Help with exercise!

So I'm still pre-op but I bought am Elipitical machine. I have a 2 year old that melts down whenever she is away from me, so I know I had to have something in my home to help me exercise. I didn't realize how out of shape I was. I don't remember actually exercising since before I was pregnant, so that's over 3 years.

I guess what tips do you guys have for easing back on exercising? I did a whole 5 minutes yesterday on the machine, before my chest felt like it was going to explode and my knees felt bad. This morning I got to 8 minutes and actually sweating. I want to try to get some tolerance back before surgery so after it will be even easier.

That is exactly the way you need to start. 5 min at a time, personally I still can not do an eliptical but I can do a treadmill on incline, I can now jog almost a 1/4 of a mile and I can do weights. When it comes that darned machine it KILLS me. Start slow, build your tolerance then go higher. If it takes 3 minutes a time, then that is 3 minutes. Take it in shifts instead of 1 time a day, do 5 minutes several times a day. It will help, but slow is the best way, you do not want to hurt yourself.Good Luck

 don't do too much...a little at a time...don't stress your joints as you are heavy now and could stress them...after surgery you will need to rest and will not want to do very much which is normal so don't worry if you can't do anything for awhile except walk a bit...but kudos to you for starting early..
SEAVIEW

I have an elliptical machine too.  Pre-surgery I used to be able to hop in it anytime and do 30 minutes without a problem.  Even when it was very inconsistent.  After surgery I couldn't do 5 minutes without feeling like I was going to die!!  Just ease into it, don't push yourself too hard to start and you can do it.

Its like the Couch 25k routine.  Alternate between speeds.  I did just the level, no incline, no speed goal to start.  When you get stronger you can start to mix it up.

Good for you to start early - it will only help you in the long run.

It is really great that you want to build up your capacity. If you stick to it, you will get there slow but sure. I had to re-introduce myself to my elliptical post-RNY and post a bad knee stress fracture. I had been a couch potato the year before surgery. I started at 5 minutes at the lowest tension. I thought I would die at first! I did that for a week, and then increased by 5 minutes every week after that. Seven months after surgery, I can easily do 45 minutes.

I suggest that you also consider some DVD exercise classes. For example, you might check out Richard Simmons' DVDs, which is designed for people at all fitness levels. This will help to build up your strength and vary your movement.

Good luck with your workout!
Amy

My standard advice is to start wherever you are and then just gradually build up until you are doing as much as you want to.

I started going to the gym 1x a week for 30 min. to ride the stationary bike and yesterday I biked 80 miles outdoors. Most people get to 'as much as they want' a lot sooner than that, though.