April 2021
Jacqui Lewis - BHSc Nutritional and Dietetic Medicine

How Does Exercise Play a Role After Surgery?

Older woman on a treadmill assisted by an expert

Exercise is a critical component in long term outcomes for individuals who have undergone a bariatric procedure.

Physical activity is one of the most important factors which predict sustainable change, desired outcomes and improved health status for individuals who have undergone a bariatric procedure.

How hard should I feel?

If it ain't making you work – It ain't working! if your regime becomes double without too much effort, it needs to be upgraded.

When things get easy –it’s good news that you are stronger and fitter than you were – but to keep gaining strength and fitness you need to up the workload at this stage. So, how much exercise should you do? A general rule is to increase your workload by 10% each week.

EXAMPLE:

if you walk 5k normally, each week you would either Includes some hills, or increase the distance by 10% This way you won’t plateau. Your body will keep changing only if you keep challenging it.

As a rule, strength training exercise usually isn’t included in a gastric bypass surgery patient’s exercise program until about 120 days after the procedure to ensure that the body has been given time to heal.

Abdominal and lower back regions are typically not recommended until at least six months after surgery.

In addition, high-intensity resistance training is normally not commenced until almost a year post-surgery.

If you choose activities you enjoy, the likelihood that you will experience long-term success in your pursuit of healthy active lifestyle will be improved

Why is it important?

Exercise can help to reduce the severity or avoid certain side effect relating to the procedure you have had.

Regular physical activity can also be integral in helping you to create a routine post operatively to kickstart the formation of new healthy habits and goal setting.

Individually tailored exercise will ensure safety and effectiveness in helping you progress towards your individual goals.

EXERCISE:
1. Improves muscle Strength and Toning
2. Increases Metabolic Rate
3. Improves Bone Mineral Density
4. Improves Sleep
5. Reduces Joint Pain
6. Improves Mood
7. Increases Energy
8. Reduces risk of Chronic Disease

The effect of exercise on psychological wellbeing

GROWTH

Exercise provides you with new challenges which made you feel as though you have an aim in life

FRIENDSHIP

Exercising in group can lead to more social interactions which can in turn relate to your positive relations with others

SELF ACCEPTANCE

Exercising can help to give you a more positive view about yourself

ANXIETY

There are a number of acute affects associated with exercising such as lower state anxiety and higher tranquillity scores

MASTERY

By exercising you develop environmental mastery which makes you feel you are in charge of the situations in which you live

MOOD

Exercise is related to positive changes in mood state and has been found to improve positive mood regardless of the number of negative and positive affects experienced in a given day

COGNITION

Exercise has been shown to have a number of positive effects on a person’s cognitive functioning

DEPRESSION

Exercising 3 to 5 times per week produces significant reductions in depression compared to once-a-week

ATTITUDE

Exercise helps to improve your body image and therefore improves your attitude

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Jacqui Lewis
BHSc Nutritional and Dietetic Medicine