STS post pregnancy/surgery

[Stephanie0523]

Hi! I'm scheduled to have a c-section Oct. 2 with baby #3, and I really want to work up to the STS program. I'm terribly terribly out of shape now, having had to almost give up working out. Once I'm given the go-ahead from my doc to start lifting again, would it be silly to start the STS program with lighter weights, or does the entire program pivot around heavier lifting? I know it's been said that it's not something that people need to "train" for exactly, but in my case, would I get more benefit from STS if I worked myself up to a respectable weight load before attempting it?

PS The clip looked SO great!! Loved the added graphics telling about the next exercise. Only thing I missed was not knowing how much Cathe and crew were lifting!!

 

[soon2bfit]

I can't do nearly the weight that Cathe does or the number of pushups, but I am going to go ahead with STS. I know it is going to challenge me and it will be interesting to see how far I progress when I go through STS for the second time. I say if your doc says it's okay, go for it!

 

[luckyshell]

Hi Stephanie. Congratulations on your baby! This program isn't about lifting heavy weights, it's about increasing YOUR fitness level. So once you get the go ahead from your doctor to lift weights, do your 1RM's and start the STS program. I'm quite fit and am having a hysterectomy in 3 weeks. I'm so afraid I'm going to lose alot of strength and endurance and will have to start STS with much lighter weights than I'm used to, so I'm not going to do my 1RM's until my doctor tells me I can start lifting again. Hopefully we both have easy, uncomplicated recoveries!

 

[lala1]

Congratulations Stephanie! I have to agree with the other posters in that with STS we can start where we are and go from there. I just had hernia surgery and can´t lift for 6 weeks . I too am concerned about my loss of strength, but remind myself that many professional athletes go through rehab and the important thing is not to start too soon or too much. Easy advice to give, hard to follow.

Do take it easy, though. My first DS was a c-section and although I felt good shortly afterward, I remember week 6 being almost magical. All of a sudden I felt back to being myself.