Gym or no gym, that is the question

[katieroybal 183]

My surgeon said to start walking right away. I was on a weight restriction for 2 months but after that it was full go.

I was always active and I love exercise so motivation wasn't a problem. Soreness was. I had to reduce how hard I was pushing my body so I didn't end up crying in bed for 2 or 3 days. Now, at month 5, I'm walking and doing High Intensity Interval Training with a fantastic trainer who keeps me at a good level. Not too hard, not too light. I don't get as sore and I have a blast every time.

Yes, I'm more tired on the days I'm working out but I'm not "hungry."

[zallykatz16 56]

Thanks for the info on insurance and health clubs.

[niseys4 130]

How long after the surgery is the standard wait time before you can go back to the gym? For example I was doing Water aerobics & using resistant machines 3x a week. I hope the wait will not be too long so I can go back to working on getting rid of my flabby skin!

Sent from my SM-T530NU using BariatricPal mobile app

[jess9395 5,449]

How long after the surgery is the standard wait time before you can go back to the gym? For example I was doing Water aerobics & using resistant machines 3x a week. I hope the wait will not be too long so I can go back to working on getting rid of my flabby skin!

Sent from my SM-T530NU using BariatricPal mobile app

Somewhere between 4 & 6 weeks usually. Ask your doc.

Know, though, that exercise doesn't do anything for flabby skin. It can fill up the space to a small extent with muscle, but exercise works muscles not skin.

[heidianderson 4]

7 hours ago, jess9395 said:

Also you want to check and see when you will be allow back in Water, because I know my surgeon said no baths only showers because sitting in bath water and in a swimming pool can cause infection to the surgery sites.

Somewhere between 4 & 6 weeks usually. Ask your doc.

Know, though, that exercise doesn't do anything for flabby skin. It can fill up the space to a small extent with muscle, but exercise works muscles not skin.

[Meryline 546]

A point I want to make is that when you are obese, your stored fat is holding a lot of things in place. Once your fat is slowly disappearing, you need muscles to do that job. A lot of people who has had wls feel amazing afterwords. Knees are not hurting anymore etc. Then, several months out, things are starting to hurt again. This is often because things are not supported like it used to.

With my program, we got an exercise program before surgery. It was a generic one, but had 10 exercises you could to at home with minimal equipment, and it started easy and it had ways to make it harder. We went through the whole program with physical therapists before the surgery and was encouraged to start before surgery, and start up again at 3 weeks out.

I started walking a little over a week after surgery (I had to have a nerveblock for a herniated disk that got moved during surgery so I couldn't really do anything for the first week or so). I started lifting weights 2 a week at 3-4 weeks (I was in a program for my back, so it was supervised). I walk everywhere, and average between 12 000 and 20 000 steps a day. The program I was in is over, so I'm now lifting 2-3 times a week, but only like 10 min warm-up and 45 min of lifting tops. I also do nordic walking.

I have had a steady weight loss since 2 weeks before surgery (I have had a loss every week except one), I have now lost over 80 lbs. I eat carbs (but I naturally restrict because I can't tolerate to much. I eat them though). I am anywhere from 800-1200 calories at this point. I'll be 5 months out on Sunday. I don't really do Protein Shakes, I get my Protein from food. I eat around 80g a day. If I want more or I have had a day outside of my routine, I'll sometimes do a shake.

Edited August 17, 2017 by Meryline

[Berry78 4,261]

Hey surgery buddy! Oh how fun! We get to compare our journeys!

I am also 5 months out on Sunday.

I am a couch potato, probably average 1000-2000 steps a day. I don't lift weights, except taking out the garbage twice a week.

I also have had steady weight loss (have lost every week except for 2.. so mine has stalled a little more than yours).

I have now lost 79lbs.. so 1.5 pounds less than you .

My calories have been higher than yours since mine are consistently at or a smidge above the top of your range for about 3 months now. (1200-1300).

Oh, and of course, you have a bypass and I have a sleeve.

I also don't do shakes, 70g of Protein from food a day and I eat carbs.. about 60g.

I'm tickled by how eerily similar our stats are!

I like what you are saying about fat not supporting things anymore... I can definitely see that... I have a history of luxating patellas, and a week ago it happened for the first time in years.

[Meryline 546]

Wow, our stats are so similar. It goes to show how different we all are and that one size does not fit all.

I didn't have an option to not workout because of my back, I also love working out. But it's so interesting to see how different approaches has given so similar results.

I work out because I like it, and that is really important. If working out is going to be more of a pain and bother, wait. If you have medical reasons as to why it would be good for you to work out, do it, but don't overdo it.

As overweight people we have more muscles then the normal weight person because we have to carry our own weight. As we lose weight, there is less to carry, so we will lose muscles if we don't work out (lift weights). Muscles burn calories.

So I work out because it's fun, I want to keep my muscles, and because I'm motivated to do it. It's not something I have to, but I want to.

[Berry78 4,261]

Yes, absolutely! no one should take this comparison to mean never to work out. I honestly believe it shows that AT FIRST the surgery is doing most of the work. But I strongly suspect that if I were to remain a couch potato for the next 7 months, our end points would look VERY different.

I have a gym membership, and at this point I'm only waiting for the kids to go back to school (1.5 weeks) and then I'll start using it. I want to be as strong and fit as anyone, but waiting to shed 80lbs hopefully will have helped me to be less injury-prone.

So, sorry to anyone out there that is wishing to see how a couch potato ends up, you'll have to look elsewhere

[Berry78 4,261]

Oh, and you are 2 inches shorter than me, and I started out about 50lbs heavier.. so even though the actual pounds lost are the same, your percentage excess loss is much greater.

[Meryline 546]

True, still interested though. I have lost 76.5% of my excess weight at this point. No idea how much muscle I have retained. Hope to get it retested at my 6 months check up.

[Berry78 4,261]

54% excess weight here..

[Berry78 4,261]

Ok, so I got curious about the relative speed of excess fat loss.

This is what I've found out about my situation.

I have a sleeve which can usually be expected to shave off 65% of my excess weight. Since I'm already at 54% excess weight lost, (or so I thought).. I was like.. that doesn't sound right. So I dug deeper.

There is a neat calculator:

http://www.obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/information/post+op+planner.php

According to the calculator, my "ideal" body weight is 147lbs. (I thought it was supposed to be 159lbs.) So I actually have lost exactly 50% of my excess body weight as of now.

I toyed with the percentages and I match up with 85% loss at goal (compared to 65% average). Which puts my final weight at 171lbs. My assumed goal has been 180lbs, so I'm thrilled!

It'll be interesting to see how working out changes things.

[Meryline 546]

So according to that calculator I should weigh 138 lbs. I have set my goal at 149. 9 lbs because it gives me a normal BMI. I have calculated out from that number. If I am to get down to 138, I have at this point lost 64.5% of my excess weight. I'm still ahead of the chart, which has me at 70 lbs lost at 5 months, and I'm at 80.9 lbs

[Berry78 4,261]

You are doing super fabulous! See, all that working out DOES do something! Lol! Love it!