5 Days Post Op, When Can I Start Working Out & What Should I Do?

[NJsharon 119]

So I am a member of a local gym, have been for a while, but never done anything with the membership!

Now I am sleeved, I have hope I will actually use the gym!

So when can I start working out & what should I do?

Thinking just starting out with the treadmill walking, or slowly on the elliptical? But didn't know when I can do all that?

I am 5 days post op now & feeling fantastic if that helps. Went walking 4 days post op, by the beach in Mexico. Had to walk down a bunch of steps, then up a bunch of steps & was no problem either!

[MyGastricSleeveLife 180]

it all depends on your doctor's orders. I would think if you're just going to walk, it'd be okay, but I'm no expert. My surgeon says that I can't lift anything more than 10 lbs for 4 weeks. He said it's normally about 4 - 6 weeks out that he clears people for heavier workouts than just walking. You need to follow what your doctor says since every doctor is different.

[AliveAgain 283]

I recommend keeping to walking for another 3-4 weeks, just going for longer as you progress. My doctor gave me the OK to swim once my incisions were healed at about 4 weeks out. He said I could do some light riding on the bike, but to avoid lifting weights or anything that requires bending, pulling or squatting (your own body weight). I was told the rule was no lifting or pulling 25 pounds the first week, then deduct 5 pounds each week until week six when you can go back to "normal." By then the stomach and incisions should be fully healed. I was too nervous to do too much for the fear of injuring myself, so I kept mostly to walking.

[Gene1970 179]

I like the advice that my Dr. gave me. He said use the a childs method of telling if you should do something or not... Meaning... If it hurts, then don't do it.

He said up front it's ok to go to the Gym and use the treadmill, stair stepper, etc.... and then work yourself up to doing more.

[NJsharon 119]

Thanks for the advice guys, appreciate it!

[4ALongerLife 329]

Walk, walk, walk but I'd recommend not doing too much (i.e. elliptical, definitely not weights) until 6 weeks after surgery. Consult with your physician to be sure.

Or maybe I should just have said I agree with y'all, Michelle specifically! lol

[PdxMan 4,292]

Walking and light ellipitical are great choices. I like elliptical better. Have you ever seen those treadmill tradgedies? That would not be good on a new sleeve.

[Mamamia59 11]

Ha! I, too, have supported my local gym for years without using it...keeping it in my back pocket. Now that I am sleeved, I am off today to buy myself a nice pair of shoes to use and am going to hit the treadmill. I have been walking my dogs and such since surgery but feel the need to bump it up a bit...like work an incline to some degree. I have tried the eliptical in the past and I never feel quite secure on it for some reason. Maybe I'll give that a go again soon.

[PdxMan 4,292]

Ha! I, too, have supported my local gym for years without using it...keeping it in my back pocket. Now that I am sleeved, I am off today to buy myself a nice pair of shoes to use and am going to hit the treadmill. I have been walking my dogs and such since surgery but feel the need to bump it up a bit...like work an incline to some degree. I have tried the eliptical in the past and I never feel quite secure on it for some reason. Maybe I'll give that a go again soon.

Mamamia, I suggest going to a running store and have your gait analyzed to ensure you have the right shoe to support you. It can make all the difference in the world as far as injuries, comfort and ability to go that extra mile. Having the right shoe not only impacts the feet, but the knees and hips, too. They can ensure proper alignment during walking or running. You don't have to buy them there, either. They will analyze your gait for free and tell you whether your feet: pronate, supinate or a neutral gait. Then you can go online or whereever you want and get the shoe you need.

[alliegb3 112]

You can and need to start tread milling today. Nothing fast or fancy. My gym also has a track (indoors, yay!) those can be walked too. Don't do it on drugs if your still on them. And no eliptical or weights... But go for it love, the sooner the better

[MG in SD 75]

I am 12 days post op. I walked 3 times a day for the first 10 days. Each day a little longer and faster. I was cleared on day 9 to hit the gym (no weights yet) so yesterday and today I did just that. I got in 30 min cardio before I started feeling light headed. I did 10 min stationary bike, 15 min walking with incline, and 5 min elliptical. Felt great, but it wipes me out bc I'm still on liquids. Good luck!

Sent from my iPhone using VST

[Sandi 6]

I'll tell you what I did. You have to find what works for you, but this is what worked for me. I started exercising at four months post-op. I spent the first four months just trying to acclimate to the whole new relationship with food. When I started exercising, I started with a 1/2 low impact step aerobics tape that I made for myself years ago. I hadn't done it for years, so it was like starting new. I started out doing only ten minutes without stepping up on the step. When I could do that, I moved up to 20 minutes, and before long I was able to do the full 30 minutes without the step. Then, I wanted to add in some muscle building, so we bought a bowflex and my husband set that up for me. I put together an upper body routine, and started doing that every other day along with my aerobics. Then, I got out my pilates reformer, and did the basic routine on the days I did not do the bowflex. So, I was now doing aerobics every day with either pilates or bowflex. I finally got to the point where I could do my aerobics and actually step up on the step, so that added more calorie burning. Then, my husband and I got into square dancing and ballroom dancing, so in addition to my exercise routine I was dancing about 1-1/2 hours four times a week. Then, I hurt my leg, so I had to go back to do my aerobics routine without stepping up on the step, and even had to stop dancing for a while. But, I kept going with the all the things that I could do, and just modified for the things that hurt my leg. My leg is almost healed now, and I am beginning to add more and more as I can. But, in 10-1/2 months of losing 92 pounds, I have very little sagging skin, and I think if I keep exercising after I get to goal, I will be able to tone up the little bit that I do have in my thighs.

For me, I knew that I would never go to a gym. I always think that by the time I drive there and back, I could just about have finished exercising at home. And, I hate to run. And, I didn't want to be limited or be able to find an excuse not to exercise because the weather was bad. So, for me, the ticket to success was to find an exercise routine that I could do inside my own house. And, then, I just tried to find an activity that I could do at night with my husband that we would enjoy that would keep me from becoming a couch potatoe at 6:00. Dancing was the answer for me, and my husband and I love it, and have met a lot of nice (thin) friends.

Good luck with your exercise routine. Find what works for you, and even if you get sick, or injure yourself (which seems to always happen) keep going. Do what you can do. If you injure your legs, you can do more arm lifts, or cut out the jumping (or whatever). You can always modify your routine, but don't ever stop. Another thing that helps me with my exercising is that I start off in the morning with some stretching exercises while I'm still in bed. Once I get started I won't stop, so by starting before I even get out of bed, I don't get side tracked.

Good luck.