3 months out and exercising, but my stomach hurts when I do excercise ?

I'm 3 months out from surgery and I have started exercising.  I am doing Zumba two nights a week and water exercises twice a week.  But when I am doing these classes my stomach starts to hurt.  It starts cramping and sometimes I feel like my stomach is going to get upset.  Has anyone else had this happen? 

Youre probably still tender.  Did you do much core workouts before surgery?  Zumba is core focused so everything they do targets your stomach.  Being in the water is GREAT!!!  When you're doing water stuff to get your heart going without engaging your stomach to much try to run up and down the lane.  If you didn't do too much core before surgery your tummy muscles have no muscle memory and aren't quite used to it yet and Zumba is pretty intense.  Maybe stick with the water exercises and slooooowly engage your core like doing one length of kicking with a kickboard or holding onto the wall and kicking for a few seconds... that way you are engaging the core but you aren't over working it.

GOOD LUCK!!

Lyss

Lyss
I didn't work out much before surgery. But I was still pretty active because I work with children.   Now when I was younger I did and that's about 20 years and 3 kids ago.  I love the Zumba class and I try not to over do things because I have bad knees so I don't do a lot of the jumping hoping that they do.  How long do you think it will take for my stomach not to be tender?  Thanks for your advise.

Wendy

It sounds like you're working too hard. Slow down and build up in truly tiny steps.

Hey Wendy!

If you start over esentially slow and keep going slow at the Zumba it will only take a few weeks for your stomach to get used to the workouts.  It's really smart that you change it up that way your body doesn't get too used to either type of workout.   Do you drink any protein or anything before you workout?

Lyss

No I have not been drinking any protein before working out.  I still have not found a protein drink that I like.  When I go to the gym tomorrow I am going to try the muscle milk stuff and see if I can stomach.   I was wondering should I eat my supper before I workout or after.  I usually workout in the evenings around 6:00  and sometimes at 7:30 and then I usually go to bed around 9:30 to 10:00.  which would be better for me?

Thanks agian for your help.

Wendy

 it is probably just too much, too soon. when you first start exercising after surgery you need to start slowly and gradually build up. zumba is probably too extreme to be your starting point. if it were me, i would increase the water exercises and gradually work up to the zumba. when you start hurting during exercise your body is telling you to stop. so stop. as you get used to doing the water exercises you will be able to participate longer. when the water exercises are no longer uncomfortable then try starting the zumba.

LOVE ZUMBA!!
I applaud you for going for it!

All the twisting and fast pace might be too much? The water aerobics, or just plain ole cardio (treadmill and elliptical) while your new tummy gets used to you moving might be best and then bring back zumba. 

Love Zumba! I'm usually the largest lady in there but I can hang in there pretty good -now that I've been doing it for a while.

JJ

zumba sounds like it is too much for you now, especially if you were not doing it pre op, but you should not have issues with water exercises, they are very gentle for the body, bring that up when you talk to your dr.

your body might not be ready for that much exercise yet. You don't wanna get a hernia... give yourself some time to heal.