I am getting cleared by my doctor to start excercising with weights in a couple of weeks. What are some good excercises to help tighten up those saggy areas from losing weight quickly??? I am already noticing arm flab and around the belly area! Thanks!

I noticed that right around 1 month post op as well. So at 6 weeks out I began walking/jogging 30-45 mins per day on a treadmill or track at the gym. I would also lift weights as I walked. 5lbs. I walk and I do punches (with the 5lb weights) for a lap, then do curls, then i would do presses etc. I also do the stairmaster hard core for 5 mins daily for my legs and good old fashioned sit ups and I can really see the difference. I think walking and lifting weights at the same time works wonders!!!

There is no way to spot tone, but you can build muscles to give the underlying parts some structure.

Good questions. I'm 7 weeks out and there is definitely some arm flab and a little leg giggling when I walk UGHHH!!! I just recently started walking a few miles on the treadmill but I will incorporate the 5 lb weights.

I haven't been working out with weights for very long, but I have already noticed a difference.

I use 5 pound weights. I do bicep curls, shoulder press, back rows, side lifts and front lifts. I do reps of 15 and usually only get through two sets.

I'm a little over 8 weeks out, and I started doing P90X at 5 weeks. My doctor okayed it at 6 weeks, and I cheated and started a week early. I LOVE it! There's a lot of strength training and tons of focus on the core. It's not nearly as hard as I thought it would be, and you can absolutely tailor it to your ability. I highly recommend it.

It will not happen fast. Losing the weight was fast but gaining muscle takes time and I have been at it over a year with a personal trainer.

For the upper arms you need to work biceps, triceps, shoulders. I really suggest getting a trainer who can help you work areas, you need to work all areas. When I first started back at gym it took 3 weeks to get back to normal without getting tired out or overly sweating.

Take your time and realize all those ads with the lap band people, they rarely wear anything but long sleeves and clothes that cover the stomach etc. Short of various plastic surgeries, you are not likely to get rid of all the flab but toning your muscles is always a good idea.

I read somewhere that wearing compression garments after the surgery will help with the saggy areas. This is what I understood: As you walk, your skin is jarred. We usually have a layer of muscle, then fat, then skin. When we are getting rid of the fat so fast, the skin starts to pull away from the thinning layer of fat, thus causing the sagginess. With a compression garment on, it holds the skin tight so that it cannot separate and results in much less baggy skin.

I don't know how true this is and my doctor is out of town for three weeks. I plan to ask him about it when he gets back.

Shae