08/26/2026
Recovery doesn’t start on the operating table. It starts weeks before, in the gym.
Here’s what we worked on:
Breath. Diaphragmatic breathing so her core learned to brace under pressure instead of straining against it. This is the foundation for managing intra-abdominal pressure post-op — every cough, every sneeze, every time she sits up.
Core activation. Not crunches. Learning to actually engage her deep core muscles safely, so that connection is already wired in before surgery takes it offline for a while.
Movement patterns. How to roll out of bed, stand up, sit down — all without bearing down on a healing incision. We practiced this before surgery, so it’s automatic after.
General strength. Building a baseline in her legs, back, and upper body — because for the first few weeks post-op, her core can’t do the work. The rest of her body has to carry more.
And the mental piece mattered just as much. We talked about what the hard days would feel like, so when they came, she wasn’t scared — she recognized them as part of the process, not a setback.
Then post-op, we will do rehab — same foundation, now rebuilding week by week.
Prepping my client for her tummy tuck surgery with David Sieber MD, FACS
