Ok, guys- I am 4 weeks post op and I started the gym today- I want to know what everyone did for exercise when they were newly banded- what worked, what didn't.. today I did 35 min cardio-combo of elliptical, bike, and treadmill.. plus some arm exercises-Any input is appreciated!

I didn't start right away with strength training, just cardio. I would do 4-5 days a week of the elliptical for about 40-60 minutes. If the strength training is working for you know, go for it! It can only help.

As of now, I do strength training 2 times a week for an hour, and 3-4 days of 45+min of cardio. Some days I take spin classes, one day of cardio machines (elliptical/stairstepper/bike/treadmill), and a walk outdoors for 45+min. The walk usually includes lots of hills, up and down, and I just started doing intervals of sprinting (only for about 60 seconds).

Hi Stacy,

I have not been banded, YET! I have my first appointment with Dr. Srikanth Friday Oct. 5th. I was just wondering how your experience with the doctor and hospital were?

Hey, goldie how did your appt go?I love dr srikanth-in the beginning i had some trouble getting thru to the office-some unanswered phone calls and such but they are a busy office..but once I had surgery everything has been great. there is a support group that meets once a month- I just started going- you do not have to be banded yet to go- i would encourage it- if you have more specific questions for me pm me and I would happy to answer them.

Hi Stacy, My appointment we very well. I have a tentitive date of Nov 7. Now I am having anxeity attacks. I haven't been able to eat or drink and I am just second guessing myself. I want to do this but my insides are torn up!! Is this normal? :faint::help::think

Yes, it is perfectly normal- I started to get anxious about 2 weeks before surgery- but then on surgery day, I was calm-very bizarre- everything will go well-Dr.Srikanth is a very skilled surgeon. he knows what he is doing- I do not know if you have researched him or not but he is very educated and has experience in a lot of different areas in medicine.I had to start my pre-op liquid diet early- are you on preop diet at all? If not , i would start soon -it has really helped me stay on track- the liquid diet really was not that bad- I actually went to Vegas for my anniversary one week prior to banding and kept to the liquid diet- lost 12 lbs in 2 weeks on that. keep it going- just think you will be eating normally before xmas!! good luck and don't worry too much.

I ahve ben exercising for a number of years now and I started again after my post op visit a week after surgery and continue to do so twice a day. I don't go to a gym I ahve a treadmill and a tony Little Gazelle at home and use both all the time. I have two different kinds of hand weights one set I use for walking and the other set is a bit heaver so I use them at home. I do 150 sit ups in one setting and I do the spread your legs wide and touch the toes around 50 reps twice a day, I use my pilate bands man am I tired and I do walk one day I will join a gym however where I had my band done at they actually give you an RX for their physical therapy area and you get to use the equipment that they ahve and get a trainer too but the gas milage might keep me away. I am over an hour away and I can't be driving back and forth. My Dr. said it was OK for me to do the exercises that I have been doing.

<p>Has anyone had a personal trainer, to start a work out routine? Do I tell my persoanl trainer that I have the surgery so he can work at different type workoutt?</p>

Keep in mind it takes 6 weeks to heal, so dont over do it. I work out with a trainer 3 times a week and it is the best thing I do. I will be at my 1 year lap band anniversary on October 30 and I have lost 112 lbs. Exercise is the key. I also walk and/or run 3 miles a day. Do weights, machines, walk, anything you feel up too;

Thank you Stacy! I have now gotten over my anxiety and I am ready to do this..I did research Dr. Srikanth and he is a very good surgeon and I never had a doubt about him. His staff is also very helpful. He put me on the pre-op diet for now which is really easy to follow. Then 10 days before surgery I will be on the liquid diet.

I would like to know from experienced banders what kind of protien powder is the best..any suggestions? The Dr.'s office gave me a website that I can get samples,, but better to hear it first hand. Then I can start trying them.

I use the eas chocolate powder-it has 23 g of protein per scoop- you can get it from sams club- it costs about $25 vs the $50+ the other ones costs- it is pretty good- the other one I like is the champion protein whey stack- it is more expensive-there is another one online I have not tried that I think many people on this site use- it is called unjury-they have flavor free so you can mix it with soup, etc. i have not found a flavore free one yet that I like in any store-most of them have some flavor in them.in the stage you are in, what I would suggest is to do one shake a day-you can even start with the low carb slim fast-this will help you get in the routine of drinking th shakes-I know this helped me transition to the liquid phase much easier than I probably would have if I had not done anything.

Thanks for the info Stacy. I will go out and see if there are any sample sizes and start drinking at least one protein drink a day. I have been very careful of what I am eating just following the list they gave me at the Dr.s. I couldn't eat for three days with the anxiety being so bad and that helped me lose 10 pounds in a hurry. Now to keep it coming off.

:kiss2:

<p>Has anyone had a personal trainer, to start a work out routine? Do I tell my persoanl trainer that I have the surgery so he can work at different type workoutt?</p>

You HAVE TO TELL!!!! OR you could hurt yourself---let your trainer know so he/she can ease you into ab excerises--better to be safe than sorry!!--if you don't want to tell them that you had the lap band ---just say you had a Hernia surgery---if you did or not-----that will give them enough info to help you--and for you to not be hurt.

:kiss2:

You HAVE TO TELL!!!! OR you could hurt yourself---let your trainer know so he/she can ease you into ab excerises--better to be safe than sorry!!--if you don't want to tell them that you had the lap band ---just say you had a Hernia surgery---if you did or not-----that will give them enough info to help you--and for you to not be hurt.

I agree with crazyace- as far as I know-no abs for awhile-just tell them whatever you want -but make sure you tell them something- we don't want you to hurt yourself!