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.
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