Not released for exercise

Hey everyone, Some of you gals amaze me, you're out there swimming and hiking and doing your cardio-strip-tease classes! I'm still not released for exercise, other than strolling walks. I've had lots of tenderness in my lower abdomen, caused by internal stitches and related micro-tears in the muscles that were stitched. That sharp pain has only resolved itself in the last couple of days, and when I saw my NP today, she said "Those online support groups, I love 'em and I hate 'em, because my patients measure themselves against others in the support group. You are recovering at YOUR pace, and just because others are working out, does not mean you are ready to." So my message to those of you who do not have the energy to work out, or who are still feeling too much discomfort: it's OK. If you don't feel up to exercising yet, it's probably because you're not healing as quickly. Are you over 40? Or have high BMI? Or under additional stress? Then you may heal more slowly. Get your surgeon's OK before you start vigorous exercise. And to those of you who are feeling fine, you GO! I'm proud of you for doing the right thing! You'll lose weight even faster, and be all buff in time to wear a bikini next summer. Sheryl

Sheryl..you are very right...you need to take your time...my doctor says not to push myself....

My doctor says to move.........he didn't tell me to workout but I'm only 32 and I'm a quick healer. Just because I encourage everyone to exercise does not mean to go and run a marathon. I also tell people to move and that could mean walk down the hall of your house or go outside and walk in side. Keke

That's so great you healed quickly. You must be doing a good job getting that protein in! You're right, for me at this point, a stroll down the street constitutes exercise; I think it's different for all of us, what we're capable of within the first 4 to 6 weeks following major surgery. I also got the OK to pedal on my exercise bike, but she said the point is to just get the muscles moving, not to raise my heartbeat and work up a sweat. And, my heavens, I don't think I'll EVER be healed enough to run a marathon! Best wishes to you, Keke! Sheryl

I'm 40 and my MD told me I should have been exercising the day I came home from surgery... I wanted to slap him! But I went back 2 weeks later. I had been working out for 5 years prior though, so like you said, everyone is different! I tend to measure myself against everyone else too, even though I know I shouldn't. Sometimes I have to avoid reading the posts so I don't make myself nuts thinking that I should be working out 2 hours a day, eating 1000 calories and losing 2 lbs a day!

Absolutely take your time and heal. I started with short 3 min walks around the hospital floor the first day but it wasn't easy. I have a tendency to push myself real hard. I took 4 weeks off of work and each day tried to walk at least 1 minute more than the day before. The nice thing was that I was then able to go take a nap. At the 5 week I went back to work and I thought I was ready. However, I am a sales rep and I drive from store to store then walk around hunting done buyers. I was so exhausted by the time I got home. I would crawl into bed by 6pm whenever I could. I have been back to work for 3 weeks now and am starting to feel more energized but more hungry. I try to get more calories by adding milk to my protein powder and other healthy higher calorie foods - peanut butter, banannas, etc. You will be fine. Let your body tell you when you have done too much. Make sure you listen but don't sell yourself short either.

I'm one of the ones who are working out for 2.5-3.5 hrs/day 4 (soon to be 5 days/week). First I would like to say I agree with you completely. If you are not ready to exercise, don't. I was told to walk a minimum of 20 minutes 5/days week, starting the day I came home from hospital. I'm doing my walking on a treadmill where I can hold on for dear life. I try to walk about a 1/2 hour a day or 1 mile minimum. I also ride the bike, just because I'm happy to have found an exercise I can do while sitting on my tush. I ride from a hard 5 minutes or an easy 15. Other than those 35-45 minutes, the rest of my hours/day are in the water. I do a 1 hr water aerobics and 1 mile lap swim. It takes about 2hrs 15 minutes total, although I'm getting faster everyday. The thing of it is that I feel better in water than I EVER do on land. I have a very bad back and swimming helps it a lot. Also, I'm part fish. I learned to swim at 2, got my lifegaurding certificate at 15, my WSI (water safety instructor) at 17. I love the water. The PT won't let me give up on the walking, and I absolutely REFUSE to give up my pool time. So I work out for 1/2 the day. Next week I meet with the PT and she will be adding weight training to my workouts. I'm soooo not looking forward to that. I can't even imagine how long my workouts are going to take at that point. I'm not losing any faster than anyone else, but I also eat more. I need to to sustain all the working out. But my body shape is changing dramatically, and that's great by me. I don't think I'll EVER be thin enough to wear a bikini. Maybe after my tummy tuck and boob reduction. (I'm sorry to say my boobs will never get smaller no matter how thin I get...I come by them naturally) Sheryl 292/257/1??

Hi Sheryl, Your doctor sounds like he knows what he is talking about. One size (or one exercise) does NOT fit all. I went to Curves the other day and I was so tired, I could not finish my rounds and was sore the next morning. I should have taken it slower since I hadn't been there for over a month. I know eventually I will get right back in the swing of things, but I'm older at 47 with a BMI over 50, so I know that my exercise plan needs a little adjustment. My surgeon told me I should try to walk 2 miles or more a day, but I think that's something to work up to. ~Nonna