Endurance sports post surgery?

[Cober1 9]

I'm scheduled for surgery next Wednesday and have a question about post-surgery limitations on sports activities beyond the everyday gym trip or walk/jog around the neighborhood. I enjoy doing trail runs, mountain/road biking and other sports with my husband and friends. I typically stick to distances of 25k for walking/jogging and 50 miles or less on the bike. My husband wants me to train for a century ride with him (100 miles) after the surgery and I need to know if that is something I can realistically do. My main concern is being able to take in enough Water to stay hydrated throughout the ride. I know after surgery you can sip but not guzzle so I'd have to continuously drink throughout a workout but if I'm sweating a lot, can I drink enough to replace what I'm losing so I don't get dehydrated? Is this type of surgery going to prevent me from being able to participate in these longer distance events?

[Introversion 1,876]

I know of a fellow sleever who participates in competitive bicycling (read: 70+ mile bike rides).

Personally, I run 20+ miles per week. I used to run 35+ miles weekly, but have cut back because I'm now lifting heavy in an attempt to build muscle.

For the first 6 months I doubt you'll be able to eat enough calories to properly fuel your endurance sport endeavors, and a combo of over-exercising and under-eating is notorious for leading to stalls/plateaus during your weight loss phase.

I think you'll be fine after 6 months because your stomach will have relaxed enough to consume enough food to fuel your activity level.

Good luck to you.

[sleevedshereen 526]

I was advised to not do any real workouts until after the first month...just walk, walk, walk.

I struggle to get in 40 oz of fluids in a day and Friday makes 3 weeks post op for me.

Sounds a bit early if you're trying to do these things with your hubby any time soon post op.

You should consult your doctor on this though.

I would just be paranoid of causing damage to my healing body and get a leak or pass out from dehydration.

[BigViffer 3,545]

25K walk/jog and 50 mile bike? Honest question here, why do you need gastric surgery? What comorbidities do you have that the surgery will help with?

[Cober1 9]

11 minutes ago, BigViffer said:

25K walk/jog and 50 mile bike? Honest question here, why do you need gastric surgery? What comorbidities do you have that the surgery will help with?

I was diagnosed with type II diabetes in November. I've been hovering at a BMI of 33-36 for the past 9-10 years, since my first pregnancy. I haven't gained any weight in 3 years but haven't managed to lose more than 5lbs either. I'm 5'8", 215lbs right now and need to lose about 55lbs. I know it doesn't sound like much to some people but it's having a significant impact on my health. I am active but unfortunately all my exploits also make me very hungry. If we go ride for a few hours, I'm not hungry at all for a few hours but then I get ravenous and stay that way the rest of the day so I end up eating back everything I burned off.

I do plan to take it easy until the doctor clears me to work out but I have a 10k trail run scheduled for November. It will be a fun camping weekend with friends so I'd really like to do it and can walk it if need be. My biggest concern is Fluid out vs fluid in because my doctor really emphasized not letting myself get dehydrated. He wasn't able to offer me any advice on the type of longer workouts I'm concerned about so I thought I'd check here.

[Missy161 395]

I had diabetes and sleep apnea sore joints and bursitis. 4 weeks post op diabetes was officially gone (normal A1C ) and so is everything else. I haven't had the sleep apnea officially checked yet but I feel great .i am not 6 weeks out. I am now 28 lbs down.


Mich W
Hw 223, SW 217 CW 194 GW 135

[jess9395 5,450]

You will be able to gulp and guzzle again.

I run marathons. The fueling and hydrating isn't hard once you're more than six months or so out.

[Lannie 135]

I was very active pre-op. I do triathlons so I was training 5 days a week for several hours...people could never understand how I could be so active and still be obese. For me it was not as simple as calories in / calories out.

I'm 8 weeks post op and I can drink normally again. I have started back to training...but at shorter distances and less intensive sessions b/c I just don't have energy for it. You should be fine just be realistic about how much you can do and how soon.

[CdrIvanova 24]

Hi all ... what kind of fuel do you take in before/during a race? Seems like carb loading is not quite in the diet ...

Sent from my SM-G935V using BariatricPal mobile app

[JeffN 106]

I would talk with the pros at bodybuilding.com they can help you tailor your dietary needs. I was a power lifter before I blew out my Achilles’ tendon and stopped working out all together and put on all my weight. I am working with them now to tailor a diet along with me getting back into the gym. They have liquid carbs non sugar carbs that will not stretch your stomach

I would also get a nutrition tracking software to make sure you track nutritional along with exercise that way you can still stay at 1000 calories per day.

It can be done! Good luck.

[jess9395 5,450]

Hi all ... what kind of fuel do you take in before/during a race? Seems like carb loading is not quite in the diet ...

Sent from my SM-G935V using BariatricPal mobile app

Carb loading in general has fallen out of favor for endurance athletics.

[JeffN 106]

Carb loading in general has fallen out of favor for endurance athletics.

I am not talking about carb loading we are talking about taking on carbs for energy for intense workouts and recovery. Your workout should consume the carbs you intake.

[jess9395 5,450]

I am not talking about carb loading we are talking about taking on carbs for energy for intense workouts and recovery. Your workout should consume the carbs you intake.

Oh I didn't say you were, but the post above yours referred to it.

I don't think anyone who really does endurance athletics or true heavy lifting should worry about carb intake while doing those things, but a lot of people worry about it for their couch to 5k or 5k race. Totally unnecessary for those things. Most of us don't even need them for 10k.

There's even a lot of science about Keto adapted athletes. For optimal performance perhaps some carbs are better, but most of us on this board got into it to burn fat not perform at top performance.

I ran 20-30 miles per week and did 4-5 hours a week of intense yoga training on 600-900 calories per day. I consume far more than that now at goal, but it wasn't necessary before then. And I'm far from a back of the pack runner.

[AnA92212 577]

Prior to becoming pregnant, I was running 35+ miles a week, weight lighting 2 times a week, and other exercise as well. On weekends we ran half marathons or other races. After baby is born I will be training for my first marathon and triathlon. There are typically no restrictions once you are able to work out.

[eden30 111]

Such great replies, I can’t wait to get back to working out and running after surgery. My story is similar BMI of 33 despite running half marathons and CrossFit.