Seastars

Low(ish) BMI peeps,
How did the surgery affect your workouts? I keep searching for advice but it seems aimed at much heavier and less mobile people (i.e., recommending "walking" post-op as a workout). I (and likely most of you) are instead in the "fit but fat" category, used to good heavy cardio workouts near-daily. Did you have to cut back post-op? I know we have to avoid swimming and lifting >25 pounds for a few weeks, but what about running, hiking, biking? How soon was it before you could have a vigorous workout? Did you feel you had enough energy for a workout given your low calorie intake? Was it hard to hydrate enough?

WHERE is the application form for Mommy Camp? I want IN! (And I will be able to fit through the in-door soon, ha ha!)

WHERE is the application form for Mommy Camp? I want IN! (And I will be able to fit through the in-door soon, ha ha!)

WHERE is the application form for Mommy Camp? I want IN! (And I will be able to fit through the in-door soon, ha ha!)

RNYoyo and jaxmom, can I give you big, squishy (on my side only, you leanbodies!) hugs? You guys and silverthreads have really brought my smile back. (That and learning I don't have to do the liver diet, HALLELUJAH.) Thank you!!! And way to go on your strong, healthy recovery!

RNYoyo and jaxmom, can I give you big, squishy (on my side only, you leanbodies!) hugs? You guys and silverthreads have really brought my smile back. (That and learning I don't have to do the liver diet, HALLELUJAH.) Thank you!!! And way to go on your strong, healthy recovery!

I am a month out and feeling a lot like jaxmom. We are moving the middle of June and I have packed the entire house and moved quite a bit of stuff up and down stairs. My energy level has been good also and definitely no problems getting fluids down other than remembering lol. I think the camelbak is a great idea...you can sip every 10 steps!! Good luck to you and let us know if you have any other questions.
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Hey there! I was a lower BMI going in for revision from band to sleeve (34.6). I'm 6 weeks out and feel like I could do anything. I live in Florida and it's HOT. Hot hot!!! I'm outside most of the day and if anything, I have a lot more endurance than before and no issues at all with staying hydrated. I kind of don't understand the hydration issue some people are talking about... After the initial swelling goes getting fluids in is no problem- or maybe I was just lucky!!
I also went on an overnight kayaking trip exactly a month out from surgery. Just me and my 12 year old daughter. We kayaked the entire day, set up camp totally on our own, kayaked the next day and loaded gear into truck. Again, no problems at all. I packed a lot of low cal Gatorade and Water in my mini cooler and of course too my Protein shakes.
I totally agree with others that your should listen to your doctor and take it slow to begin with. I just wanted to share my experience- it's been so much easier physically than I ever anticipated. The food and hunger part is different- that's mental work! But I'm so glad my body is enjoying the challenge.
Enjoy all the activities, stay safe and hydrated!
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You might want to plan some lovely hikes on level ground for the first month or so. I love to hike but don't think I could hydrate that much yet! Honestly my biggest problem early on was remembering to drink. I could only get in an ounce or two, then would get distracted and forget to drink for an hour or two. Practice sounds like a good idea...

Thanks, Silver! My surgeon told me yesterday that I can't hike or bike hills for several weeks after surgery, because she thinks I won't get enough liquid in. She thinks I should just walk/elliptical for those weeks. I am really hoping she's being overly conservative - I have June 22 surgery and do NOT want to miss out on hiking during the beautiful weather in June & July! (Last weekend I hiked about 4-5 hours per day, with moderate elevation gains, and needed about 320oz Water each day.) I seriously think I should start practicing "constant sipping." Sounds like it will be a good post-op skill.

Im 11 days post-op. Soft food stage.
I feel energy is low understandably since im not taking in as much. I feel i am still finding my way with food like what goes down easily and what doesn't . yogurts and banana are good, egg not so much. I don't feel hungry either ! its quite strange. Water and liquid intake is a struggle, i need to work on it.

Personally at 18 days post op I am only walking. I could bike if I had one. My MD said no gym until 30 days so I have not tried. And anyway...my energy right now is much less than before. My husband had the surgery 2 years ago and he did not have as hard a time as I with calorie and Fluid intake so my story may not be the norm.
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Update: I was sleeved on 16 May (9 days postop) and doing great! Currently 27 lbs down since Apr 2016. HW: 221, SW: 201 (BMI 34.9) CW: 195. No problems at all and very minimal pain after surgery. Getting 80 grams of Protein in daily and 64 oz of Water. So excited for what is to come in my new life. Anxious to start a more vigorous working out and toning. When the hospital nurse walked in to my room postop and said " girl why did u have surgery? I am fatter than u!" I said "yea well I have a big problem losing the weight and don't want to be fat period." We laughed about it. I know I made the right decision after spending so much money on diet pills and laser treatments.
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Yeah, Medicare nationally approves Bariatric surgery, but subject to state regulation. (Medicare is a combined fed/state program.) So each state decides for itself, and about half - mostly in the north and west - won't cover it. The exchange (Obamacare) and most private insurance plans follow suit. Crazy. But that's why many of the Americans on here who talk about insurance, are from the southern states.

There are risks involved in any surgery, but there are also risks in not taking decisive action to recover from obesity before it corrodes your health and likely shortens your life. Obesity can be profoundly destructive, and the longer you are obese, the more damage it can inflict. I assessed the risk of the VSG and compared it to the long-term risk of not having the surgery, then decided to go for it. My BMI fluctuated in the low 30s. That's "mild" obesity, but the worry was that as I age it would become increasingly difficult to control my weight, and my BMI would rise to the morbid stage. My reproductive endocrinologist was the one who recommended the VSG because I have PCOS and hypothyroidism, and other patients my age and size have benefitted from it. If you're wanting to have more kids in your future, achieving a healthy weight can help.
That's in addition to lessening the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, heart problems, some types of cancer, and the damage caused to your frame from excess weight over time.
For me the only negative to having the surgery at a lower BMI was my insurance refused to cover any of the costs, so I had to pay for it on my own. It was a worthwhile investment! I sailed through the surgery with very little pain or discomfort. Besides dry-heaving on the first day and having unbelievably intense cramps (my period started during surgery), I felt fine. I was anticipating being in more pain and more tired than I actually was. I had a mild allergic reaction to the surgical tape used on my incisions, and got itchy little welts from it, but it healed quickly. I had a few stomach issues in the first couple of months, but nothing severe. I'm a professor on my feet for hours a day, and haven't taken a day off since the fall quarter began (three weeks after my surgery).
It is important to know that it's very common for people to regret the surgery (though I didn't) in their first month post-op and have what's known as "buyer's remorse." This is when your body is healing, you're still on a restrictive diet, and you are craving normalcy. The feelings pass for the majority of people. It's also important to know that since you are starting at a lower BMI, you'll likely lose weight at a slower pace. Don't feel discouraged, and don't compare yourself to others who've had surgery and are losing much more rapidly. In the eight months since my surgery I've gone from being in the "mildly obese" BMI to comfortably within the "normal" weight range for my height. My weight loss has been much slower than those who started off with higher BMIs, and I've had several stalls along the way, but it has come off. I've gone from a size 14 to a 6/8, and am still losing. I feel lighter, happier, and more confident. Hopefully the same will be true for you.