Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

Bodybuilding after sleeve



Recommended Posts

How would that work? Can you build muscle after the sleeve? I mean, isnt it impossible to gain muscle at a caloric deficit?

I'd rather not be "skinny" (though would MUCH prefer skinny over fat), but I truely like lifting, and would like to gain some muscle after I get sleeved. I'm not looking to look like the guys on the cover of bodybuilder mags, but I would like to have some mass and be somewhat cut.

Is this possible? Or is being fat, then sleeved, then muscular not in the cards?

TIA

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I can't see why it'd be a problem - I guess it depends how much you're able to eat. I'd check with the doc when you can start doing weights, but I wouldn't have wanted to do anything too strenuous for the first 6 weeks after my surgery. People report being able to eat a fair bit more after 6 months, so worst case I'm sure you'd be able to by then.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Wow talk about perfect timing. I met with my excercise physiologist today and we discussed this very topic. The conclusion: no reason it can't be done. It will involve an extra effort to pay attention to calories burned versus those taken in and an increase in Protein, but should be very managable. Let's hit the weights!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Wow talk about perfect timing. I met with my excercise physiologist today and we discussed this very topic. The conclusion: no reason it can't be done. It will involve an extra effort to pay attention to calories burned versus those taken in and an increase in Protein, but should be very managable. Let's hit the weights!

Great news, Paul!

I guess ones main colaroic intake would have to revolve around protien, but fortunately, I love protien shakes and bars (not sure why so many dont like them here, but I really like them). Also, if one could maintain most of what is under the flab, I am sure it wouuld provide a great base to work off of. Surely it takes more muscle to tote this body around than is required to tote a smaller one. There should be some decent sized muscles under there already, once the fat around them is chipped away.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Great news, Paul!

I guess ones main colaroic intake would have to revolve around protien, but fortunately, I love protien shakes and bars (not sure why so many dont like them here, but I really like them). Also, if one could maintain most of what is under the flab, I am sure it wouuld provide a great base to work off of. Surely it takes more muscle to tote this body around than is required to tote a smaller one. There should be some decent sized muscles under there already, once the fat around them is chipped away.

LOL...yep, you just summarized another part of my conversation with him. A good by product of being overweight (like that is posssible) is that it does build muscle and bone density.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Hey all, just an FYI here regarding this bodybuilding thing. . I have lost 150 lbs . . I used to bodybuild years ago and with the weight loss now I still have definition and tone under that loose skin, (still can puff out the lats pretty good and move the pec's :lol: ) actually was approached by a bodybuilding trainer at Golds to work with him to represent Gold's gym. . . wow that was a shocker. . never thought I still had it in me. . . HOWEVER, 5-6 hours a day workout sessions, plus working full time and being a wife (hubbie thinks it would be cool! of course he would :P ) . . . don't know about that one though. . . was nice to be approached, Good ego booster! but if you have the time, go for it, every bit counts!!! Good luck

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I don't see why not. serious Body builders regularly undergo crash diets to reduce their total body fat % for competitions without managing to lose muscle mass.

Not that I"d recommend that, it's not healthy. Still, I'm sure it's possible.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I was a former college football player, and I got sleeved after a player I know had bypass two years ago. He's in the best physical shape of his life, and hits the gym all the time. We were the same weight at surgery time so I'm hoping for the same results. I'm still two weeks out from being able to hit a weight room again.

We could both dunk at 300 lbs (at 18 and 20 years old), and now he's 30 and 195 and not only can he dunk again, he can show up 18-19 year olds with his ability to jump.

In short..., you can have the muscle mass you want to have, and be as athletic as you want to be.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I was a former college football player, and I got sleeved after a player I know had bypass two years ago. He's in the best physical shape of his life, and hits the gym all the time. We were the same weight at surgery time so I'm hoping for the same results. I'm still two weeks out from being able to hit a weight room again.

We could both dunk at 300 lbs (at 18 and 20 years old), and now he's 30 and 195 and not only can he dunk again, he can show up 18-19 year olds with his ability to jump.

In short..., you can have the muscle mass you want to have, and be as athletic as you want to be.

Thanks for sharing that. I've been back on the weights for about 3 weeks now and am seeing improvements. I was initially discouraged because my weights were down so far from where I used to be lifting. I then realized it had been a good 4 years since I did any serious lifting and I'm no spring chicken any more, gonna be 40 in October. I look forward to seeing how you progress as you get back to the weights. Good luck!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

This is a big concern of mine. I am 4 days out from surgery and my biggest concern is losing too much weight. I work out regulalry and have good muscle mass but do not want to lose it all with the unwanted fat. My goal is to begin lifting as within the first 45 days so I can use the fat burining power to build the muscle. Anyone seen any good results lifting after to avoid the super skinny look?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I was sleeved Aug. 27th of this year. I started walking and using the elliptical the first week after surgery and started to lift a few days a week . Sometime in the middle of Oct. I did the bod pod at my gym towards the end of Sept. because I wanted to keep track body fat percentage and muscle mass. I was really worried about losing muscle. Last week I did the bod pod again and lost a total of 43 pounds in 9 weeks(total of 95 pounds down since surgery). The cool thing was that I gained 13 pounds of lean body mass! According to the bod pod results I lost over 50 pound of fat. Although I have no plans to body build I still want to keep lean muscle.

Sent from my iPhone using VST

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

This is a big concern of mine. I am 4 days out from surgery and my biggest concern is losing too much weight. I work out regulalry and have good muscle mass but do not want to lose it all with the unwanted fat. My goal is to begin lifting as within the first 45 days so I can use the fat burining power to build the muscle. Anyone seen any good results lifting after to avoid the super skinny look?

We got a member here, Aroundhky, he's done great with lifting and putting on the muscle. Search him out. You're going to lose some muscle initially. It's inevitable with the restricted calories and lack of lifting during recovery. But it will be easier to get it back since you already had it. My upper body strength is not what it used to be, and when I tried to workout heavy I ended up with a damaged rotator cuff which I am in PT for now. But my core and leg strength is there, and my quads look ridiculous. Like a couple of oak trees, and all the while my focus has been more on cardio and fitness than strength training.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I was always able to gain muscle when my caloric diet was 1200 I was losing weight and getting bigger and stronger so there should be no problem keeping or gaining muscle now

Plus when your body gets smaller your muscles will look huge.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

It's possible to build muscle with limited calories, but I've found it to be quite tricky, but do-able. For me, it's all about timing and type of nutrition on days that I lift (more Protein, more complex carbs and less fat). Days I don't lift, very little carbs, but I up my fat intake slightly and keep Protein about the same. The first few months after surgery is really hard to build muscle, if not impossible, at least for me anyway. I was able to maintain the muscle some after the first month and a half after surgery. Then around the 3+ month mark I can tell I started gaining strength/muscle again while slowly shedding fat.

Thanks for the props "Butter". I don't have it all figured out yet, but I'm making some progress and figuring a few things out about muscle/strength while on limited calories. Hope your lifting is going well!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I was always able to gain muscle when my caloric diet was 1200 I was losing weight and getting bigger and stronger so there should be no problem keeping or gaining muscle now

Plus when your body gets smaller your muscles will look huge.

Tattoo, do you play slow pitch? I used to live at the ball park 7 days a week. And lived on ball park food too. Not good. League ball every night and tourneys every weekend for about 20 years till I tore my ACL. It took about a year before I could play again and by then I didn't want to. But I'm thinking I'm gonna start back up again as soon as I'm old enough for the 50-over league.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • LeighaTR

      Four days post surgery. I am sipping as fast as I can and getting NO WHERE near the goal of 60 - 80 grams of protein or the 64 oz of liquids. I just feel FULL. I don't know if it can still be the gas build up (I would think by now that would be gone) but it is a struggle to drink. And so far I have not had the nausea or spasms and don't want to wander into that territory by pushing too hard with liquids. I about passed out today as it was my most "strenuous" day. Went from second story to basement for shower and I was sure I was going to pass out. Looking back on my last few days I have had a total of less than 1000 calories. Am I just not getting enough nourishment in me? Once again a friday where I can't get ahold of the doc until Monday rolls back around so I am hoping maybe someone here has some experience on how to keep energy going. I do have fibromyalgia too and that may be where some added fatigue comes into play. How did you all fair with the goals the week after surgery?
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Doughgurl

      2 days until I fly out to San Diego to have my Bypass Surg. in Tiajuana Mexico. Not gonna lie, the nerves are starting to surface. I don't fear the surgery itself, or the fact that I'm traveling alone, but its the aftermath that I'm stressing about the most, after this 8 week wait. I'm excited to finally be here, but I am really dreading the post surgical chapter. I know its going to be tough, real tough and I think I'm just in my head to much now that the day i here. Wish me luck, Hopefully I'm one of the lucky ones, and everything goes smoothly. Cant wait to give an exciting update,. If there is anyone else have a June bypass or even a recent one, Id love to have someone to compare war stories with. Also, anyone near San Antonio Tx? See ya soon with the future me. 💜
      · 1 reply
      1. Phil Penn

        Good Luck this procedure is well worth it I am down to 249.6 lb please continue with the process..

    • LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
      · 2 replies
      1. Selina333

        I'm so happy for you! You are about to change your life. I was so glad to get the sleeve done in Dec. I didn't have feelings of regret overall. And I'm down almost 60 lbs. I do feel a little sad at restaurants. I can barely eat half a kid's meal. I get adults meals often because kid ones don't have the same offerings at times. Then I feel obligated to eat on that until it's gone and that can be days. So the restaurant thing isn't great for me. All the rest is fine by me! I love feeling full with very little. I do wish I could drink when eating. And will sip at the end. Just a strong habit to stop. But I'm working on it! You will do fine! Just keep focused on your desire to be different. Not better or worse. But different. I am happy both ways but my low back doesn't like me that heavy. So I listened (also my feet!). LOL! Update us on your journey! I'm not far from you. I'm in Houston. Good luck and I hope it all goes smoothly! Would love to see pics of the town you go to for this. I've never been there. Neat you will be traveling for this! Enjoy the journey. Take it one day at a time. Sometimes a few hours at a time. Follow all recommendations as best you can. 💗

      2. Doughgurl

        Thank you so much for your well wishes. I am hoping that everything goes easy for me as well. We don't eat out much as it is, so it wont be too bad in that department. Thankfully. Also, I hear you regarding your back and feet!! I'd like to add knees to the list. Killing me as we speak! I'm only 5' so the weight has to go. Too short to carry all this weight. Menopause really did a doosey on me. (😶lol) My daughter also lives in Houston. with her Husband and my 5 grand-littles. I grew up in Beaumont, so I know Houston well, I will be sure to keep in touch and update you on my journey. I may need some advice in the future, or just motivation. Thank You so much for reaching out, I was hoping to connect with someone in the community. I really appreciate it. 💜

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×