Albus

I went through the same, muscles need to adjust to not having the same bulk to carry. Doing weights helped me strengthen up

More stupidity yesterday - cycling 7 Angus Glens in a day. Hot, hilly, hell!

Hi all, Been a while since I posted here but my 5 year surgiversary is coming up so thought I might… I got into cycling about 3 years ago and it’s kind of taken over my life. Went to back Belgium (where I got my sleeve) last weekend and took part in a brutal cycling event - Tour of Flanders Cyclo, 177km with 2300m of climbing on often cobbled hills. Pro’s raced many of the next day. Couple of pics below, quite pleased with myself but now focussed on losing a bit more timber - I did have a blip during lockdown and gained nearly 20kg but currently at my lowest since surgery. ~57kg off my heaviest.

Nice!

It is a tough one but going back for more next year 😁 I found Flanders tougher with all the climbing though. Not a pro, lots of the big events have an amateur event the day before on parts of the same course. I did about 145km of Roubaix with the last 20 cobbled secteurs, our first one was Arenberg which had me questioning my life choices 🙈

Follow away It was a tough ride but utterly amazing, did Paris-Roubaix last year which was tough in other ways. Two weeks time eTape Loch Ness which is ace. It does feel good and hilly rides are a good motivator to keep going as every lb is a penalty!

I cycle (a lot) now but did get into gym for a while and got into strongman type stuff. Cycling has been amazing as it’s non weight bearing and I’m an amputee. Have cycled 5000 miles this year with the longest ride being 155 miles. I could still do with getting more weight off as every pound matters on a hill 😬

Hi all, Got sleeved 2 days ago and am feeling pretty decent! I decided to travel to Belgium (from UK) as wait to get done on NHS was going to be too long and couldn’t afford private treatment. I have to say the experience was fantastic and would do it again in a heartbeat. Dr Dillemans and all of the staff at the hospital were excellent, op went smoothly (apparently my stomach was very large) and other than a rough hour or two immediately post op pain has been minimal! Flew home today after a nurse visit at the hotel and glad to be back home Looking forward to things settling down and getting on with my new life 😃

Hi, sorry I just saw this. Next day felt not too bad, we had to get the train back to the airport then there was a fair bit of walking about. Was a bit painful and wouldn’t have wanted to be dragging bags about but definitely doable, walking itself was fairly comfortable, bumps in the road and going round corners in the car less so! Personally I’d get the train and spend the 300 on new clothes which you’ll need soon enough! Good luck and hope it all goes well

Hi All, Being nearly 40 and fed up of being a fat bloke I’ve decided to get myself some WLS. Thinking sleeve as don’t like the re-plumbing idea! My GP has referred me to the NHS bariatric service but I can’t face the wait so am looking at private options. Curently thinking of traveling to Belgium using either Prof Dillemans or Chris De Bruyne. Does anyone have any experiences of these guys and of getting aftercare back home in the UK?

Just keep at it and don’t over do it. Finding the right saddle and getting it set up right can be a bit tricky but you’ll get there, the padded shorts will help a bunch. Getting out of puff on hills is normal for us more luxuriously padded folk - that’s why cyclists are all ridiculously thin. To make it easier just make sure you’re using your gears properly and don’t try and be a hero, try and keep the same rhythm regardless of slope by using the correct gear. It all takes a bit of time to get the right technique but you’ll get it.

Hiya, Fellow Scot here I had a sleeve done 2 years ago when I was 39. Would do it again tomorrow and twice the day after! I went to Belgium for my surgery with Dr Dillemanns in Brugges - 100% recommend! I was advised to do a predominantly liquid diet for two weeks pre op but was allowed veg and some chicken. I did it for a month as figured it would all help. As far as work goes everyone is different but if it's light packages I'd have thought couple of weeks. I was on solids after 4 weeks I think, if I recall my first solid meal was steak and char grilled asparagus and tender stem broccoli Carbonation is fine for me now, still enjoy and pint or several, the only difference is it's not really easy to drink soon after eating. Feel free to PM if you want a chat and good luck with whatever you decide!

I’ve tried a few and they’re OK. I find of there’s too much caffeine I get a bit jittery though!

It probably depends just how overweight you are as to what would be suitable but also what you want to do with it. A lot of road bikes now are rated for up to 120kg+ and even at that it’s usually the wheels that are the weak link and they can easily be upgraded. Mountain bikes and hybrids can be more robust but can be harder work on the road. As far as your knees go getting the bike set up right should make them comfy and it then should be a good way of getting some low impact exercise. When I first started cycling my knee bothered me a bit so I went for a bike fit and haven’t looked back!

I started off doing StrongLifts 5x5 which is good to get started and doesn’t over complicate things as all you do is two barbell workouts - squat/overhead press/deadlift and squat/bench/bent over row. Gives you a full body workout and the initial strength comes on quickly, there’s an app to take you through it all too. After a couple of months doing that I got a trainer and did some other things too whilst still concentrating on main lifts, also had a play doing strongman which was fun! I’ve now gotten into road cycling so gone back to just doing the 2 5x5 workouts a week alongside lots of miles on the bike. I’m enjoying the simplicity again!

If you cycled 40 miles you earned the fries 🤷🏻‍♂️

Anyone out there into cycling? I just bought myself a bike and keen to do some long rides next summer. How do you all keep fueled?

Joined a gym a couple of months ago and started on StrongLifts 5x5 to give me some structure. Just in the last week or so have had a couple of PT sessions too which have been great 👍🏻 Got 100kg squat for the first time and managed a 140kg deadlift tonight - what a buzz! Not bad for a one legged fella 😂 050F9E0E-EB5F-4EAE-8DE5-8CC83A096960.MP4

Had a training afternoon with Tom Stoltman today - Scotland’s strongest (and worlds 5th strongest) man 2019. Managed to finally get my 180kg deadlift, increased my axle overhead PB to 60kg and had a play with some atlas stones, great fun! IMG_6507.MOV IMG_6505.mp4

Cheers guys - I’ve entered this race in April so I’ve got some work to do, nothing like having a target to get one motivated 😂 https://www.etapelochness.com/

HGH will probably increase your appetite so seems like an odd suggestion to me. May help build muscle but I wouldn’t be mucking about with it.

Probably depends on your eating patterns as to what’s best. I’ve lost just over 100lb with sleeve and still losing 18mth later. My main problem was eating ridiculous portions as rarely felt full so having the restriction from sleeve was plenty. Now I can eat a fairly “normal” portion but probably about 1/3rd of what I used to be able to pack away! I certainly wouldn’t change my mind if I had to choose again

Personally I’d go for weights then add in cardio once you’ve built more muscle mass. I’ve been lifting for nearly a year (started about 6mths post op) and although haven’t lost huge amounts more weight my body shape has totally changed and I feel amazing. Relying on cardio early on would have lost more muscle mass. I’m now at the point where I want to get rid of the last bits of fat so have bought myself one of these bad boys and some Lycra 😆

Good effort - look forward to checking it out when I get some peace and quiet!

Current PBs are: Bench 115kg Squat 140kg DL 170kg Not squatted for a while but will get back to it - maybe! Currently doing an intensity block and will retest Bench and DL PBs in a few weeks Hoping to do some more strongman comps next year but really need a new prosthetic foot before then...