How long post-op did you start lifting weight? Did it help with lose skin? Any other recommendations for us newbies to make sure we look our best on the other end?

I'm barely two weeks post op, but my doc said I could start weight lifting in a month. Zero restrictions on weights. Im sooooo looking forward to going back to crossfit! Im obviously gonna take it easy and build up to what I was lifting before.

I started working with an exercise physiologist 11 days post op. He understood the surgery and we only worked on legs and arms - balance, resistance bands, leg press, etc. At 2 months post-op we started adding core strengthening exercises. Please understand that I would never have done anything to jeopardize myself. I do not go to a large, mainstream style gym. It is a small place, all the trainers are exercise physiologists, and many of the other clients are dealing with something - post knee replacement, hips, strokes, etc --not all, but many. There are a few gym rats there that could whip my *s* -- and I hope to be one of them someday!

Ellen

My surgeon says 6 weeks.

I used very light weights and walked on the treadmill after 3 weeks by week 6, I started to use machine weights but only light ones before increasing them in week 8.

I think I over did it. I'm 2 weeks post op today and am finally feeling like myself. I reorganized my closet, tried on all my shoes and bagged up the ones that are too small, cleaned the bathroom, shook the rugs outside, vacuumed the bathroom and my bedroom. I lifted the vacuum about 2 inches off the ground to turn it sideways, twice. Emptied the trash. Lots of bending over and a little bit of lifting. I don't know what got into me. I just felt like me again. The problem is, I had to take a Tylenol because my epigastric area is sore, not my incisions. Sort of between my incisions. I hope I didn't cause any damage. I can eat and drink okay, just mild soreness. I'm in my chair with my feet propped up now. Has anyone else did something stupid like this and were you okay afterwards? My Postop appointment is this Tuesday.

I think I over did it. I'm 2 weeks post op today and am finally feeling like myself. I reorganized my closet, tried on all my shoes and bagged up the ones that are too small, cleaned the bathroom, shook the rugs outside, vacuumed the bathroom and my bedroom. I lifted the vacuum about 2 inches off the ground to turn it sideways, twice. Emptied the trash. Lots of bending over and a little bit of lifting. I don't know what got into me. I just felt like me again. The problem is, I had to take a Tylenol because my epigastric area is sore, not my incisions. Sort of between my incisions. I hope I didn't cause any damage. I can eat and drink okay, just mild soreness. I'm in my chair with my feet propped up now. Has anyone else did something stupid like this and were you okay afterwards? My Postop appointment is this Tuesday.

I did the same thing within a week post-op, driving while under the influence of narcotics - but no one wanted to drive me to school... Lifting the laundry basket and doing my laundry - again waiting for mom or sister to do this after I asked four time over the last two days... When you have no choice, and something has to get done... Unfortunately doing all that caused a. LOT of pain. The bending, lifting, pulling, driving... But you do what you go to do.

6 Weeks. I was told "you'll feel like you can before that but you can't." I felt like I could before 6 weeks and moved a couch. I couldn't. It hurt pretty badly and I was really afraid I herniated my abdominal wall...fortunately I didn't. Started lifting at 6 weeks with some abdominal soreness, by 8 or 9 weeks it was like I was never cut open.

What about spin class? ????

I am fortunate that my surgeon has a fitness gym just for bariatric clients staffed with exercise physiologists. After 2 weeks I was able to return to the gym and started out slowly. I am now at 6 weeks and am finding it very beneficial.

My surgeon cleared me for cardio after two weeks and weightlifting after four weeks, but I waited a couple a months to start the weights. I really didn't want to take any chances and let my body recover.