I had a small hetnis repare. I was out for 6 weeks. I got the green light and ran to the gym. My body told me to slow the f down very quickly.
Out of curiosity, how long until you felt back to normal?
It’s an elective surgery, so thankfully no condolences needed. You’re right, and that’s encouraging, thank you.
This is what scares me!
1 Like
While I was recovering from ACL surgery, I spent a lot of time flexing my leg muscle as hard as I could and visualizing squatting. I came back fast.
No idea if that did anything, but, psychologically, it’s nice to have SOMETHING to do rather than nothing.
Like, I use Alpha Male from BioTest. Dudes I respect vouched for it. Even if it did NOTHING: the sheer ritual of taking it first thing in the morning assuages me that I am doing SOMETHING to help myself.
2 Likes
Dang I can’t remember. Will have to check my log!
I think after 2 weeks I started super light, with a steady ramp to normal weights at around the 8 week mark.
There’s some pretty compelling research that shows that it does
As a solipsist, I never really care for research.
Nothing wrong with a good rant!
You’re in this for the long haul, so a few weeks off won’t hurt. All the best with the surgery. Confident you’ll be back in no time!
I really appreciate everyone’s input. Many anecdotes I’ve read report being able to lift weights after only two weeks so long as one listens to their body, so I’ll probably be okay. The few people who say they couldn’t lift heavy until months afterwards scare me. This is why the Internet is both good and terrible
It’s ultimately something I have to accept if I’m going through with this. I didn’t hound the doctor with many detailed questions (yet), but I did say that I lift when asked if I exercise. He seemed confident about it being 2-3 weeks, though he doctor probably did not imagine 200+ pounds.
Aside from taking care of myself and busying myself with walking, running (maybe), and whatever exercises don’t risk a Valsava maneuver, there’s not much I can do for myself physically. I’ll probably be in too much pain for the first week to feel bad about not doing anything vigorous. Again, really giving it my all for the rest of Deep Water so hopefully I absolutely need to rest. I need to focus on that.
This is interesting. I would have never considered visualization but worth trying for sure, even to simply ease my qualms because I will probably think I am losing more than I actually will.
I’ll check out your log later, thanks! I sure hope it doesn’t take me eight weeks. Maybe your procedure was more invasive (you don’t need to comment on that). Regardless, it (unsurprisingly) doesn’t look like that time has held you back, which is reassuring anyway.
Thank you, sometimes you need honest reality checks. It helps to write word vomit about it, especially because I don’t know anyone else who would understand how antsy I will get 
4 Likes
Everything on the interwebs ends in a terrible agonizing death. Or is cured by boingo berries, which you can get by clicking here…
1 Like
Not to get too dark, but The Internet truly is a sorry state of affairs right now. Digital independence is virtually dead.
Its ok. I’m not the brightest bulb on this subject.
My older brother is the smart one of the family on the more sophisticated tech stuff.
Edit: Out of curiosity I did Google and start down the path of reading up on The Declaration of Independence of Cyberspace, and the man that wrote it, John Perry Barlow.
Interesting stuff!
Best of luck with your surgery!
I suspect there will be plenty of physical things you can do, maybe they just won’t be very fun? As far as your repertoire goes, maybe pull-ups can return fairly quickly.
But, could calf-raises, grip work, super-long iso holds (bottom lunge position held for time) be options? Direct arm work? Seated shoulder stuff? Maybe just pushing a barbell against the bottom of a set of safety pins for shoulders might be safe?
You might not be able to program it in the same way as you would other stuff but, if you just want to do something/anything I’m optimistic you could find some ideas that still involve iron.
Thanks! It’s easy to get sucked into a mindset focused solely on training, but I’m trying to focus on the positives. I can only hope to not lose much strength and work capacity.
This is another thing, which I think Wendler emphasizes – focusing on what one can do rather than what one cannot.
I was thinking that maybe dips too
The lunge idea is interesting. I figured I would be able to do direct arm work pretty quickly, though shoulder pressing seems iffy. Maybe that and or Larsen presses if they’re light. I’ll have to see how I feel. Maybe I could buy a gripper
1 Like
I’ve read much of your log but haven’t introduced myself. My name is Zack, nice to e-meet you 
I like seeing your consistency and work ethic.
I’ve no idea what type of surgery you’re having, but due to injuries, I’ve experienced more surgeries than I ever expected. If you feel good, you may be tempted to exercise hard (dips, lunges, pull-ups, etc.) Odds are, you won’t be ready for exercises that move your torso through space for at least a couple weeks. I could be wrong, of course.
What I was instructed to do was band exercises. I did pull aparts, curls, lateral raises, triceps extensions, and even chest presses holding bands circled around my back - in short, bro workouts. Single joint exercises and arms elicit much less systemic stress than leg exercises and calisthenics while still providing a training stimulus.
Remember - a surgery is literally like a medieval battle wound. Let yourself heal, and live to lift another day (yep, recycling that line from today’s workout in my log 
)
1 Like
Yeah, I’ve been listening to all the Dave Tate’s Table Talks that feature Jim and he repeats that over and over. And, it makes a lot of sense. On my end I’m trying to live it.
If you can manage pull-ups I imagine you can manage these!
It can be humbling all on its own. Add reps at the end of the iso-hold to add some additional spice.
And if you don’t want to spend the money you could do plate pinches! I don’t recall whether or not you have a loading pin but if you do, you could use it for grip work as well.
Do you have any kettlebells? If you do (light ones), I really like them for wrist curls. Also an avenue where iso-holds can create a really good muscle pump.
1 Like
Hey sorry to hear this. If you have questions that I may be able to answer, I can give you my email
1 Like
12/22
Pullups 10,8,7
Deep Water Beginner W2D4
Bench 85x10,10,9 4 min rest
Close grip bench 72.5x3x10
Seated press 45x3x10
Dips 10,9,7
Pushups 6,5,6
5x20 band pull aparts
Carried 70# bag as far as possible in 15 mins. A little over a half mile I think. Now going to get my booster.
Edit: Damn, I forgot about the ab work. Doing that tonight or tomorrow.
8 Likes
What carry position? Various?
Hey Zack, thanks for the words. From what I’ve read it seems like you’ve been through the wringer compared to me. Off topic, but I also appreciate your hiking thread in the off-topic category. I love hiking but don’t get to do it super often.
It’s an abdominal surgery, so pretty much not what any lifter wants. I know I’ll be 100% fine mentally to take it easy for two weeks, maybe even three. I expect to be in pain for the first week anyway. Of course, I only fear returning much weaker and the effects lingering for far more than one month.
Haha, yes, I think I will probably become a gym bro for a little while. Realistically, my upper body strength shouldn’t suffer too much.
Yes, I have to remember I’m still young and have plenty of years left to train… even if I’m starting to feel older. I reacted emotionally to the pandemic shutdown early last year, and in a way I am also emotionally reacting to this, even though it’s in my control. I’m not necessarily proud of that, but so it goes.
I’m happy that the podcast has returned. Last weekend I listened to a more recent episode on mental health and the weightroom, and it was great. The older ones featuring Jim and Matt Rhodes are cool, too.
No loading pin, but I have an adjustable kettlebell. Who knows, maybe all the bro work I intend to do will help more than I think.
No need for condolences! I’m more or less choosing to have this surgery – actually just paid for part of it right now. I guess by doing so, I’m accepting that I want to deal with the training consequences more than I want to postpone it. Have you had a similar surgery before? I know you work in the medical field, but I don’t want to swarm you with irrelevant questions. And all in all, whatever happens, happens (kind of).
Bear hug carry. I should definitely branch out in the future though.
2 Likes
I’ve tried bear hug and each shoulder. The reason I asked is because carrying on my left shoulder absolutely crushes the life out of me, and I wonder if such imbalances are common.