To eat or not to eat/to exercise or not to exercise

[HugMama 5]

I am very confused. I am 7 days post-op. I am walking about 3 miles a day, in 3 20-minute increments. I am drinking my Protein and eating 3 x’s a day. But I am in a constant state of feeling full and hungry and tired. Am I doing too much? Too little? They kept telling me if I walked more I would feel better after the surgery, but it just makes me hurt and more hungry. How can I tell when I eat too much? How can I tell when I’m really hungry? How can I tell when the pain is caused by doing too much? How can I tell if the unending tiredness is from not eating enough?

[Rosie T 72]

I was walking about 1 mile/day the first week post op and still on Clear Liquids and my doctors told me to back off the walking a bit. That i was overdoing it. I think the advice to walk is more like you can't just sit like a lump on the couch if you wanna feel better. But doesn't necessarily mean to exercise. i am now 2 weeks post op and I am trying to just be normal around my house, chores and errands and stuff, and walk here and there when i feel like it. i figure that the time for true exercise will come. my energy has increased a bit, but just remember that even though it doesn't look all that bad on the outside of your abdomen, what they did inside was hardcore. In nursing school we called it "getting mauled by the bear" so it's gonna take you a while to feel like yourself again.

[ProudGrammy 8,322]

@HugMama

hi newbie

if you are hurting - slow down, you are just one week PO

don't overdue!! Listen to your body. If its screaming pain at

you, knock it off (the walking) don't overdue

when you drink - you will not get that full feeling that you are looking for.

once you start to eat again, mush, soft, solid foods - you will get that good

full feeling.

once you are on solids, people get different "signals" to stop eating.

many OP nose starts to run - in my case an OP, i would hiccup (loudly,

you might have heard me LOL)

take it easy, don't worry so much - or you'll get gray hairs!! LOL

I know

take it slow and easy, one day at a time

from one successful, happy vet (maintaining 6+ years) sleever to

a great newbie

"God grant me patience Just Hurry Up About It!!"

good luck

kathy

[insta_adventurer 1,046]

3 miles a day sounds like a lot to me for 1 week post op, but it’s a great habit that you’re forming if your surgeon is okay with you walking that much so soon.

I didn’t walk enough at first. In fact, I didn’t get my exercise groove back on until 10 weeks post op (I was cleared to do so after a month). But still- 3 miles a day sounds like a lot!

Regarding eating too much... early on I found myself in that situation more than once! What helped me fix the problem was that I measure thing I think I could eat too much of. At my stage, they say I should be eating half a cup, so I put what I want to eat in a 1/2 cup measuring spoon and then dump that on my plate!

At your stage it’s probably closer to 1/4 cup that you should be consuming per meal, but your surgeon can give you the correct amount.

Measuring has really cut down on that dreaded “oh no! I ate too much!!!” feeling for me.

Good luck! It gets better!

[LynnV1964 134]

I’m amazed that you can walk that much at 1 week! I’m only 4 days out and just today the fatigue and blah feeling just hit me hard!! I’d say relax on the exercise and take it easy. Your body has been through a major surgery. It needs rest.