Suggestions for before and after surgery

[phoenix05]

I am going into surgery in a little under a week now (next tuesday), and i am stressing a little about my fitness and stuff. I am told i will not be able to do any exercise for 6 weeks after, which brings me to roughly the 1st of november.

This seems huge to me as i don't go a day without being in the gym doing something, wether it be weights or cardio. I am really stressing about what six weeks off any form of training will do to my body, and how long it will take to get back to the level i am at now.

Has anyone had any experience with something like this? I am going into a really big footy season next year and it's about 4 months after surgery and that worries me a lot.

So basically my questions are:
1) How much will this set me back in terms of fitness levels and strength. Will i come out of the six weeks off training and be weak and slow?

2) Is there anything i can do/eat that will help maintain muscle mass or fitness levels over the six week period.


3) Is there anything i can do/eat BEFORE surgery that will help after the six weeks is over.

Basically i am training like mad this last few weeks just in the hope this will help later.

Thanks a million for the advice.
Trav

 

[MyK]

whats the surgery

 

[phoenix05]

It's an abdominoplasty. Which is basically a tummy tuck. I was about 160 Kg's (about 350 pounds) about 5 years ago and am down to 86 kg (190 pounds) now. This has left my stomach muscles very week and also a lot of skin around my stomach that is loose and can only be fixed through surgery. I am playing very competitive football here in australia and this is limiting my progress. It's the off season now so it's happening next week.

 

[CowPimp]

Your strength should return to normal fairly quickly. It certainly won't take as long to get to where you are now as it did from an untrained state. There is a phenomenon called muscle memory that will aid you in this department.

Cardiovascular fitness will probably be a little harder to get back. Unfortunately, you'll most likely just have to bust your ass again to get back to where you were.

Just try to eat a healthy diet. 5+ meals per day, a lot of protein, proper usage of EFAs, yada yada... Don't let yourself slip below maintenance calories if you can help it.

 

[GFR]

6 weeks is nothing, enjoy the break and concentrate of healing. The last thing you want to do is fuck up your recovery so you can save 5 or 10lbs of muscle mass.

 

[themamasan]

I went into surgery ( a total of 2 weeks in the hospital ) and when I came out I had lost 30 lbs. I couldn't workout for 2 months, so I didn't. I lost almost all my strength and because of me being depressed about it and just taking it slow it took me 2 years to get all of my strength back.

But I am an ectomorph, so this story is probably not that bizarre.

** Note - The two weeks I was in the hospital I spent confined to a bed with little body movement **

 

[CowPimp]

At what point do you fail? Right off the chest, half way up, near lockout?

 

[yellowmoomba]

Congrats on losing all the weight!

Now's the time to get your diet in check (but it sounds like it already is). I've had four surgeries over the last seven years and returned to sports within 6 months of each injury ( two torn Achilles tendons, a hernia and torn rotator). Right now I'm 18 weeks post op from my left Achilles surgery. The only strength I need to get back is in my left calve. All the other muscles are back to normal.

Find out from the doc what you can do as far as exercise goes and follow the healing protocol.

Good Luck

 

[HotMom23]

You'll be fine. Take the time off you need it! Just eat clean and wait to heal. Good luck to you!

 

[largepkg]

I went into surgery ( a total of 2 weeks in the hospital ) and when I came out I had lost 30 lbs. I couldn't workout for 2 months, so I didn't. I lost almost all my strength and because of me being depressed about it and just taking it slow it took me 2 years to get all of my strength back.

But I am an ectomorph, so this story is probably not that bizarre.

** Note - The two weeks I was in the hospital I spent confined to a bed with little body movement **

You lost 30lbs in two weeks? Was the surgery an amputation???

 

[phoenix05]

Thanks everyone. Apparently the six weeks off is so that i don't tear the stitches inside my stomach more than anything. It just feels like a long time just for the stitches is all. I am talking to my doctor tomorrow so i will question him a bit more thoroughly then. It's going to be a long six weeks thats for sure. But i can't wait to get it over with and be back in training.

I'm really looking forward to next footy season. Again thanks everyone, if there is anymore you would recommend then i would still love to hear it. Thanks
T

 

[ALBOB]

I tore my Patellar tendon doing squats and had to have it surgically repaired. This is obviously quite a bit different than what you're going through, but one similarity is patients. You have to be patient and let your body heal. I'm now stronger than pre-surgery because the entire ordeal has been a learning experience, but it took two years. I now concentrate on doing all exercises with 100% strict form. That has allowed my training to be even more effective.

 

[themamasan]

You lost 30lbs in two weeks? Was the surgery an amputation???

No amputation thank God. I was 230lbs when I went in due to a collapsed lung. Due to several complications I had to have surgery on it. I was eating 6 meals a day before, then in the hospital only ate 2 to 3, and went 3 full days without eating (the days around the surgery). The day I got out I looked like I had lost 60lbs, but when I weighed I was 202lbs and completely shocked.

 

[boilermaker]

I had abdominal surgery to remove a tumor near my kidney in 2002. I wasn't supposed to be active for 6 weeks either. I started playing hoops and golfing a little early. Guess what. Back in the hospital 6 months later to have surgery to repair the herniated scar. Listen to the docs.

 

[Oz lifter]

hi tlongmore42

Mate Ive just have just had 7 weeks off weigths due to a rotator cuff tear, Im going to start weights tommorow. After 7 weeks this is what I noticed, i have lost most of my size in my chest, my lats seem to have kept most of their size. Triceps and biceps are smaller but lost less size on them then I thought. So it was mainly the chest and shoulders that I lost most of my gains. Unfortuantely I cant lift heavy so i wont be able to tell you what strength gains Ive lost, but apparently it will take around a year to get back to previous strength.

cheers