your doctor is a jerk imo! there was nothing wrong with what you were doing and you were getting results. sometimes the stupid doctors only care about the end goal and nothing in between - i.e. his comment demotivated you instead of motivating you (i.e. there was wayyy better ways to say what he was getting at). Additionally its about making a LIFE LONG change and for some of us going to the gym and exercising like madmen is NOT possible and not something that we can sustain in the long-term, where as a daily hour long commitment to walking is.

What I believe he meant was to get better results you should increase the strenuousness of your exercise and that can be jogging, swimming, bike riding, hiking, at home work out videos, etc. I would not stray too much from what you were doing unless its something you are comfortable with and interested in.

I started with walking post-op and bike riding. Then as the weight came off I found that I REALLY disliked bike riding and continued the walking which lead to hiking which lead to jogging. I have tried going to a gym but find that I just cant get into it - its smelly, I dont like the atmosphere and its not for me. I want to do more activities to change the variety of exercise, and nothing more. I dont fee guilty because I dont work out like mad, or take zumba classes or bike a million miles a day or one of a thousand other exercise the other do - I do what works for me and thats all that matters.

SO dont listen to him. do what works for you! :happy:

I thought walking was the best thing for u? Don't give up!

What! Walking is better then nothing imo. Walking is all I did for the first 6 months after surgery. They had me walking rounds at the hospital the day after surgery and I never stopped. Started with just 20 min a day up and down my street outside the house. I did work up to more but I have never had a doctor say walking was not exercise. Don't feel bad get back to walking it does help.:)

You walking is better than you sitting on the couch doing nothing.

I will say working out in a gym is probably one of the most hardest things to overcome, We were given a free year to the hospital owned gym, but the hours and motivation weren't there for me and I squandered a great gift.

I now pay for a 24 hour gym, and go at least 4 - 6 times a week on my schedule. A constant, focused exercise session is key it is the other half to eating right. Find something you enjoy and do it, get some headphones hit the gym and focus on what you are doing.

Hope this helps to motivate you.

My Dr suggests walking. He does want me to continue to increase distance and speed and avoid just walking the same route every day fir the same amount of time.

I hate going to the gym. It is not fun and not something I cannot maintain over a long period of time. What I do enjoy is riding my bike, so I got a new bike actually 2 (one basic and one electric assist) and I ride to work and back each day. By building the activity into a daily routine has made it easier. My electric bike is pedal assist meaning I have too pedal for it to work, but I live in a very hilly community and when I am coming off night shift in the pouring rain it helps getting home. I seldom move the power level above 1-2 which will give me assist to 13 km/hr, I bike at 15- 20 km/hr most of the time. It is nice having a throttle to get you out of traffic and around some dumb drivers.

Find what works for you and keep active.

Don't give your Dr. the power to make you give up. Only you have the power to do that. You can't control what others say but you can control your reaction to it. Let it roll off your back. It's your body, your sleeve, your weight loss, your health. You have to do what you need to do for you. In 5 years is what the Dr. said going to matter. Don't give him that kind of power. You are a powerful person and in charge of you. Just DO IT.

I am learning, (it made the dietician laugh) to tell naysayers no matter who they may be, to buzz off. I have a co-worker who now claims relative #2 has died due to weight loss surgery. Well this one died and the other one is eating baby food three years after having the surgery and will for the rest of her life. This guy is almost 400 pounds himself and went to hear about the surgery and said he walked out because he thought it was a bunch of BS. The thought of me having surgery and losing my weight is killing this guy. Guess what, he can bite my rear end I don't care. Walking is very beneficial and great exercise if you walk a good pace and find some hills to climb. I'd like to have that Doctor come to downtown Asheville NC and walk these hills around here and tell me it ain't real exercise. He would probably be so winded he wouldn't be able to talk. You go girl!

I agree with all that have voice their opinion here! Please do not give your doctors, lawyers anyone with any remote influence that kind of power over you! This is your time and your opportunity for re-birth! You get to write the next best chapter in your own story so don't give ANYONE your purple crayon! (Please read Harold and the purple crayon!). I was sleeved last October! In December I got a Jack Russel-Border Collie mixed one year old girl-y girl I call Belle! She was suppose to be a 'rescue' and she rescued me. We walk 3-5 miles per day as her breed (s) gets bored very easy, needs the walk and has tons of energy. Nervous energy! So we walk. and walk and walk and then we take another short walk! That is how the pounds have fallen off! You have to do you and are obligated to do only you! You know what works for you and not your Dr or anyone else! So go get your motivation back! Buy a new pair of walking shoes or new clothes to walk in! take a different walking route. Volunteer to walk someone's dog or walk a kid in a stroller (extra workout pushing a stroller!) or pull a kid in a wagon! Do anything that excites you to take that first step, but by all means, take that first step! And friend me here so that I can encourage you to keep it moving!!

Isn't enough for what? You're doing great. I have NEVER wanted "planned" exercise to be part of my weight loss. I know me, I know how quickly I can lose focus, get bored. I wanted LIFESTYLE changes I could live with forever. I do NO exercising, I haven't stepped in a gym for ten years and I will not. I park way out in parking lots, I walk the mall, I have a 5 lb weighted ball that I toss around every so often, but that's it. Healthy heart wise, I SHOULD exercise, but I don't. The changes I've made will not come to an end due to age, a twisted ankle or boredom.
Listen to your gut. Congrats, you really are doing good!

Walking is great exercise !!! I live in Orlando, Florida. It's so hot, that I find it more comfortable to do 30 minutes on the elliptical machine in front of a fan, in the air conditioning and in front of the TV, I also like to swim laps. I have a waterproof MP3 player, so I put on my headphones and hit the pool. Swimming, for me is like relaxation, meditation and exercise all at the same time. There is no impact, and it uses every muscle in the body.