Running post-surgery

[BlackBerryJuice 349]

So I want to do a race with my boyfriend on Oct. 2 (about 8 weeks out from my VSG). There's a choice between a 4k and an 8K. Before the surgery, I had done a number of 10Ks, but I haven't run in a few months and obviously won't be able to start for at least another 2-3 weeks - in the meantime, I've started swimming so I'm not completely out of shape with cardio. So while I want to do an 8K, I'm hesitant to sign up with less than a month to train for it, starting essentially from 0. For those of you who've run before the surgery, how soon did you start running again? How quickly were you able to get back into pre-surgery shape? Do you think an 8K is realistic 2 months after the surgery considering I was a regular exerciser before? I have to sign up in the next 2 weeks, so before I can try running for the first time.

[emme2009 4]

So I want to do a race with my boyfriend on Oct. 2 (about 8 weeks out from my VSG). There's a choice between a 4k and an 8K. Before the surgery, I had done a number of 10Ks, but I haven't run in a few months and obviously won't be able to start for at least another 2-3 weeks - in the meantime, I've started swimming so I'm not completely out of shape with cardio. So while I want to do an 8K, I'm hesitant to sign up with less than a month to train for it, starting essentially from 0. For those of you who've run before the surgery, how soon did you start running again? How quickly were you able to get back into pre-surgery shape? Do you think an 8K is realistic 2 months after the surgery considering I was a regular exerciser before? I have to sign up in the next 2 weeks, so before I can try running for the first time.

I wish I saw this before your race! How did it go? I was a runner pre-op and have picked up my long-distance running again as a post-op. Lovin' it!

I was training for a 1/2 marathon last fall at about 230-240 pounds and of course not losing weight and my feet hurt so bad...when I scheduled my surgery, I quit training because my goal race was 3 weeks after the surgery and I knew even if I made it through the training program that I wouldn't be able to run the 1/2 anyway. I also felt so defeated and wanted to crawl into a hole.

Ran my last long run of 9 miles at the beginning of November 2009 and then stopped running. Crawled back into my hole. Had my surgery 1/13/10. I walked and was active but didn't start doing anything serious until about May, I started P90X and did it for 3 weeks or so and enjoyed it. When June came I hit the pavement. I started walking and was easily at 4 miles a day in the Florida heat...then went up north for a visit and put some pep in my step and started running....and then I never stopped.

At the end of July, I signed up for a training group to run a half marathon this November and my long run so far has been 12 miles. I plan to do this one next month and a couple more throughout the winter---including the one I dropped out of last year

I'd love to hear how your running post-op is going!

[finallyformyself 0]

Wow ladies, I'm impressed! I was hoping you might be able to help me out with an exercise/calorie question. I am just at the beginning of my research on lapband and the sleeve and will be going to the dr. in January. Although I have lots of weight to loose, I am dying to get back into shape where I can run and do bootcamp classes again. My question/concern is can you still maintain the amount of energy needed to workout intensely with such small calorie intakes? My previous trainer had me down to 1800 a day but I can't imagine working out like that with less calories. I would love any information you can give me from your personal experiences and knowledge that might help me to think through this particular concern.

Thanks so much and keep up all of the great work!

[BlackBerryJuice 349]

Wow ladies, I'm impressed! I was hoping you might be able to help me out with an exercise/calorie question. I am just at the beginning of my research on lapband and the sleeve and will be going to the dr. in January. Although I have lots of weight to loose, I am dying to get back into shape where I can run and do bootcamp classes again. My question/concern is can you still maintain the amount of energy needed to workout intensely with such small calorie intakes? My previous trainer had me down to 1800 a day but I can't imagine working out like that with less calories. I would love any information you can give me from your personal experiences and knowledge that might help me to think through this particular concern.

Thanks so much and keep up all of the great work!

I haven't done much running since my surgery - we never did the race I mentioned in my original post. I just don't like running that much and now that I don't have to do it to keep my weight down, I just can't motivate myself. However, I do intense bootcamp workouts and at 4 months out, I don't have problems lasting through one. When I first started swimming after 2 weeks, I had to make sure to bring juice to the pool with me - otherwise, my blood sugar would drop after only 15 minutes of swimming. But now that my calorie intake is probably 4-5x what I was having at 2 weeks out, it's not a problem. In the past, I had several episodes of low blood sugar after intense morning workouts - even when I did have a snack beforehand. Last Saturday we got up late for bootcamp, so I just shoved half a Protein bar in my mouth right before. However, I was able to get through the entire one-hour grueling workout without experiencing any symptoms. So I think once you start eating more, endurance is not an issue. I also don't eat low carb, though, I think the low-carb thing could make intense workouts really challenging. I personally feel like a wreck if I try to eat low carb - no energy, terrible headaches, cranky, etc.

[emme2009 4]

Wow ladies, I'm impressed! I was hoping you might be able to help me out with an exercise/calorie question. I am just at the beginning of my research on lapband and the sleeve and will be going to the dr. in January. Although I have lots of weight to loose, I am dying to get back into shape where I can run and do bootcamp classes again. My question/concern is can you still maintain the amount of energy needed to workout intensely with such small calorie intakes? My previous trainer had me down to 1800 a day but I can't imagine working out like that with less calories. I would love any information you can give me from your personal experiences and knowledge that might help me to think through this particular concern.

Thanks so much and keep up all of the great work!

Hope this isn't too late to answer your questions. I think it is completely and totally feasible to maintain the energy needed to still exercise intensely with VSG. I have been training for half marathons since July 2010 (was post op 5 months at that time) and ran another half marathon this morning The nutrition worried me when I first started training but I've never had any issues, I just started losing weight at a MUCH faster rate than before I was running so much--and that was a welcomed side effect !

Let me know if you have any more specific questions. There is also a poster on OH who has a blog (http://fattyfightsback.blogspot.com/) who trains for Ironmans, triathlons, etc and is a veteran sleever. She has information on nutrition on her blog as well that I have found handy but just applied to my needs.

[finallyformyself 0]

Thanks for the info.! My big day is April 6th. I can't wait!!!