Exercise, muscles, & protein
I just want to warn everyone of the importance of getting your daily protein in and exercising both during the "honeymoon" period and beyond.
I didn't keep my protein up or didn't exercise regularly and now I find myself, not only heavier than I would like to be, but my muscles are so weak I can't even hardly get myself up off the floor. I can't do it from the strength of my legs alone. I have to use my arms either on the floor or a piece of furniture. It's so embarrassing. I'm 45 years old and feel 85 when I'm trying to get up.
An example of embarrassing moment is, recently I went on a cruise and down a water slide... you know when you get to the bottom, you need to get up quickly... well, I did it, but it was obvious I was struggling.
I'm going to try to start getting more protein and doing stairs/ squats, or something to gain some strength, but I'm afraid in order to succeed, I might need to see a personal trainer, but the thought of that is embarrassing too :-(
It's why we have always tried to encourage people to hang out here longer than 6-12 months. This is a lifelong change and it's so easy to "forget" to eat right, keep fit and take your vitamins.
Glad to see you back here and thanks for sharing your struggles and the PSAs
Proud Feminist, Atheist, LGBT friend, and Democratic Socialist
Hi Dot,
Well you now know the issues and have put them down on paper. Please do not be embarrassed to reach out to a personal trainer for help. but if that is not your way there is is alway youtube. there are tons of video's to watch and learn from. There are tons of excercies that you can do anywhere that just use your own body weight. sit ups, push ups, planks, squats, wall sits, all will make you stronger.
good luck and remember you and only you can make this happen.
Bonnie RNY 2/11/15 by Dr. Takahaski
5'3" SW 230 pounds, GW per Dr. Takahaski 150 pounds, CW 132 pounds (10/1/17)
BMI 19% Bod Pod test 1/29/17 13.1 mile half marathon, 1 hour 59 mins (8/21/2017)
Thanks, Bonnie. Yes, I have a step from an old workout I used to do and I'm doing step-ups on it (I don't know how many inches it is, but it's pretty tall) and the wall sits (my daughter calls them Kings Chair? lol) and even just placing a chair in the middle of the room and sitting, raising, over and over again helps.
I did some research tonight and found that my symptoms are consistant with B12 deficiency. I bought a liquid sublingual that I had success with before that I'm going to start using (as of tonight). I also ordered the Patch MD patches to try. I have a lot I need to work on besides the strength, I need to get my diet under control, get to taking vitmins more regularly, etc.
I also need to have my blood work done and maybe even go visit with my surgeon again. He is a 2 hour drive away, so that one is going to take some planning with work.
thanks for your reply!
Dot
What is also frustrating is that the older we get the harder it is to build muscles. And any time with low or no activity will makes us lose the muscles very very fast. Study shows that for older people even 10-20 days "bed rest" can cause them significant muscle loss. The older you get the worse it gets. Then it takes much longer to get it back.
I am over ,50 and I know that in ,30 days when. I was recovering from a surgery plus I was dealing with injury after car accident- I lost 5 lbs... I am sure it was my muscles. I had a very little fat felt to lose...Plus suddenly I got very very weak...
Even things like a severe cold or flu when we get real bed rest can cause muscles loss.
Hala. RNY 5/14/2008; Happy At Goal =HAG
"I can eat or do anything I want to - as long as I am willing to deal with the consequences"
"Failure is not falling down, It is not getting up once you fell... So pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and start all over again...."
I had open heart surgery last year and was in bed for a month. The muscles in my legs completely went away and I just had two bags of skin where my calves belonged. I was not allowed to use my arms while the chest incisions were healing, so I had huge bat wings hanging from my arms.
After a two months of rehab, which involved one hour of exercise three times a week, while hooked up to a heart monitor, my legs and my strength were back to normal. I used the treadmill, stationary bike, elliptical, light weights, and the weight machines. My blood sugar and blood pressure were tested during the workouts.
It is amazing how quickly you can lose strength and also how quickly you can gain it back. I was 67 years old. I would also suggest you start a water aerobics class two or three times a week because you can build a lot of muscle strength in the water and your muscles do not get sore like they will on land.
The advantage of going to a gym, a personal trainer, or a class is that you make a commitment to be there and don't let everyday life distract you. I find it difficult to do as well when I am just doing it on my own.
Real life begins where your comfort zone ends