I am 9 days post-OP and feeling pretty good. I'm starting to think about daily exercise and am wondering when others started, what that was like, and what exercise they chose as they started out.

It's better to take it easy and start to exercise 3 weeks after the operation

I started walking around the neighborhood 3 days after surgery. I'd walk a block, then two, etc. One week after surgery I went to the gym and got on the elliptical. I started with 10 minutes and worked my way up from there. I wouldn't be afraid to exercise if you are feeling good. But be careful and start out slow and work your way up because it is real easy to overdo it without realizing it. If you feel like you are dragging the next day just scale it back a bit. Take care!

I was told by my surgeron, and have read "walking' only for 6 weeks until completely healed inside.

Just to clarify: I only used the elliptical and crosstrainer (cardio) at the gym until 8 weeks post op when I was cleared to lift weights. I made sure that this was alright with my surgeon before starting. Obviously check with your surgeon to see what they would recommend. Good luck and enjoy!

Very helpful! I walked for about 20 mintues around the neighborhood last night and feel pretty good.

That's great!! I started walking on the treadmill one week after surgery, for 15 minutes at 3mph. I added 5 minutes every week or so, no incline or anything. Good for you!

At two week follow-up I told my doctor I wanted to get back to gym and tennis and he told me as long as I felt up to it to go ahead. Just get your doctor's okay, everyone is a little different.

Note to self....make sure the first couple of weeks when you exercise you are not far from bathroom...........things start moving....that is all I am saying....

Be careful and talk to your surgeon. You just had major surgery, do not mess it up now. I was instructed by my surgeon that only walking was allowed until after 6 weeks. I followed his instructions because we have come to far to hurt ourselves after what we have been through. I started riding my bike after 6 weeks and started working out at the gym. I go to the gym at least 4 times a week. I started with light weights and the cardio machines such as the stairstepper/ski machine and treadmill. Start slow and try to increase your workout each day. My recovery and weight loss has been great and I feel good. It is human nature to want to rush the process but do not do it. Your success will come.

I was sleeved on 7-18-11 and I was told by my surgeon to only walk for the first 6 weeks.

"Everyones" body on the inside is the basically the same....no one is healed after only 2 weeks. There is a long staple line that needs to heal all the way before you start stretching and exerting it. I doubt any "surgeon" says otherwise. We most all feel great on the outside at 2 or 3 weeks, but regardless your inside staple line hasnt healed completely until about 6 weeks.