POST SURGERY- When did you get your energy back and go to the gym?

[Serengirl 176]

My op was 3 weeks ago and although I have zero pain I get exhausted so quickly. I will need to rest after cleaning or doing laundry... When did everyone feel fully back to normal energy-wise and when did you start going to the gym? Id love to go but I just an not physically up to it yet. Is this normal?

[Deedee12 1,860]

My op was 3 weeks ago and although I have zero pain I get exhausted so quickly. I will need to rest after cleaning or doing laundry... When did everyone feel fully back to normal energy-wise and when did you start going to the gym? Id love to go but I just an not physically up to it yet. Is this normal?

I tried going back a bit early....like 3 weeks because I also felt great but I couldn't cut it. I'm 6 weeks now and I'm finally getting back slowly. I'm going to get a personal trainer to help.
I was getting steps in at home though and Consistently at 10K daily in the early days, now at least at 15K steps daily to keep endurance.
Good luck 🧡🧡

Sent from my SM-N960U using BariatricPal mobile app

[KarenLR75 515]

1 hour ago, Serengirl said:

when did you start going to the gym?

OK...for the non-serious answer...I'll start going to the gym when someone knocks me unconscious and drags my body up there (sorry, I have personal issues with the gym I need to resolve).

However, ANY physical activity for me....I found that around 3 weeks...I was still shaky...just shopping at a mall, I found myself having to stabilize my balance by grabbing onto the end of clothing racks.

At even 5 or 6 weeks though, I started doing small 'day hikes' with my daughter. Didn't get very far the first time or the 2nd, 3rd, etc. but it is still hotter than Hades here and that impacts my ability to breathe as I have scarred lungs but it felt SO good to move..to be doing something and I NEVER in my wildest dreams imagined that I..would HIKE..wiillingly..anywhere..LOL...so I guess going to a gym may also be in my future..LOL!!

I try to ensure we do these things (major or even minor physical activity) on days when I know I'm well hydrated and have gotten a good dose of Protein in as when I miss on either of these things, I can have some dizzy spells. Oh, and NOT going when my abdomen has not been cramping. Made a HUGE mistake going on one hike when my stomach was saying NO. The mini-backpack we take now has a small medicine cabinet. We also make sure phones are charged because if either of us was to encounter extreme physical distress, we would absolutely not be able to get the other out so we have to be prepared to call for help...and I pray we never have to do so....

[Serengirl 176]

43 minutes ago, KarenLR75 said:

OK...for the non-serious answer...I'll start going to the gym when someone knocks me unconscious and drags my body up there (sorry, I have personal issues with the gym I need to resolve).

However, ANY physical activity for me....I found that around 3 weeks...I was still shaky...just shopping at a mall, I found myself having to stabilize my balance by grabbing onto the end of clothing racks.

At even 5 or 6 weeks though, I started doing small 'day hikes' with my daughter. Didn't get very far the first time or the 2nd, 3rd, etc. but it is still hotter than Hades here and that impacts my ability to breathe as I have scarred lungs but it felt SO good to move..to be doing something and I NEVER in my wildest dreams imagined that I..would HIKE..wiillingly..anywhere..LOL...so I guess going to a gym may also be in my future..LOL!!

I try to ensure we do these things (major or even minor physical activity) on days when I know I'm well hydrated and have gotten a good dose of Protein in as when I miss on either of these things, I can have some dizzy spells. Oh, and NOT going when my abdomen has not been cramping. Made a HUGE mistake going on one hike when my stomach was saying NO. The mini-backpack we take now has a small medicine cabinet. We also make sure phones are charged because if either of us was to encounter extreme physical distress, we would absolutely not be able to get the other out so we have to be prepared to call for help...and I pray we never have to do so....

Thank you for the feedback. I want to exercise sooo badly but I cant and that makes me feel in an odd wa like failure. Plus Im losing so slowly so I am hoping exercise will help move it along when i can actually do it. But it helps to know I am not alone. I was thinking 3 weeks was more than enough time.

[KarenLR75 515]

1 hour ago, Serengirl said:

Thank you for the feedback. I want to exercise sooo badly but I cant and that makes me feel in an odd wa like failure. Plus Im losing so slowly so I am hoping exercise will help move it along when i can actually do it. But it helps to know I am not alone. I was thinking 3 weeks was more than enough time.

I understand! I wanted back in the pool so bad...my weight loss was very very slow. Even with the same pre-op diet of liquids for most ppl on here for 1 to 2 weeks....even considering ppl closer to my age AND my starting weight, I felt like I was failing as I was losing SO SLOWLY...and those I considered closer to my situation were just dropping weight left and right it felt like.

I actually set my recovery back by a good week or more simply by working insane hours (78 hours) a few days after surgery. After that, I resolved that I was going to let my body heal..and that in the scheme of things taking it EASIER for a few weeks was not going to cost me the race..it is hard as my family of origin is/was VERY competitive.

Once I did get into some of the more lengthy hikes which for us was only increasing by maybe 1/2 a mile...my weight loss did pick up some. Remember that it takes a full 6 to 8 weeks for our bodies to heal and we all heal at different rates. Our bodies are in shock too..at least that is the way I feel. with having our innards rerouted.

I know several folks on here who actually literally walked around in their homes (and some still do..) but if they needed to sit/take a break, they could. Some started using resistance bands. Some folks did yoga if the poses didn't impact their abdomen negatively. Once my dr. gave me the 'all clear' after 2 weeks, I was in my pool in a flash but I still had to take into account the heat (will suck a lot out of a person). My family fretted a lot.

You are DEFINITELY not alone! Be kind to your body - you will be getting back to where you were very, very soon I would imagine!

[Recidivist 1,141]

I couldn't do much of anything for the first three weeks, including going back to work. By week six I was perhaps ready to take short, slow walks. Don't push yourself. Your body will tell when you are ready for something more strenuous.

[MeepMeep 96]

8 weeks and I felt “normal”. My energy was back to pre-op levels and I felt I was ready to go back to the gym. Take it slow! Several times I came home and had to take a nap. I’m feeling better now that I’m eating real food again. Somehow those Protein Shakes didn’t give me enough energy to do much without getting tired quickly.

[AZhiker 2,252]

13 hours ago, Serengirl said:

My op was 3 weeks ago and although I have zero pain I get exhausted so quickly. I will need to rest after cleaning or doing laundry... When did everyone feel fully back to normal energy-wise and when did you start going to the gym? Id love to go but I just an not physically up to it yet. Is this normal?

Start by walking. It's the best way to get your endurance up. I was not allowed to lift more than 10 lbs for 8 weeks, but I was walking 10,000 steps a day by end of week one. That is very empowering. Hang in there.

Edited September 29, 2019 by AZhiker

[catwoman7 11,212]

I was cleared for everything except for weights at four weeks out. (I think I had to wait until eight weeks out to do weights). So for that first month, I just walked.

[momof3_angels 465]

I am 3 weeks and 4 days post op. Just the last couple days I have started walking laps around our little lake. Each lap is close to a mile. First lap is starting to get easy. 2nd lap is a bit more work. If I walk beyond the two laps I am wiped out. I have also been cleaning around the house. I have to take frequent breaks. As for going back to the gym? Nowhere near ready. Plus my doc doesn't want me lifting anything over 10 pounds for a full 8 weeks. I mostly am following that rule, but with housework... sometimes stretching or raising my arms high (like to put something on a high shelf) cause pain at the main incision site still. I would love to do Pilates, but there is way too much I wouldn't be able to do yet. I AM considering trying Water aerobics (at my own pace). I am off work for around 5 more weeks, and have never been able to go before. Not sure if I will be able for participate fully with that or not.

[ahillig 136]

I'm an ER nurse and was working on the floor two weeks after surgery. I bounced back really quickly from this surgery and at a week post op didn't even feel like I had surgery. I'm 4 weeks and change out today and have my first appointment with a personal trainer tomorrow. I've already found I don't burn as many calories (thank you apple watch!) in a day as I did before surgery just from everyday stuff before surgery so I need to get in the gym. I love working out though so it's not a chore for me, it's a wonderful stress reliever.

[Serengirl 176]

On 9/29/2019 at 12:01 AM, KarenLR75 said:

I understand! I wanted back in the pool so bad...my weight loss was very very slow. Even with the same pre-op diet of liquids for most ppl on here for 1 to 2 weeks....even considering ppl closer to my age AND my starting weight, I felt like I was failing as I was losing SO SLOWLY...and those I considered closer to my situation were just dropping weight left and right it felt like.

I actually set my recovery back by a good week or more simply by working insane hours (78 hours) a few days after surgery. After that, I resolved that I was going to let my body heal..and that in the scheme of things taking it EASIER for a few weeks was not going to cost me the race..it is hard as my family of origin is/was VERY competitive.

Once I did get into some of the more lengthy hikes which for us was only increasing by maybe 1/2 a mile...my weight loss did pick up some. Remember that it takes a full 6 to 8 weeks for our bodies to heal and we all heal at different rates. Our bodies are in shock too..at least that is the way I feel. with having our innards rerouted.

I know several folks on here who actually literally walked around in their homes (and some still do..) but if they needed to sit/take a break, they could. Some started using resistance bands. Some folks did yoga if the poses didn't impact their abdomen negatively. Once my dr. gave me the 'all clear' after 2 weeks, I was in my pool in a flash but I still had to take into account the heat (will suck a lot out of a person). My family fretted a lot.

You are DEFINITELY not alone! Be kind to your body - you will be getting back to where you were very, very soon I would imagine!

Thank you so much for these words they are so helpful and a greta reminder... I just have little windows of energy and then BAM i need a nap. I just want my energy back so badly but i have to take it slowly and its good to know this is normal. How was the rest of your journey once you did start woking out?

[Serengirl 176]

On 9/30/2019 at 12:53 PM, ahillig said:

I'm an ER nurse and was working on the floor two weeks after surgery. I bounced back really quickly from this surgery and at a week post op didn't even feel like I had surgery. I'm 4 weeks and change out today and have my first appointment with a personal trainer tomorrow. I've already found I don't burn as many calories (thank you apple watch!) in a day as I did before surgery just from everyday stuff before surgery so I need to get in the gym. I love working out though so it's not a chore for me, it's a wonderful stress reliever.

This is so interesting why do you think you burn less now? My watch is the same and I fond that part sooo odd? As a nurse do you know why that true? Also i noticed my resting metabolic rate is lower... Why? So bizarre

[Mom_of_Chaos 545]

Middle of the second week I brought back cardio but I didn’t start hitting hardcore workouts until the 4th week

[KarenLR75 515]

On 10/3/2019 at 8:10 PM, Serengirl said:

How was the rest of your journey once you did start woking out?

Ironically, I never worked out prior to surgery..well, I did often swim because I have a pool but due to having a torn up right knee, I cannot swim laps like I used to when I was a teen on the swim team at school.

What I have found since surgery...and I'm roughly..um..11 or 12 weeks out so still in the 'early phase'..not in terms of the 'liquid vs. pureed vs soft food stages', but in terms of the weight loss journey...I have never DESIRED to walk/hike, etc. but I have found that I have surges of energy...and the actual...looking forward to my easy/flat/even/off road hikes.

I have found out along with these energy surges, if I'm not careful, they can 'erode' based on what I've been able to consume in terms of Water and Protein, if it is 100 degrees outside, particularly if humid, how many calories I've been able to get in, if I've taken all my Vitamins, etc.

What I find so surprising is I didn't realize I would feel ANY energy surges. I find myself not sleeping in as long on the weekends...and getting out of bed with more energy. Back in the earlier weeks....like weeks 3-5 after surgery, I started to feel this but found out I had to be careful not to 'run full tilt' with the energy as I would overdo things. Now if at home and overdoing it, let's just say maybe I swam/paddled around pool and then got out and tackled X # of chores, I could all of a sudden get hit with feeling worn out. This is no prob as I could stop, sit down, hydrate, try to get protein in...it is when I was OUT, that I had to be careful about...'trying to keep my energy output more controlled'...

Does this make sense at all? Example, if into trying to hit 2 miles on a hike with temps of anywhere from 98 to 100+ degrees AND it was really HUMID, I could find myself in a great deal of distress that would hit suddenly as I was not just expending energy walking, but also the environmental conditions - temp, humidity, etc. would leech so much from my body that I could find myself in mid-hike feeling dizzy...wiped out...and in some places..nowhere to sit and recover..and then wondering if I could even turn around at that point and make it back to the car!

I finally compensated for this by basically not only counting steps, but timing how long I was out in the heat and basically 'under-hiking'. It was far more important to know I had gotten some exercise but also safely make it back. Next week we are supposed to drop into the high 70's here!! I can't wait to see how far I can go in these temps..plus now I'm 11 weeks out...and I have a better feel for what I can do...although I will still get surprised every now & then.