Time Frame for Exercise after LBL

Hello,
I had an RNY in Jan 2011 and am down 100 pounds. I am looking in to have a Lower body lift. Here is my question...and I understand it may not be the same for everyone....I am now a Certified Personal Trainer and Group Fitness Instructor and I was wondering how long I will likely be out of commission after having an LBL? I was super pathetic after my RNY and was in the hospital for four full days!!! The single drain site was SO painful! I am trying not to think about the pain part but would definitelly like to know about the recovery part. I am going to meet my plastic surgeon on Tuesday.

Thank you for any thoughts on this. It is much appreciated!

 I have a generic guideline from my Dr of 8 weeks before I can resume exercise. I am sure I could do light exercise like walking or elliptical before that, but I turned lazy and didn't. I am nine weeks out and am going to go to the gym tomorrow for the first time. I think I will be fine doing kick boxing, or Zumba or even step class. The thing that makes me nervous is the strength training aspect. I have a mental picture in my head of doing a push up and having all my arm stitches unravel. I think my insicions are nice and healed, but I am just paranoid. I have been real careful so far and don't want to ruin it now by over doing it. I think my surgeon didn't want me to lift more than 5 pounds for either 6 or 8 weeks. (I forget which) I would think you could get back to your personal trainning sooner than the 8 weeks. I would think if your working with your "regular" clients, probably could get away without demonstrating each activity. Pick exercises they can perform without you participating. 

Jennifer

Having lost weight through diet and exercise, having had a LBL on Feb 2, I would suggest that you do NOTHING for 12 weeks. Trust me, all I have managed to do is delay my healing. I realize that I was "allowed" to exercise earlier, but knowing what I know now, I would have waited (sorry, jen).

 Steve, did you have problems related to working out?

Sorta, it's hard to explain. Only someone who works out will understand. It's not a Dr S. issue, not at all. It's just me, I pushed too hard, too soon. Dr S is the best, please don't missunderstand. I should have gone slow.

 Dr S is great! I agree. I waited 12 weeks because I was scared to death of having issues! Then I took it slow until I was conditioned back to my Pre-op physical.

Obviously, you have more brains than me. Dr S is the best, like I said, I should have taken it easy. The swim workouts have been fabuluous, but the cardio workouts agrivated my incisions (did I spell that right? LOL)  Like I said, is not a Dr S issue, I love the guy, I just should have been more aware of the consequences of the vibration caused by the cardio, that's all.

 Unfortunately Steve I am not all that bright! I had my arms and initial TT in 2009. I did too much too soon with my right arm because I live alone and had no help after returning from MTY. My scar is bad! It is wide and thick and just plain ugly! Dr S will revise it when I see him in Jan 2013 for my UBL and breast work. I learned the hard way. Not the sharpest knife in the drawer! 

I am having my arms and legs done in Oct/Nov. So, like I said, it's not a DR S issue. You have no idea how gratefull I am that I found you and all ot the others here at OH.com. I had the best surgery buddy in the whole world when I did my LBL. I just think that it's important to say that I should have taken it a little more easy when I got home :). You guys rock!!!

 Oh no,Steve,I am so bummed you are saying 12 weeks. I just set up some sessions at the gym starting Monday. Its been 9 weeks for me. I took it very easy this whole time and I feel like I am pretty healed. I know I am not strong or fit anymore but was hoping to start back at working at that. I have been eating so bad lately that I think mentally I need the gym to help me on the right path. Do you think there is a chance of the insicions opening or getting wider at this point? I am not to nervous about the cardio part, I am more nervous about the strength training days. I have a mental picture of doing a pushup and all my arm insicions opening up. But I think that's me being paranoid. What do you think about me just giving it a try and seeing how it feels. How long for you to notice that you should have waited? Are your scars any worse because of going to soon? I am sure I will have a zillion more questions but I will start with just these.