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Purpose: Although many surgical innovations are said to “shorten recovery”, there is currently no standardized definition or validated measure of surgical recovery. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the construct, longitudinal and cross-sectional validity of a physical activity questionnaire (The Community Health Activities Model Program for Seniors[CHAMPS]) as a measure of postoperative recovery after scheduled abdominal surgery.Methods: CHAMPS is a 41-item questionnaire where patients report weekly physical activity over a range of intensities; responses are converted into caloric expenditure (kcal/kg/wk). A 3kcal/kg/wk difference is equivalent to 1 hour of moderate intensity activity. Patients scheduled for abdominal surgery were evaluated preoperatively, 3 weeks and 2 months postoperatively. As recovery is affected by age, magnitude and type of surgery and presence of complications, known-groups construct validity was assessed by comparing postop weekly energy expenditure of patients in these subgroups. CHAMPS was also compared to other measures of surgical recovery including health-related quality of life (SF-36) and pain and fatigue (visual analog scale). *P<0.05Results: 204 patients, 68% male with a mean (SD) age of 55(15) years, participated. Of patients approached, 94% agreed to participate with complete follow up data in 89% of patients at 3 weeks and 90% at 2months. CHAMPS-estimated energy expenditure decreased from a median of 29 preop to 26 at 3 weeks* postop and increased above baseline levels to 36 at 2 months*. Older patients (age>65) had lower physical activity at 3 weeks (22vs29*). 41% of procedures were laparoscopic and 60% were ambulatory. Patients undergoing laparoscopic procedures were more physically active at 3 weeks (35vs24*) compared to open procedures. Compared to patients undergoing higher intensity procedures requiring admission, ambulatory patients reported higher energy expenditure at 3 weeks (30vs22*) and 2 months (43vs28*) postop. 27% of patients had one or more postop complication. Compared to those without complications, patients with complications reported less physical activity at 3 weeks (15vs30*) and 2 months (25vs43*). At all time points, there were low to moderate but significant correlations between CHAMPS and the SF-36 physical function, vitality and general health subscales and with fatigue (r=0.14-0.41).Conclusion: This study contributes evidence for construct, longitudinal and cross-sectional validity for the CHAMPS physical activity questionnaire as a practical, easily administered, quantitative measure of recovery after scheduled abdominal surgery.