the "plank"

Well, I went to the gym for the first time since surgery (3 weeks ago tomorrow) and while  everything else went great I, the master of the plank, could not hold it for 5 freaking seconds! I was in so much pain I had to stop. I am assuming that the pain I have is from the surgeon poking through my abdominal wall??? I will go back cause I don't want to be flabby when I have lost all my weight, but this took the wind out of my sails!

I am three weeks out as well and I think it is too early to be doing things like the plank that is very strenuous on the abs.  I have heard that we can start exercising at four weeks out, but we need to start slow and work our way to harder things.  I can relate to the fact that you want to get in shape fast, but I would take it easy to start, you will get there.  Way to go with the positive attitude and ambition to get moving, you will do great!

There is no way you should be doing the plank at 3 weeks out. I was not allowed to even work at 3 weeks.  did you check with the  doctor to make sure it is ok. I had to stay off for 8 weeks and was not allowed in the pool. Walking is fine. Before you go back check with the doctor

3 weeks out is too early to be doing such a workout you should be starting out slowly remember you had major surgery plus they had to stitch you back up afterwards as well. Also you may have excess skin no matter how much excercise you do as the excess skin is caused by the rapid weight lose.  

Glad to hear you are feeling well enough to get out to the gym, but please don't exert yourself too much! While you may be feeling fine, your body is busy healing itself and needs to take it easy. I don't know if your centre gave you any specific guidelines, but at HRRH they had an exercise timeline and we weren't cleared to do any movements/activities/exercises that engaged the core until 6 months out, the reason being that while the surface may have healed quickly the amount of tissue and muscle that was cut through to reach your stomach is quite dense and requires time to adequately heal or else you risk damage. Walking is probably your best activity for right now, then in a bit, start incorporating leg and arm exercises/machines.

Best of luck! 

you should not be planking at 3 weeks out. They did major reconstruction on the inside! a hernia is VERY REAL risk of post surgery. You should not not not not not not be doing that kind of exercise at 3 weeks.

WALKING> light exercise!! what were you thinking???????????

 

major surgery = no plank.

oh my god.l

sorry..i dont mean to offend you, but really....reallly, what were you thinking??????

I agree with the others, too early. There is a real possibility that you could do some serious and permanent damage by putting so much stress on your body. While I understand the urge to see some progress, you're asking for trouble. You can isolate parts of your body to work on but you need to leave the core alone for a while until it's healed.

I agree, you should be taking it a little easier. There's nothing wrong with walking. I didn't start working out until 5 weeks out, and even then I eased into it. I was told by my centre not to do any abdominal exercises until 6 months out. I didn't want that long but I did wait until about 9 or 10 weeks out. I didn't like how it made me feel so I stopped doing them again until recently.

That said, planking is HARD and when you are in a better position to incorporate exercise, you can keep practicing them. You will get better at them.

Monica M is right. What are ya doing girl. You have staples and sutures going on. A hysterectomy is 6 weeks mo lifting, this is much the same rule. No weights to 4 weeks, then with drs approval after visit you MIGHT be able to do them.
Good luck.
Walk walk walk

I just burst out laughing... Yeah... 6 weeks is the lifting rule and you can still find out there are things you can't do 6-9 months out (like dancing at a rowdy bar in upstate new york). *giggle*

 

Girl Sassy....

Seriously though... NO PLANK!

I can't even go to my pool of choice for a while post-op because the only way in or out is a ladder. *sigh* I feel your desire to do something but please don't do things that will hurt you.