2weeks post op -- 1st day at gym!!

hi guys and gals, today was my first day back at the gym. i took what i thought was a gentle start and walked a mile and a half on the treadmill -- about 30 minutes of moderate walking. i feel so absolutely wonderful and ready! i truly feel that my recovery has been very rapid. i also had the trainers do my measurements and i got weighed! 217 !! yippee!! waiting another two weeks to start excercising just feels like wasted time of our precious "window" of opportunity. any one else started back at the gym two weeks post op? kimberly 3/9/04 lap rny 242/217/140

Walking sure won't hurt you, but don't pu**** with anything working your abs or high impact. Things need time to heal. So glad you are doing so great! Joy -20 lbs / 22 days

Be careful Kim. I was told to stick to walking until cleared by my surgeon. Sounds like you're doing great though.

Going to the gym is NOT my idea of fun and I doubt it ever will be...maybe it is my age, but I am amazed at all the people who get their kicks out it....LOL My gym is in my workplace...I am very lucky. I have a personal trainer there who is 69 years old believe it or not and brought himself back to shape after having bad knees and was told he needed them both replaced. Eventually he had surgery on one, but the other one never and he is extremely fit...has even written a book on core conditioning. So when I return to work I am going to start half days for 2 weeks, just because I have the sick time coming and maybe start a program with him...I gave him the assignment of finding exercising for upper arm and thigh exercises for rapid weight loss! Right now I am just walking but I may pick up my lightest barbells and do some upper body moves soon.

Kimberly, Congratulations on the new you. Most impressive. Not to sound like a gloomy gus, but I really want to caution you on lifting anything prior to your surgeon's clearance. I was feeling just stupendous until I made the mistake of breaking up a dog fight and lifted one of the dogs and out of the fray with my left arm. I didn't worry about it because I'm really hellaciously strong most of the time, but I've done something very nasty to myself. I can't straighten up and it hurts to walk. That was over 5 days ago and I thought it would be better by now, but it's getting worse. I'll be at the doctor's office tomorrow being poked and prodded to see what I've done to myself. Keep walking, but careful about lifting. Connie