Actor Chhavi Mittal has shared an update on her fitness journey following abdominal surgery, saying she is gradually returning to exercise while keeping her recovery restrictions in mind.
Mittal underwent a laparoscopic myomectomy on August 25, according to her social media post. She said the procedure involved four abdominal incisions and around 25–30 internal stitches. About three weeks later, she returned to the gym and began carefully reintroducing movement and resistance training.
The actor said she is currently lifting only around a quarter of her usual weightlifting capacity. She is also avoiding compound movements such as conventional deadlifts and squats because she wants to minimise core involvement during this stage of recovery.
Why a Slow Return Matters
Abdominal surgery can require a gradual return to physical activity. The appropriate timeline varies depending on the procedure, healing progress, complications and an individual's overall health.
Mittal described the process as a balance between staying active and not pushing herself too quickly. She also said that reduced exercise has previously led to noticeable weight and muscle loss for her because of her usual level of physical activity.
Her experience highlights an important point for people returning to exercise after surgery: more exercise is not necessarily better during the early recovery period. Increasing weights or returning to demanding movements too quickly can place additional stress on healing tissues.
A person's post-surgery exercise plan should therefore be based on guidance from their surgeon or healthcare team rather than another person's routine.
For Mittal, the current focus is on rebuilding strength gradually while respecting the restrictions placed on her recovery.