Question:
How much walking should I do post-op?

I am 1 week post-op and I am walking just over 1 mile daily. It makes me feel weak and tired but, very good. How much should I be able to walk at this stage? How fast should I increase my distance. I am really enjoying it, is there any way I can deal with the weakness, or is it because I have not fully recovered from surgery? I don't believe walking can really be overdone once I become used to a program of it, I'm just concerned about it until I gain more strength and endurance.    — Carla C. (posted on July 12, 2001)

July 11, 2001
Hi Carla, Congrats on the surgery and up and walking already. I was advised that to start out I should do a mile per month of the surgery. 1st month, 1 mile, 2nd month,2 miles until you feel up to it and ready to move on. Just don't overdue. I'm 3 months post op and doing 2 miles as that's what I'm comfortable with at the moment.
   — Linda M.

July 12, 2001
Hi, Carla. Pre-op, I used to spend 55 minutes on five machines at the gym every morning and take a walk every eve. Post-op, my Dr. told me to push myself out the door every couple of hours and not do the walk all at once, so as not to tire so easily. I was walking at least one mile the first week post-op. Now, I am 3 weeks post-op. I walk one-and-one-half miles every morning early. Mid-day, another one and one half miles and most evenings, one mile. Total being four miles per day. The rest of the time I totally rest and nap and heal. My Dr. said the further the better. I go in tomorrow and will confirm "how far is far?" But he said it is strengthening to walk and will help take that weight off. Good Luck! Barbara
   — Barbara B.

July 12, 2001
Wow, I am shocked at the answers you've received here. You are ONLY a week postop. SLOW DOWN!! Your body is telling you that it needs recovery time! Listen to it. A mile at once or even a mile a day at one week is too much! Build up slowly. I only do a mile or just slightly over every day and I'm over a year post op! I've lost almost all of my extra weight. I see no reason to push yourself to exhaustion. The doctors usually recommend good cardiovascular working out for 20 to 30 minutes a day. These folks who are walking 2 or 3 or more miles are WAY overworking their bodies -- and that's their prerogative, but it is not necessary and could actually be harmful for some of us. Take it easy, take it slow, build up, listen to your body, but do some walking every day. Remember not to lift over 10 pounds for at least 6 to 8 weeks so your incisions (inside and out) can heal sufficiently so that you won't get a hernia. Also, don't do other exercises besides walking for that long too. Take B12 to help with the energy. Best wishes.
   — Cindy H.

July 12, 2001
Walk as much as you can. ;^) How much you should be able to walk is completely unique to each person. By one week post-op, I was walking about 2 miles each day; many people walk about 1/4-1/2 mile. It all depends on your body. For me, I was an athlete for most of my life, so getting back into a normal exercise routine happened quickly and easily. <P> I can tell you that my recovery was faster than normal, and my weight loss is really good. Don't push yourself too hard, though. If you feel a little weak, that's one thing. If you can barely drag yourself into your house after walking a mile, that's totally different and you should slow down. <P> Increasing your distance by about 1/2 mile every two weeks is probably good for now. After you've gotten up to walking about three miles in an hour without undue exhaustion, try increasing your distance by about a mile a week, if you have enough time to walk that far!
   — Suzanne B.

July 13, 2001
I think you're starting to walk WAY TOO EARLY. This was a major overhaul of your insides! My Dr & dietician told me not to start exercising until 6 weeks post-op, allowing the insides time to HEAL and all the energy my body was producing is to be specifically set aside for a time of healing. I would seriously back off if I were you.
   — Julie P.