Physical Activity Before and After Weight Loss Surgery
As those considering weight loss surgery know, exercise is a critical part of effectively overcoming obesity following a bariatric procedure. In addition to being a cornerstone of healthy living, regular bariatric exercises can encourage burning of calories and make losing weight even easier than simply monitoring diet alone.
For many people who have weight loss surgery, a regular exercise routine is a habit that need to be learned. Those who are obese rarely exercise on a regular basis, and those who do often are unable to sustain vigorous activity for a prolonged period of time. As such, it’s important to learn more about how to exercise correctly, when to exercise, and which workout options can provide the largest benefits.
Activity Before Weight Loss
Many bariatric physicians require several months of healthy living habits, including an altered diet and a regular exercise routine, before approving surgery. Further, those who exercise routinely before surgery are most likely to continue the habit after surgery.
While exercise is highly encouraged, those who carry extra weight may find this difficult. For this reason, starting slowly is encouraged, and tests by your doctor, including a cardiovascular evaluation, may be performed before undertaking any vigorous exercise.
Regardless of physical health, starting an exercise routine should be a slow and carefully managed endeavor. For those not used to exercise, 20 to 30 minutes, three days a week is encouraged and can include walking or marching in place with the stability of a chair or rail.
Activity After Weight Loss
After surgery, exercise should begin in two to three weeks once initial healing is complete. This will likely be a slow process, particularly for those still relatively new to exercise, but the goal should be to improve capabilities, including cardiovascular abilities and strength training. In these early days, you should aim for 30 minutes of exercise three to five days a week. For those with joint problems, exercises like walking, biking, and swimming are encouraged, particularly when mixed with light weight or bodyweight regimens.
Around six months following bariatric surgery, exercise should become easier and more effective, particularly if you are adequately building strength and abilities as you lose weight. At this point, at least 45 minutes a day for four days a week is recommended. In order to maximize benefits, doctors suggest incorporating activities like yoga, kickboxing, dancing, or aerobics in conjunction with continued use of weights and resistance training.
The Power of Exercise
Exercise isn’t an activity you sustain for a few months or years to hit your target weight; instead, it should be a regular part of your life indefinitely. In addition to providing weight loss benefits, regular exercise can improve mood, sleep, self-image, concentration, and overall physical health. If you truly do not enjoy exercise, you are encouraged to try different activities until you find something that resonates. For example, some people loathe running but find joy in a barre or pilates studio. Once you discover what makes you happy, it’s far easier to continue on a healthy path.
If you are considering weight loss surgery, bariatric exercises are an important part of both surgical eligibility as well as success post-procedure. Please contact Central Carolina Surgery to learn more!