Safe and Effective Exercise Following a Lap Band Procedure

One of the crucial aspects of any bariatric surgery is maintaining the proper level of exercise following the procedure. Staying active is important to ensure the best results, but overdoing it can have a negative effect on your recovery.

Working with your doctor to determine the best exercise plan for your specific case will help keep your body healthy and healing in the best manner possible. A recent article in Hive Health Media explores post-surgery exercise techniques in great detail.

Healthy Exercise Plans For Patients Following Bariatric Procedures

For the first few weeks after your procedure, your goals for exercise should focus more on simply keeping your body active, rather than burning calories. Short walks of distances recommended by your physician may be the best way to keep your body engaged while allowing your tissues to heal themselves. On a decreased diet, your energy levels may not feel the same as they did before, and thus it is important not to overdo it.

As you start to feel more comfortable with your routine, you can gradually increase the distances you are walking, and begin incorporating some light jogging. It may be helpful to set incremental goals as you work up to greater distances or time periods. Often, bariatric patients find that it is encouraging to have an exercise partner or someone else who can work out with them on a regular basis.

Once you have become comfortable with limited exercise, many patients like to work in some other forms of exercise, such as light or relaxing yoga and swimming. For the period after a bariatric procedure, it is generally not recommended to do any weight lifting or other exercises that put stress on the stomach and back.

Photo by Ed Yourdon on Flickr.