I have no STRENGTH at all!!

Hey Dave, That's one of the reasons I'm doing more d-bell stuff myself. It requires more of my forearms, etc. As for skinny fingers, I've had women tell me that they find "slim fingers" attractive on a man. Probably because slim fingers = not so slim other stuff?

Got ya, Doug! Might be true.

"Coke Can" Dave

Just to add to what Joe was saying - in addition to the protein, B12 and vitamin regimen, you may also want to consider adding glutamine.  Glutamine is used a great deal by weight lifters and other athletes to help aid in recovery after strenuous workouts.  In addition however, glutamine is also being used more and more in a medical setting to aid in the healing process after major surgeries. Quicker recovery gives the body a better chance of building muscle (strength and mass).  Glutamine can also help minimize some of the muscle loss - we do what we can after WLS, but the weight drops so quickly the body sometimes has no choice but to eat up that muscle. For me, when I finally got to the point where I could match grams of protein and body weight pound for pound - and with the addition of creatine and glutamine - it was then when I saw my strength, stamina increase as well as the ability to add muscle mass.  Up to that time I was simply dropping pounds.  Please note:  I do not recommend creatine to anyone who was not yet reached goal weight.  That's a topic we discussed the previous two weeks.  CF

Derrick,

I would say that this is either due to malnutrition or muscle loss. Weight loss without protein or without weight training will likely equal muscle loss.

I'm only 45, so can't say if it's age related. I'm stronger now than I ever have been. My wife is regularly reminding me not to break things when I touch them. So could be that I'm taking a lot of chewable vitamins (Centrum - 4 to 5 times the recommended dosage, spread throughout the day) and working out.

Hope it Works itself Out,

Dave

I'm 34, and I totally understand the protien thing. I know my surgeon said to get 70-80 grams a day, and once I am down to goal weight, to try to double that so I can start to lift and put some muscle back on.  I know that the reason I hae lost so much weight is because I havent gotten enough protein.   And today we have our first football game (flag) of the season, and I will see how much I have really lost, or if I have gained enough speed and endurance to make up for the huge lack of size I now have.  I will post back with results tonite or tomorow at latest.

I don't think it's normal...actually most WLS people become more active and have more energy and stregth after surgery....the only time I hear people complain about "strength" really has nothing to do with strength at all...it's when they are trying to move a piece of furnature....and at one time when they weighed 400 lbs they'd be able to put their weight behind it and move it like it was paper...but now 200 or 300 lbs less...they push..and nothing happens.  but that is less of a "strength" issue and more of a issue of being a normal weight. I agree with everyone else, get your blood work done....have your B vitamins and iron levels checked.  If you're not doing it, start working out, and eating a higher protein, lower carb diet.  I know when I was a brand new post op....the first month or so I felt "weak" all the time. I  had no energy, that changed as soon as I was able to get in enough protein everyday.  Right now I shoot for 120 to 150 grams of protein, I actually should be getting in closer to 175-200 grams a day based on my work out routine.   I ran out of protein shake mix..and while I can eat that much protein...it takes a lot more effort in meal planning then I'm normally willing to give it.    There are tons of CHEAP protein options out there if cost is a factor.   Walmart sells protein powders (the big jugs) for about 12 dollars.  Thats less then 1 dollar a serving...you can get more expensive powders....personally I like the egg protein powders....whey just don't agree with me at all...and egg protein is supposedly more bioavailable then whey. Hope you feel better soon. Scott

Have you had your B12 level checked?

120-150 grams per day?  wow.  I would have to drink shakes all day just to get there.  I have 1 or 2 shakes (drinks) a day, and barely get all of my liquids in too.  And as for our first football game yesterday, We lost 21-0, it was a bad loss, but i did block well, even though I broke my pinkey.  That hurt. I noticed that I am bruseing quite a bit more now.  My arms are covered with Black and blue and last year and 100 lbs ago, I never got those...

My doc says that many people bruise easily for a year after surgery.  But you should also consider the possibility that you have low iron levels.

I can say that I lost a lot of strength during my first year after surgery.  I'll be out two years in mid-November and I feel much stronger now and my energy level has improved.  I thought I was doing everything right by eating 70-80 grams of protein a day (or more) along with taking my vitamins, but I still lost muscle mass. Keep working out and eating your protein.  Remember, if you don't use it - you'll lose it. Matt