The importance of exercise right after surgery

[Phoenix79 452]

We're talking walking, cycling, elliptical etc here- not heavy weight bearing exercises! I just got back from my surgery consent signing and nutrition classes (surgery July 2nd), and my surgeon explained it like this- after surgery, you're going to be at a severe calorie deficit. Your body is going to take the energy it needs from your muscles or your fat stores- it will take from your muscles first unless YOU tell it to do otherwise. How do you do that? By becoming active with walking and other low impact exercise as soon after surgery as possible. Exercise will help you retain muscle and as you lose weight, that muscle will start to be visible and will prevent you from getting that gaunt look you see in some weight loss surgery patients. Also, your retained muscle will help increase your energy level over time- if you don't exercise, you will become less energetic as your body eats your muscle, you get weaker as your body percentage becomes more fat than muscle. Quite an argument for tying on the tennis shoes and walking the dog around the neighbourhood after I get back from the hospital! The key is do what you can, and keep increasing distance, hills, light hand weights, etc until you're cleared for heavier activities. You can't entirely prevent muscle loss, but it's easy to keep more of what we have- and surprise, we have a lot more than you think...we've had to carry our heavy bodies around everywhere! Just something to think about. .

[tigerbelle 328]

that all makes sense....and I am trying hard to at least walk a little every day....I am just really struggling with being so tired when I get home from work...as soon as my incisions fully heal, I am going to start back with Water aerobics...thanks for the insightful post

[Molly3 495]

Thanks for sharing!

[mariadt 27]

I walk early in the morning. Is it best to take the Protein after or before the exercise? THanks!

[Phoenix79 452]

I walk early in the morning. Is it best to take the Protein after or before the exercise? THanks!

I believe you eat your protein before an AM workout... You're doing to need the energy, especially when you are first starting out. Further on, when you're working in good carbs, you'd actually want to eat something like greek yogurt with fruit, almond butter on part of a banana or apple before hand, and then your protein or Protein Shake within 45 min of working out. Maybe more experienced folks could chime in on this...what did you do in the beginning?

[getlownurse 105]

Protein is for after to repair your muscles (so says my bodybuilder husband)

[JProx 161]

Thanks!!

[Someonefab 25]

According to my trainer, he said that you need a Protein Shake during my workout so that my body will not eat away at the muscle. That particular day I did a cardio class for an hour and was getting ready to do some weightlifting for another hour. He said that my body needs the Protein to help build the muscle and to give my body the fuel it needs to perform at its best. Well when I did that, I notice I had enough energy to complete my workout with energy to spare.

[amytug 996]

According to my trainer' date=' he said that you need a Protein shake during my workout so that my body will not eat away at the muscle. That particular day I did a cardio class for an hour and was getting ready to do some weightlifting for another hour. He said that my body needs the Protein to help build the muscle and to give my body the fuel it needs to perform at its best. Well when I did that, I notice I had enough energy to complete my workout with energy to spare.[/quote']

That's what I do sometimes.

[Ljones1 48]

That's great! I'm doing a lot of strength training also. Not sleeved yet but I no this is going to help me in the long run and it feels good.

[Someonefab 25]

That's great! I'm doing a lot of strength training also. Not sleeved yet but I no this is going to help me in the long run and it feels good.

I am not sleeved yet either. I am on week 4 of 12 of my classes before I am given a date. I try to include strength training at least once or twice a week. I don't want a lot of excess skin when its time to have my surgery and beyond. I have a friend who doesn't want to do weights because she doesn't want to weight in muscle since her classes end on the 17th of the month.

By me doing a combination of the two, I feel like it balances things out and I am losing weight and not gaining weight on the scale. I feel fabulous after every workout.

[Ljones1 48]

That's what happened to me today at my visit.I losted 7lbs two weeks ago and today the scale said I pick 6lbs back up so I'm look huh! No way I been working my tail off and extra witb weights so she said just keep doing that because it's goos and goona help but just don't gain over what my original number was.I'm sticking to them too I do cardio also.