In the first month following gastric sleeve surgery, your body is still beginning the recovery phase. It is very essential at this period to have very light exercises that will allow the body to heal well without developing any complications. From what we have gathered, it means that the use of weights or any heavy workouts is highly discouraged within the first 4-6 weeks of the surgery. The mild exercises in this phase incorporate walking and light stretching. This phase helps in the free flow of blood and also avoids stiffness in the body.
Weeks 1-2: March 26th to April 8th:
- Walking:
- Start with short walks, about 5-10 minutes, 2-3 times a day.
- The pace needs to be easy, and more attention is required towards posture and comfort. We have 34 steps outside our house, so we walked around the house.
- Breathing Exercises:
- Deep-breathing exercises should be practiced to promote good lung function and reduce the risk of complications.
- This was not easy as it sounds, particularly to James, who could not hold a deep breath without feeling discomfort and pain.
- Light Stretching:
- To be done on your arms, legs, and neck should be light. Do this to retain flexibility.
- Hold each stretch for 10-15 seconds. Ensure that no discomfort is felt.
- James could not do this because of his injury; stretching was too painful.
Weeks 3-4: April 9th to April 22nd:
- Walking:
- Increase walking duration to 15-20 minutes, 2-3 times a day.
- Gradually increase your pace as you feel more comfortable.
- Light Household Activities:
- Do light house chores such as dusting or folding. This allowed you to keep moving but not to overtire yourself.
- For us, this was a better way to approach the pile of house chores that had built up over the weeks.
- Seated Exercises:
- Do some leg lifts from a seated position and arm circles for circulation and muscle tone.