I had to lose a pretty good chunk of weight to be able to safely have my surgery. So through changing my diet and exercise and pre-op diet, I lost 60 pounds. I was pretty active right up to the night before surgery, taking zumba 4x a week and also swimming. I really want to know how difficult has it been for others to get back in the swing of exercising really intense since being banded. Thanks!

For me, not hard at all. I'd been going to the gym for many years prior to the band. Once I got the ok post op from my doc at 9 days for cardio (and about 3-4 weeks for weights) a few days later I started back. I took it slow at first, I was still a teeny bit sore, but within a week or 2 I was back to my old routine, but a little more. 2 months after surgery I started cardio or fitness kickboxing, and I now go 5 days a week taking usually 6-7 classes. Wednesday I go twice and 2 days I usually do 1.5 classes. So once you are cleared, have at it. For me I had a very quick recovery so it was easy. Some people have harder ones.

On the treadmill day 4 slowly for 45 minutes. At two weeks I went back to lap swimming. I had been exercising 7 days a week pre surgery.

I do a 45 minute interval training video, with a total of 30 minutes cardio with six intervals of weight training. My doctor gave me the go ahead to start back two weeks post-op. I'm not having any problems with it at all, although I'm only using two pound weights and I'm going really light on the crunches.

Build it back up slowly and listen to your Dr and your body. O eroding it too fast will only set you back.

good luck

that was overdoing it! Not eroding. Sorry

I started walking 2 weeks after and weights 6 weeks after! I was told to go light on the crunches...I do notice pain in my port area when I do crunches, push ups.... Surgeon said if it really starts to bother me, he will move the port. So far, it is not unbearable!

I was never a big fan of exercise...I have been banded almost a year and only just joined a gym two months ago :-(

My fiance was just banded this week and his surgeon said no heavy lifting for 8 weeks and no ab exercises for 6 months. As soon as he's feeling up to it, I'm dragging him to the gym with me! It's really the best way to keep your weight loss steady and consistent.

Thanks for the input. Wow, it is so different with each person. I have been walking which I was cleared to do as soon as I was up to it. I think once I am clear I will ease back into. Maybe walking on the treadmill or around my neighborhood.

I have been really quite sedentary for quite a long time apart from work where I am on my feet the whole time. So, I will be starting at square one. Actually looking really forward to it. For many years I have been really self conscious, even though I know it is silly and no one else at the gym really cares or pays attention to what I would be doing at the gym.

My daughter goes to a gym on a regular basis and I will be going sometimes with her to get started.

Just where to start is the question lol.