One key to losing weight and realizing the “new you” after bariatric surgery is to follow a healthy exercise program. This won’t just help you lose weight—it will help you feel good about yourself, give you more energy, and even help slough off stress and depression. Here are three different kinds of exercises that many bariatric patients enjoy after gastric bypass surgery.
Disclaimer: We at Bariatricvitamins4life.com and our sponsor site, Vita4life.net, are not medical professionals. Nothing in this blog should be taken as medical advice. Consult your doctor before you begin any exercise program.
The First Exercise You Should Do: Walking after Bariatric Surgery
Some of us were in no danger of overexerting ourselves after our weight loss surgery. It was hard enough just to get around our living spaces, much less get some exercise!
Others have an easier recovery, and want to get to the exercise portion of their new life ASAP. This isn’t always the best idea, though.
It’s not just about your scar and stitches, either—the heart can have a difficult time after any major surgery. Many doctors recommend five minutes of cardiovascular exercise (simple walking is usually good enough), five or six times a day, for the first two months after bariatric surgery.
What about Bariatric Yoga?
While we don’t know of any yoga programs specifically for weight loss surgery patients (although it looks like there is an excellent bariatric exercise program in Austin), there is a small but devoted segment of the bariatric community that chooses yoga as a favorite form of exercise.
Yoga practitioners report a number of benefits from the exercise; energy level and lowered stress are chief among these. Yoga’s claims to fame also include muscle toning, improved flexibility, and a calm sense of well-being.
Cardiovascular Exercise after Weight Loss Surgery
Cardio is the heavy hitter in any weight loss program. While muscle training can certainly help speed up your metabolism, most trainers will tell you that it’s cardiovascular training that really takes the pounds off.
As mentioned above, you should consult your physician before beginning any exercise routine. This is especially true for gastric bypass patients who feel they are ready to get that heart pumping!
While cardio will give you the most noticeable effects most quickly, it also puts a certain amount of strain on your system. Ask your doctor if he or she thinks you are ready for heavy cardiovascular exercise, and how much you should start off with. Your body’s adjusted caloric intake means that your routine may need to start off differently than the average Joe’s or Jane’s.
Great exercise workout routines are not as easy to find as you might think. These are some good ones. Beachbody has some great 90 day fitness plans. I’m on day 23 now and I can really see a difference…and feel it. It’s not always easy and takes some sweat and work but it’s well worth it.