How much exercise should I do?
Current activity recommendations are 150 minutes of moderate activity such as brisk walking, running, Zumba, swimming or exercise machines. The ability to tolerate exercises safely varies from person to person. Please ensure that the exercise and amount you choose will be safely tolerated by you.
How long after surgery can I exercise?
This depends on the type of exercise. You should start walking while you are in the hospital unless instructed otherwise. As you recover, begin to increase your exercise duration and intensity. Your doctor will release you to increase your activity based on your development. After surgery, any exercises such as weights, sit-ups, pull-ups, or any abdominal stretches will need to wait until your doctor clears them up.
What kind of exercise should I do?
For best results, add aerobic (“cardio”), resistance (strength) and flexibility exercise to your routine. Try different exercise programs to find the right one for you. Find out what's happening in your community through your bariatric program, local fitness centers, and other patients. Warm water exercise (e.g., swimming or water aerobics) is excellent for those with joint pain. If you don't have access to a nearby gym, home workout videos are another option.
Sleep and Stress
Maintaining a healthy sleep pattern (called “sleep hygiene”) is another key to successful weight control. Regular bedtime isn't just for kids! Even adults benefit from regular sleep durations and adequate time for sleep. Insufficient sleep has been identified as a contributing factor to weight gain. There are techniques that can help when improving your sleep habits: avoiding evening caffeine, exercising early in the day (not within a few hours before bed), and creating a peaceful bedroom environment that's quiet, not too bright, and comfortable. Additionally, many patients have sleep apnea before bariatric surgery. While sleep apnea may improve with weight loss, it is important to continue sleep apnea treatment. You should discuss the suitability of changing sleep apnea treatment with your doctor before making any changes.
Successful stress management is another pillar of post-operative success. Stress can stifle your success if left unacknowledged and managed. Even before surgery, it is important to develop stress-relieving habits and relationships. Strong relationships with open communication, regular exercise, and calming habits like meditation or yoga are ways to deal with stress. Support groups are available in many weight loss programs. They provide a venue to gather with your healthcare providers and other patients to share stories, offer support, and receive continuing education on the latest advances in the rapidly evolving field of obesity medicine.
To smoke
To have a low risk of complications with weight loss surgery, almost every bariatric surgery program recommends that you stop smoking or use chewing tobacco before surgery.
Why should I stop smoking or using tobacco before surgery?
Smoking or chewing tobacco causes reduced blood flow to the body's tissues and delays healing. Smoking harms every organ of the body and depends on:
• Blood clot (the biggest cause of death after bariatric surgery)
• Marginal ulcers after gastric bypass
• Heart disease
• Stroke
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• Increased risk for hip fracture
• Cataract
• Cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, larynx (voice box), stomach, pancreas, bladder, cervix and kidney
How long should I quit smoking before surgery?
Six weeks is necessary to reduce the risk of fatal blood clots and pneumonia. Even stopping for just a week or two beforehand can make some risks worse; It is not specific to bariatric surgery. Your surgeon will have specific guidelines about how much tobacco you should avoid before surgery, and many will reschedule the surgery until you are "in the clear."
To drink alcohol
Can I drink alcohol after surgery?
Alcohol is not recommended after bariatric surgery. Alcohol contains calories but few nutrients and will work against your weight loss goal. Gastric bypass and the gastric cuff are altered in alcohol absorption because an enzyme in the stomach that usually begins to digest alcohol is absent or very reduced.
Alcohol is absorbed into the body more quickly after gastric bypass or gastric sleeve. The alcohol absorbed will be stronger, and studies show that bariatric surgery patients reach a higher alcohol level and maintain a higher level than others. Alcohol use may increase in some patients and cause alcohol dependence. For all these reasons, it is recommended to avoid alcohol after bariatric surgery.
