How long before you went back to work?

I hope to have my surgery just after the first of the year.  My job is a bit more physical.  I dont work at a desk, I am a service tech fixing equipment in the field**** makers, soda fountains, Icee machine) and carry a pretty heavy bag and sometimes have to push and pull equipment.  I am large in size ( 6' 5" and 425 right now) so most of the work is not real hard.  I can take 3 weeks, but thats all I have for a year.  I was hoping to get away with 2 weeks, maybe even less.  You guys think its possible.

Ted I am an industrial electrician, by trade, I returned to work and ran a 4" conduit run, over head from a man lift, a week after my surgery. I did have to take it easy, I did have to let the young guys do most of the heavy lifting, but I did assist on running the conduit. Since I am the trade leader, I had little problem doing this, but if you have to do heavy lifting, I recommend taking as long as you can to heal before heavy lifting.

Anyone have info for VSG.  My surgeon's assisstant said it would
be longer than for RNY.  I'm planning on 3 weeks but I move around
a lot at work and may have to go for 4.

I took 4 weeks.  I could have gone back in 2, but with 100% paid disability of 4 weeks approved at my job, if figured why the hell not??  LOL