I am 11 weeks post op VSG today. The past 2 weeks I have been experiencing some real exhaustion.

2 weeks ago I started a more rigorous workout, but nothing that should explain this feeling. I upped my resistance on the elliptical machine and do 5 miles (pretty vigorously) every other day. When I first started doing that I noticed on the days I worked out (I exercise at 5:30AM) I had boundless energy and struggled to sleep at night. But the days that first week I didn't exercise I was exhausted.

This week though I am straight up run down. I want to fall asleep at work. My muscles are sore and weak. My hair is falling out in clumps. I thought the hair loss was just that time that everyone talks about, but now I'm wondering if it's related to the tiredness.

I am getting 80+ Oz of Water and 70+ grams of Protein. No carbs unless it's from non starchy veggies. No fruits. My protein comes from food, and not Protein shakes. I am anywhere between 700 and 1000 calories per day and notice no difference on higher calorie days. I am losing steadily.

The more I feel like this the less I want to exercise, or work, or anything to be honest. Is it a phase? I don't go back to the surgeon until March 9th and am not due for a blood draw until the middle of February.

Edited January 25, 201610 yr by HopeandAgony

I would up the Protein and see if that helps any. Your body may just need more protein now that you are upping the exercise. Other than that I would just watch it carefully and if you still feel concerned talk to your PA or surgeon's office.

Do you use a heart rate monitor or any device that tracks your calorie burn when exercising (besides the read-out on the elliptical itself, which is useless)? If you are burning 500 calories or more through exercise, then 700-1000 calories a day isn't going to be enough to sustain that. I had to get well over 800 calories a day just to be able to do 500 calories of cardio every OTHER day.

Yes. If it's tracking accurately based off of my heart rate I'm under 500 calories burned, closer to 350.

I guess I'm just nervous because I've not felt this run down since the first few weeks immediately following surgery. I just went out on lunch and did some brisk walking and that seems to have given me a little boost (it's also cold out so that woke me up too). If it lasts another week I will call and see if they want to do my blood work early.

And Protein increase, I will try that. I just ordered some protein hot chocolate. That'll bump me up a little and I can add half a scoop of unflavored protein to one of my drinks during the day. That should get me to about 100 grams.

And Protein increase, I will try that. I just ordered some protein hot chocolate. That'll bump me up a little and I can add half a scoop of unflavored protein to one of my drinks during the day. That should get me to about 100 grams.

My nutritionist had me push my way up to 100 grams a day as soon as possible and I do think that helped a lot. It's very critical for recovery from exercise.