Most of the people who undergo gastric sleeve surgery to shed excess weight are concerned about when they can start exercising to aid the results. It is a great way to assist your body in weight loss but the importance of the right timing cannot be denied. Let’s discuss what you need to do before the surgery.
Dr Carmen, is a Specialist Plastic Surgeon who assist patients with skin reduction surgery after their successful bariatric surgery. Most Bariatric Surgeons recommend doing mild to moderate exercise for at least 20 minutes a day for a month prior to the surgery. Your exercise routine must include a combination of cardiovascular exercises and resistance training. Working out prior to the surgery will improve your overall fitness, reduce surgical complications and set the stage for quick recovery. After your bariatric surgery is over, let’s look at the right way to exercise post-surgery.
You are probably excited to start an exercise routine. While it’s important to maintain great health and physique, you shouldn’t overdo it post-surgery. It can be damaging to incisions and slow down your recovery. Hence, we recommend walking in the initial phases of recovery and avoiding strenuous exercises for the first two months post-surgery. Let’s discuss an in-depth exercise timeline:
For the first week, start walking around the house. Aim at walking for at least five to ten minutes a day. Gradually increase the duration to fifteen/twenty minutes in the second week. By weeks three and four, aim at walking thirty minutes per day. You don’t have to do it all at once. Break it down into 3, ten minute walks if it gets too tiring.
During this time, you can add cardio equipment from the gym. Walking can get pretty boring, very quickly. Use elliptical, stationary bikes and more cardio equipment. It is easier on your body, won’t put pressure on your incision sites and will get you in the routine.
You can start adding weights to your workouts. Do resistance training with lighter weights and gradually build your strength up. If something feels extremely difficult, don’t push yourself too hard.
Most patients are able to sustain a full strength workout by this time. You can do cardio, core exercises, strength training, stretching, weight lifting, and also play sports. Listen to your body and go with the flow. Most patients are able to do all high-intensity workouts without any complications.
It is important to remember that this is a general timeline. It is important to stick to the customized exercise recommendations given by your surgeon. Your surgeon knows how your body is healing and what it can handle. Hence, stick to the instructions.
Here are the top benefits of exercising post gastric sleeve surgery:
Here are the top tips that will help you recover faster after gastric sleeve surgery:
Gastric Sleeve Surgery (Sleeve Gastrectomy) involves reducing the size of your stomach to a short tube shape. It works by making you feel full sooner so that you eat less. Recovery after Gastric Sleeve Surgery can be a challenge. Here are some tips to help you through the process, after your Gastric Sleeve Surgery.
As a Specialist Plastic Surgeon in Melbourne, Dr Carmen Munteanu has a particular interest and expertise in Body Contouring surgeries. These include Body Lifting (excess skin removal and liposuction) after Significant Weight Loss, such as after Gastric Sleeve Surgery or embarking on a complete nutrition and exercise makeover plan.
Eating solid foods too soon or food high in fats and sugars, could put you at risk of harming yourself or damaging your stomach. Make sure you aren’t ingesting foods which are high in calories, sugar, or fat. Doing this could result in nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps and other side effects. It is extremely important then that your follow your Surgeons Instructions. Always make sure you speak to your surgeon about how many calories you need each day. They’ll know you and your body and will give you a specific target catered to your particular needs.
Your recovery time may vary, but it generally takes at least two weeks after surgery, before patients are ready to return to work. Only take on light duties when you do first return. Walking around, being slightly active, is good exercise, but don’t try anything like heavy lifting.
It may be sometime before you can exercise fully, it is important to strengthen your muscles and get back to walking, or light exercise as soon as possible. Do not push too hard, and do too much too soon. Doing too much exercise could increase the chance of developing a hernia. Read our blog about Exercising after Gastric Sleeve Surgery.
Scheduled follow up appointments with your doctor to ensure you are recovering well are very important. Doing so will ensure you are on the right path with your diet, exercise, and weight loss goals.
Find new ideas and recipes so food doesn’t become boring after surgery. It’s important to stick to your new diet. Staying proactive so food doesn’t become boring, or stale will help you avoid foods you shouldn’t eat.
It can be tough to get all of the nutrition you need from food alone. Taking multivitamins will ensure you are getting the right nutrients. Which particular vitamins you need should be recommended by your Doctor. This should be a lifelong forming habit, so start early with the right advice.
During the recovery phase, it can be difficult to move and get things done. Make sure you get plenty of rest and have a good support network to help you ease back into normal life. Phone Dr Carmen’s Patient Advisor if you have any questions, at any time after your surgery.
Be sure to follow your surgeons prescription and do not finish or wean yourself off your medication early. You should let your doctor know if you’re feeling any discomfort.
You will need to limit your calories as part of the weight loss program including calories in your liquids. Instead of consuming calories on drinks that provide only empty calories, use your calories to eat proteins that will keep you feeling full and help your recovery. Only drink low-calorie drinks like water, sugar-free juices, and unsweetened ice tea.
As a Specialist Plastic Surgeon regularly consulting with post-weight loss patients in Melbourne, Dr Carmen is highly regarded for her dedication to specialty surgical procedures for men and women including:
Body Contouring & Body Lift Procedures after Weight loss include:
Dr Carmen Munteanu has a particular interest and expertise in Body Contouring surgeries. These include Body Lifting (excess skin removal and liposuction) after Significant Weight Loss, such as after Gastric Sleeve Surgery or embarking on a complete nutrition and exercise makeover plan.
Once you are fully healed, these are the three areas you need to focus on; cardio, strength training, and flexibility.
This is a vital part of any workout routine especially when you are working out post weight loss surgery. Warming up prior to working out will get your blood flow going, warm up your muscles and get the heart pumping. It helps prevent injuries during workouts. Aim at doing warm-up exercises for at least five to ten minutes per day. You can do walking, jogging, or jumping. Cooling down is as important as the workout. The goal is to lower your heart rate and breathing. You can do a light walk, stretching, yoga to cool down your body. Do not skip these in any of your workout sessions if you wish to maximize the benefits of exercise and prevent injury.
We all know that cardio is great for getting an energy boost and burn calories. By adding cardio to your exercise routine, you will have a better mood as it released endorphins, deep sleep, and increased energy throughout the day. Moreover, it gets the blood pumping and boosts your metabolism.
You can start walking in your recovery phase. Gradually start using an elliptical, stationary bike, then go for jogs, runs, hiking. You can also join fun dance classes, play sports or any other activity that you enjoy. The key is to get your body moving.
Strength training is critical to building lean muscle mass in your body. Not only that, it strengthens your bones, boosts your metabolism, and gives your body a more toned look. You can either go for Pilates or lift weights. Start small, a 2-pound weight is enough to get the journey started. Gradually, increase weights. Alternatively, you can do lunges, squats, sit-ups, crunches with weights. Doing a fifteen-minute strength training workout daily or every other day will build up your strength.
If you don’t want to injure yourself, flexibility is of critical importance. Do yoga, simple stretches before and after your workouts to avoid sore and stiff muscles. Be gentle with yourself and don’t push too hard. You will slowly start to become more and more flexible. Start with a five-minute simple stretch and slowly ease yourself into more advanced forms.