Lifting weights

[Bean Counter]

Had a question about how soon after surgery people were able to start lifting weights? I don't mean all out reps on bench press but looking at low weight/ high rep (15) type of exercises. It has been several years since I had a regular weight routine, but was thinking of going back to it while I ease my way back into running to help shed some of these lbs I put on.

 

[ARGreenMN]

They let me start lifting light weights (5-10 lb dumbells, 2 sets of 10-15 reps for each exercise) in cardio rehab at about 8 weeks. I'm now approaching 12 weeks, have graduated from cardio rehab, and am working out on my own at the gym. Have been slowly increasing the weights and am now up to 25 lb dumbells for curls, military pressing about 100 lbs and doing tricept pull-downs at about 50-70 lbs. I've worked my way up to benchpressing about 115 lbs (tried 145 the other day and felt a twinge in my sternum so backed off). For me, all exercises are now 3 sets, 8-15 reps.

 

[Philip B]

Weights?

Weights?

I was doing light weights with lots of reps around week four of my cardio rehab program. Keep in mind, I started my rehab program when I was two weeks post-op. They had me using some kind of big rubber band things during week three of the program.

-Philip

 

[MarkU]

I didn't go through a formal rehab program, but was allowed to go back to my gym after about 8-10 weeks. I had instructions to keep the weights light to moderate with high reps (12-15 per set). No heavy weights and no sets to failure.
When I started triathlon training about three years post op I pretty much gave up lifting altogether, but started a moderate weight/high rep program again this year at the urging of my cardiologist.
Mark

 

[prdraper1]

Weights

Weights

I started arm exercises in cardiac rehab at around 10 weeks. I also did 10 minutes rowing once a week but monitored using a heart rate monitor. After my programme finshed I exercised on my own, still do, and have weights of around 7lbs in each hand.
If I overdo it my sternum tells me as I get a dull ache which lasts 24 hours. I always wear my heart rate monitor when exercising and go to around 35% above normal.
I am now slowly increasing my presses etc. but I still ache when laying on my front. I have been checked out by a cardiac specialist, my doctor and the rehab people and nothing is wrong and I am healing well. It is six months on Thursday 29th since my op.

 

[Bean Counter]

I didn't go through a formal rehab program, but was allowed to go back to my gym after about 8-10 weeks. I had instructions to keep the weights light to moderate with high reps (12-15 per set). No heavy weights and no sets to failure.
When I started triathlon training about three years post op I pretty much gave up lifting altogether, but started a moderate weight/high rep program again this year at the urging of my cardiologist.
Mark

I was the opposite. Back in my Ironman triathlon days, I had a pretty solid weight program that I think helped. Once I made the transition to "running only" back in 2005, I gave up weights all together.

 

[hook]

No heavy weights and no sets to failure.

I think this this statement is key. I lifted heavy for about 25 years, despite advice not to. When I say heavy, I mean 6 to 10 reps to failure with about 285 on bench for example. Regardless of your total strength, cardiologist will all tell you it is bad juju to strain on your last rep. That kind of sucks since the last rep is your money rep; that is when you get your maximum muscle breakdown.

The valve specialist explained it this way, when an athlete strains with heavy weights, it increases your blood pressure to massive amounts, and can cause vascular damage, heart muscle damage, and most importantly destroy your valves. The valve at the most risk when lifting is the aortic.

I know most here want to save the ones we have left, and not destroy the nice new ones. I have asked this same question of a half dozen specialist, and they all say the same thing. DON'T DO IT!

If you would like to improve your muscle definition, use light weight with high reps, and do not blow out a testicle on the last rep. I have been using 25lb dumbbells on the bench, and had great result. I can see muscles forming under that fat layer:tongue2:

Before you know it, I will look like this guy.

Try to get that taste out of your mouth:angel:,,,, sorry about that, but we all needed a little persepctive.

 

[ARGreenMN]

Lol, thanks a lot for that visual Todd... But great advice on using lighter weights and more reps. And also great advice on not blowing out a testicle. That surgery might be even worse than OHS!

 

[Bean Counter]

Before you know it, I will look like this guy.

Try to get that taste out of your mouth:angel:,,,, sorry about that, but we all needed a little persepctive.

Where did you find that picture of me? That is why I need to get back into the weight room.

 

[kpearse]

I was into heavy weights before knowing I had a problem. Bench 300, ect... I now only work out with light dumbbells for everything. Doctor told me to keep it light. Well one day I had to see if I could still do "the heavy stuff". I put 250 on the bar and when I hit my chest I heard a ping in my chest. Scared the crap out of me! I will never do heavy again!!! I don't have to look or be as strong as the younger guys. I am trying to lose weight which I am finding hard to do. So it's walking and light weights high reps.

 

[SumoRunner]

I never did heavy weights. Max bench in recent years was ~155, 100-110 military press, 20-25 lb dumbbell curls, but always lots of reps. Being an endurance athlete, I always went for endurance workouts rather than power. Last winter I was doing 350-400 pushups 3 days a week, sets of 40-50 with 5 minutes between sets. My weight work tends to be seasonal. In summer I'm doing none of the above. I'll restart again in late fall or winter.

 

[LLJ]

Yes Ken_I agree. I was a natinal level powerlifter when I first got my diagnosis. My Doc aid "No more heavy weights!" When I asked him what exactly was heavy he gave me the number of #50. HAHAHAHAHA-at the time I could curl 50 lb in a bicep curl. Well-I took his advice and turned to endurance activity. I never lifted more than #25 on a curl and #85 pounds on the squat again. I no longer have the muscle mass-but I dare say I am alive (and I thinK I'm in MUCH better shape )

 

[ARGreenMN]

Ken, that would scare the crap outta me to hear a ping... Enough to make me never want to try anything close to 250. Of course I've never benched more than 225 (6-8 reps, 3 sets) in my life, lol, so I think I'll be ok. But seriously, I think I'll even stop short of 225 now (maybe 185 or so). I know that's plenty to tone me up, which is all I've ever really cared about. I'll just have to do more reps.

 

[LLJ]

Ping

Ping

Yes Andy just keep repeating "PING" in your head when you try to slap on another 45# plate on that bench

 

[ARGreenMN]

Will do! I felt a "twinge" the other day at 145 lbs on the bench, so backed off for now. But I hear ya, a ping would NOT be cool.

 

[kpearse]

That scared the crap out of me, believe me you DON"T want to hear that! LOL Oh, I called the Doc, he said maybe a wire broke. OK, I didn't have to know that!!!!!! Nothings sticking out.
About mass, I was all about how much I could lift. After OHS and the fact I'm 53, I just want to slim down and be toned, which is easyer said then done.

 

[hook]

Yes Andy just keep repeating "PING" in your head when you try to slap on another 45# plate on that bench

Yea, there is nothing that feeds the ego better than hearing those York 45 pounders clanking together as you hoist them up. Although, at 44 years old I am fine just fighting gravity.

 

[Shobu]

I used to do a lot of heavy weights before my first surgery. Being a tissue valve I switched to low weight high rep at the urging of my cardio. Also discovered swimming which has been a great full body workout. Actually the endurance work I was doing with swimming probably helped keep my heart in good enough shape to delay my second surgery as long as we did (due to other major stressful events going on, my cardio and surgeon wanted to wait till things were calmer to do the surgery, at which point when I came out of the ICU my cardiologist was like "well, we probably should have done the surgery about a month ago!!" :O Thanks doc) Of course, as much as I miss the serious weight lifting, I'm in better shape than I have ever been and at least before my most recent surgery was pretty toned, which my girlfriend likes better than big muscles, so hey, I guess everything does work out for the best Plus, nothing has gone "ping" which I take to be a good thing.....
Looking forward to getting back to exercise in the next month or so.....

 

[hook]

Looking forward to getting back to exercise in the next month or so.....

So, how loud is that new valve. They are suppose to be very,,,,, unnoticeable

Also, do you mind sharing what INR range they want you in.

When I work out, my St Jude vlave sounds like an angry cricket

 

[Shobu]

--The on-x is pretty quiet most of the time. Even when I'm having "heavy" beats I don't notice it too much. However at night depending on what side I'm lying on I feel like I can hear it pretty clearly, although my girlfriend says she rarely notices it, so that's a good thing. Overall, pretty happy with the noise, although I wasn't expecting it to be totally silent. I had a nurse coming by once a week to check on me (I had a IV line done for home administered antibiotics for a possible infection) and she remarked on how quiet it was relative to other valves she has heard. She didn't hear it till she used the stethoscope, so thought I had a tissue valve at first.
--As for INR, that's been a little more complicated; my surgeon says I can be around 1.5-2.0 even at this stage of post-op, although my INR has been fluctuating a bit as I have gone on and off different antibiotics (the infectious disease doc that got involved with my case has been pretty zealous about pumping me full of antibiotics, due to some fluid behind the sternum. She wanted to take a sample, the surgeon was like "no way are we sticking a needle in there" and my cardiologist thinks it's all just inflammation and is pumping me with indomethacin. Whatever is working I feel great )Anyway, the INR went from 1.5 to 5.2, and is back down to 3.7 currently. My primary care doc has been monitoring my INR and he isn't totally sure what to do till I've finished my antibiotics, so I'll let you know where I end up once things get more stable, although he is also aiming for a lower INR than what it seems like many other people report about their own levels on the forums.
Sorry, long story. My surgeon is pretty positive about the On-X and thinks that the PROACT trials are going to pan out nicely. He's fitted a number of ON-X valves and tends to keep his patients in coordination with their cardiologists at pretty low INR's (relative to other valves) and is comfortable with relatively lower INR's pretty soon post op. Personally, I'm not too worried as to whether I stay on coumadin, or plavix and aspirin; I was after the ON-X for how quiet it was supposed to be, and that is seems to be more forgiving with INR's that fluctuate on the lower side, given how much I travel and how much my diet can vary at times


--Dan.