhaps with the surgery people will be able to lose some weight and improve their health. It's a lot easier to do that than to improve one's personality and manners.

My friend who had the surgery and it has been very successful for her, went to Curves.  She felt tired a lot too, but now, she looks great and feels great.  All the best to everyone who has had gastric bypass.  I know that your decision did not come easy. The surgery is very risky.

My sister-in-law had the surgery and while she hasn't lost as much weight as she'd hoped, her blood pressure is now normal and she doesn't have so many migraine headaches.

She's a nurse, and on her feet a lot. But even though she's active at work, getting other regular exercise on her schedule is tough because she's subject to mandatory overtime. When she goes to work at 7 a.m., she doesn't know if she'll be home at 4 p.m. or midnight.

Her brother (my husband) also has weight problems, as did their father, so his genes are obviously against him. He also has Type 1 (juvenile) diabetes and the better he controls his blood sugars, the more weight he gains. He's on steroids as part of his post-kidney transplant drug regimen. Taking steroids long term tends to redistribute weight, especially around the belly and at the back of the neck (thus the "humpback" appearance of those with Cushing's syndrome). And he has a peristomal hernia around the site of his colostomy (the immunosuppressants for the transplant induced rectal cancer), so he has a pronounced belly bulge.

But because the underlying causes of his "beer gut" are not obvious to strangers, he gets glares and whispered insults wherever he goes.  Last week at LabCorp, in a crowded waiting room of people waiting for blood draws, a woman tugged my sleeve and said loudly enough for the whole room to hear: "Is your husband pregnant?"

Mike has long since learned to tune these people out, but I couldn't resist. "Yes," I replied, beaming. "But he's a surrogate father."

Coming across this thread a little late, but I'll post anyway.  I too had the gastric bypass about 4 months ago and spent a little while feeling tired.  I am very motivated to lose weight HAH!!!  and try to walk 30 to 60 minutes each day that I can.  At first I just took a daily 30 minute stroll with my dog and then soon I felt more and more energetic.  Next thing you know I'm going to the gym and really pushing myself on the treadmill and loving every minute of it!  I eat a lot of fresh fruits and veggies and find that this is giving me tons of energy. 

I am 9 days away from havign surgery. For you people who are quick to condem those of us who this is our last hope(surgery). Get your facts straight..........

For all the many people out there who have had the surgery, I commend you for taking the leap an ddoing something to help yourself. I have been fighting this weight battle all my life and now the past 9 years it has gotten to the point of life or death. I will take life thank you. I am 290 pounds at 5'6", I have metobolic syndrome( and for those who dont know what this is... I have no working metabolism, I have to take B12 injections to survive along with more vitamins than people would ever want to take), I am insulin resistance the last sage before Diabetis, I have had 2 spinal surgeries, that have resulted in spinal fusions, I have osteoarthritis of the knees and ankles, to the point I need a total knee reconstruction, I have high blood pressure and uncontrolled cholesterol and triglycerides, I am a time bomb at the age of 40. Yes some could have been avoided but most could not, some was heredity and alot was medication induced. Many medications slow the bodies natural metobolic process, there for if on for long periods of time will destroy your metabolism...........like mine.

I have tried diet, excercise, and even starvation. Nothing worked. I eat only natural foods and grilled meats, nothing process and no sugar. No weight comes off. I also do portion control, 3 oz lean meat grilled, 2 cups fresh vegetable, and 1/2 cup starch at each meal, plus veggies and fruit for snacks in between. Nothing worked. Motivation and determination is what most GB patients have or they would not have the surgery in the first place.

I am excited to finally have a tool to help me to finally kick start my body, loose weight and be healthy for the rest of my life. I am proud to become a memeber of this elite society of gb patients that care enough about or selves and those we love that we are willing to work harder to be healthy than most people, we are selfless enough to think about our loved ones to want to be around for them for a very long time.

God bless you all and 7 days and counting until I join the rest of you wonderful and lighter people.........