exercise and gym, when did you start going?

ok, i am just 3 weeks post op, i have been walking around my pool area and a little out front of my house...at almost the 2 week mark, i felt like i could get on the treadmill...today i got on the treadmill, but i only did 15 min, at a very low speed, 1.2 and i could really feel it in my lower back and i was done at the 15 min mark...
pre op, i was doing a mile on the treadmill, but it would take me 30 min to do that, but hey it was a mile..i have a large herniated disc so that really limits what i can do at this point...i did go in the pool when i was released to go in the pool, i did about 30 min of water aerobics or a few excercies in the pool...but this week i have my period so will hold off on the pool..

so my questionn is...at what point did you all start going to the gym and doing your 1-2 hours and burning so many calories...when you got some of the weight off so you could move, or just as soon as you could get there after surgery?

i just know i am not ready for anything really, really streanous at this point, i feel like  i could take a nap after the 15 min on the treadmill..i have some dance videos and a WII game with the WII fit..but not sure i am ready for that yet...this disc really causes a lot of lower back pain...
thanks for the help
have a great day
debby

I started when I was 5 weeks out and did about an hour or so for the first month.

Wait till the dr clears you for exercise I got cleared at 1 month. I do an hr a day of cardio 6x a week... water aerobics are a good idea if you have back problems any exercise is good exercise just do what's best for your body good luck !

I was cleared at 3 weeks to excercise...my choice, ZUMBA. I have been doing zumba since last May and absolutely love it. I do 1 hour a day 6 days per week and burn almost 800 calories in that hour. I felt great after going back. Actually the scale had not moved in about a wee****il I started zumba again...

Once cleared for exercise, I started with Curves for Women 3X a week. Excellent program and it's like getting a personal trainer as well. I also do treadmill and exercycle the other 3 days a week. One day I swim. Not an aggressive program but I've lost 28 total inches, increased my stamina, and feel great!

If you are comfortable working out in the water I would keep doing that as often as possible since that will give you plenty of benefit and stress your back less. Can you swim laps? Good luck and good job for getting out there already.

I waited to join a gym until I was about 7 months out. That was bascially because I had self-esteem issues and didn't want to be the fat chick in the gym. Didn't want everyone staring at me and wondering why I am there. Really wish I had started earlier. Now that I'm "normal" sized and feel like I fit I notice that there are all different body types and fitness levels at the gym. No one passes judgement on them. I actually had a random guy who I guess saw me when I first joined and would just come up to me every few months and say "looking good, keep up the good work" or yell thru the parking lot "WOW, you have done a great job". So basically I'm saying go when you feel comfortable and when your Dr. clears you but don't let your fears keep you away. No one is looking at you and if they do they notice the hard work you're doing and will encourage you. Just my experience.

I started at almost 2 months out swimming laps for 20 mins  4 days a week, it wasn't till 7 or 8 months out that I increased my exercise to spin classes and weight training.   Just this month (14 months out) I add the couch 2 5K program to my routine!

The important thing is moving your body consistently--I was fearful if I made myself go to the gym 5x a week for an hour that I would quit doing it because it was too hard.  For the 1 st time in my life I actually like how exercise makes me feel now!!!! (I still don't always like having to exercise but I feel better afterwards!)

I started working out around 6 weeks (after clearance from my dr.). I, however, did not go to a gym (still don't) I walked/ran out the front door for about 45 minutes a day 4 days a week. I did video's at home for 30 minutes a day 3 days a week. etc. I'm to cheap to pay for a gym . I have small hand weights for at home (up to 10 pounds) and use those for arms/back/shoulders/ etc. I also use an old total gym I inherited from it's previous owner who only used it as a coat rack. LOL. I'm hoping to find an old treadmill for next winter as I discovered I'm a wuss when it comes to having to go out and run in a lot of rain.

I think its different for everyone. My doc cleared me for walking immediately and treadmill/faster walking at two weeks, then at four weeks cleared me for elliptical and anything that didn't involve twisting, bending, jumping, etc. I am eight weeks out and started jogging two weeks ago, alternating with walking, and resumed lifting weights with my arms and legs. I have been told still NO ab work for a few more weeks.

Sounds like with your back swimming or stationary bike riding would be a good way to get back into it. My rule of thumb is; if it hurts, I stop. Not if I am tired or achy (I always am ) but if I have pain. I can also tell when I have overdone it because I'll have a dull throbbing on my left side where my biggest incision is. I try NOT to pu**** to that point.