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Exercise is an important part of a healthy lifestyle. It is even more important after weight loss surgery in helping you achieve and maintain a healthy lifestyle.
There are so many benefits that exercise can provide you – the number is infinite! For example, regular exercise:
- Increases metabolism of fat (basal metabolic rate)
- Increases muscular endurance and strength
- Improves balance and coordination
- Prevents decline in bone density
- Increases energy
- Improves sleep patterns
- Helps regulate blood sugar
- Keeps the mind in shape
- Prevents decline in immune response
- Improves self-image and self-confidence
- Improves lipid profile
- Reduces stress, tension, anxiety, and depression
- Can help in giving up less desirable habits
- Feels good!
- AND MANY MORE!!!
Using your mindset to maintain your exercise habits
No matter how beneficial exercise is, however, it can be difficult for some people to maintain a regular exercise routine. A primary reason for this difficulty is due to an individual’s mindset about keeping a healthy lifestyle. There are several “pitfalls” or negative thoughts that people encounter regarding exercise, which usually keep them from practicing regular activities. Several of these pitfalls are listed below, with our “rebuttals” to why one CAN do the exercise despite the negative thoughts.
Pitfall 1: “I just don’t have the time.”
Rebuttals:
- Make it priority.
- Schedule time in your daily planner just like everything else.
- Ask yourself: “Do I have time to recover from a heart attack (stroke, cancer, etc.)?”
- Analyze your daily routine – are there things, such a TV, that exercise can substitute?
- Break the exercise into two or three 10- or 15-minute increments.
Pitfall 2: “I don’t have the motivation to exercise.”
Rebuttals:
- Try to find ways to sneak enjoyable physical activities into your life.
- Find a partner.
- Read about exercise.
- Use a regular affirmation: “Exercise is great for my health and prevention of disease!” or “Exercise makes me feel good about myself and I’m worth it!”
Pitfall 3: “I can’t exercise regularly, so why should I bother?”
Rebuttals:
- Remember, “A single bout of moderate intensity walking for 30 to 40 minutes will lower elevated blood sugar, triglycerides, and blood pressure.” Every workout counts!
Pitfall 4: “It’s too hard and it will hurt.”
Rebuttals:
- Easier efforts for a longer duration are as effective at reducing the risk of heart disease to the same degree of vigorous intensity.
- Proper warm up/cool down will help you to work at higher intensities.
- It gets easier if you are regular with your workouts.
Exercise options for weight loss surgery patients
As a former Good Samaritan Hospital patient, you are encouraged to attend our weight loss surgery exercise program, Weight ‘Til You See Me Now! provided at the Good Samaritan Weight Management Center. These exercise classes are provided at no additional cost to you, as they were included in your program fee. Various dates and times are available. Call (513) 985-6722 to register today (Program code PR1005). Read more about Weight 'Til You See Me Now.
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