"PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE HELP?"

I AM EIGHT WEEKS POST OP AND IVE BEEN IN THE GYM FOR THE LAST TWO WEEKS. I USUALLY WALK ON THE TREADMILL AT A VERY FAST PACE FOR TWO MILES WITH THE HIGHEST ELEVATION THE LAST LAP. THEN I GO TO THE STEAM ROOM FOR APROX 15 MIN. IM DOWN 58LBS WHICH IM GRATEFUL FOR BUT I FEEL I SHOULD HAVE LOST MORE WEIGHT BY NOW. I WAS ASKED TO JOIN A PARTICULAR CLASS WHICH INVOLVES DIFF EXERCISE ACTIVITIES MOND-FRI. FOR EXAMPLE: MON-WEIGHT LIFTING, TUES-PILATES, WED-BICYCLING, THRUS-CARDIO, FRI-CARDIO & ?? MY QUESTION IS..DO YOU THINK IT WILL BE A BETTER ADVANTAGE FOR WEIGHT LOSS IF I PARTICIPATED IN THIS CLASS INSTEAD OF DOING MY ORIGINAL ROUTINE OF THE TREADMILL? WEIGHT LOSS IS WHATS SIGNIFICANT TO ME RIGHT NOW! NICOLE

Nicole, 58 pounds in 2 months is a lot of weight. If you try to pu**** too hard you may wind up hurting yourself. You want to lose weight but you also want to be healthy.

58 pounds in 2 months is definitely at the high end of what people hope to lose in that time. Many, many people lose much less weight at this point. About changing exercises, I guess it would be fine. I think my doctor said I could do aerobics if I wanted at about 2 months out. Since your doctor is not easily accesible, tho, you may want to wait another month in case you are not completely healed. If you aren't bored with the treadmill yet, I think you should stay put. Good luck! Becky

Nicole - I am not an exercise therapist but I have had lots of fancy instructors and specialists helping me with my back over the years since 1977. I would suggest that you consult a rehabilitative physiotherapist (such as you would find at a hospital) before going headlong into the type of classes that have been suggested for you. In particular you would need someone who has either cared for bariatric patients in a hospital setting or has dealt with patients that have had abdominal surgery. I believe that whoever has suggested that you consider classes such as PILATES for you at such an early stage is "MAD." Pilates concentrates on the Box, the square area of abdominal muscles that are in the middle of the body and can be too demanding for those in our current physical state. When I recently asked my doctor how long it takes to really heal the insides after the surgery he said that it can take as much as 6 months in most people. His office takes a very conservative position regarding exercise during the first year. The exercise facility run by his group has so far had me doing aerobics (treadmill, reclining bicycle and hand crank) and light weights for upper-body. I had to draw the line at their approach to the lower body when my legs refused to perform and had bad leg cramps to boot. Instead I am now doing the very gentle Kathy Smith 10 week workout leg exercises because common-sense tells me that I need to do something but my experience and pain tells me that what they have suggested for my legs is just not possible for someone who could not walk just 3 months ago. Be guided by your common-sense and consider spending the bucks for a consultative visit to a rehabilitative physiotherapist to help you design a good program. Lots of luck for the New Year!

Congrates on your weight lost that is really good.The tredmill is a good workout .Now that you are going pass your 2 months the class that some one ask you to join ,will not hurt you.doing fifferent exercise as long as you dont feel any disconfort,should be fine.if you are not sure ask you dr. and tell him what you are planning to do.if you srtat remenber to go slow and you will catch up to everyone and it will help you in weight lost and you well being.good luck and keep up the good work.bob