I am still a good way off from my overall goal weight of 215, but I am a little over 5 months post op and have met many goals so far. I am off my blood pressure medicine, off my cholesterol meds, free of joint (knee) pain, a little more energy than I had before and my strength is coming back to where it was pre-sleeve. One of my main concerns about the surgery and weight loss was my overall strength. If I had ANY real reservations about having the sleeve, it was due to my concern about a loss of muscle/strength, particularly a loss that I wouldn't be able to get back. I've lifted my whole life and have enjoyed what weightlifting (resistance training) has given back to me. It's great therapy and the testosterone rush it gives us guys for a few hours after lifting makes me feel great! I like being moderately strong (at least for my age/mileage), but I am FAR from being a "powerhouse".

Anyway, a good test of overall body strength is the deadlift. It works almost the entire body and is a good way to measure overall strength. Before my surgery I was deadlifting 450ish and I weighed around 300 pounds. Today, I hit one benchmark which is my weight on the scales. Before I got into lifting today, I weighed myself (usually do about once every week or two) and I was 252 (I'm now down 50 pounds from 292 since surgery). I know that's a bit of a slow loss compared to many people with the sleeve, but I'm totally fine with that. That slow loss has helped me maintain muscle, with the exception of the first month and a half after surgery (lost a lot of muscle/weight during that time). So next up today was my lifting session at the gym. I've been flirting with 400 on the deadlift for several weeks now. I took last week off from deadlifting since it can take quite a toll on the body and I think it helped me. I busted through that 400 plateau big time and ended up deadlifting 425 pounds today!!! It felt great and I got it up fairly easily, I think I could've seriously pushed the 450 mark today. Not bad for a guy who is 6'-3" to 6'-4" (harder for tall guys to deadlift). The main thing is, this tells me that my pre-sleeve strength is pretty much back, minus the 50 pounds of fat that I've lost. Thanks to the sleeve, Vitamins, Protein, hard work in the gym and you all on this message board!

There's been times when I haven't been happy with getting the sleeve (especially right after surgery). But I am very thankful for it now and wish I had done it 10 years ago (when I weighed 320). I feel great, I'm healthier and I'm strong again! Thanks for the sleeve and thanks for everyone on here who has had so much great insight to share in regards to the sleeve, nutrition, supplements, exercise, etc! You've all been very very helpful and I thank you! Next goal...... 215 on the scales and 450+ on that deadlift!

Congrats. Very inspirational story. Thank you for sharing.

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Congrats! That's awesome! I'm glad to hear the strength will return. That was one of my concerns, too. Prior to surgery (about 6 months before) I started working out pretty hard with weights and with a trainer. I wanted to get my body strong for the surgery. I was digging being able to lift and build muscle. One day some skinny chick at the gym saw me doing barbell skull crushers, and said, "whoah, you are my hero." My head swelled a bit. LOL. At any rate, I'm itching to get back to the gym and start lifting again. I'm only three weeks out so I have about 3 more weeks before my doctor will allow it.

Fantastic! CONGRATS! Keep up the weight lifting.

Congrats! That's awesome! I'm glad to hear the strength will return. That was one of my concerns, too. Prior to surgery (about 6 months before) I started working out pretty hard with weights and with a trainer. I wanted to get my body strong for the surgery. I was digging being able to lift and build muscle. One day some skinny chick at the gym saw me doing barbell skull crushers, and said, "whoah, you are my hero." My head swelled a bit. LOL. At any rate, I'm itching to get back to the gym and start lifting again. I'm only three weeks out so I have about 3 more weeks before my doctor will allow it.

"noexcuses"..... you will be fine if you work hard in the weightroom and adhere to nutrition guidelines for us sleevers. Skull crushers are fun....haven't done those in a while, very good for triceps. Since you mentioned those, I think I'll add them in with my dips next time. You'll notice some muscle/strength loss initially during that rapid weight loss, but try not to get too discouraged, when the weight loss slows just a bit, the muscle will come back. When your Dr gives you the go ahead, just ease back into for the first few weeks, don't want another surgery.

Thanks Dorrie, you can count on it!