OilSooner

If you have access to a gym: elliptical stationary bike, recumbent at first maybe pool if they have one If no gym membership: Go to a local running store and have them do a gait analysis. They will then recommend a shoe and maybe an insole that will likely reduce your back pain while walking. The gait analysis should include frame by frame video (usually on a treadmill) that shows how your foot lands and moves as you walk. If no money for above options: Look into beginner aerobics or body weight exercises on you tube, then copy at home. Body weight exercises are an excellent way to get the process started, and can take you a long way! Best of luck on your journey! Dave

Check with your surgeon regarding your specific situation, but the general rule is that you can start walking the day after surgery (progressively walking further and further), and start strenuous exercise around the 5-6 week mark. Best of luck!

I have found that while I really like lifting weights, running is an acquired taste for me. Still, my ultimate fitness goal is to complete a triathlon, so I have to keep with it. The journey continues....

I like this calculator: http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/calories.htm

Good luck on getting it worked out. exrx is a good site to help you find exercises to target specific muscle groups. Dave

I'm hungry all the time. I have been since a week or so post op. The difference is that I can only eat a small amount, then I am full. I feel like I eat all day, but I never eat more than 1500 calories. I do the many small meals through out the day, as people actually recommend. I'm 7 weeks post op.

BP normal, and type two diabetes in remission. I think I'm ready to stop using my CPAP, but I'm too lazy to schedule a sleep study to find out. I'm 7 weeks out.

Don't feed the troll.

Squats on the smith machine aren't helping you. Actually, they are just plain not safe. If you don't have access to free weights (what kind of gym has a smith machine but no free weights?), then do you have kettle bells or dumb bells? Some lunge walking with those would be MUCH better than the smith machine. Still, your best bet is to get to a gym with free weights and get into the Starting Strength program, or Madcows, or something along those lines.

I have one lindt chocolate truffle almost every night. Its 70 calories, but is one of the best parts of my evening. The good thing is that I have never eaten two....only one (I*'m seven weeks post op, and have been doing this for two or three weeks), and before surgery I would have easily eaten 10 before I knew it. Still its against the "rules" but its my one cheat thing per day. Other than that, I actually eat WAY healthier than I did pre surgery, and I exercise every day. Oh, I also eat way too fast, and dont chew enough. I do observe the Water rule, but only because if I drink during or after a meal, it hurts because there is no room for it. oh, also (!) I eat about 1500 calories per day at 7 weeks. But, I'm not sure that is a confession. (?)

Week 1 day 2 completed today. Damn near killed me, but I finished all the runs. I hope I can keep it up!

I run about 175 grams per day. But, I know that's not the norm here. I've lost 30 pounds in six weeks, for what its worth.

I will be starting week 7 on Tuesday, and my incisions are still red, and the main one (where the stomach came out) still has a scab, Is this normal? I did have diabetes before surgery (blood sugar is normal now, and has been for several weeks), so I was thinking that could be slowing things up. It doesnt look like I should call the surgeon, but I just wanted to see what the consensus was out there. How long until the incisions completely healed for you?

Thanks for the input. I had sutures and steri strips. Strips came off after about two weeks, and the last of the sutures came up out of the skin last weekend, so I pulled them out with tweezers. All incisions are still red at this point though.

Well, I am four weeks out, and have started to have headaches for some reason. At first, I thought it was a blood sugar thing (had diabetes before surgery), but I checked my blood sugar and its not that. Anyway, just wanted to check to see if anyone else started having headaches at the three week time frame. Weight loss is great, and everything else is going wonderfully. Thanks.

I can also eat more than most here. I am 6 weeks post op, and have been eating around 1500 cals for several weeks now. To be honest, I have been in a stall for the last two weeks, but I am thinking that's pretty normal. My total calories burned is still near 3000, so I have to start losing again soon. Now, regarding the eating of pizza, do you mean a slice? And I can eat about 3 or 4 boneless wings, so hopefully your 8 were bone in. Really, as long as your calories are staying at least 500 below your daily expenditure, I think you should be fine. What bothers me is if my stomach capacity could increase from where it is now, say at a year or more. That would be no good since I believe my restriction to be about perfect at 6 weeks.

I was a BMI of 41 and a diabetic before surgery. I'm 5 weeks post op, and am diabetes free. It's incredible. The sleeve is one of the best things to ever happen to me. Good luck on your journey!

well, as a follow up, I started walking, and can walk a mile and a half with ease, and I also started weightlifting last week (week 4 I think). I'm doing the starting strength program. I am really sore today, and am loving every minute of it!

For Breakfast I just had two hard boiled eggs, and two slices of bacon. That seems like a lot to me at 4 weeks. Hopefully it will keep me full for a while,

VSG four weeks ago, and am getting my molds made for Invisalign on Friday! This time next year, I should be a whole new person! I love this working on me stuff. When they said Invisalign is hard because your eating patterns get all messed up, I said I'm already in that boat, so I might as well get straight teeth out of the deal!!

A few options: 1. most machines at the gym have a diagram on them to show you how to use them. Pick a weight that is about 70% of the highest weight you cant move, and do 3 or 4 sets of 10 or so repetitions. Pick one machine to do arms, one for chest, and one or two for legs. This should be a good start. 2. sign up for a class at your gym that uses weights. There should be plenty, and if you walk by the class area and see them using barbells or dumb bells in their routine, check the schedule to get the name of the class, then go to one that fits your schedule. 3. get the p90x videos off the net (a session with a trainer might be cheaper), and give the body weight exercises a try. If you can get through the entire p90x program, you are in better shape than most people in this country. Best of luck on your journey!

I know its against the wisdom offered on this board, but maybe you should try to eat more. I know that's heresy around here, but I'm serious. Also, if you're not exercising, give that a go as well (I started just walking down the street, and have already progressed to getting a gym membership last week). These two things have worked well for me so far (no week 3 stall here, just steady weight loss).

I know I am atypical, but... I am eating about 1750 cals per day (4 weeks out tomorrow). Weight is coming off very well. I eat about anything (try to stick to healthy choices), just in very small quantites. I do eat every few hours, however. If I dont eat every few hours, then yes, I feel hungry. My Doctor seemed to think I was doing fine, and given the what the scale and measuring tape say, I am inclined to agree.

If you could post what he says about it, I would really appreciate it. I had my three week appointment last week, but wasnt having a headache at the time, so I forgot to ask!

I started walking during week two, and am now doing one mile twice per day (two miles total per day). I am now almost 4 weeks out, and joined a gym today. I start with a personal trainer Monday after work, and will lift twice per week, and do HIIT cardio twice per week (different days) from here on out to see how far that gets me. Later, I intend to give bicycling a try (need to lose a little more weight before I climb onto a bike in public! :smile1:. Short answer, 2 weeks to start walking a real distance, and my doctor said 3-4 weeks to start a serious workout (lifting, crossfit, that sort of thing). Good luck on your path!