How I Keep Exercise Fresh 10 Years After Weight Loss Surgery

Note from a fellow bariatric patient... 

It’s been ten years since my weight loss surgery, and one of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is this: Losing weight was only the beginning. Keeping it off requires finding new ways to move and avoiding the same repetitive workouts. Variety keeps exercise fresh, fun, and something I genuinely look forward to.

Starting Small: The Power of Walking

It all started with walking. I used to underestimate it, thinking it wasn’t a “real” workout. But walking became my first stepping stone to building endurance. I began with short walks around my neighborhood, focusing on consistent movement rather than speed or distance.

Over time, those walks became longer, and my pace got quicker. Eventually, I found myself jogging for a few minutes, first to the next street corner or mailbox, then back to walking. Slowly, those short jogs added up, and my body adjusted. Now, I can string them together into longer runs, and I’m even training for my first 5K. That race is my next big challenge, something that both excites me and scares me a little, but instead of avoiding that feeling, I’ve learned to embrace it.

Strength and Flexibility: Building a Balanced Body

Over the years, I’ve learned the importance of strength and flexibility. I used to dread strength training, but now I understand how critical it is for long-term health.

• Strength training helps me build muscle and burn more calories, stay strong, and protect my joints.
• Flexibility exercises prevent injuries and make daily activities easier. I can squat without my knees aching, reach high shelves without straining, and keep up with the activities I love.

Adding Fun: Cardio Drumming and Creative Workouts

My new favorite activity is cardio drumming, which adds yet another layer of variety. There’s something powerful about pounding out a rhythm while moving your whole body. The music keeps me energized, and before I know it, an hour has flown by.

It feels like a dance party with drumsticks, reminding me that exercise can be creative, playful, and even a little loud.

Variety Is Key: Mixing up Your Workouts

I’ve discovered that no single workout can carry me through a lifetime of fitness. Instead, I mix things up:

• Walking and jogging to build endurance
• Strength and flexibility classes to stay balanced
• Cardio drumming for fun and energy
• Rowing or treadmill time to zone out with TV

Permitting myself to switch it up keeps me from getting bored and keeps my body from hitting a plateau. Most importantly, I’ve learned to see exercise not as punishment for eating or a chore I must check off, but as a gift to myself.

Staying Active: A Lifestyle, Not a Chore

Ten years after surgery, I’m not just maintaining my weight, I’m building a life where I can travel, hike, dance, and enjoy the freedom that comes with being active.

If you’ve ever felt stuck in a rut, try something new:

• Lace up your sneakers for a walk
• Step into a dance class
• Grab a couple of light weights for a home workout
• Sign up for that 5K you’ve been eyeing

You don’t have to love every workout, but you might surprise yourself with the ones you like. Challenge yourself to add one new activity that excites or even scares you. It could be the spark that keeps your journey moving forward.

The Joy of Movement

In the end, staying fit isn’t about finding one perfect exercise; it’s about finding joy in movement, again and again. Keep exploring, stay curious, and make your fitness journey something you look forward to every day.

Sincerely,

—Your bariatric friend