I love my gym ladies. They are so great at providing support and motivation, and the crazy thing is that I actually provide the same to them. One pushes me to try the back-to-back spin classes, I nudge another to do cardio before Spin when all she wants is to sit in the cafe with a juice and the morning paper and then she screams NORA across the gym to make sure I don't skip out on our abs class. So far we are really good for each other. At this point just about everyone who works out daily knows how much weight I have lost. We discuss what we all eat, what our favorite cheat foods are, how our workouts are going, and so on and so on. Still, the Lap Band remains my secret.
One of my gym girlfriends and I were chatting earlier this week, and she said, 'I just cannot see you like that' when discussing my highest weight. She only knows me as a healthy gym rat, so picturing me at 300+ just doesn't work for her. She wound up telling me about a girlfriend of hers who had gastric bypass. The girlfriend is not having much success losing weight, mostly because she still eats all of the heavy Middle Eastern food she ate pre-surgery. Because of her poor eating habits, she spends a lot of time throwing up. My girlfriend was concerned about her friend and a bit annoyed that she wasn't making the changes necessary to lose weight. She looked at me and said that her girlfriend 'couldn't do what you and I do' regarding working out 5-6 times a week.
Her friend seems to be stuck with one of the main problems WLS patients suffer from-- a brain that it is not dealing with reality. From what my girlfriend told me, her friend expects to rely on the surgery for everything. Why eat differently? Why go to the gym? Didn't she have this surgery to make losing weight a breeze? Even with WLS, losing weight is not easy. We need to work for it. My gym girlfriends are fit and trim, and even they work out 5-6 days a week. If these women work out like this when they don't have to lose weight, then certainly those of us who are still overweight should be doing the same. I know it is preachy, but exercise and diet are the keys to success-- NOT focusing on the fact that we all underwent some sort of WLS.
Part of me thought that I was a bit of a fraud for not fessing up about my little helper, but then I thought better of it. At this point I am losing weight because I am eating well and working out more than religiously. Between January 3 and today, I have worked out for 64 hours 4 minutes-- that is 3844 minutes in 39 days! Yes, the Band helps me control my portions, but this just puts me on a level playing field with everyone else. If I chose to eat chips and sweets, the Band would be useless. It is only an aid for me because I am doing my best to use it correctly. I don't rely on it to police what I eat, as this is not the job of the Band. More importantly, I am working out intensely and consistently.
Tomorrow I have another triple Spin session. I just bought Spin shoes and clips today, and everyone I speak with says they will make a huge difference with my sessions. Very exciting!
14 comments:
I am so impressed by your dedication!! You have really made me think about the amount of exercise I'm doing and that I really need to change my workouts and increase my duration to get the scale moving again.
You are so awesome and have the best attitude and perspective! You're going to love spin with your new shoes -- it really does make a difference!
Hey Nora! Awesome post, and just what I needed to hear. Thank you do much for your thoughtful comment one weigh in post, sometimes I do lose sight of it!! I will endeavor to remember that point-bcs I do seem to have fairly good restriction and hunger co trail, ESP in the late afternoon evening, bcs I eat a good hearty lunch. I will also remind myself about the low cal veggie option- that is an easy way to add some bulk and fewer calories!! If I really think about it, I have been eating more calorie dense things. Not junk, but quinoa salad with dried fruit and olive oil, for example. Nutritious and tasty as heck but quite a few calories in a small portion. Anyway didn't mean to hijack your post-you are right in the money here. It's more about our brains resetting than anything else. I try to remember that every day. Have a great weekend!!
I want to say something profound, but all I can manage is just "YES!!! So proud!! You're awesome!! " so there. That's all I've got.
I was a little taken aback by your gym friend's comment that her bypassed friend "couldn't do what you and I do." I think I'm reacting like this because that comment sounds so much like "oh, she's taking the easy way out doing surgery," I don't know. I guess if she had said something a little more understanding like "she chooses not to do what you and I do" it wouldn't rankle me? Or maybe I'm just sensitive :)
If there's one message I've really taken to heart, it is that WLS (whatever method) is most decidedly NOT the easy way out, and that you have to work with this new tool and not expect it to do everything for you!
Keep up the great work and let us know how spinning goes!
You will love your spin shoes! I miss spinning and don't see it in my near future with these stitches between my legs! I will have to live vicariously through you until then.
Great post though. The band does not make you into a gym rat and in all honesty, for those that do not take a liking to the gym, their journeys often do not end up at goal and than maintenance. Just sayin.
You will be at goal before you know it my girl!
I so agree that exercise is a BIG role in the weight loss. I am jealous of the spin shoes...I used to spin twice a day and couldn't wait to get REAL shoes for class. I never did and quit going but I am planning on getting back out there. I just started following you and need to catch up on all your posts!
I don't tell people about my band unless they ask, so hey... I ain't mad atcha. You're doing at least 80%, so no shame in not sharing your little secret. ;)
Wow! 64 hours is amazing! Having gym friends is the best!
great post! exercise & good eating habits are critical to hitting goal.
PS - you'll love the cycling shoes! they really do make a difference. sounds like you are working your way towards a full-fledged road bike?
I wouldn't have told them either, Can't wait to hear how the Spin shoes go!!:)
Awesome job, Nora, for putting in all that exercise time!
I agree with the others about your choice not to tell...I keep my band to myself personally. I've only told two people, one of whom I wished I hadn't. You can't take it back once it's out there.
Amen! Mo and I were just talking about this last night! The band just puts us on an even playing field and we must work out and make responsible choices. Love love love this post!
I agree that you only get out of it what you put in. I think some people just find it a lot more difficult to jump into the healthy lifestyle than others. The most I can dedicate to working out a day is an hour (and no, I haven't even been doing that). With kids, work, hubby and house keeping, 3 hours stints at the gym just aren't in the cards. You're a superstar!
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