aroundhky

Well that sucks about the credit card. Bummer... Glad the rest of it went ok!

Yeah "sarsar", in regards to the last couple of reps each set, it's unfortunate that people give honest efforts with resistance training and then once the reps get tough and they can start to get their greatest benefits from the lifts, they stop and all of the reps before that are almost useless......except for the couple of cals burned during them. Hey, wish you the best on the PT certification process!

"Sarsar".....way to go and congrats! Lifting really depends on your goals and what you want to accomplish from lifting. Heavy lifting is really relative if you think about it. Some do a weight they can only get 2-3 times a set or max out with one rep....which I would call quite heavy. Some go 10-15 reps a set, which if someone is able to do that many reps, the first half of them (first 6-8 reps) probably require very little, if any, effort, so it's those last reps when they are difficult, when the benefits start to occur. For me, and I can only tell you what works for me, heavy at some point is required. What I mean by that is going to failure and barely able to do the last couple of reps and even getting stuck on the last one. For me, to make muscles grow and/or get stronger, I have to go to failure, whether I get to that point with 1 rep or 20. Example, if I normally max out at 460 on the squat...that's a one time rep and is heavy as all get out for me and I can barely get the one rep and it's the highest/heaviest weight I can lift. If I stay in that 1-5 rep range for a few sets, my legs will get stronger or at my age, I can at least easily maintain strength at that rep range. But if I do 8-10 reps, that will also help me build muscle if I take that to failure each time, which is more inline with bodybilding parameters (high reps-more effective at building mass than strength). So I guess the key terms here are what is "heavy" and what is "failure". Going to failure for multiple sets will always help build muscle....even if it's your 12th rep and the weight wasn't all that heavy or difficult to move starting out. I'm probably making no sense at all and maybe just confused you as I haven't had any caffeine today and unable to gather reasonable thought patterns at the moment. But basically, T.U.T. (time under tension), muscles working to failure, regardless of how heavy the weight is....will benefit your muscles and help them grow/tone. I see you are doing great and keep us posted!

Haha! I'm trying to hang in there and maybe doing ok for an old guy. I'll have to up my game....don't want you lifting more than me. You have young age on your side.

Wow....you go Curvy....that's impressive! If you're ever in NC, you'll have to meet up with me and my fellow sleever lifting partner/trainee here. Seriously, you've made great strides and I like what you mentioned about the complex carbs. They're not always a bad thing like a lot people think. People can lift like crazy and be a gym rat, but if they don't introduce some complex carbs with their Protein....especially after a workout.....they're not going to build much muscle.....if any. Keep up the great work!

Hope you had a good trip here to NC!

Sorry for the multiple posts.....computer fart.......

"Sweetsuzzie"......I know when I miss a day or two of exercise, I get pretty bummed out as well. Then after several missed in a row, your body can start missing that endorphin rush that makes us feel so good and one can get depressed so to speak. When one gets depressed, they don't feel like exercising and it can spiral out of control and before you know, a person can quickly go months without true exercise....which is not good. My advice, set a goal, find a type of exercise you'll enjoy, find a way to motivate yourself and get started. Once all of these happen, you'll likely get back into the swing of things and you'll make it a priority for yourself. It's never too late. Wish you the best! Also...once you set some more specific goals in regards to fitness, you may find exact exercises that are best for you. Like do you want to just work on physique, athletic performance, etc?

"Sweetsuzzie"......I know when I miss a day or two of exercise, I get pretty bummed out as well. Then after several missed in a row, your body can start missing that endorphen rush that makes us feel so good and one can get depressed so to speak. When one gets depressed, they don't feel like exercising and it can spiral out of control and before you know, a person can quickly go months without true exercise....which is not good. My advice, set a goal, find a type of exercise you'll enjoy, find a way to motivate yourself and get started. Once all of these happen, you'll likely get back into the swing of things and you'll make it a priority for yourself. It's never too late. Wish you the best! Also...once you set some more specific goals in regards to fitness, you may find exact exercises that are best for you. Like do you want to just work on physique, atheltic performance, etc?

"Sweetsuzzie"......I know when I miss a day or two of exercise, I get pretty bummed out as well. Then after several missed in a row, your body can start missing that endorphen rush that makes us feel so good and one can get depressed so to speak. When one gets depressed, they don't feel like exercising and it can spiral out of control and before you know, a person can quickly go months without true exercise....which is not good. My advice, set a goal, find a type of exercise you'll enjoy, find a way to motivate yourself and get started. Once all of these happen, you'll likely get back into the swing of things and you'll make it a priority for yourself. It's never too late. Wish you the best! Also...once you set some more specific goals in regards to fitness, you may find exact exercises that are best for you. Like do you want to just work on physique, atheltic performance, etc?

Anytime CFMAMA. I'm not a full time crossfitter as I only do one crossfit type workout a week (clean and jerk, hang snatches, pull ups and rope climbs all with minimal to no rest in between). The rest of my workouts are slower paced upper body compound lifts, squats and deadlifts....basically more power lifter stuff with a cardio session or two a week (one being my crossfit lifts). But I have noticed that carbs (especially complex carbs), seem to benefit me and are pretty much required the day of my crossfit exercises and there is certainly a difference in nutrition demands for that. I've not heard of "eattoperform"......I'm going to have to look that up. Thank you!

CFMAMA.....your original post sounds a lot like me and my thought process before surgery. I think there have been some good replies on here and I can't really add a lot other than to reaffirm that you should make sure to try to 1-get in adequate Protein and 2-lift (when cleared by Dr) the first few months after the sleeve. You probably know already that these two things will help you retain muscle during weight loss and I can attest that it certainly helped me get back to my original pre-sleeve strength. Your lifts are incredible and amazing! I can certainly relate to the fear of not being able to keep muscle after WLS and being hesitant due to this concern. It can be challenging, but for me, I've been able to get back to full strength (pre-surgery strength) and I did it fairly quickly......around 7 months post op or so. I'm not saying this is typical or that everyone can expect it, but for me, I did it.....but it is a lot of work and requires me to be quite mindful of what I'm eating and how I'm lifting. Wish you the best and if you decide to have WLS....I think you'll be glad you did it.

I hear ya on that....I'm up at least twice every night.....feeling my age a lot recently.

I use the Gold Standard Casein and it's a little on the thick side.....but I like it that way. If it's too thick for you, have you tried adding a little Water or juice?

I'd be happy to fill out too if I am not too far out. I am 2 1/2 post op here and maybe you're looking for more recent patients? If not, I'll be glad to help.

Welcome! Catawba County, NC here!

NC here as well. Wishing you two the best with your surgeries....you'll be glad you did this! -Mark