How To Lose Weight After Complete Hysterectomy

This article was co-authored by Pouya Shafipour, MD, MS. Dr. Pouya Shafipour is a Family Medicine Specialist, Primary Care Physician, and a Weight Loss Specialist based in Santa Monica, California. Dr. Shafipour specializes in dietary, nutritional, behavioral, and exercise counseling to manage obesity and medical conditions related to excessive weight gain or loss. Dr. Shafipour received a BS in Molecular and Cell Biology from the University of California, Berkeley, an MS in Physiology and Biophysics from Georgetown University, and an MD from the Loma Linda University School of Medicine. He completed his internship in general surgery at UC Irvine and a residency in family medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles, and became board certified in family medicine in 2008.

Losing weight after having a hysterectomy involves many of the same strategies as you would use prior to the surgery, such as diet and exercise. However, it's important to get clearance from your doctor before you start an exercise program. Making a few other simple lifestyle changes may also help to promote weight loss after a hysterectomy.

This article was co-authored by Pouya Shafipour, MD, MS. Dr. Pouya Shafipour is a Family Medicine Specialist, Primary Care Physician, and a Weight Loss Specialist based in Santa Monica, California. Dr. Shafipour specializes in dietary, nutritional, behavioral, and exercise counseling to manage obesity and medical conditions related to excessive weight gain or loss. Dr. Shafipour received a BS in Molecular and Cell Biology from the University of California, Berkeley, an MS in Physiology and Biophysics from Georgetown University, and an MD from the Loma Linda University School of Medicine. He completed his internship in general surgery at UC Irvine and a residency in family medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles, and became board certified in family medicine in 2008. This article has been viewed 3, 597 times.This core abdominal exercise routine is suited to most women who have received medical approval to return to general exercise which is usually around 6-8 weeks after hysterectomy surgery. The appropriate time to commence can vary depending on many factors including your rate of recovery and the type of hysterectomy surgery performed.

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These abdominal exercises should feel pain free during and after exercise. Cease any exercises that cause physical discomfort during hysterectomy recovery unless they have been medically advised.

This routine does not include intense core abdominal exercises e.g. abdominal curls because research has shown that these types of exercise place pressure downwards on the lower abdomen and pelvic floor

Try to focus on using the correct deep abdominal exercise technique rather than intensity, especially during early hysterectomy recovery because during this time, your healing internal tissues are vulnerable to strain and long-term damage.

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If you have difficulty performing this deep abdominal muscle activation technique, you may instead like to try this same activation pattern lying on your side.

Gradually progress towards completing 10 toning exercises with 3-5 pelvic tilts between each core abdominal exercise according to your level of personal comfort.

Abdominal exercises can tone the abdominal muscles lying under your belly fat, however abdominal exercises will not ever help you lose belly fat after hysterectomy or in the long-term.

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Belly size can increase after hysterectomy. Increased belly size after hysterectomy can happen for a number of reasons aside from weight gain including:

The belly is often swollen after a hysterectomy which can lead to the mistaken belief of having gained belly fat after surgery. Internal lower abdominal and pelvic swelling can take a number of months to subside after a hysterectomy.

Abdominal hysterectomy and abdominal incisions can cause the deep abdominal muscles to stop working. When these muscles stop working, this can make your belly look floppy and larger in size.

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The best way to reduce your weight and lose belly fat after hysterectomy surgery is to incur an energy deficit. To incur an energy deficit you need to use up more energy than you consume.

It’s almost impossible to lose belly fat after hysterectomy through moderate exercise. It takes a large amount of exercise to incur an energy deficit and during your hysterectomy recovery your exercise capacity is reduced.

Your diet includes everything that you eat and drink and this is an essential part of weight loss and weight management after surgery.

How To Lose Belly Fat After Hysterectomy

The Mediterranean style diet is an excellent hysterectomy recovery diet. This diet helps you manage your weight, lose weight and includes nutrients,

Fibre and protein. Protein is essential for tissue healing and this is why including protein rich foods on a daily basis during your hysterectomy recovery diet is important.

While the Mediterranean diet is low in red meat some women have iron deficiency before and after their hysterectomy. If you suffer from extreme fatigue or know that your iron levels are low then you may need to increase your consumption of red meat or alternatively use iron supplements as directed by your medical practitioner.

Hysterectomy Recovery Diet Food To Include In Diet

* Legumes can sometimes cause abdominal bloating or gas after a hysterectomy so beware of increasing your legume intake during initial hysterectomy recovery.

During your early recovery focus on weight management rather than weight loss. Your early hysterectomy recovery is not a good time to be dieting or doing too much exercise. Rather, the focus for most women should be managing body weight post-operatively through healthy eating and gentle exercise such as walking.

The best weight management exercise for most women during initial hysterectomy recovery is walking. Mobilising out of bed and walking improves physical recovery after surgery

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Progress your hysterectomy walking program gradually using a time-based approach. The time-based approach involves measuring how long you walk for and increasing the time you spend walking on a weekly basis, rather than increasing the speed or distance walked. Use a time-based approach for walking during the first 6-8 weeks after hysterectomy.

When you are given permission to return to general exercise by your doctor, the best exercises to choose are low impact exercises where at least one foot is in contact with the ground at all times.

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Ways To Lose Weight After A Hysterectomy

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We’ve covered hysterectomy in quite a lot of depth over the blog, but in case you missed it, here’s a quick overview.

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A hysterectomy is the surgical removal of the uterus. Sometimes it includes the ovaries, cervix, and fallopian tubes – depending on the circumstances. In 2019, Our Remedy founder, Rachel, had a total hysterectomy after being diagnosed with a rare type of ovarian cancer.

Having a hysterectomy will lower your body’s estrogen levels. One study found that this can be linked to weight gain in some women. In the study those who had a hysterectomy, with both ovaries removed, weighed on average 3 lbs more than those who hadn’t had the surgery. Heavier women and those who had weight fluctuations were found to be at a greater risk of weight gain.

I’m a qualified personal trainer and have 5 years’ experience specialising in training women. Over the years I’ve trained many menopausal, and peri- women with different goals – but often focused on weight loss or maintaining weight, I want to help you if you are wondering how to lose weight after a hysterectomy.

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Of course, after your hysterectomy you need to wait 3-6 weeks and for the doctor’s sign off until you start some gentle exercise.

When you are ready to get started bodyweight and weight training is a good place to start.