I'm headed to the gym for the first time on Friday. I didn't work out before surgery, other than walking to and from the refrigerator. :blushing:

I'm not sure what I should do my first time out. I don't want to be dying the next day. LOL. My surgery was 2 weeks ago, do I need to start off slow? I prefer the elliptical over the treadmill (clearly, as I have a treadmill that hasn't seen my booty in years).

Should I do any of the machines, or just cardio? Or just walking? Or just sit in the hottub and then say "oh yeah, great workout!"?

Help!

:wub:

Isn't that awfully soon to start already? Besides walking I'm not doing anything with weights till absolutely healed. I'm afraid, I'm a weanie? hehehe, I don't wan't to jepordize any of this healing process, I was thinking around 4 weeks to be sure. :blushing: But then I'm just 6 days out so I'm still sore and nervous. :wub:

Good luck and let me know how it goes.

Jeanie

Wow Shel, your experience sounded awful, hope you are doing better now. I can't imagine all that. I had mine 3 days before you. Mine went well when I got back to my room I had an IV with fluids and pain meds. I was out of it basically till the next day. My incissions still hurt, not horrid but they are uncomfortable. The port the worst of course. On Day 2 I went shopping so I could get some walking in but I was on pain meds so it wasn't too bad. lol I quit all pain meds on day 4.

My diet is/was: clear liquids for the first 3 days and then (now) day 4 thru day 14 purreed foods thin enough to go thru a straw (i don't have to use the straw), then day 15 thru day 30 is soft mush foods, day 31 and on is regular foods. I feel actually really good and i get full really quick and have lost 8 pounds.

So sorry to hear about the crushed yucky meds you have, can't they get it in a liquid or anthing like that for you? It will be so nice when you are off that one for sure.

I'm hoping the worst is over for you though and keep us posted on your progress!

good luck.

Hugs,

Jeanie

sorry about 1/2 that post up there being for another one! yikes, i hit paste for the ticker and the other message i replied to came out. you probably thought i was nuts! lol

Jeanie

Sadly, no resident trainers. I plan to hire one once I can do my 30 min of cardio without needing CPR afterward.

And, that's my fear, overdoing it. I'm just not sure what I'm supposed to be doing at this stage. I feel about 98% right now, just an occasional little twinge from time to time.

When I went back to the gym I just started with walking. I waited about 6 weeks before I hired my trainer (who is now leaving the gym). I had to wait 6 weeks before doing any ab work. I think the cardio is a great place to start.

Shannon

I know I wasn't allowed to work out until my Dr gave me the clearance, one month post-op. And even then I skipped my abs because I was still sore when I tried crunches. Please ask your dr. if it's okay.

That being said, most gyms give you an introduction session when you join. Basically it's a trainer who shows you how to use each machine and can chalk out a plan of action in the gym for you.

Personally 2 weeks out I was not working out. I'd go for a walk around the block, or at the mall, grocery store, etc, but that was it.

This is not a "gym" so much as the rec center. But they have all the stuff. No staff trainers, though. :wub:

But ok ok I'll just start walking. Can do that at home on old dusty treadmill. :blushing:

That's the very best thing for you right now, Angie--is just to walk on the treadmill. Since today was the day, I'm betting you got maybe 10-15 minutes in on it!

You can build up your time gradually--and hopefully you have a television close by the treadmill (I find it verrrrrrry boring without one!).

Jeanie was right--it's too soon to begin ANYTHING ELSE! I was able to go back to Curves at four weeks and the YMCA with weight training at seven weeks (and totally had to reduce my weights then--it was four months until I had built back up to my original pre-op weight limits). My surgeon gave me a 10# weight limit for that first four weeks.

If you have a Curves anywhere near you, why not try them in two weeks? You can get the first orientation visit free and you can see if you think you'll like it--I've belonged five years now and I find the comraderie with the other women wonderful--and the weights there are geared towards people our size.

Good luck, Angie, in whatever you do!:confused: