What Exercises To Be Considered After Bariatric Surgery
By Saksham Bhatia +2 more
Medically reviewed by Dr. Mohit Bhandari
Last updated: Nov 24, 2023Click to rate this article!
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By Saksham Bhatia +2 more
Medically reviewed by Dr. Mohit Bhandari
Last updated: Nov 24, 2023Table of Contents
Exercise is the key to a healthy life. It helps you connect with your body and allows you to feel at ease. One misconception many people have about exercise is that it is strict, demanding and rigorous. However, exercise is actually easy and fits into your daily routine seamlessly. By practising exercise, you can take better care of yourself and your relationships.
A calm, contented mind is better equipped to handle delicate health situations. Exercise helps you feel less stressed and you can be in sync with your body. Your body’s immunity is boosted by regular exercise. The breathing techniques of pranayama and meditation relieve discomfort and restlessness. Some of the exercise positions ensure well being of several body organs and strengthen the muscles.
Bariatric surgery is required when an individual’s body mass index (BMI) is too high for his or her age and neither diet nor exercise shows positive results. Although the numerous bariatric procedures and operations that are currently available to us are effective weight loss techniques, they do not work like magic. Following bariatric surgery, patients will need to make substantial lifestyle adjustments, such as committing to a regular, nutritious diet and exercise programme; for those who will be consistent and stick to a regimen, exercising after bariatric surgery offers many advantages.
Remember to speak to your doctor about the exercises suitable for your body and also the right time post-surgery to begin exercising. People with comorbidities or joint problems may need to follow some restrictions in physical activities.
Including a regular exercise regimen in your daily life enhances blood circulation, supports your immune system, strengthens your heart, boosts your endurance and finally makes it simpler for you to perform daily tasks. Studies have also shown that regular exercise post-bariatric surgery boosts your emotional health. Many patients who have lost weight have stated that they saw a noticeable difference in their energy levels and capacity to get things done within the first three months following their weight loss treatment. Even routine tasks like playing with their kids in the park or going grocery shopping did not leave them exhausted.
Patients who underwent weight loss surgery and continued to exercise regularly managed to decrease their body mass index (BMI) by about 5% more than those who did not exercise, according to studies done by the National Institute of Health.
Exercise is crucial to maintaining lean muscle and removing excess fat. We want to keep our muscle mass because it gives us definition and performs a variety of other functions that keep us healthy, such as burning calories, increasing strength and stamina, supporting bones and joints, regulating blood sugar levels and many others.
Exercise has been shown to release endorphins, which are substances that our bodies naturally produce and give us a sense of happiness. Many people who struggle with obesity also deal with anxiety and depression. It can be difficult and daunting to undergo weight loss surgery and incorporate all the essential lifestyle modifications. Maintaining consistency in your exercise programme may help with mental and emotional health.
Perform any physical activity or only exercise after your doctor allows. There are five workouts you may speak to your doctor and begin after recovering from bariatric surgery.
Include walking in your daily workout post-recovery; you may start off by only walking for 10 minutes, then gradually increase the time to 30 minutes. One of the simplest ways to stay in shape is to walk regularly and it is the easiest form of exercise. It promotes endurance, which is ideal for bariatric patients.
You can begin swimming after bariatric surgery, as water exercises have the lowest injury rates and are highly beneficial in maintaining proper body weight. Ideally, you should wait a few weeks after surgery to avoid the risk of infections. You may start by swimming a few laps every day. However, it is best to consult the doctor before starting this exercise.
You should solely concentrate on your recuperation in the first few weeks following bariatric surgery and engage in low-impact seated activities like arm rotations, leg lifts and shoulder rolls. These exercises can be done at any time of the day because they are not too demanding. To relax the muscles in your arms, legs and shoulders, you may do these frequently.
Another great exercise for people recovering from weight loss surgery is biking, although this should only be done if you have developed some strength and endurance. The best time to start cycling is one or two months after surgery. Start by riding a supported bike and slowly increase the duration. Cycling is easy on the joints and that is the biggest advantage of this exercise.
After bariatric surgery, when you start exercising and feel that your body needs something restorative but you aren’t ready for high-impact exercise yet, Pilates is a great solution. It is very similar to yoga with floor work, flowing movements and controlled breathing, but it also helps in strengthening and toning body muscles. It is a wholesome exercise, low-impact in nature, but you must still consult the doctor to learn if you are ready to perform this exercise.
A person’s life may be significantly changed after having bariatric surgery. To maintain the body weight and lead a healthy life after the operation, doctors and healthcare professionals advise that it is necessary to adhere to a healthy diet and daily exercise.
It is advised that adults engage in at least 150 minutes of light to moderate activity per week, which is doable after gradually increasing their stamina and fitness levels. Regular practice of mild exercise combined with a slow but steady physical effort can go a long way towards helping you maintain a healthy weight and achieve the desired level of fitness.
Typically, patients undergo bariatric weight loss treatment and lose 33% of their excess body weight within the first three months. Some muscle mass may cause when weight loss happens quickly, but exercising is a good and safe way to maintain healthy muscle mass. It’s mostly the excessive fat that you lose.
Strength training falls under the type of exercise that is added to your workout regimen after surgery. You can start slowly, making sure you do not hurt yourself by lifting too much weight or by doing too many reps and working out too frequently. As you get stronger, you can start including more difficult exercises and increase the weights and duration of your workouts. Add protein-rich food to your diet and take expert help if needed.
Significant weight loss frequently results in sagging or loose skin. After your weight loss treatment, it is difficult to say if this will still be a problem for you. Each person is unique and influenced by variables, including age, the amount of weight lost, genetics, the level of aftercare and more. You must consult the surgeon who can help guide you regarding this problem.
Strength training is a good place to start if you want your arms to seem tighter because muscle takes up more space beneath the skin. This can tone and define muscles while minimizing the appearance of saggy skin. Exercises like bicep curls, lateral shoulder lifts and overhead tricep extensions can tone your arms.
Disclaimer: The information included on this site is for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional. Because of unique individual needs, the reader should consult their physician to determine the appropriateness of the information for the reader’s situation.
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