Swimming is a fun way and low-impact way to exercise, whether you’re swimming in the pool or ocean. But if you’ve recently had weight loss surgery in Toronto, Ontario, such as the mini gastric bypass surgery, gastric sleeve surgery, and Lap-Band surgery(gastric band), you may be asking: Is it safe to swim after weight loss surgery?
Read on as we dive deep to answer all your questions about swimming after weight loss surgery.
Is it Safe to Swim After Weight Loss Surgery?
The short answer is yes! However, after weight loss surgery, such as the mini gastric bypass surgery, gastric sleeve surgery, and Lap-Band surgery(gastric band), your body is still adjusting and recovering. This is why it’s important not to push your body too hard or too soon. Normal weight loss surgery recovery means you should be able to resume activities of daily living such as going up steps or taking care of yourself in the shower within three to four days after the procedure.
How Soon Can I Swim After Weight Loss Surgery?
A general rule of thumb is to check with your clinicians to find out how soon you can swim and then increase your activity levels gradually as you recover from your procedure.
We recommend that patients wait three weeks before swimming and at least four weeks before using a bathtub or hot tub. Showering within two days of surgery is fine.
If you have open wounds or any condition that increases your risk of infection or delays healing, you should avoid swimming for longer.
Benefits of Swimming After Weight Loss Surgery
Swimming offers a wide range of health benefits including feeling and looking younger, increased muscle tone, strength, and improved flexibility because you are moving through water and not air. However, the biggest benefit of swimming following weight loss surgery is that it gives you the perfect full-body workout with minimal risk of injury. Your buoyancy in the water means you only rely on 10% of your weight at a given time, which makes it an ideal place to work stiff muscles and sore joints, as there is no pressure. In addition to being kind to your joints, you are also at less risk of fatigue and exhaustion during exercise.
How Much Swimming Can I Do?
If you have enough energy to perform 30 minutes of exercise, why not aim for 10 laps doing a mixture of the four basic strokes – front crawl, backstroke, breaststroke, and butterfly? Start with two easy laps to warm up such as the breaststroke or butterfly. Then going at a faster pace, do three sets of two laps with the front crawl, resting 20 seconds between laps (the front crawl is generally faster than the other strokes, so you can cover more distance). Then cool down with two easy laps of the backstroke.
With time, you may even be able to build your endurance and strength and increase to 15 laps or 20 laps, with the goal of building up to one hour a day. If you swim in a chlorinated pool, be sure to wear goggles to prevent eye irritation and to help you see better in the water.
Weight Loss Surgery in Toronto at Surgical Solutions Network
Weight loss surgery is a big decision, but it may be the best decision you’ll ever make. If you’ve been researching weight loss surgery in Ontario, you’ve come to the right place. Our expert clinician team will help you lose the weight and keep it off with safe and effective weight loss surgery in Canada.
Surgical Solutions Network works with men and women across the country to improve their health and confidence with bariatric surgery, such as the mini gastric bypass surgery, gastric sleeve surgery, and Lap-Band surgery(gastric band). Your weight loss options aren’t limited to diet and exercise – weight loss surgery may be the tool you need to help you achieve your weight loss goals.
Ready to take the next step? Explore our weight loss surgery procedures to discover how weight loss surgery in Toronto, Canada can help you achieve lasting weight loss. We recommend scheduling a consultation with one of our expert weight loss surgeons to discuss your goals and which procedure is right for your unique needs.