If I'm taking in 600-800 calories. I am about five weeks post op and have been okd to work out so I've done the elliptical both times I've been to the gym. Just not sure house many calories i need to be burning and what not to increase weight loss. What do you guys suggest, or have experience with?

I just started sessions with my personal trainer this week (I'm 5 weeks out too). He said that I shouldn't really be concerned with how many calories I'm burning, but should pay attention to the activities I'm doing and slowly & carefully work on strengthening my core again. He said I should make sure I do 45 minutes of continuous movement per day either at the gym or home (since I like swimming at home too). He is being really careful not to overwork my core since my abdominal muscles are still healing, so when I've worked out with him, he has had me do arm and leg work for the most part on the machines instead of free weights since free weights make us use more of the core muscles. Today he had me do a few things on the machines that were really working my arms, but because of the way he had me sitting it passively worked my core too, but it wasn't a major core workout.

I know everyone is different, but there's no way I could do 45 minutes on the elliptical (if I was trying to get in the 45 minutes of movement that he talked about), so I think I would do a combination of treadmill, elliptical, bike & other things.

I also make sure I take a Water bottle filled with a Protein drink with me to the gym and sip from it so I don't get too weak while working out.

Just make sure whatever you do, you listen to your body and don't overdo it and push too much. I really wouldn't worry about how many calories you're burning right away though.

I usually do 30-45 min on my treadmill or I will ride my bike for an hour or so. Start out at a comfortable pace and time and gradually increase as to challange your self.

I would say go with what you can handle at this point. You can build up as you heal more. I started on the elliptical 30 mins with no incline and about a 5 resistance. That was at 3 weeks post op. It was very low stress. But after 2 weeks going 3 or 4 times a week I did 40 mins and upped the incline and the next week I added 5 mins and each week after that until I got to 1 hr and then I started doing more resistance and incline. As you lose weight it will be easier to do. I try to aim for 4 miles in an hr sometimes more if I can handle it. I also added in weights to get some muscle back. Protein is very important before and after you work out. Especially early on.

Just start off slow you don't want to hurt yourself or pass out.

I try to workout at least 60 min per day. I may take a spin class, or step aerobics class or zumba class or take an urban hike with my husband. In addition, I may run on the thread mill for 30 min and free wts for 30 min. To really burn calories I find that I have to work out at an intense level for at least 4 days per week. Of course like all others said take it easy at first and build up gradually.