So before surgery I was killing it with exercising. I did cardio 3 times a week and strength training 3 times a week as well. I was doing so good that during my bypass surgery, my surgeon said he was shocked at the amount of muscle he had to work through. Which made me feel a little bad ass. So here I am, 13 days after surgery and ready to get back in the gym but I'm wanting to be smart. I started today with 15 minutes on the treadmill and 5 minutes on the bike (which didn't feel great). I feel like I did nothing, didn't even break a sweat. So let me ask you guys, what are you doing? Can I push it harder? Am I being impatient? How do I know what's too much?

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Thank you!

Do I ever feel weak after a run? Rarely. If I'm pushing my speed or running a particularly challenging trail, yeah I can feel weak, but not often. Ditto with feeling increased hunger... during a really high mileage week, like when I'm marathon training, then I do find a small increase, but nothing out of proportion to the increased burn.

I also do yoga--the challenging strength building type, not the meditative stretching type, though I do that too--and I usually do a protein shake after that. It's an intentional choice, I know it's beneficial. It's not because I feel weak or hungry. I guess it's just part of the rhythm I've developed.

At this point at goal I eat anywhere from 1800-2800 calories a day. Depends on what's going on. I don't track every day, I spot check a couple of times a month.

I think I'm an oddball. So, I have always been a runner--until I got too overweight. I ran a marathon back in 1998. At the time I started training for that I was disgusted that my weight had increased to 205 lbs. Ha! Little did I know that in 2016 my weight would increase to 270. Well, long story short, I started exercising in preparation for the sleeve surgery starting in August. I got to where I ran a mile or so most days, and 6.55 miles on weekends. My pace increased steadily during this time. I ran a 5K race the Saturday before my surgery. I was sleeved on 10/18/2017. I asked my doctor when I could start exercising again. He said as soon as I feel comfortable. In the hospital they wanted us to walk 3 laps around the floor. I would always do 10. When I got home I was in pain from surgery, but it felt good to walk, so I spent my free time walking, and the weather was nice. The first three days I probably walked up to 10 miles a day. One week post op I decided to take a light jog, and I ran for one mile. My abdomen felt heavy, but didn't hurt. I took it slow. I met my surgeon later that day and told him I had run. He asked how it was and I told him just what I said above. He seemed encouraged by this. I started jogging every other day since then and my pace has steadily increased each time, and the heaviness has decreased. It has felt a little better each time I run. Ten days post-op I ran for 2 miles. I thought I would run for 3.1 miles, but started to tire and didn't push it. Then I kept up my 1.3 mile run per day (5 out of 7 days) since then until today, where I'm now on day 18 post op. Today I ran 3.28 miles, and I ran it almost at the same pace I ran my 5K race a few days before surgery. Felt really good, like I could have gone for longer.

during week 2 post-op I decided I'd try some sit-ups. I did one very carefully and it didn't hurt at all. So, I have been doing 20 sit-ups per day since then, and 20 push-ups. Yesterday I increased the sit-ups to 40. Just last week I started alternating resistance band training and dumbbell workouts. Not a lot of reps--just a set of 10 or so, for about 5-6 different exercises. it has felt great! I have lost 13 lbs. since surgery, but the weight loss has slowed down considerably after the first week. I can easily eat 1,500 calories a day between my protein shakes, jello, pudding, applesauce and other allowed food. Today I ate some chopped pork rib meat, and it was delicious! I chewed it up very well and swallowed. No issues eating it. I feel like I could probably eat more if I wanted to, just not all at once. I don't feel my tastes have changed at all yet.

So, I don't know if I'm an oddball or not. I feel that I am. I read how people can't hardly walk for a week or a month and that they can hardly get down 600 calories per day and I am wondering what that is like, because I'm not like that at all. I also wonder if this means I'll plateau and not lose as much, or what. I want to lose my fat weight, but I don't want to lose my muscle weight. Overall, I feel good, so I'm not too worried about it. But my experience seems so different from what I've read of most other people's.

My doctor has wanted me walking since I woke up from surgery! They really push the fact that exercise and diet combined play an important role in losing weight and maintaining your weight loss. They suggested to start slow and work up to more strenuous activity when I am ready. They said no strength training until 6 weeks out, though. I've been doing a variety of things, like the elliptical, treadmill, and Arc Trainer. I even play Just Dance if I don't feel like going to the gym. I just don't go super hard.

Yeah some people argue that you can't get enough calories to support it or it will throw you into a stall....

Can be true for some people, it wasn't for me. I couldn't get more than 600 calories for a number of months and not more than 900 calories for 6-9 months... but I started couch to 5k at four weeks out and yoga shortly after. Did my first 5k at 5 months out and half marathon at 10 months out.

I now run half and full marathons--20-30 miles per week and 4-5 hours of yoga a week.

I reached goal at a year out and now maintain at around 2500 calories per day as a 5'6" 135lb woman.

So try and see what works for you!

I would love to start yoga. Do you have any recommendations for beginners yoga?

I would love to start yoga. Do you have any recommendations for beginners yoga?

Yoga is amazing and I recommend it to everyone!

Yin or restorative is a great place to start. It’s the slower relaxation type. Hatha focuses on holding poses and is often a good next step. Many yoga places do a “beginners” or “intro” class and it’s usually a Hatha class.

Then it’s kinda what you prefer. I love vinyasa, it’s a practice that links poses together into a “flow.” Some places call it “flow” yoga. I also like Ashtanga. It’s a challenging practice strength and flexibility wise, but you can sort of turn your brain off because it’s the same pose sequence every time.

There’s also classes they call “power yoga” and they are usually Hatha or Vinyasa with more of an emphasis on the strength poses than the flexibility ones.

I tend to avoid Bikram because I think the founder was kind of a jerk. Generic “hot” yoga is a better choice if you like that kind of thing (I don’t, lol!). There’s also the more meditation/breathwork ones like Khundalini. I do those occasionally but they aren’t my favorite.

Most gyms have basic classes. Most dedicated yoga studios (where I Take now, though I started at a gym) have specials where you can take unlimited classes for 30 days for a special deal for first time clients. It’s a good way to try different teachers.

And that’s my best reccomendation! Find an instructor who explains modifications for different people and abilities, one who encourages a non competitive “come as YOU are TODAY” approach, and one who clicks with you. I have my favorites and some I like when I’m in one mood and some I like when I’m in a different mood!

You will find a place you feel comfortable and keep experimenting until you find “your tribe”

Yoga is amazing and I recommend it to everyone!

Yin or restorative is a great place to start. It’s the slower relaxation type. Hatha focuses on holding poses and is often a good next step. Many yoga places do a “beginners” or “intro” class and it’s usually a Hatha class.

Then it’s kinda what you prefer. I love vinyasa, it’s a practice that links poses together into a “flow.” Some places call it “flow” yoga. I also like Ashtanga. It’s a challenging practice strength and flexibility wise, but you can sort of turn your brain off because it’s the same pose sequence every time.

There’s also classes they call “power yoga” and they are usually Hatha or Vinyasa with more of an emphasis on the strength poses than the flexibility ones.

I tend to avoid Bikram because I think the founder was kind of a jerk. Generic “hot” yoga is a better choice if you like that kind of thing (I don’t, lol!). There’s also the more meditation/breathwork ones like Khundalini. I do those occasionally but they aren’t my favorite.

Most gyms have basic classes. Most dedicated yoga studios (where I Take now, though I started at a gym) have specials where you can take unlimited classes for 30 days for a special deal for first time clients. It’s a good way to try different teachers.

And that’s my best reccomendation! Find an instructor who explains modifications for different people and abilities, one who encourages a non competitive “come as YOU are TODAY” approach, and one who clicks with you. I have my favorites and some I like when I’m in one mood and some I like when I’m in a different mood!

You will find a place you feel comfortable and keep experimenting until you find “your tribe”

Thank you for the detailed overview [emoji5] I have saved a picture of your response and am now looking in to Yin/Restorative yoga in my local area. Baltimore is a busy place, so im sure I’ll find something!

Thank you for the detailed overview [emoji5] I have saved a picture of your response and am now looking in to Yin/Restorative yoga in my local area. Baltimore is a busy place, so im sure I’ll find something!

Download the Mindbody app and you can search for classes in your local area!

Oh and some use the term “gentle” yoga! That’s a good start too!

Exercise has not been my best friend since high school. I just joined planet fitness and will be setting goals to lift weights 3 days a week with walking everyday. Waiting on my surgery date. I know it is small steps but every one counts!