Article: If you're overweight or obese, try to lose weight by eating fewer calories and doing light exercises. Excess weight can make the weak areas in your abdomen carry more weight than they should. This increased pressure on weak abdominal points can increase your likelihood of having a hernia. Make sure to choose exercises that don't increase the stress on your abdominal wall. Good moderate exercises to try include walking, jogging, swimming and bicycling. Fiber helps move your bowels and empty your intestine. High-fiber diets also loosen your stool which will reduce straining when you go to the bathroom. Eat lots of fiber-rich foods like wheat bread, fruits and vegetables. You should also drink lots of water throughout the day to keep your bowels moving. Fiber is especially important if you've had surgery for a hernia, because surgery and the use of pain medications can make your bowels slow down. This can lead to constipation which can aggravate your abdomen. Avoid or be careful when lifting heavy objects. You can start lifting objects over 10 pounds about 6 weeks after surgery. To properly lift, bend at the knees to lower yourself. Grasp the object you're lifting close to your body and lift up, using your knees, not your waist. This helps reduce the weight and stress on the abdomen from lifting and bending. You may also want to wear a supportive garment around your waist. This can help support your abdominal muscles, especially when lifting. Smoking is directly linked to chronic cough, which can cause and aggravate a hernia. If you've already had a hernia, it's extremely important that you avoid behaviors that can lead to another one, such as smoking.

What is a summary?
Lose weight. Eat more fiber. Learn to lift objects correctly. Stop smoking.