Hi all! I’m schedule for bypass Dec.13 and already wondering about post op exercise. I started CrossFit when I started my pre-op weight loss in June. I absolutely love it and it has helped me in so many ways already. I’m kind of feeling bummed that I know I won’t get to go for a while. I have read at least 6 weeks post op for more intense exercise other than walking. What kind of time frame or restrictions did you all experience? I know it is based on my surgeons recommendations but I’m just trying to prepare myself. I don’t want to lose all my strength progress but don’t want to hurt myself either. Thanks!

I could walk right away (even before I left the hospital)

at 4 weeks out, I was cleared to do everything except for weights

at 8 weeks out, I was cleared for weights

I am The Most Unlikely CrossFitter (started at my heaviest weight) and also mourned the enforced detention from the barbell.

I was told absolutely no weight at all for two weeks, walk only. After my two-week visit, I was cleared to for running, jumping rope, and biking (but not rowing, just because of the mechanics of it) and given a 10-lb. restriction which I will freely admit I stretched to 15 lbs so I could use a training bar. I went back to the gym and modified things heavily.

I was cleared to return to the gym fully at 6 weeks which was last week. I strongly, strongly suggest you plan to go slow as you return. If you used to go five days a week, go 2-3. If you went 3 days a week, go 1-2.

Scale. Absolutely. Everything. Your body will hurt just like it did when you started, and after the gyms reopened post-quarantine. We are finishing a strength cycle that I wasn't here for, so I'll just be kind of doing moderate weight and seeing how my mechanics have changed (cleans feel TOTALLY different), and will start the next strength cycle.

I will say that my running got better IMMEDIATELY. I went from a 14-minute mile where I had to stop and use an inhaler, to an 11-minute mile in just four weeks, and my inhaler is in a drawer. I ran an 800 m in under 5 minutes and didn't die. I actually can't wait to see how much closer I can get to a pull-up or a toes-to-bar with the increased mobility and less of a leaden weight in my @$$.

Oh, and for what it's worth, I was able to pull 60% of my heavy deadlift for 5 reps absolutely cold the week I returned. Will there be strength loss? Probably. But it's not as bad as I feared.

Edited November 1, 20214 yr by vikingbeast

On 11/01/2021 at 14:03, vikingbeast said:

I am The Most Unlikely CrossFitter (started at my heaviest weight) and also mourned the enforced detention from the barbell.

I was told absolutely no weight at all for two weeks, walk only. After my two-week visit, I was cleared to for running, jumping rope, and biking (but not rowing, just because of the mechanics of it) and given a 10-lb. restriction which I will freely admit I stretched to 15 lbs so I could use a training bar. I went back to the gym and modified things heavily.

I was cleared to return to the gym fully at 6 weeks which was last week. I strongly, strongly suggest you plan to go slow as you return. If you used to go five days a week, go 2-3. If you went 3 days a week, go 1-2.

Scale. Absolutely. Everything. Your body will hurt just like it did when you started, and after the gyms reopened post-quarantine. We are finishing a strength cycle that I wasn't here for, so I'll just be kind of doing moderate weight and seeing how my mechanics have changed (cleans feel TOTALLY different), and will start the next strength cycle.

I will say that my running got better IMMEDIATELY. I went from a 14-minute mile where I had to stop and use an inhaler, to an 11-minute mile in just four weeks, and my inhaler is in a drawer. I ran an 800 m in under 5 minutes and didn't die. I actually can't wait to see how much closer I can get to a pull-up or a toes-to-bar with the increased mobility and less of a leaden weight in my @$$.

Oh, and for what it's worth, I was able to pull 60% of my heavy deadlift for 5 reps absolutely cold the week I returned. Will there be strength loss? Probably. But it's not as bad as I feared.

I too and the most “unlikely crossfitter”, but since I started it is the only exercise I truly enjoy. Or at least continue to want to do haha! I feel better knowing it won’t be months and months of doing nothing. Our coaches are great too, they will let me bike or whatever while everyone else does the other stuff I’m sure. Thanks for the replies!!!!

45 minutes ago, mrsjo said:

I too and the most “unlikely crossfitter”, but since I started it is the only exercise I truly enjoy. Or at least continue to want to do haha! I feel better knowing it won’t be months and months of doing nothing. Our coaches are great too, they will let me bike or whatever while everyone else does the other stuff I’m sure. Thanks for the replies!!!!

It will come back, and sooner than you think. And there's something about being surrounded by fitness-minded people!

So what about the belts some people use? I never have, just wondered if that helps prevent hernias etc? I do worry about those things post op.

1 hour ago, mrsjo said:

So what about the belts some people use? I never have, just wondered if that helps prevent hernias etc? I do worry about those things post op.

Weight belts? They help brace your core (remember, tight core = stability) by giving you something to press against when you breathe. I would never do heavy lifts without one—in fact I wear one bench pressing even, because it helps the core stability. In fact, I just donated my old weight belt because it's too big for me, and am halfway through the holes on my new weight belt.

If you are braced properly and using proper form you shouldn't have to worry about hernias. If you're not braced properly or have bad form, you're gonna get hurt one way or another.

On 11/02/2021 at 16:32, vikingbeast said:

Weight belts? They help brace your core (remember, tight core = stability) by giving you something to press against when you breathe. I would never do heavy lifts without one—in fact I wear one bench pressing even, because it helps the core stability. In fact, I just donated my old weight belt because it's too big for me, and am halfway through the holes on my new weight belt.

If you are braced properly and using proper form you shouldn't have to worry about hernias. If you're not braced properly or have bad form, you're gonna get hurt one way or another.

Thanks! I guess I may need to get one then. Our coach is all about proper form, etc. and no one has said you need to get one, but plenty of people do use them. Thanks again!

Hi! I was cleared to do anything/everything by 1 month post op. With that said, I didn’t do anything besides walking until about 3 months post op, when I went nuts trying anything/everything I could. I was an everyday (sometimes 2-3 times a day exerciser for about a year and a half.

Am now at 3 years post and i am down to a 2-3 time a week runner min 5k. I also do a bunch or cardio-based fun stuff - next week im going pole dancing! Lol. I never developed into a strength training lover, but I do it a couple times a week just cuz i know it works (but i hate doing it TBH). I do mean to try cross-fitting…maybe it will stick? We’ll see.

Your doc will clear you based on your healing. Who knows, maybe you may be cleared earlier than u think. Listen to ur doc (I didn’t listen to mine after plastics and paid the price)

Good Luck! ❤️

I am going to miss Crossfit during my recovery. My gym is awesome. I'm going to do Murph this Thursday as my last WOD before surgery, since I definitely won't be up for that on Memorial Day. I am looking forward to seeing what my updated body can do in a few months, though.

On 5/14/2022 at 5:35 PM, noteasierstronger said:

I am going to miss Crossfit during my recovery. My gym is awesome. I'm going to do Murph this Thursday as my last WOD before surgery, since I definitely won't be up for that on Memorial Day. I am looking forward to seeing what my updated body can do in a few months, though.

Seriously, write down where you're at right now. The running stats, the gymnastics stats (where you scale to if you scale, etc.), even how you feel. Pick a couple of recent WODs that you enjoyed doing, and then do them again in six months. You. Will. Be. Stunned.

05/17/2022 02:14 AM, vikingbeast said:

Seriously, write down where you're at right now. The running stats, the gymnastics stats (where you scale to if you scale, etc.), even how you feel. Pick a couple of recent WODs that you enjoyed doing, and then do them again in six months. You. Will. Be. Stunned.

This is a good tip for me. I’m scheduled for surgery next week and I’m so bummed about not being able to go to my “box” during recovery. I keep thinking I’m going to lose so much ground, never gonna be able to stand on hands again, won’t be able to build muscle yadda yadda. The list in my head goes on and on so maybe if I write stuff down I won’t get so bummed. 

5 hours ago, mrsjo said:

This is a good tip for me. I’m scheduled for surgery next week and I’m so bummed about not being able to go to my “box” during recovery. I keep thinking I’m going to lose so much ground, never gonna be able to stand on hands again, won’t be able to build muscle yadda yadda. The list in my head goes on and on so maybe if I write stuff down I won’t get so bummed.

I was allowed back at extremely limited capacity (no more than 10 lbs. and NO ab or core work) after two weeks. I was allowed to lift after 6 weeks. Your strength will take a dive temporarily because you simply won't be able to eat enough to power serious lifts. It was probably 12-16 weeks before I really started to feel like "myself" in the gym.

BUT... wait until you see just how much easier the rest of it becomes. My mile time went from 14 minutes to 9 minutes. I went from having to do single "grief burpees" (step out and step in) to being able to chain 20 actual burpees. I'm closer to a pull-up than I've ever been.

My strength isn't what it was before, but I'm also not training the way I was before. My deadlift went down about 25%; squat too; bench is down about 30%. I miss the days of a 675 deadlift, but I'd rather have the health markers I have now, and the endurance, and the ability to do bodyweight things. I took my L1 and am now coaching, and helping others to love their bodies for what they can do.

On 5/17/2022 at 2:14 AM, vikingbeast said:

Seriously, write down where you're at right now. The running stats, the gymnastics stats (where you scale to if you scale, etc.), even how you feel. Pick a couple of recent WODs that you enjoyed doing, and then do them again in six months. You. Will. Be. Stunned.

I am really looking forward to that part. I have goals that I just can't reach at this weight, but give me 6-12 months.

I love it so, so much. I started about 4 months ago when my BMI was still north of 60 and I've gotten so much stronger since. We just did a workout to find our 5 rep max for back squats, a move that I could barely do with a PVC pipe on the first day. I could lift all the weight I've lost since starting + more, on a real barbell!, but I didn't have time to find my actual max. Never in a million years did I think that I would be an athlete, and yet...

I love it so, so much. I started about 4 months ago when my BMI was still north of 60 and I've gotten so much stronger since. We just did a workout to find our 5 rep max for back squats, a move that I could barely do with a PVC pipe on the first day. I could lift all the weight I've lost since starting + more, on a real barbell!, but I didn't have time to find my actual max. Never in a million years did I think that I would be an athlete, and yet...

That's awesome!
I never thought I would call myself a runner.... but hey. Life is about change.