Exercise is a very important part of weight loss both before and after your surgery. After weight loss, your body will always be fighting you to get back to your old weight. The following are ways that exercise works in your favor: burns calories, helps your body function better, supports better sleep, improves mood, and is an integral part of long term weight loss success.

Start by thinking of the emotions that come up for you when you hear the word “exercise.”

For a lot of people, this word may cause negative emotions. Maybe you feel nervous, recalling an incident in your past when you were not able to “keep up” with others in the gym or in school. It’s time to change that story!

What is the best form of exercise? This is a bit of a trick question. While many people may answer, “walking”, exercise can be anything you enjoy that keeps your heart rate up and challenges your muscles. The important thing is to find an activity that you can keep doing without getting frustrated or bored. What activities come to mind?

Sitting is another risk to our physical wellness that can be easily avoided with simple tips. Sitting for long periods of time throughout the day is associated with an increased risk of heart disease, bone fracture, and earlier death. This is true even if you get the daily recommended minimum amount of physical activity (30 minutes/day, five days/week)! In addition to your daily exercise regimen, there are many things you can do to increase your calorie burn throughout the day.

Below are a few simple ideas that are easy to incorporate into your life:

• Pace while talking on phone
• Park in back of parking lots
  
• Use stairs instead of elevator
• Stand or use yoga ball at your desk
  
• Do jumping jacks on commercials
  
• Get up every 20 minutes at work
  
• Wash your car by hand
  
• Perform housework daily
  
• After dinner family walks
  
• Prepare your own meals