Surgical oncologist Venu G. Pillarisetty talks about why resting before surgery is the worst thing you can do.

Dr. Pillarisetty is senior author of study published in PLOS One finds that finds exercise and eating well before surgery can make a real difference.

The study found that 64 percent of patients encouraged to consume specific drinks, walk two miles a day, among other such strategies, were discharged within five days. Before this surgery fitness plan was started, just 36 percent of were discharged within five days.

“The stronger you are before an operation, the stronger you will be after the operation,” said Pillarisetty, associate professor of surgery at the University of Washington School of Medicine and medical director for continuous performance improvement at the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance.