Most patients will be able to return to work one to three weeks after their weight loss surgery date. Returning to work can be the first sign of normality. Going back to work is also a test of the patient’s post-bariatric surgery resolve.
Your ability to resume pre-surgery levels of activity will vary according to:
- your physical condition
- nature of the activity
- type of weight loss surgery you had
Returning to work, depending on the job, also presents a challenge of overworking or under working. Jobs that require vigorous activity such as lifting heavy items can cause complications in patients who are not yet fully recovered from their surgery. Patients should take it slow for at least 6 weeks after surgery. Another similarly difficult problem is the fact that most of us have jobs where we sit, virtually stationary and in the same place, all day long. As a result, we have very little opportunity to exercise. The solution is not easy and needs a modification in your life to accommodate for enough time for exercise to maximize your weight loss.