Stomach Exercises?

[frumpynomore 204]

I'm 12 weeks out and signed up to start with a personal trainer tonight. I'm afraid that I'll tear something in my stomach and create a leak. Can someone tell me exactly what I can and can not do? Should I stay away from anything that tightens my stomach muscles? Should I not bend excessively or anything like that?

[ProudGrammy 8,322]

hey frumpynomore

not sure, maybe your trainer might have some info on your question, or there is always the standby "check with dr"

best wishes

kathy

[circa 333]

your stomach isn't a muscle so that shouldn't be a concern. You're about 3 months out - check with your surgeon to make sure you don't have any restrictions. I'm restriction-free at the 6 week point.

[frumpynomore 204]

Thanks for the info.! My doctor's office hasn't returned my voicemail and my training begins in 1 hour. I've had no problems with and since the surgery and at 8 weeks my doc said I could start exercising. I just wasn't sure if there was anything I could do that would create a leak.

[carbgrl 119]

I'd be interested in hearing what your doctor says but, maybe start out slowly and try not to over do it to soon.

Good luck.

[mona777 12]

I WAS SLEEVED 12/20/11, AND I'VE STARTED EXERCISING WITH NO PROBLEMS. IS IT STILL POSSIBLE TO GET A LEAK THIS FAR OUT?

[IowaAndy 95]

I doubt the trainer will have any idea as I doubt he know what your surgery entailed. I would check with my surgeon. My first surgeons office actually had an exercise person. I am not sure if your surgeon's office might have one but I would check with their office to make sure.

[RickM 1,747]

Actually, the stomach is muscle, which is why the extensive liquid diets that some are put through probably isn't such a great idea - it needs rest and healing, but also physical therapy and exercise; it is a much more active organ than a flaccid rny pouch. But I digress....

The concern with post op execise isn't so much the threat of leakage, but that of hernias around the incision sites and that's why we have lifting restrictions, etc. for a period of time post op. My doc was fine with getting back to some general exercise after 3-4 weeks, starting gently of course, but avoiding doing crunches and other significant ab/core work for 12 weeks, which is about the most conservative that I have seen mentioned on these various boards - so the OP is right in that window where more work is appropriate (as always, check with your doc on these matters. I would expect that a trainer with any sort of rehab credentials would be familiar with handling someone recovering from abdominal surgery in general, which is really the main concern here. Both s/he and you should be starting out gently and working up from there, being sensitive to any adverse feelings that you get - if something doesn't feel right, don't do it; work at it from a different approach and try again later. I'm working around an injured shoulder with my trainer, so if something doesn't feel right, we back off and do something a bit different.

Good luck and happy training!