Exercise After Gallbladder Removal: Safe and Effective Guidelines
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When Can You Exercise Again After Gallbladder Removal (Cholecystectomy)?

When Can You Exercise Again After Gallbladder Removal (Cholecystectomy)?
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Updated on August 6, 2025
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Just like any major surgery, a cholecystectomy, or gallbladder removal, is no small matter. And while you may recover quickly, it doesn’t necessarily mean you’re ready to return to exercise right away.

Everyone’s body is unique, so a healthcare professional may tailor your postoperative recovery to your specific needs. Before you return to the gym or try new exercise after your cholecystectomy, it’s best to consult your doctor.

When Can I Start Exercising After Gallbladder Removal?

You may feel good after your surgery, but that doesn’t mean you should jump right back into the gym. Physically active people may need to adjust their routine during recovery.

 At the very least, you want to feel absolutely no pain or sensitivity before returning to exercise. Again, this timeline varies from person to person, but waiting at least two weeks is recommended.
Doctors don’t advise weight lifting after gallbladder surgery for at least a few weeks. More specifically, avoid lifting more than 5 to 10 pounds, as it can be too strenuous.

The wound should also feel comfortable before you start exercising. Once it is, you may be able to try light exercise, including walking, swimming, and cycling.

 Only walk as far and for as long as feels comfortable.

Many cardio workouts and strength exercises involve bending over (like dead lifts, cycling, or squats). It’s best to avoid this right after a cholecystectomy, as it can put your midsection in an uncomfortable position. In fact, providers advise taking time off work if your job involves a lot of bending over, so hit pause on exercises involving this movement. Some surgeons might also ask that you avoid driving

Before you return to exercise after your surgery, it’s best to consult your doctor. They can help you build a safe workout plan to keep you as active as possible while ensuring your body recovers properly.

If you’re on a specific exercise plan, like marathon training, be sure to level up your program under a doctor’s supervision. They may be able to suggest alternative exercises that can help you build up your performance without placing stress on the surgical wound.

Gallbladder Removal Recovery

Everyone’s body is different, so it can take a few days or a few weeks until you start feeling like you’re back to normal after surgery.

 This also depends on the type of surgery you have.
An open cholecystectomy involves a larger cut and requires two to three days of in-hospital recovery, plus around four to six weeks at home to fully recover. A laparoscopic, or keyhole, surgery needs a shorter recovery period of around a week in total. You may need one night in the hospital after a keyhole cholecystectomy, but people often go home on the day of surgery.

That said, after a laparoscopic cholecystectomy, you can expect to feel at least three to four days of abdominal discomfort from the gas the surgeon uses to complete the procedure, and your doctor may prescribe pain medications. (As laparoscopic cholecystectomy is far more common than open cholecystectomy, this article’s advice on exercising focuses on returning to action after a laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

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After the procedure, most people can return to their normal eating habits, but your doctor may recommend a bland diet in the days following the operation. Typically, post-op patients do well with easily digestible foods, like bananas, rice, pasta, or toast.

While most patients feel strong enough to return to work just a few weeks after surgery, that’s not necessarily the case for everyone. This time frame depends on the type of job — a person who works at a desk may return to work sooner than someone who works in a warehouse. So, those who need some extra recovery time should get a note from their healthcare provider.

However, different people can expect different recovery timelines and protocols. It’s best to follow your doctor’s recommendations and consult a healthcare professional before trying new foods or medications for pain.

The Takeaway

  • After gallbladder removal, listen to your body and wait until pain and sensitivity have subsided before returning to exercise, typically around two weeks post-surgery.
  • Begin with low-impact activities, such as walking, swimming, or cycling, and limit lifting to no more than 5 to 10 pounds during the initial weeks of recovery.
  • If your exercise routine includes activities that involve bending or straining the midsection, such as squats or dead lifts, avoid them until you’ve consulted with your healthcare provider.
  • Recovery and readiness for exercise can vary significantly from person to person. Always get your doctor’s approval, especially if you experience persistent discomfort or have any complications following surgery.
EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Resources
  1. Cholecystectomy (Gallbladder Removal). Cleveland Clinic. July 24, 2025.
  2. Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy. University of Michigan Health System.
  3. Get Well Soon: Helping you to make a speedy recovery after gallbladder removal. Royal College of Surgeons.
  4. Gall Bladder Post-Op. UNC School of Medicine.
  5. Cholecystectomy (gallbladder removal). Mayo Clinic. April 15, 2025.
  6. How to Change Your Diet After Gallbladder Removal. Cleveland Clinic.
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Ira Daniel Breite, MD

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Ira Daniel Breite, MD, is a board-certified internist and gastroenterologist. He is an associate professor at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, where he also sees patients and helps run an ambulatory surgery center.

Dr. Breite divides his time between technical procedures, reading about new topics, and helping patients with some of their most intimate problems. He finds the deepest fulfillment in the long-term relationships he develops and is thrilled when a patient with irritable bowel syndrome or inflammatory bowel disease improves on the regimen he worked with them to create.

Breite went to Albert Einstein College of Medicine for medical school, followed by a residency at NYU and Bellevue Hospital and a gastroenterology fellowship at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Working in city hospitals helped him become resourceful and taught him how to interact with people from different backgrounds.

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Bojana Galic is a NASM-certified personal trainer and a staff writer for everydayhealth.com covering fitness, sports nutrition and health. She is a 2018 graduate of the Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute at New York University.

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