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Working out post op & abs



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I'm 6-weeks post op this week & I started working out this week. I do cardio only, for now. 2 miles a day of low incline speed walking (sounds like "nothing" but believe me, I'm sweating & my heart rate goes up). I only consume 60 - 75 grams of Protein a day because it's still hard for me to eat much. I'm exhausted after my workout instead of feeling energized. How do I get over this? I know I should up my protein but it's hard for me to. I do want to work out (& I actually always enjoyed working out) so I can continue loosing a good amount of weight. I hate Protein Drinks now.

How do you all do your ab workouts? I'm scared to do crunches because of my new stomach. I think at 6-weeks we're not fully healed yet, right?

Height: 5'0"

Weight for WLS consultation: 216 lbs.

Surgery date: 2/13/17

Goal: -71 lbs for healthy BMI (about 145 lbs).

Current weight: 178.8 lbs

My profile picture is not me. It's my "FITspiration" body.

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You are still healing.

Expect to be tired until you get to 1000 or more calories a day.

Did your Dr clear you for crunches? Ask them.

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The nurse just told me I could workout. We didn't get into specifics except no lifting over 20 lbs until after 6-weeks. This was during my 2-weeks follow up appointment. I was still in pain so I didn't even think about crunches/ab workouts.


Height: 5'0"
Weight for WLS consultation: 216 lbs.
Surgery date: 2/13/17
Goal: -71 lbs for healthy BMI (about 145 lbs).
Current weight: 178.8 lbs
My profile picture is not me. It's my "FITspiration" body.

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Wouldn't hurt to give yourself a bit longer. My doc gave me the all clear for the gym after 6 weeks and I started doing some crunches, but eased into them. It never bothered me outside of they typical muscle soreness after returning to lifting/exercising. Never hurts to just be on the safe side and give a call to your doc to see what they say.

Give yourself some more time but you'll start to feel better after working out as you start to eat more and get used to working out again. The first few times back to the gym were really rough for me as well, but each workout things slowly improve.

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Consider adding a Protein Shake after your workout. I find that Protein after a workout is a huge boost to not feeling like a dead man. Also, Powerade Zero or G2 from Gatorade are lifesavers in those first weeks when working out.

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I'd wait ok ab work for a while longer.

Try switching up your Protein Drink for something new. I love Rockin' Refuel, and Unjury is pretty good too.


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    • 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
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