Tips for Exercise after Bariatric Surgery

If your weight loss surgery is going to be effective, you will need to pair dietary changes with exercise. The reduced calorie intake after surgery can shock your body into starvation mode. To avoid this, daily physical activity is crucial. Our tips can help you become thinner and healthier:

• Start exercising as soon as you are allowed to after surgery. Just walking laps on your floor in the hospital is a great start. By the second or third day, you should be able to walk for about five minutes at a time.
• The week after your surgery, exercise for five to fifteen minutes at least three times a week.
• Two weeks after surgery, your doctor may approve light weight-training. Small weights can be purchased at any sporting goods store in Michigan, and even from many mass market retailers.
• A month after lap-band surgery, you should be ready to do the amount of exercise recommended by health experts: a minimum of 30 minutes a day, five times a week.
• Try out different activities to find one that you like. Dancing, Pilates, and swimming are all great options.
• Find a friend to work out with you to make it more fun. This will also help to keep you committed to your exercise program.
• If you don’t already own one, invest in a small mp3 player. Having some music playing can help get you through tough workouts.
• Get your kids involved. Many gyms offer “mommy and me” workout classes. You can also take up a sport together like cycling or rollerblading.