Re: help!...Losing fat vs. muscle mass..

[Guest guest]

And hey, if the musclemen lose a significant portion of their muscle

mass -- well, there's the joy of building it back up again. The

body's amazing about such things, I think. No matter how badly out of

shape one becomes, it's always possible to undo at least a lot of the

damage! And make things a heckuva lot better...

And jay, again, I think you're right on all points. I also believe

that one's " mental toughness " and positive attitude help make the

experience easier. (NOTE: I'm not putting down ANYBODY who has a

tough ride. it can happen. But even the toughest can be made better

with a positive approach.)

That said, it's also fine to come here and vent. Other people often

really, really do not understand the frustrations that can accompany

these processes. Those of us here, do, and listen gladly, just as

other did for us.

Cammie

> I don't know *why* you guys are doing this but I do know you're

> going to need to show a bit more mental toughness to get through it.

>

> I was eating solid food on day 5 and back to work on day 13. Your

> condition must be a lot worse than mine if you need to be

> banded/wired for a long time. And if your condition is a lot worse

> than mine, you probably need the surgery more than the gym.

>

> Jay

[Guest guest]

Jay,

I have been a trainer for many years and am, aside from the training,

really fond of any physical activity I can get into. Regarding

muscles vs fat, there is something called muscle memory(the body is

an incredible thing). And while your muscles will shrink to optimize

your energy intake to expenditure mix, the strength and size are not

too far removed. SO when you do go back to the gym, you will be

quick to return to previous form, and often, because of the rest

you've allowed yourself, go beyong previous ability. And if you have

a healthy muscle tone, your body will burn fat as quickly, if not

faster than muscle (considering you stick to a good diet, ie, low in

saturated fats and other " empty " calories) So don't go canceling

your membership and stick to it, because the healthier you are when

you go in, the faster you can recover.

I am going in for upper expansion surgery in late august. I play in

a very competetive soccer league, which is going ot be in season when

I go for surgery. I hope to be back on the practice field in one

month post op, and will do my best to get there. I am not sure how

the expander appliance will effect my breathing while running for 90

minutes, but its just another challange. Like Cammie said, its all

about the attitude, and if you let it get you down, it will. Your 6

years younger than me, that means you'll have at least 4 more summers

with the smile that you want, before you get to my age. You will

have plenty of time to show off your six pack, nice smile, and get to

all the pretty girls. Good luck, God speed!

Arde

> > I don't know *why* you guys are doing this but I do know you're

> > going to need to show a bit more mental toughness to get through

it.

> >

> > I was eating solid food on day 5 and back to work on day 13.

Your

> > condition must be a lot worse than mine if you need to be

> > banded/wired for a long time. And if your condition is a lot

worse

> > than mine, you probably need the surgery more than the gym.

> >

> > Jay

[Guest guest]

The message below is for all the youngsters. Jay, I didnt mean to

implicate you in any way, I just misread the post. hehe.

ARde

> > > I don't know *why* you guys are doing this but I do know you're

> > > going to need to show a bit more mental toughness to get

through

> it.

> > >

> > > I was eating solid food on day 5 and back to work on day 13.

> Your

> > > condition must be a lot worse than mine if you need to be

> > > banded/wired for a long time. And if your condition is a lot

> worse

> > > than mine, you probably need the surgery more than the gym.

> > >

> > > Jay

[Guest guest]

Good luck with your surgery Arde -

Jay

> > > > I don't know *why* you guys are doing this but I do know

you're

> > > > going to need to show a bit more mental toughness to get

> through

> > it.

> > > >

> > > > I was eating solid food on day 5 and back to work on day

13.

> > Your

> > > > condition must be a lot worse than mine if you need to be

> > > > banded/wired for a long time. And if your condition is a

lot

> > worse

> > > > than mine, you probably need the surgery more than the gym.

> > > >

> > > > Jay

[Guest guest]

Thanks Jay!

You mentioned that you were back at work in 13 days. What procedure

did you go through? Did you have to wear any appliance?

Arde

> > > > > I don't know *why* you guys are doing this but I do know

> you're

> > > > > going to need to show a bit more mental toughness to get

> > through

> > > it.

> > > > >

> > > > > I was eating solid food on day 5 and back to work on day

> 13.

> > > Your

> > > > > condition must be a lot worse than mine if you need to be

> > > > > banded/wired for a long time. And if your condition is a

> lot

> > > worse

> > > > > than mine, you probably need the surgery more than the gym.

> > > > >

> > > > > Jay

[Guest guest]

Arde -

I had lower jaw advancement, approximately 7 mm, using the Bilateral

Sagittal Split Osteotomy (BSSO) procedure. Other than those nasty

little hooks we've been arguing about, I had to wear no other

appliances. My mouth was fixed shut with rubber bands for 5 days.

Now I have other rubber bands that allow me to speak and eat

normally. I am allowed to remove the rubber bands to eat if I

choose, otherwise I must wear them 24/7.

I convinced my ortho to remove most of the added hooks, but he

wouldn't remove them all. He says he still needs some of them.

Jay

> > > > > > I don't know *why* you guys are doing this but I do know

> > you're

> > > > > > going to need to show a bit more mental toughness to get

> > > through

> > > > it.

> > > > > >

> > > > > > I was eating solid food on day 5 and back to work on day

> > 13.

> > > > Your

> > > > > > condition must be a lot worse than mine if you need to

be

> > > > > > banded/wired for a long time. And if your condition is

a

> > lot

> > > > worse

> > > > > > than mine, you probably need the surgery more than the

gym.

> > > > > >

> > > > > > Jay

[Guest guest]

Jay,

I hope your recovery is smooth and quick. I am relieved to hear your

rapid return to work, even with the lower jaw advancement. My

procedure is not as invasive, or so I hear, so I am more optimistic

about returning to performance level quickly.

Thanks!

Arde

> > > > > > > I don't know *why* you guys are doing this but I do

know

> > > you're

> > > > > > > going to need to show a bit more mental toughness to

get

> > > > through

> > > > > it.

> > > > > > >

> > > > > > > I was eating solid food on day 5 and back to work on

day

> > > 13.

> > > > > Your

> > > > > > > condition must be a lot worse than mine if you need to

> be

> > > > > > > banded/wired for a long time. And if your condition is

> a

> > > lot

> > > > > worse

> > > > > > > than mine, you probably need the surgery more than the

> gym.

> > > > > > >

> > > > > > > Jay

[Guest guest]

That's a really good point Arde about muscle memory. I hope you're

right. I'll soon test that theory.

I too play competitive soccer and weight lift 4/5 times a week. I'm

15 days post op right now. I'm actually pleasantly surprised that I

don't seem to have lost much muscle size (yet!). It's killing me

not to be playing soccer right now. But I realize that it's better

to be safe then sorry.

I'm visiting my OS again in 3 weeks. That will be 5 weeks post op.

At that time I'll ask for the go ahead to start playing sports and

weightlifting again. In fact I may start light weightlifting before

that. But I'm not going to take the chance of catching an elbow to

the jaw in soccer.

Later,

Marco

> > > I don't know *why* you guys are doing this but I do know

you're

> > > going to need to show a bit more mental toughness to get

through

> it.

> > >

> > > I was eating solid food on day 5 and back to work on day 13.

> Your

> > > condition must be a lot worse than mine if you need to be

> > > banded/wired for a long time. And if your condition is a lot

> worse

> > > than mine, you probably need the surgery more than the gym.

> > >

> > > Jay

[Guest guest]

Jay, I'm not arguing. I wouldn't presume -- I had only those two of

the nasty things, and I didn't like them one bit, either...

If your adventure is like mine, and I had 5 mm. lower advancement

with a BSSO, you'll find that your ortho is stretching hooks from

pillar to post all around your mouth, to tighten your bite. Works,

too! It's amazing. But yep. he needed all kinds of contraptions to

anchor them. One bracket had come loose, so he actually bonded part

of an archwire to a tooth. I didn't like that, either, but I didn't

tell him so. They put one of those little Kobe wires in, I think, on

the other side. It was amazing. I lived in terror that one was gonna

bounce off at an odd angle and hit one of my bosses in the eye, but

it never happened.

Cammie

> > > > > > > I don't know *why* you guys are doing this but I do

know

> > > you're

> > > > > > > going to need to show a bit more mental toughness to

get

> > > > through

> > > > > it.

> > > > > > >

> > > > > > > I was eating solid food on day 5 and back to work on

day

> > > 13.

> > > > > Your

> > > > > > > condition must be a lot worse than mine if you need to

> be

> > > > > > > banded/wired for a long time. And if your condition is

> a

> > > lot

> > > > > worse

> > > > > > > than mine, you probably need the surgery more than the

> gym.

> > > > > > >

> > > > > > > Jay

[Guest guest]

Good luck. Thats really funny you mentioned the elbow to the face...

I said the same thing to my ortho, and he assured me that it would be

alright after 3 weeks. But then again, I am not getting the whole

kit and caboodle done on my jaws. Nothing will be detached or cut or

screwed, at least that is my hope. 4 weeks from the gym/resistance

exercise, is more like a well needed break than a atrophy inducing

hiatus. Good luck again, and stick to it!

Arde

> > > > I don't know *why* you guys are doing this but I do know

> you're

> > > > going to need to show a bit more mental toughness to get

> through

> > it.

> > > >

> > > > I was eating solid food on day 5 and back to work on day 13.

> > Your

> > > > condition must be a lot worse than mine if you need to be

> > > > banded/wired for a long time. And if your condition is a lot

> > worse

> > > > than mine, you probably need the surgery more than the gym.

> > > >

> > > > Jay

[Guest guest]

If you do go back to weights soon, remember not to clench your jaw

during the process. This, I am told, is important. Good luck!

Cammie

> > > > I don't know *why* you guys are doing this but I do know

> you're

> > > > going to need to show a bit more mental toughness to get

> through

> > it.

> > > >

> > > > I was eating solid food on day 5 and back to work on day 13.

> > Your

> > > > condition must be a lot worse than mine if you need to be

> > > > banded/wired for a long time. And if your condition is a lot

> > worse

> > > > than mine, you probably need the surgery more than the gym.

> > > >

> > > > Jay

[Guest guest]

Sounds like good advice to me Cammie. I only wish this thing could

be over with already. The wait is killing me... Argh!

> > > > > I don't know *why* you guys are doing this but I do know

> > you're

> > > > > going to need to show a bit more mental toughness to get

> > through

> > > it.

> > > > >

> > > > > I was eating solid food on day 5 and back to work on day

13.

> > > Your

> > > > > condition must be a lot worse than mine if you need to be

> > > > > banded/wired for a long time. And if your condition is a

lot

> > > worse

> > > > > than mine, you probably need the surgery more than the gym.

> > > > >

> > > > > Jay

[Guest guest]

woooh back up. What are you having done?

> > > > > I don't know *why* you guys are doing this but I do know

> > you're

> > > > > going to need to show a bit more mental toughness to get

> > through

> > > it.

> > > > >

> > > > > I was eating solid food on day 5 and back to work on day

13.

> > > Your

> > > > > condition must be a lot worse than mine if you need to be

> > > > > banded/wired for a long time. And if your condition is a

lot

> > > worse

> > > > > than mine, you probably need the surgery more than the gym.

> > > > >

> > > > > Jay