Exercising After Gastric Bypass: The Dos And Don’ts

A common stigma surrounding gastric bypass is that it’s the easy way out for people who don’t want to do the work of losing weight. This is an incredibly reductive and untrue idea. For many, gastric bypass is a last resort when diet and exercise alone haven’t been effective. Those who receive such a procedure still have a long way to go on their health journey. Keep reading to learn all about the dos and don’ts of exercising after gastric bypass.

Cardio

Many benefits come from doing regular cardio workouts. It boosts your energy levels and aids in better sleep. Our bodies are designed to move; therefore, you can improve your metabolism and energy by getting your blood moving. And you can work on issues like stress and sleep as a result. The endorphins produced by cardio may even boost your confidence. Improving mental sharpness and the ability to focus, this treatment improves heart and lung function and also builds bone density to combat arthritis.

After your surgery, walking regularly as early as possible reduces risks and shortens your healing time. Low impact activities, such as water workouts and swimming, can be a great benefit if one takes the time to do them often. Some great possibilities for outdoor activities are a run or hike on a scenic trail. Cardio is probably going to be the most important exercise after gastric bypass, as it is the one you should be able to do with the most ease straight away.

Strength Training

If you want to keep your lean muscle mass, it’s crucial to engage in strength training. Muscle mass is a calorie-burning engine that continues to burn calories even when you are not active. It also promotes strong bones. Additionally, you’ll be able to gain muscle, and you’ll have more energy to engage in things you enjoy. In the strength training world, it is key to go slow at the beginning. Start with light weights in the one- to five-pound range, and add more weight once you can accomplish three sets of 15 to 20 reps. If you experience acute discomfort, don’t think that the only solution is to work through it; cease your current exercise and try something else.

Warm Up and Cool Down

To be as safe as possible while working out, we recommend that you warm up before and cool down after each bariatric workout. If you don’t stretch before your workout, you will be tight and tense when you start. This will make your workout difficult. To avoid this, stretch to loosen up your muscles and make the exercise easier on your body. By incorporating this practice, you will be able to push yourself harder and minimize the risk of being hurt. It’s important to stretch for a few minutes and do some mild jogging or walking before beginning your full workout. Make sure to remain in your comfort zone and don’t push yourself too hard.

You should wind down for 5 to 10 minutes after your workout as well. The gradual decrease in your pulse rate and respiration will prevent dizziness by cooling you down. Cooling down gives your body time to remove the lactic acid, which accumulates during hard workouts and is detrimental to your muscles.

We hope that you now know a little bit more about what the post-surgery phase looks like. If you’re interested in getting a consultation, you can call the best gastric bypass doctors in Las Vegas by reaching out to ALGSN Bariatric!