Why physical activities are important after bariatric surgery?

Have you recently undergone bariatric surgery to table the bulge? Then, you would probably be advised to stay physically active by exercising daily. Just like eating right, staying physically active can help in leading a healthy life.
Bariatric surgeon Dr Manish Motwani says: “Physical activity and diet are equally important after bariatric surgery to regain a healthy lifestyle.For weight loss patients, an active exercise routine and good eating habits go hand in hand. Regular exercise also helps keep muscle loss at bay, which may occur when the body loses weight rapidly. Moreover, it also gives a boost to the metabolism which helps burn calories even when you are at rest."
How and when to start?
Bariatric surgery patients being sedentary are recommended by doctors to start slowly with walking, even before having weight loss surgery. Just a 10-minute walk a day before your procedure will help you develop a habit that you can easily continue once you have surgery.
“For best results, one should begin your walking programme post- surgery. Try to walk for 15 to 20 minutes each day right after 6 hours after the surgery. During summers or whenever the weather is hot and humid, walk inside on a treadmill in a climate-controlled environment to avoid dehydration,” says Dr Motwani.

He adds: “Gradually increase the walking time until you reach 40 to 60 minutes of activity. Even with the limited diet that bariatric surgery requires you to eat you will be able to walk comfortably for 30-45 min. Begin with a slow pace and increase it accordingly as you feel stronger, also, to avoid overexertion, spread your walking times throughout the day, especially in the days immediately following surgery.”
In the later phase
A successful exercise programme following bariatric surgery must be progressive. However, you should wait at least 1-2 weeks before attempting something more vigorous. Add training with light, free weights, working with a trainer, if possible. Gentle yoga is also a good element to add. As the weeks and months pass, you will need to keep adding time and other elements to your program to remain successful in your weight loss goals. Slowly add weight training and high-intensity exercises to build on the muscles.