In most cases of internal surgery, it’s advisable to take some time off to heal. However, 99 percent of WeightWise procedures are done laparoscopically. That means we use a series of small incisions instead of a single large incision. This allows bariatric surgery patients to return to their day-to-day lives the next day.
Taking the kids to school, walking around the neighborhood, grocery shopping, and other low-impact activities can resume immediately. Depending on the job, patients may be able to return to work in a few days, too. While we don’t recommend anything too strenuous to start, there’s no time like the present to start exercising. Maybe for the first time ever.
Years of inactivity and eating too many fatty or sugary foods leads to unhealthy body weight. Many patients come to us looking for a lifestyle change. The gastric sleeve surgery is just the first part of that journey to a healthier life. Exercising after Gastric Sleeve Surgery is still possible, and when done right, helps manage consistent weight loss.
What Exercise Can I Do After Gastric Sleeve?
When beginning a new workout regimen after bariatric surgery, the purpose is to improve three areas: building muscle mass or strength, flexibility, and improving the cardiovascular system. The best activities after gastric sleeve surgery are typically low impact exercises. These exercises can include light weightlifting, walking, jogging, and aerobics. But remember – you won’t be running marathons anytime soon. At the start, being physically active for 30 minutes a day will do it.
The internet is a treasure trove of information on how to kick start an exercise program after weight-loss surgery. How-to guides, videos, and support groups will show you how to set attainable goals, develop a routine, and lose weight at an acceptable rate. Let’s take a look at the three areas to concentrate on.
Strength Training
Cardiovascular StrengthIn addition to working the muscles, patients will want to work their heart, lungs, and circulatory system with “cardio”. In some cases, strength training contributes to the cardio workout, but it’s also important to concentrate on just building stamina. The great thing about cardio (aerobic exercise) is it can be done anywhere.
Walking, jogging, and running are all examples of ways to work on cardiovascular strength. Just like with strength training, patients will want to start slow and slowly ramp up their distance/speed. Pushing too hard at the beginning could actually injure knees and other joints. It’s important to increase physical activity of course, but it needs to be done safely.
Flexibility
The final part of physical activity is increased flexibility. In fact, some may say it’s the most important part of exercising. Flexibility is improved by stretching muscle groups, ligaments, and tendons. Stretching loosen the body up before any physical activity as well as increasing pain tolerance.
By that we mean the body trains itself to get used to the pain, enough so it doesn’t even register. Try this: from a standing position, try to touch the ground. If patients haven’t stretched in a while, they’ll start to feel pain in the back of the leg quickly.
However, if they try to touch the floor seven days a week for the next month, the pain slowly fades. The floor gets closer and closer until finally – success! This added flexibility aids both strength and cardio training, too. Both in preparing the body as well as the ability to do more complex exercises.
Gastric Sleeve Surgery Weight Loss: Our Approach
Studies have shown that the best way for obese or morbidly obese people to achieve a healthy weight – and stay there – is through bariatric surgery, diet, and exercise. That’s why WeightWise has incorporated all three phases into our weight-loss program.
Our bariatric surgeons, dietitians, and exercise physiologists work together to create a lifestyle plan specifically for every patient. We understand that every situation is different, but that patients want to achieve the same thing: A healthier life for themselves. That’s why our program is so successful – we find out where our patients have been before mapping out where they’re going.
This begins with a consultation with our surgeon. We use this time to find out more about our patients, such as family history, current lifestyle, and obstacles that hampered weight-loss efforts in the past. This is also the ideal time for patients to find out more about our program and what is expected of them.
Unfortunately, not everybody that comes to us is a viable candidate for gastric sleeve surgery. There are many reasons for this, but we want to make sure our patients are determined to see the program through. If accepted, the patient will then meet with a dietitian, exercise physiologist, and patient advocate.
It all comes together to give our patients the tools to be their best selves. To find out more about our program, watch a FREE online seminar, and then schedule a visit with us. Find out why we believe our program is the best way to lose unwanted weight and keep it off for the rest of your life.