Hey my Friends!

So it’s been 6 months since I had my vertical open myomectomy surgical procedure and I am so ready to get back to my normal exercise routine.

I had no idea it would take so long to heal. I also had no idea my surgery would be so intense. Nevertheless, I am not letting anything stop me. It’s time to get that tummy toned.

So I had it in my head that if I exercised up until the day of my surgery, I would have a quick healing process. Boy was I wrong…

If you read my blogs regarding my surgery, then you understand why it took me so long to heal. (The photo above was taken a couple weeks prior to my surgery)

*Let me first put out my disclaimer that I am not a medical professional. I am only giving advice based on my experience. Please consult with your physician before starting any exercise routine, as I did with my physician…

• Is there any benefits to exercising so vigorously prior to the surgery?

Although it didn’t help me to heal faster, I am a believer that it does work. I just believe my situation was not the norm. I know that if I had a so-called normal open myomectomy, I would have been up and about much sooner.

• How soon should you exercise post-surgery?

I recommend you start exercising a week after you get out of surgery. Are you crazy, you’re probably yelling! But read on before you judge…

Although we don’t consider walking as a form of exercise, it actually is one of the best exercises you can do. Think about it, in the hospital they make you get out of bed and walk around the hallway. Why stop because your out of the hospital? The last thing you should do is go home and just lay in bed because you’re in pain.

In the beginning, you should strive to walk for at a minimum of 5 to 10 minutes the first full day after leaving the hospital and then increasing by 5 minutes each day.

FYI: Make sure you wear a belly support band.

• When should I start doing sit ups?

I do not recommend that you attempt to do any sit ups for the first 8 weeks. It is a myth that sit ups is the way to a flat tummy. Eating healthy flattens your tummy, which is something I will discuss in a future Workout Wednesday blog. But for now just know that doing sit ups helps to tone the stomach muscles.

This is where the benefits of exercising prior to surgery comes to play…

As you can tell from my photo above, although my stomach is bloated due to the fibroids, you can see that it is still toned. Therefore, your body will already have that toned structure after the surgery, although at the moment it’s hard to notice.

• Is it okay to incorporate yoga moves in your exercise routine?

Absolutely, but with restrictions. Remember you don’t want to stretch your abdominal area, as it needs to heal. So if you plan on doing yoga, do so, but be careful and wear that belly band. I definitely would not do any downward dogs until you feel the time is right, as each person heals differently.

Again, please make sure you check with your physician before you start any workout routine.

Until next time, night night 💋