A LITTLE BIT AT A TIME

Before surgery I was in great shape. I'm a fitness specialist and a lifestyle and weight management coach who lived what I spoke of.

I was told I would be "de-conditioned" right after surgery.

Boy were they right. My body was so angry it just gave up. I actually lost 10 pounds of muscle!

My only form of exercise was walking for 6 weeks. I wasn't allowed to lift weights or work exercise bands.

I came up with isometric exercises and my favorite was just squeezing my exercise ball. I squeezed every muscle I could lol. I was so weak it was crazy.

After 6 weeks I was able to do some more bed exercises but nothing extreme. I'd never seen "love handles" on my waist before the surgery. I sure did afterward.

I'm so glad I kept trying to get strong and I'm so glad I respected how slowly that needed to happen.

Lynn Hahn  www.getrealfit.org