Papa's Got a Brand New Bag

[Deserve]

Originally Posted by RedWifey

i answered you but thought it might take you a while to get back to my happenin' log, so here's a heads up.

Answered in your log. Everyone likes to see post in their log.

[RedWifey]

Originally Posted by Deserve

My thinking was that I didn't want to over tax my body. If it's try to repair muscle damage are these old bones going to be able to work their hardest on making sure I can get quiet time on the toilet again.

Ask your doc before you do something crazy like miss a workout! It's gonna have to repair muscle again after surgery right? Let it get a head start.

[Deserve]

Big Boy Basics

Day 16: (Lower Body)

BB Squats: 3 x 8 @ 125 R90s (+10)
BB Deadlift: 3 x 8 @ 160 R90s (+5)
Standing Calf Raises: 3 x 8 @ 85 R60s

Comments: Pretty good work out. Managed to go up on some of the weight. I'm starting to feel it in my knees. Last time this happened I was getting my glutes into the game. I'm off today and will try to get an upper body work out tomorrow.

[Deserve]

The weight continues to improve. I'm up to 160. + or - a pound. Not bad. I should be just over 160 when I go into my surgical cut on the 23rd. I'll still be about 10 lbs from the first of the year but at least it is coming back.

[Deserve]

Big Boy Basics

Day 18 (Upper Body)

DB Bench Press: 3 x 8 @ 60EH 90s (+5)
DB Bent Row: 3 x 8 @ 40EH 90s (+5)
Standing BB Curls: 3 x 8 @ 60 60s
Tricep Press - Downs: 3 x 8 @ 100, 2 x 8 @ 110 60s

Comments: I'm an idiot. The clip board covered up part of the exercise so I did BD bench press instead of incline BP. The tricep press-down may look impressive but I did them on a difference machine than previously recorded. Overall, one more day to go with my second time through this work out. My weight is up to consistently over 160. If I try real hard I should be able to come close to 165 before my surgically induced cut and rest. Strength wise I am getting better. Chances are when I get back I'll do some sort of break in routine and then do a strength program to get it all back.

[RedLefty]

What's the recovery going to be like compared to last time? Can they do this one with a scope?

[K-Court]

Your weight gain is great, Gabe. If you can get up to 165, that would be golden. I have every expectation that your post-surgery gains will be impressive. If you can make these gains wearing a bag, what sort can you expect when you're using your own digestive system!!

[Deserve]

They can not do this one with a scope. They are basically going to cut out the old scar and go in that way.

The recovery time until I can work out again is the same at 6 weeks. They tell me that is the length of time it takes for the abdominal wall to heal. The recovery time to get functional again should be be shorter. I should be 1 week in the hospital and then one week at the house which is a week shorter than last time.

[RedLefty]

It's amazing how much faster the healing goes when there's not five pounds of pus and necrotic tissue to deal with.

[liftintexas]

man, looks solid, Gabe.

And I agree with RL - you being in great shape definitely speaks volumes here with respect to your recovery

[smittygouv]

Gabe,

Man, what an inspiring story. Your attitude and outlook on this whole situation has been nothing shy of amazing. I think it's amazing that you've stayed as optimistic as you have. It's truly courageous. This reminds me of a quote i saw recently (sorry I couldn't find they author to give credit too).

At the end of the day, courage isn't always a mighty roaring voice. Sometimes its the quiet whisper, "I will try again tomorrow".

Stay strong pal, I'm rooting for you!

[Deserve]

Originally Posted by smittygouv

Gabe,

Man, what an inspiring story. Your attitude and outlook on this whole situation has been nothing shy of amazing. I think it's amazing that you've stayed as optimistic as you have. It's truly courageous. This reminds me of a quote i saw recently (sorry I couldn't find they author to give credit too).

At the end of the day, courage isn't always a mighty roaring voice. Sometimes its the quiet whisper, "I will try again tomorrow".

Stay strong pal, I'm rooting for you!

Thank you but if you want a real inspiring story go read Greg1515's log. One day I read the whole log front to back. I got nothing done the entire morning. In 7 more weeks this ordeal will be nothing more than a story and great scar. When you lose a limb and maintain his sense of optimism even the most pessismistic will be swayed.

I guess one point out of all this I have learned is that no matter how bad you think you have it you can always find some one to insprire you.

[Deserve]

Big Boy Basics

Day 19 (Lower Body)

BB Hack Squats: 4 x 3 @ 150, 4 x 3 @ 155 (+5) 60s
Leg Curls: 3 x 3 @ 50, 5 x 3 @ 60 60s*
Standing Calf Raises: 8 x 3 @ 145

Comments: The weight on the Hack Squats is getting better. I'm about where I was in Dec of last year. Not bad. I probably could have gone up some more but I was starting to sacrifice form and was scraping up the back of my legs. I'm in the corporate gym and the equipment is a little different than what I started on. For example, the leg curls are done on my stomach. That presents and interesting set of challenges in itself but for some reason I also could do as much weight than I did on the sitting one. Overall, a work out and I left feeling good.

I am done with my second time through Big Boy Basics. I really like this program and I my body responds well. Overall I gained ~8 - 10lbs. I am noticeably bigger and much more recovered than when I started. The bench press I did I thought I was going to rip my scar out and I needed a spot on 115. Now I'm doing 25 lbs heavier with ease. The next surgery is in 12 days. There is still a lot of time to make some gains. I'm going to try and get some measurements and pics prior to the surgery.

[smittygouv]

Originally Posted by Deserve

I guess one point out of all this I have learned is that no matter how bad you think you have it you can always find some one to insprire you.

Thats for sure! If you don't mind me asking... did they ever find out what cause the diverticulitis and infection in your intestines?

[K-Court]

Congrats on finishing BBB again, Gabe. And don't underestimate yourself ... your story is indeed inspirational.

[Deserve]

Originally Posted by smittygouv

Thats for sure! If you don't mind me asking... did they ever find out what cause the diverticulitis and infection in your intestines?

The dominant theory on what causes diverticulitis is a low fiber diet. I have a hard time with that because historically I've eaten healthy. They believe it ruptured by rubbing against scar tissue in my abdomen from previous surgeries. Once it ruptured the stuff in my stomach leaked into surround tissue and the fight for life was on.

In hindsight I don't think there was one thing I could do different to avoid this except that I should have gone to the ER much quicker and gotten a second opinion.

[Deserve]

12 more days