Weight Lifting

[Staggs 0]

How long post OP did you start to incorporate weight lifting and what was your routine?

Sent from my SM-G975U using BariatricPal mobile app

[catwoman7 11,272]

I think I was cleared to start weights at about the eight week mark. I just do the machines - but hand weights would have been allowed then as well - at least for me.

[sifu_carl 6]

About two months for me.

[PollyEster 228]

Everyone heals at a different rate, so your partner needs to check in with her surgeon to find out when she'll be cleared for weight training.

I'm a fast healer and was cleared at 8 weeks after VSG. I'd already been doing total body weight training for 15 months prior to surgery, and basically returned to the same program after surgery *except* for core training. For the first few months after surgery, I went a lot easier on core training by using weights that were not too challenging even on the last few reps; this is because it takes 4-5 months for the staple line to fully heal. During the first six months, I was more concerned with preserving lean muscle mass throughout the rapid weight loss phase, and my program reflected that. Now at just over 8 months out, my focus is once again on improving strength, increasing bone density, preventing disease, reducing stress, and increasing my metabolic rate, so my program is a combination of circuits, complexing/super-setting, pyramid, drop sets, high volume, and high-intensity interval training (HIIT).

If someone is deconditioned and/or extremely MO, it's important to start out with a light program for the first several months after surgery, basically maybe 2 - 3 times per week, doing 1 to 2 sets of each exercise and resting for 1 to 2 minutes after each exercise. Maybe even split into upper body one day and lower body another.

Edited June 23, 2020 by PollyEster

[John76575 0]

i've been doing weight lifting for 1 year, and it has changed my life much. I feel much focused in my daily routine tasks and feel much good.

[chunkarella 59]

i was cleared after 8 weeks to lift weights. i wasnt allowed to lift anything over 10lbs unti then (but didnt listen bc i def was lifting heavier stuff.. but didnt cause issues)

basically i was told that if it hurts, don't do it. i'm starting to incorporate ab workouts and planks, and im just shy of 3 months post op