For the first couple weeks the pain was excruciating when trying to stand up from seated or sit-up from a laying position. It took a few minutes to sit up or lie down with assistance. Thank God I had lats because in the hospital I used that pull-up bar over the bed to move myself around. And at home I used my arms, lots of shoulder and tricep strength, to push myself up to seated. ANY AB MOVEMENT (contraction or stretching) shot me back down to size. It took two weeks to lay on my side comfortably. This has been the most humbling experience of my life. My suggestion to women getting this surgery: workout HARD leading up to it. That upper body strength will get you through it.
After surgery the doc said no gym for 6 weeks. Yeah, look who she's talking to. I'm probably the worst patient on the planet: stubborn and thick-headed. Sure, I didn't want to do crap for a week. But I was starting to heal so fast. Each day showed http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifincredible improvement in range of motion and strength. I hated being sick so bad for so long I couldn't wait any longer.
I knew if I went into the gym just to "hang out" I would end up working out and hurting myself. But by 3 weeks I was feeling like a fish out of water. So I started out with incline dumbbell chest press and my boyfriend handing me the 10's, some tricep push-downs, just putzing around. Lat pull-downs were a no-go because of the ab stability/stretching needed.
By 4 weeks I felt ready to do my first ab work. I started with 2 sets on the ab ball and 1 set of side planks. Regular planks still weren't happening yet.
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