The Surgery and Muscle

[Joshua Barbour 22]

I'm definitely sold on getting the surgery. Will be making a plan very soon to get it going.

I have a couple questions that some of you may be able to answer.

I used to work construction, lift weights and generally be VERY strong when i was younger. I am still very strong with a solid core....I can still bench 225. I have a lot of muscle under all this fat....when I lose the weight post surgery will I also lose my muscle mass?

What will happen to all the skin on my belly (which is where most of my weight is)

Thanks again team. You are all an amazing support!

[beachgurl84 456]

I know nothing about bench pressing or weight lifting in general (just starting to learn). But I can tell you this, as a woman, I didn't have a ton of muscle but I had a decent amount. Because of the liquid phase and healing phase of the surgery, and exercise restrictions, I lost every bit of muscle mass I had. I'm serious, I'm a weakling now. I don't know if people lose all their mass or if it's proportional to how much you had to start with. But I would bet you can count on losing at least some of your muscle mass. You're also restricted from any exercise besides walking or lifting anything over 10 pounds (not sure if it's different for men) for about 6 weeks after surgery.

Once you start your exercise program, you'll build all your muscle back up. Unless you have absolutely no muscle to start with, it's almost impossible to not lose muscle during the weeks right after surgery.

Hope that helps. Good luck on your journey.

Edited February 18, 2015 by beachgurl84

[Blue Sky 89]

Your diet will be high in Protein to help maintain muscle mass.

[JamieLogical 8,727]

My nutritionist is all about lowering my body fat percentage, NOT weight loss. Thus she wants me eating 100 grams of Protein a day and had me doing 60 minutes of brisk walking per day immediately post-op. My lifting restrictions were minimal and I was allowed to start doing core exercises (crunches, etc.) at two months post-op. If anything, I've gained muscle because I work out all the time now.

[efierke 60]

You're certainly going to lose some muscle mass, but it doesn't have to be a lot - keep up with your Protein intake (80 grams a day can be harder than you think when you're "just not hungry") and start gentle exercises as soon as your surgeon clears you (emphasis on GENTLE)

[jess9395 5,450]

You may lose some at first for all the reasons mentioned, but at more than a year out my muscle mass is actually greater. I run and do yoga several times a week and eat 80-100g Protein a day and my body fat % is 18.