How to Design an Exercise Plan for Beginners

Regular exercise has many health benefits that make it a worthy addition to your lifestyle. These benefits include increased strength and muscle mass, improved mood and energy levels and a reduced risk of developing several health conditions. 

A consistent fitness plan is an especially important part of a healthy lifestyle following bariatric surgery. To make sure your weight-loss journey is as successful as possible, weekly exercise is key. Here are some tips for how to make an exercise plan for beginners and start experiencing the benefits. 

Start Slow

When you’re putting together an exercise plan after weight-loss surgery, it’s important to start slow. This will allow your body to recover from surgery and prevent you from overdoing it in your workouts. 

Fortunately, there are plenty of effective exercises to choose from that won’t put too much stress on your body as you get started. A few workouts that are commonly recommended to individuals following bariatric procedures include yoga, walking, jogging, pilates, and cycling. 

Set Goals

Goals are an important part of any fitness program; however, they can be especially important for beginners. When you set out on your fitness journey with clear objectives, you’re more likely to stay motivated and work hard to meet your goals. A good tip is to set both short-term and long-term goals. 

An easy short-term goal is deciding how many days a week you will exercise for, or how long each fitness session will be. A long-term goal could be an activity that you want to prepare for in the future, such as taking a hike with friends or signing up for a local charity jog. 

Include Recovery Time

When you’re getting started with regular exercise, it can be tempting to work out every day. However, this can increase your chance of suffering injuries because it doesn’t give your body time to rest. Recovery time is especially important post-bariatric surgery. Don’t forget to include breaks in your exercise plan to allow your body to recover between workouts. 

Stay Flexible

When putting together exercise plans for beginners, it’s essential to stay flexible and embrace change when necessary. The most important part of developing an exercise plan after weight-loss surgery is to find fitness strategies that work for you. Don’t be afraid to try out a variety of workout types before landing on the one or two that you enjoy most. 

Be open to working out with friends, at a gym, or from home so you can find the environments that are most motivating to you. Finally, don’t forget to listen to what your body is telling you. 

If you feel like you’re pushing too hard or are dealing with uncomfortable symptoms like pain or shortness of breath, reduce the intensity of your workouts and consult with your doctor to develop workouts that are ideal for your body.

Get Personalized Support from Wellstar Bariatrics

Wellstar Bariatrics is committed to providing comprehensive support to our patients, from pre-surgery consultations to post-surgery lifestyle advice. As you develop your exercise plan after weight-loss surgery, we’re here to help. 

Our team can help answer questions like what exercises are right for you, how long you should work out at a time, and what kind of nutritional changes you should make to supplement your workouts. Reach out today for personalized support from Wellstar Bariatrics.