Im never aloud to lift heavy again:(

[nathanmurray311]

Hi, my names Nathan. I'm 18, weigh 170, and a devoted athlete. I was on a role. Things were going good. Gym 6 days a week, run every other day. I put on 20 lbs of muscle... Then I had to get major abdomital surgery. I'm about a week away from being able to start getting in shape again, but my surgeon promised me that if I ever lifted heavy I would undo the disturbing thing she did. Now I can sulk about it or I can devote myself to mastering bodyweight exercises. I know gymnasts have pretty amazing body's and I figure why can't I do the same? Some questions though.. Can I put on Mass by just doing these movements? Can it be enough? And if it is, does anyone know of any great programs that would teach me and help get me to the point that I can succeed with just bodyweight. I refuse to let this surgery change my Fizek and I will do whatever it takes.

[Jasonk282]

'heavy' is pretty vague

[nathanmurray311]

Yes sir your right it kind of is. I'll know more when I meet with a physical therapist, but from what I gathered from the surgeon it seems Ithat could take years till I'm able to squat with as little as even 135. The same goes for all the major power lifts. So yes I still can hit the, but with the small amount of weight I'll be doing no reps will be under like 20-25. So I figure if there's a way to get what I'm looking for in just bodyweight then I mine aswell do that and put every OU cevif effort toward that. I'm sorry if I'm not making much sense.

[cjr169]

Push ups, pull ups, body weight squats, pistol squats. Kettlebell swings. Do them and do them often.

Personally I would get very a clear clarification from the doctor detailing what I can and can not do exactly, along with a timeline as to when, if possible, I can lift again.

[nathanmurray311]

Thanks for the input! I forgot about kettle bell swings. I'll be sure to ask when I get the chance. Thanks

[DCSpartan]

I hope English isnt your first language or you have bigger issues to worry about than your "Fizek"

[JustDiesel11]

definitely would ask the doctor to be safe...heavy is pretty vague...that succks tho, hope everything works out

[nathanmurray311]

Your a real help friend. Thanks for being an ass

[nathanmurray311]

Thanks man I appreciate it. I'll be sure too when I see the surgeon

[viccles007]

What type of surgery? I had most of my bowel removed and am back to normal lifting routine.

[louistan100046]

Why is it that you can do bodyweight if you can't lift weights? Advanced calisthenics require even more core strength (abdominal surgery you say?) than weights.

[Lost19]

Like others have said heavy is a vague term. Heavy to me might not be heavy to you. Many doctors in the US at least, are over cautious. They will tell you that you cant do a lot of things and keep you out longer to cover their own ass. I would bet if the doctor said you can't lift heavy, and you asked if you could do bodyweight exercises then theyd say yes. However, what if your idea of body weight exercises are flagpoles, ring dips, pull ups, muscle ups, handstands, handstand push ups, etc.? That would be just as risky if you had abdominal surgery if not more than lifting at an easy weight. Possibly look into BFR training too!

[jgreystoke]

I had Toxic Megacolon, a complication of Ulcerative Colitis.

Had my entire Colon removed to save my life. Lungs collapsed after. Life support. Had other even nastier abdominal surgery after "recovering" for months as well.

Left hospital in my forties weighing 130lbs.

Took me a year to get to 140, another to get to 150, another......

Did walking and calisthenics and Dynamic Tension to start.

Started serious strength training in my fifties:

Squat, deadlift, power clean, power snatch, press, row, incline, chin, and curl.

"Heavy" is so ridiculously vague. Unless your doctors themselves lift weights, they are probably being over-cautious. Luckily my doctors are very positive about my lifting, because they can see the transformation for themselves.

Don't be in a rush. Take your time, seriously. It took me years before I looked like I ever touched a barbell.

Do high reps for everything, starting with the empty bar. 20 reps is not ridiculous at all. When you are squatting to break parallel, and stiff leg deadlifting, every rep pulled from a dead stop on the floor, three plates(315lb) x 20 reps, with proportional strength in your presses and rows, you'll have a lot more muscle than you do now. And you can always tell your doc that you are going "light", using very high reps for everything.

I WOULD be wary of "heavy" singles, doubles, triples. I would be wary of Max Effort(90%+ of true max lift). Even when you are confident enough to use lower reps and relatively "heavy" weight, I would use a conservative "Training Max" that is only 85-90% or tested/calculated max to start on a percentage based program like 5 3 1. And would avoid real ME like the plague. Kinder to your joints(I'm an arthritic ol' fart) as well.

I would NOT just resign myself to doing calisthenics with Granny(when she is well enough to get out of bed).

Of course I do pushups, chins, hyperextensions, bodyweight squats, lunges. They won't make me awesome, but they mobilize me enough to do the barbell stuff that might:

Squat, dead, clean, press, row, curl.

Best of luck.