Ski Fitness - 4 weeks to go post op

I have recently had a major op and was mighty fit before. I am 4 weeks post op with 6 weeks being the usual time for the all clear. (Hysterectomy - no external wounds ) )

Any help with how to re establish stamina and fitness before I hit Cervinia on April 2nd!

I can do light exercise until March 20th then I hope I can pump up the volume so to speak. I do not want to be watching from the mountain restaurants.. but I also don't want to over do it before or while I am there.

Tbh IMO 4 weeks is the very minimum you need to see any tangible difference to fitness etc anything less might not be worth it. You only really have 2 weeks where you can do more strenuous exercise, what sort of light exercises have you been recommended?

Depends what sort of level skier you are, allot of people run out of ability before fitness but if you're technically good skiing isn't necessarily hard work!

light exercise = leg and upper body strengthening. I've been skiing for 40+ years and am technically pretty good!

In that case I'd concentrating on stregthening the legs initally. As an experienced skier you'll know the only way to truely get ski fit is to ski!

Seated leg extension-Quads

Calf machine. Most modern gyms will have a calf machine

Leg Press-Quadriceps

Hamstring Curl Machine-again common in gyms.

After that cardio do whatever works for you to increase your overall stamina, running. cycling, swimming.

Article here with exericses which you can easily do in the comfort of your own home if you don't have a gym membership.

Lexiloo, I had the Mini version a while ago and skied 5 weeks later. I felt somewhat fragile though, imagine Bambi on skis. Not really like me :shock:
Surgeon OK'd it, said there was no reason not to ski. We are all different, so do what feels right, and don't beat yourself up if you need a deckchair break in the afternoon 8)

this all gives me hope... I keep thinking it's just going to knock me too much for six to enjoy... but then I haven't tested anything yet.. lying on this sofa is just so frustrating!

Speaking as a qualified personal trainer with 15 years exp. i would advise STAYING AWAY FROM THE MACHINES at the gym.

You dont have a lot of time to get back into ski-shape, so don't make the mistake of wasting what you have. Sorry Grizwald, don't mean to pour a slush puppy down your back, but nobody in the fitness world trains like this anymore.

I'm not going to issue a program here and now, but will direct you to Craig Ballentyne. Google him and take it from there, he's a Canadian legend and has got plenty of programs on his website and on You-Tube which are specialist ski-fit.

Essentailly what you need is FUNCTIONAL, with lots of total-body movements in high rep ranges with low weight/resistance, engaging your core and challenging your stability with every excercise repetition. SKIING IS ABOUT BALANCE AND CORE STABILITY. These workouts genrally take no more than 25-30 mins and can be done from home, 3-4 days a week. You need a swiss-ball, a foam mat, maybe some basic dumbells from Sportsdirect/Argos. You will appreciate the simplicity but its damn hard work and your body WILL adapt in as little as 2 weeks. The best thing is that you will not be putting yourself at further injury risk in fixed positions, with isolation excercises on gym machines. I cant even bear to say that word without a twang of my hip-flexor. Ouch.

Good luck.

My wife had the same op last season and skied about six weeks later. I would echo Skiaskidoo's advice. It's amazing what you can do with some light weights, some kind of balance thingy, and a mat.