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exercise.....where to begin?

Hi

Im in desperate need of advice

I had my sleeve surgery done in April (almost three months now)

However, both my surgeon and my nutritionist did not advice me much on exercising. The most I got from them was to begin with a bit of a walk (that also when I felt I was ready for it)

I have lost 28Ibs without any sort of exercise but now I feel I really need to get started ...need to boost that weight loss.

Can someone advice me on what sort of exercise I should begin with , how many times a week and for how long....

I would love to hear about others exercise routines

Im open to suggestions

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hello! My advice would be to swim and resistance training...walk as much as you can as well. My office didn't give much direction either except to "just do cardio" but I want to tone my body while losing weight. That is why resistance training/swimming is a good idea. Just make sure you have clearance from your surgeon before you do those things which im sure you do since you were sleeved months ago....

I started with walking until about 3 months out. That gave way to downloading the Couch to 5k app. I spent a few months using that until I got serious about exercise and hired a personal trainer. From there I worked out with her 3 days a week, focusing on strength training, and 1-2 days of cardio (elliptical or jogging) on my own. Over a year later, I still focus on strength training 3 days a week and do bootcamp classes or cardio 2-3 days a week. My take aways would be find something you like to do, for me that is lifting weights and working out with a partner or group. As well as crawl before you walk and walk before you run, meaning work up to a good routine.

What do you like doing? Would you be willing to try anything and everything?

After surgery I worked slowly from the treadmill and an elliptical machine to now riding the stationary bicycle for at least 8.50 miles at level 6 for 40 minutes. I do this four times a week and walk the other days.

I have some physical ailments that limit things I can do but I hope to get the clearance to get a trainer who specializes in people with physical disabilities to start low weight training. I need to tighten up.

I hope to get the clearance this week or next. Just have to do a couple of tests and once those results are in I hope to get the okay.

So my suggestion is as soon as they get you up in the hospital to walk don't stop doing it until you can get the okay to move on to the next step which ever that will be for you.

Good luck.

I started with walking, and as soon as I was cleared, cycling and yoga. I also have dumbbells that I lift 3x/week. The walking/cycling is at least an hour daily 6x/week. The other day, while I'm not inactive, I spend on yardwork or other housework that doesn't add a lot of steps, but is still a lot of activity. I plan on upping my yoga with DDP 3x/week, and possibly adding Zumba in the fall.

I started walking, then weight training and eliptical. I'm now riding a bicycle and find that to be my favorite. I still have the others to fall back on when I can't ride for whatever reason, but theres lots of things you can do, but you have to find something that motivates you.,

What is dat exercise you speaketh of? (I'm 12 days post-op and am still wincing with every step I take)

"Latido"....did you have any complications from your surgery? I'm thinking at nearly 2 weeks post op, you should be feeling good enough to walk and move around. Have you gone back for a follow up just to make sure everything is ok?

"Karen82"....like "erp" stated, just gradually build up. Your body will eventually learn to adapt and you can increase intensity and duration little by little. You certainly don't want to dive right in if you don't have much experience with exercise. So find some kind of activity you like and gradually build up and motivate yourself and you'll stick with it.

  • Author

Thank you guys for your overwhelming support

@@erp Im already 3 months down..well almost with hardly any exercise done so far so I was planning on starting with with yoga first and after a week or two into it I plan to hire a personal trainer as well....what do you think?

@swimbikeru The problem is that Ive never been a fitness freak my entire life probably because every gym I tried is surrounded by mirrored walls that ended up depressing me more then helping me.So honestly I still have to figure out what I really enjoy

@@SandyM ...when did you begin with your weight training? My doctor has asked me to stay away from weights till 6 months post op (esp since I never tried weights before)

@Chelly" All the best with your results :)

Also I wanted to know what helps the most with loosing the stomach pouch.... strength, cardio, resistance??? what are you guys doing?

So far all my weight loss has been around my neck, shoulders and back

Edited by Karen82

Swimming was a favorite with me. Just know that it is a whole body workout. You can lose weight pretty quickly.

I did ... too much ... but that was for other reasons also.

Aqua aerobics and swimming are two different things. Swimming laps is roughly 7 calories a lap.

No complications, but I tend to be a miserable grouch after procedures. I worry that the left-side pain is a hernia. Since starting on purees, my blood pressure is finally normal, and I'm beginning to get back some energy every day. I am walking a bit straighter every day too.

Go get a nice, comfy walking shoe - New Balance in the 700's are good, and just start walking. Walk maybe 20-30 minutes a day, to make sure you don't have issues you aren't aware of, and after a week or two ( I call this your "telling my body I am exercising" stage) if you feel ok, amp it up.

General guidelines: if you are not used to stretching or warning up, forgo it - just be mindful and go slow at first. Use the walking to be productive to your goal while researching other exercise options.

Seriously consider yoga. I will offer as much advice as I can.

Good luck.

Karen, do you have an LA Fitness near you? The one I go to only has mirrors in the classrooms for group fitness and a half wall of them by the free weights. No mirrors at all in the pool or by the cardio machines or the weight machines. The mirrors are helpful if you are using free weights and barbells, so that you can make sure your form is good.

I started out going three days a week, either walking on the treadmill, riding the recumbent bike or using the elliptical. Now I go four days a week, trying to inch up to five. I do about 50 to 60 minutes of cardio. Usually about 30 minutes on the treadmill or elliptical and another 20 to 25 on the bike. I generally just go as fast as I can. I do the treadmill on an incline for an extra special brand of torture. After that I do about 45 minutes of weights, using barbells and dumbbells. I try to concentrate on large muscle groups - hams/quads/glutes, chest/back, biceps/triceps. Nothing fancy, just good basic moves like squats and lunges, chest press and lat rows using the heaviest weights I can use with good form. After that I finish with 50 crunches on the stability ball.

I'm still working my way up to the pool though. Bathing suits are so exposing! But swimming is easier on the joints and a total body workout.

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