Question:
Why am I soooo tired the day after a good work-out??

I started out at 239 and need to loose about 100 pounds. I'm 6 weeks out and have lost 24 pounds!!! Although I have already hit TWO platues (am on one currently, took me about a week and a half to loose 1-2 pounds!) Last night I did a 3-mile walking video and a 25-minute aerobic video. I usually do 2 videos together but this was the first time I did a 3-mile. (I have been doing the 2-mile in conjunction with another aerobic video 20-30 min each for a total of about an hour every other day) I've been trying to work out everyday as I've seen a lot of other posters here do but it hasn't been working out that way. I usually end up working out 4 days out of the 7 because I am totally exhausted. Years ago I could work out most every day so I was expecting to be able to do it now too. I'm getting about 65 grams of protein daily (dieticians suggested amount) I take my chewable vitamin 2 times a day. I drink plenty of water (drinking water was a habit of mine long before surgery). I had a very good surgery and recover. No dumping, no complications and I chew, chew, chew, my food. I guess I just don't understand WHY a lot of the times the day after a good workout I am just SOOOOOOOOOOOO TIRED!!! Can someone help?? Is this normal? Am I the only one like this? Do you just have to get up and go anyway? Tired or not? I can't even do housework the next day sometimes let alone another good work out!! I did that the other day and I was totally fatigued during the entire hour long work out. I felt some better afterward but it was a REAL struggle just to keep standing and following the video! Help! I would love to hear any suggestions!! Thanks in advance.    — wemax2 (posted on November 7, 2002)

November 7, 2002
you are still healing from major surgery and your body may be telling you that you are not ready to be taking on exercise 7 days a week. Only do what your body will allow you to do. Be careful about pushing yourself this early. There will be plenty of time for exercise. I didn't start exercising daily until I was about 8 weeks out. I just didn't have the energy to do more than 3-4 days before that. Also you might want to start with 3o minute workouts instead of 1 hour workouts. That may help out alot. Good Luck and God Bless!
   — DRutherford

November 7, 2002
You probably are doing a little too much. I had lap RNY and wasn't cleared for anything but walking until 6 weeks. I was allowed to start muscle toning (but not lifting weights) at that time and then cleared for everything else at 8 weeks. Lap allows for a quicker recovery because you usually feel better, but they did the same thing inside to your body. You also had anethesia. Your body needs time to heal, to clear the anethesia from your system and get back up to speed. On top of that, you are tossing a huge weight loss in there. That is a lot of stuff for a physical body to deal with at once. Give yourself a little time to recover. I'd stop the aerobic tapes for awhile, or alternate them with the walking tapes on different days. If you feel up to it later, gradually increase what you're doing. I've never worked out 7 days. In fact, I was just ordered to cut back to 3 days of cardio and 2 days of toning in order to stop losing and maintain. I think your body is trying to tell you something.
   — Tina P.

November 7, 2002
Wendolyn, I think you are doing too much. My dtr didn't clear me to workout till 2 months. Did your dtr give you the ok to workout? If you are soooo tired, I would check with him. At 2 months/50 lbs, you are also due for your bloodwork. That may indicate something! Good Luck!
   — heathercross

November 7, 2002
Hopefully you are doing 30g protein supplement before & after your work out in addition to the 60g you need to function? If I am able to get to the gym, I drink 30g on the way there, and another 30g in the locker room. I KNOW I will be ravenous after, so I plan for some complex carbs after. I don't want a "recovery" drink, as they will b e way TOO high in carbs, so I know I will run across the street for a healthy sandwich. If I try to bypass that, I'll mow down all the shelves at the convenience store before I make it home. Bad idea. Better a planned half sandwich so I can still choose wisely. Your body NEEDS to replace some of what you just spent. You're also drinking water as you go, right?
   — vitalady

November 7, 2002
Please check with your doctor. It seems that anyone 6 weeks post op from a major abdominal surgery would be restricted from such an intense exercise program. As a registered nurse, I have rarely seen a doctor promote this intesnity this soon post op. Your body is still healing and this may be how your body will let you know it needs a rest. Don't be hard on yourself. Listen to your body and try a more gradual increase such as doing the walk then if you feel up to it, do one of the tapes a few hours later. By spreading the activity out, you will still reap the benefits without hurting your body. If you are doing intense ab work or using weights, you could also be taking a chance on developing a hernia. Be careful & check with your surgeon to make sure you are within the guidelines they suggest. I admire your enthusiasm but don't burn yourself out this early into your new life.
   — Cheryl W.

November 7, 2002
ME AGAIN . . . I haven't been doing any ab work. My doctor did tell me to wait until he cleared me for that. My visit is next Tuesday. I did work up to what I'm doing now. First I was taking walks in the neighborhood. Got up to an hour with the kids. When the weather started turning cold I had to head inside. I started with the 1 mile walking video. Made it up to the 2 mile video comfortably and that's when I started adding another aerobic video to my routine. I felt good and didn't want to stop. I just noticed that I can't do it two days in a row very many times. I drink plenty of water too. I really don't want a hernia so I'm doing the low impact side and being real careful. When I do the work with the weights, I make sure not to engage my abs as much as possible. I only use 1 to 2.5 pound hand weights. It just seemed like every other poster I read about was able to do it so I did the imperfect human thing and compared myself the them. If they can do it every day, so can I. I GUESS I JUST HAVE TO WAIT A LITTLE LONGER UNTIL MY BODY AGREES WITH MY MIND! If I feel like this tomorrow, I will call my doctor. I usually don't feel like this two days in a row. It just seems like this happens to me at least twice a week. Thanks for all the suggestions. I think I've really been put in my place. My hubby said that I was PROBABLY doing too much. But you know it's not easy to listen to your life long partner about everything. So instead I'm taking the advice of total strangers!! It helps that you all have been through the process!! Thanks again.
   — wemax2

November 8, 2002
Even before reading the others, I was going to say, you are doing to much for anyone 6 wks post op, Anything aerobic is probably to much even for someone with a lap surgery. Your caloric intake is not enough to support that kind of exercise I don't think. I would check with the dr office because I think your exercise if the fatigue factor.
   — Elizabeth K.