Physical Activity & Weight Loss
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Learn How to Maintain Your Weight Loss
Take a look at these tips for physical activity and weight loss from Bariatric Endoscopy Tampa Bay.
Physical activity is important, along with a proper diet and your weight loss procedure, in attaining and maintaining a healthy weight. You should aim to be physically active for 60 minutes daily. The activity does not need to be done all at one time and can consist of routine activities, in addition to formal exercise in a gym. Wait at least two hours after eating before you start exercising to avoid indigestion.
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If you have problems moving, staying steady on your feet, or get short of breath easily, talk to your physician before starting an exercise program. If you smoke, are diabetic, or are over the age of 40, it may be prudent to get a stress test before starting strenuous physical activity. If you have been inactive, start slowly, don’t do too much all at once. If you don’t feel well, stop or reduce your activity. If you have any of these alarm signs, seek help immediately:
- Pain, tightness, or pressure, in your chest, neck, shoulder or arm
- Severe shortness of breath
- Dizziness
- Nausea and vomiting
The following are some suggested activities. Select an activity you enjoy since you will be more likely to stay with it.
Walking
Pick an area that is well-lit with other people around, such as a shopping mall or park. Walking with a friend is safer than walking alone. Walk slowly at first for 5 minutes to warm up and at the end of the walk, slow down for 5 minutes to cool off. Start gradually with a 5-minute brisk walk daily and increase over time to 30 minutes daily. Increase by 5 minutes a week until you are walking briskly for 30 minutes. If you don’t have time for a 30-minute walk, you can do three 10-minute walks instead.
Dancing
Bicycling
Water Exercises
Strength Training
Working with a personal trainer on an ongoing basis is important, so the exercise schedule can be gradually increased as your physical conditioning improves. The trainer will show you the proper way to exercise without hurting yourself.
We suggest meeting with the trainer three times before the procedure and once or twice a week after the procedure. You should plan on going to the gym daily once you have recovered from the procedure.
Get some dumbbells to do exercises at home. You should be able to do 10 repetitions with the weights you select. Aim for three days a week of strength training and don’t work the same muscles two days in a row.
Healthy Mind and Body
Daily Life Activities
Non-exercise activity thermogenesis (NEAT) refers to all energy expenditure except that used during sleeping, eating, and formal exercise. This is the energy consumed in daily life activities.
- Try to include more physical activity in your daily routine. For example:
- Clean out the basement, mow the lawn, rake leaves, do gardening, and wash the car
- Take 5-10 minute walks at work several times a day instead of coffee breaks or a long lunch, if possible
- Stand, walk, or stretch while watching television
- Take the stairs at work or school whenever possible instead of the elevator
- Park far from the building entrance so you have to walk further
- Walk while talking on the portable phone
