The Most Common Ways People “Overdo” It After Surgery

The guidelines for activity after surgery are too vague. Everyone is different, and the details of your health + surgery can impact the timeline for when you can do certain activities, but after working with over 200 women after their surgeries, I’ve noticed some common threads...

Here are the top 3 ways people overdo it after surgery:

#1: Too many hills

The only advice you get after surgery is usually something like "walk a lot but also rest."

Welp, walking can mean a whole lot of different things! Walking on inclines and unstable surfaces is often too much and too soon for many people. 

I’ve seen quite a few women be unable to tolerate it after 6 weeks. You can work up to incline walks by strengthening your glutes + pelvic floor.

#2: Spinning too soon

Peloton seems gentle enough, right? Coming out of the saddle is actually a very high-pressure activity that many women aren’t ready for at 6 weeks post-op! (and they’re very rarely ready before). 

Everyone’s pace is different, but proceed carefully with spinning.

#3: Carrying wobbly things

Carrying groceries, a light but unstable bag, a small child, or pulling a cart on uneven terrain are all examples of carrying or moving wobbly things. 

All weights are not the same. 10 pounds in a backpack is very different from 10 pounds in a grocery bag. The closer to your center of mass the weight is, the more safely you can generally carry it. 

Another reason generic weight restrictions are so silly after surgery is that it just depends.

Have you experienced any of these? Any questions about common obstacles I’ve seen women face during recovery?