Exercise post op?? What did you do?

[supershae]

Hey all! So I'm wondering what kind of exercise that you do and at what point post op is it okay to do more than walk. I walk ALL the time, however I really want to start kick boxing and zumba again. (I was doing this pre-op). I know that it's a lot of cardio and I need to be careful, but I really want to do it. My doctor said that as long as I was staying hydrated and I felt okay doing it, that it was okay. But the nurse practioner said only walking. I don't know. So I just want to see what the rest of you DSers have done and what you enjoy doing! And as always, thank you for your help! I appreciate it!

[freckled1]

Good morning,

I know I should be all concerned about heart health and all but I don't formally exercise. I used to jog and do tae bo but I have a busy life and finding time to exercise is not a priority right now. It sounds bad but it's true for me.

That being said, if you have time and you enjoy it, you should totally do these things. You are over 8 weeks out, right? You should be clear to do more than walk. Just be conservative and start slowly, then work up to the full workout. Exercise will help with bone health and maintaining muscle as you continue to lose.

Great job on your loss thus far!

Trina

ETA: You are only 4 weeks out, not 8! Sorry! Maybe walking only is a good idea until you are past that initial easy-to-get-a-hernia stage. It's usually a 6-8 week thing. Sorry about my confusion!

[Girlrocker]

I can't remember if you're open or lap? I'd say you should be good to go for cardio, and just keep an eye on activities that put a lot of pressure on your abdomen, you might want to hold off on those a little while longer, like another 4 weeks, same if you do any weights work. I'm a big fan of bootcamp, spin, and actually have a Groupon for kickboxing, dying to get back into it (revision and some slower recovery issues)

[Gail R]

The only problem I had with increasing my exercise level was not staying hydrated. I ended up with a fainting spell. Keep water with you at all times when exercising because it can hit you in a hurry. It your stage I would just speed up my walking and take in some hills if possible.

[sherbearmama]

I think it would depend on whether or not you had your surgery lap or open. I had my lap just a few weeks before you and my doc cleared me for exercise at 2 weeks. I wasn't in any pain, I was already carrying my daughter (carefully) and he said the exercise would do me good. If you're not weight lifting and just doing some zumba which is non-contact--I would think you'd be fine. I'd email the doc and see if you can bypass the nurse practitioner. With the kickboxing, my only concern would be the contact--at this early out (even where I am) I would avoid any chance of getting kicked or punched in my abdomen. And of course--drink, drink, drink!!! Good luck and call your surgeon!!!

[Sandra C.]

I began my gym trainer at 3 months. I was not comfortable doing Zumba till the forth month. I am conservative about being completely healed before jumping around. Adding speed to your walking helps, and raise the incline on the treadmill. I did 4 miles on a recumbent bike, and 4 miles walking on an indoor track, and a few weight machines, and floor exercises and stretching at the beginning of 3 months. My trainer researched the benefits of fast walking VS running. They are equal as far as cardio exercise. Now I spend 2 hrs 4 times a week at the gym. Feeling so much stronger, and toning is going great. My Pa said 6 weeks is the duration for internal healing, ask when you can increase exercise to add weights, and full out Zumba. Listen to your body, only you can judge how much you should do.

[jillybean720]

Exercise? No, thank you

[pandykorn]

Since you cleared for exercise i would say go for it as long as you physically capable.

However, i would honestly limit the cardio and focus on weights. I regret not focusing on strenght training- one day you will wake up and realize you super giggly b/c the weight comes off not just due to fat but you lose muscle too. ... yes there is skin jiggle but it is lack of muscle too- build that muscle!

[Sandra C.]

Yes I lost muscle around my tail bone, hurts to sit. I have heard from others it has happened to them too. Working on weight machines to rebuild sitting muscles and more!!!

[honeybadger11]

I would say WAIT on weight training. Anything that will strain your core muscles (abs) i would stay away from for another 4 wks. Yes, weight trainig is very important but not for a few weeks. I started back at the gym doing zumba, body pump classes, cardio on the ellipitical and weight training at 10 weeks. I could of went back at 8 but i was still lazin' around:)

Good for you getting back to exercise. That for me was one of the hardest habits to get back into! but sooo important.

[galla1]

I was cleared at 3 weeks post op. I had my DS lap. I walked a lot at that time, then at about 3 months I started swimming pretty much everyday and weight training twice a week and then I usually ride a recumbent(sp) bike on Saturdays and take Sundays off.. I don't always get to stay with that schedule but I do stay pretty close to that routine.. I love it!!

[Deleted]

I'm a year out...but in April I redid my kitchen in our old house...got rid of the wallpaper, pulled toe kicks, prepped and sanded the walls, patched several areas that were molded with new drywall, painted it three times to get good coverage, tiled the backsplash and then pulled wallpaper, painted, fixed the shower, and re tiled a floor in the bathroom...

Formal exercise in a gym had nothing on what I was doing..I was sweating bullets almost every day and would lose an average of 2/4 lbs a day.

Now, it's a "new" old house where we are completely renovating down to the studs and joists, the upstairs bath, constructed a closet, painted about 4 rooms, refinishing antique furniture I got from my great grandparents, and de-weeding a 3 acre lot that has almost no grass...just a serious case of underbrush.

My waist is disappearing, my turkey waddle is much smaller, my batwings are going away (swing a hammer enough will do that).

Oh, and we walk our dog.

Who says exercise has to be in a gym? Or with weights? LOL

Liz

[Lauren]

I started working out about a month ago. I've been doing the independent weight machines at Planet Fitness. Next time I go, I will ask a trainer to see which machines I need to be on and how much wieght I need.

If you are only 4 weeks out, I would honestly stick to walking and maybe start some 5lb. hand weights. Also, it may serve you well just to talk to a trainer and see what they have to say. Let them know your situation, the surgery you had, and what you're looking to do as well as getting together with both your nurse and physician since they are having conflicting opinions. Let them know.

I was also told today that I needed to make sure I get 200g of protein in a day while working out (I did not know this). And don't forget to up you hydration as well.

Congratulations on your weightloss and keep up the good work.

Much love,
Lauren

[Dudette]

I had my surgery done Lap. Before my surgery I couldn't walk a block without stopping to rest. It was pathetic. My ridiculously high blood pressure probably had a lot to do with that.

My BP dropped by 10 points by the time I was released from the hospital. The improvement was noticeable enough that I started a regular daily walking/hiking routine the day I was sprung from the hospital.

At four weeks post-op I survived my first spinning class. The cardio felt good, but the bike seat killed my ass! LOL! I also noticed a weird feeling in one of my ab muscles near the healed lap incision where my drain had been. It didn't hurt. It felt more like muscle weakness. I took that as I signal that the spinning on the upright bike was working my ab muscles too much and too early and switched over to the recumbent bike. After that I also split my workout time between biking and treadmill (which is easier on the abs).

At 8 weeks I did my first Zumba class and at 12 weeks I did my first kickbox cardio class. I work myself enough to get a good workout and get my heart rate up, but try not to overdo it in those classes. There's a lot of jumping around involved and I'm still cautious about any moves that would be too strenuous on the muscles near my lap incisions.

Right now I'm at 16 weeks post-op and have worked myself up to 45 minutes per day on the treadmill. I'm getting ready for my first 5K in April. I still do periodic fitness classes, recumbent biking and swim laps in the pool at the health club several times per week... an exercise that I love!

Anyway, hope this gives you some ideas. :-)

[sheanie]

Exercise is a 4-letter word. I pole-dance, strip-tease for my husband of 31 years, do the stairs at work (5 floors), park far away from stores, walk the dog (no, that's not a euphemism for sex), and take extra trips on purpose in our 2 story house (17 steps), Zumba and do Step Aerobics. I do NOT exercise.

[Deleted]

Wait at least 2-3 months before doing anything more than cardio (walking, etc.). I started cardio and weight training at about 4 months and continued for years. Unfortunately once I had my plastics I never got completely back into weights. It comes and goes but now I'm facing bone issues so I'm committed to get back to weight training.

[mooney]

did not exercise for a coupel of years. now do regular at health club

[bb212]

Walking up the stairs, then again I didn't have a choice. I live on the 6th floor of a walk-up building built in the 1920's (no elevator).

[susan1219]

I am getting a PS3 and getting exercise and Just Dance games...has anybody tried these?

[supershae]

Sorry I'm just now responding! I've been super busy this week! I joined the Y this week and tonight I walked/jogged 2 miles and did 3 miles on a stationary bike. I'm thinking about trying a zumba class tomorrow. My surgery was lap, and I'm in no pain...however, I'm having a hard time staying hydrated and I get dizzy. So I think I'm just going to start slow. Thanks for all of the input!

[omeaga7]

Feb 6, 2012 7:58:40 GMT -5 sheanie said:

Exercise is a 4-letter word. I pole-dance, strip-tease for my husband of 31 years, do the stairs at work (5 floors), park far away from stores, walk the dog (no, that's not a euphemism for sex), and take extra trips on purpose in our 2 story house (17 steps), Zumba and do Step Aerobics. I do NOT exercise.

I wanna be like you when I grow up. Mind if I steal your regimen? I just need to learn how to swim.

[Lauren]

Feb 6, 2012 20:54:10 GMT -5 susan1219 said:

I am getting a PS3 and getting exercise and Just Dance games...has anybody tried these?

Oooooh!!!! I want to so ba but can't afford it right now! I love dancing and it always looks like so much fun on the commercials! But yes, dancing is exercise so dance away!!!

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