Increasing Activity after Bariatric Surgery
Incorporating physical activity into your everyday routine is associated with a variety of health benefits that include weight maintenance, improved immune health, improved mental well-being and reduced risk of chronic disease. Your weight loss surgery will aid in your weight loss and wellness, but in order to fully reach your weight loss goals you will have to ensure that certain lifestyle changes are made and maintained—this includes physical activity.
If you have been struggling with obesity for a long time, you may have become accustomed to an inactive lifestyle. Sedentary behavior can lead to more weight gain and is associated with obesity-related chronic illnesses. Lack of activity can put you at an increased risk of developing:
- Type 2 diabetes
- Heart disease
- Osteoarthritis
- Metabolic syndrome
- High blood pressure
Weight loss is generally key to improving or preventing these disorders, but increased physical activity is necessary to make this change.
Regular Physical Activity after Bariatric Surgery
After your weight loss surgery, Dr. Bass and your weight loss team will encourage you to focus on healthy living. Gradually increasing physical activity will become part of a healthy lifestyle, however, if you’re not accustomed to this type of activity, you will want to start off slowly and find a routine that will work for you.
Generally, you want your daily physical activity to include three things:
- Aerobic activity. These are activities that increase your heart rate and your breathing rate.
- Flexibility training. These activities help stretch your muscles and get them accustomed to exercise.
- Strength training. These activities help to increase your muscle strength and endurance.
Some easy ways of increasing your physical activity levels after weight loss surgery include:
- Walking
- Swimming
- Cycling
- Yoga
- Incidental activities (taking the stairs, vacuuming, etc.)
Try to include at least 30 minutes of physical activity into your daily routine. Be sure to check with Dr. Bass before beginning an exercise routine. He will let you know how to begin and when it is alright to increase any intensity.