I believe you do. Studies show that people who are most successful at taking off weight AND KEEPING IT OFF exercise regularly. I try to do something at least six times a week. I do water exercises 3 or 4 times a week for 45-50 minutes. On my non-pool days, I walk. Usually when I walk it is just for about 20 minutes. I've lost 122 pounds in a year and I credit much of my success to regular exercise. Best of all, I love it! It makes me feel so good and strong. I miss it when I'm not doing it.

Linda

In the long run, Yes! Initially you will lose the weight but in terms of keeping the weight off, you will need to exercise. My doctors office says at least 30 minutes a day. When my tailbone heals, I will be back to my hour a day.

Could you take a brisk walk during your lunch break?

After I hit my one year mark my weight loss has slowed dramatically so I am now exercising regularly so that I can get off the last 40 pounds!

actually things even like vacuuming or for me im in a 3 story walk up and I have a dog I walk 4x a day. these things my nut say counts because for most of my 3 yrs I have been to sick for formal aerobic exercise. My best friend had her procedure a year ago she like you has to be out the door in the am by 6:30am and because she works 2 jobs does not get home till 10pm 4 days a week. She actually gets up at 5 am has everything laying out she needs does a 30 min walking tape every am. I feel you need to find what works for you and maybe your nut can talk your schedule out and make suggestions on how and what you cad do to get the best effect.

JJohnson, yes, you need to move your body in order to be healthy (successful). No, it doesn't have to be a formal exercise program.

Go for walks at work. Do push-ups agains the counter. Do 10 squats every hour. When you sit, pull in your ab muscles. Flex your butt cheeks whenever you think of it!! Dance to a song or 2!! - just do whatever you can to do move your body, to use your muscles. That's the type of stuff I did the first year after my RNY. The following year I did get into a formal exercise program (and loved it). However, because of my current work/school schedule, I'm back to 5-10 minutes of exercise throughout the day.

JJ

Thanks guys! :)

I Didn't exercise much for the 1st 6 months and lost a whole lot of weight. I also lost a whole lot of muscle mass! I have been going to the gym since then up until my recent surgery, I can start again soon.
It would have been better I think to have worked out and kept the muscle rather than now trying to get it back.
I did walk the treadmill some early on and walked a lot at work. Lotsa stair cases there. I volunteered to walk the outside fence every night that was a bit over a mile around. I'd ask my doctor what I was able to do then proceed with the exercise. Mine told me after the 1st follow up I could cut firewood, run a saw and split and load wood. Don't get much more physical than that!

I exercise 2 times a week for 60 minutes at the bariatric facility I attend and then on the off days, I do wii fit or talk a walk. I think it has helped improve my strength and will help for when I have my surgery. I do feel better afterwards for sure!!!:-)

I do things like work in the yard, pressure wash the driveway and roof, spend a couple hours doing vigorous housework, take the dogs for a walk, walk around a lot doing errands instead of driving. Just make sure to move a lot during the day. I throw in a 30 minute treadmill when I have time about once or twice a week to get the cardio going. But I do something that involves movement every day. Just don't be a couch potato when you come home. Exercise is not always just formal workouts. I burned a lot more calories pressure washing my roof for a few hours (over a 1000 calories estimated by Livestrong.com) than I ever did walking on the treadmill for 30 minutes. Plus it is a lot more interesting and you accomplish something other than walking in place. And sometimes when you are first starting out there can be health barriers to some types of exercise. So movement of some type helps get you going through this point until you can lose enough weight to start more rigorous exercise.