Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

Exercising on small amounts of food post-surgery?



Recommended Posts

Right now if I eat a very small amount of food and then try to exercise I get lightheaded, weak, tired, and feel like passing out. Does that change after the surgery? I see lots of posts about people exercising 1-2 hours a day... how do you do that on so few calories without feeling like passing out?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Pre-surgery, I've never felt like that during a workout. Post-surgery, I've only felt like I was going to pass out when I was walking in the Texas heat! I started adding a banana to my diet and that made a big difference in post-walking recovery. I think its less about how many calories I'm eating and more about the amount of nutrition I'm getting from food.< /p>

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

U may be trying to do too much too soon.

Keep it simple...walking is always a good starter.

Even hand weights could be too much until you heal inside and out!

Good luck

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Good question, I wonder that too.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I go to they gym after I have had my morning Protein shake/tea. I have just recently started strength training and I feel pretty good and am able to get thru itit all and still do 30 mins on treadmill.

I usually wait about 40 mins then go, that way I can drink my Water while I am there too!!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I am on the pre-op liquid diet currently and exercised for 2 hours last night (water aerobics) and felt totally fine. I am sure post surgery I will not be doing an aerobics class though. I'll probably just be walking or water-walking at most. My suggestion would be to have a shake 30 minutes before working out? And make sure you drink Water while working out and listen to your body. You don't want to jump in with 2 hours of walking/working out as soon as you're cleared for exercise. That's the kind of thing you work up to!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Can't tell you why but I've never had a problem with it post op. I do 3-5 mile runs easily on very few calories. If I am going longer than that or am racing I will add some extra carbs--fruit, dried fruit, oatmeal, flax or coconut flour pancakes. I always try and have a Protein shake within a half hour of finishing my run though.

One thing maybe is my exercise has increased as my weight has decreased so I am moving 130 pounds less around and it's not as tiring. My endurance has built up slowly as the weight dropped. So it's different post op that way.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

@ Thank you for posting this- I have been wondering the same thing and have been slightly worried!!!

But I think @@jess9395 has a good point, though...maybe once we lose some weight, our bodies will not have to be working as hard to get our groove on therfore will not need as much energy (aka food).

But I have been worrying because if I don't eat very much...sometimes I get really clammy, hot, shaky and feel like I am going to pass out. I have had labs done and my doc didn't show any issues with my blood-work.

I wonder if the loss of ghrelin accounts for being able to work out with little food at all?

I guess we will find out, eh?!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

My doc told me to cut back on exercise until I get closer to my Protein and calorie goal I was walking 60-70 minutes a day and getting only 30-40 grams of protein. He said my body will start holding onto the weight. He also said I would start losing muscle instead of fat.. I was feeling great getting that much exercise but I've cut back because The doc knows what he's talking about. .

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×