So I know that after the surgery all they tell you to do is walk, walk, walk.... I get it. Now I'm one week out and want to know how soon I can actually hit the gym and the elliptical and burn some real calories? I know I can't over do it and have to take it slow, but at say two weeks out, is a brisk 45 minute walk too much? Or 30 minutes on an elliptical? Right now when I'm just doing the light walking I feel like I'm not working hard enough.... Thoughts?

I'm not a doctor, but I think what they worry about most is the stress on the incision sites, so no weight lifting or ab exercises. No straining with engaged ab muscles.

I would think an elliptical would be just like walking, as long as you don't do too much with the arm handles.

I haven't had my surgery yet, but even after telling him that I would definitely be using my ab muscles, my doctor told me I could go back to horseback riding two weeks after surgery as long as I didn't lift anything heavy or hold my breath while riding. I have to breathe through the use of the abs.

I hope he's right.

Go with what feels good for you. If it huts, stop and wait awhile longer.

I was told 6 weeks or whenever my doctor gives me the A-OK.

2 weeks for me. He cleared me for any and everything.

Just from my experience, I wasn't cleared by my exercise physiologist for all types of exercise until 6 weeks, and that is when I started using the Arc Trainer.

My doctor told me nothing for 3 weeks, very important mark for your staple line to heal. You should also not lift more than 15lbs up to 6 weeks