Mean Matt McCord, SASS #24683 Posted October 27, 2012 Share Posted October 27, 2012 Most of you know about my recent cancer surgery. The recovery was pretty rough for about a month, and I was not able to eat very much. Consequently, I lost a lot of weight, including a lot of muscle mass and tone. I have been concentrating on eating a lot of foods that are high in protein and exercising, but can any of you recommend anything else that would help with building my muscle mass and tone back? Thanks in advance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dorado Posted October 27, 2012 Share Posted October 27, 2012 You might look into protein supplements. If there's a GNC or Nutritionist store nearby go talk to them. They can usually point you in the right direction. But before you go taking something, talk to your doctor and ask if it might interfere with medications and what they would suggest taking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Okie Sawbones, SASS #77381 Posted October 28, 2012 Share Posted October 28, 2012 There is no magic IMHO. It is a slow process. Reasonable exercise and diet will eventually have a positive effect. On average, most recovering people need to eat one-third (0.33) of a gram of protein per day for each pound (lb) of body weight. Consider the following example: A 200 pound person x 0.33 grams/pound = 66 grams of protein per day. This is not easy to do. Google up dietary sources, and you can add up protein sources. You have to really try to add that much protein. Best to ya, pard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-BAR #18287 Posted October 28, 2012 Share Posted October 28, 2012 Weight lifting training is the best way to increase muscle mass. You could eat a 100% protein diet (NOT recommended) and still add fat to your frame if you do not use up all the calories because your liver is happy to convert any unused calories to fat for storage. What you experienced is loss of muscle mass because the liver prefers to convert muscle protein into amino acids as a source of metabolic energy during a period when the body is not taking in enough calories. It is easier, biochemically speaking, for the liver to make energy out of muscles than to mobilize body fat stores. We have evolved a metabolic system for keeping fat in reserve as a last ditch effort to avoid starving to death. You lost some of your fat weight too, but not as much as your muscles. So if you just eat excess calories at this stage of the game, whether they come from carbohydrates, proteins, or fats, you will be adding fat to your body, not muscle. Get on a good balanced diet, eat like mom told you to, and do some regular aerobic exercise with some weight lifting training. Walking, jogging gets the legs muscles growing, as well as being beneficial for your heart. (You lost a bit of heart muscle, too.) Be patient. In a year you will be pleased. Congratulations on surviving!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Sage, SASS #49891 Life Posted October 28, 2012 Share Posted October 28, 2012 Great advice! I am not a doc but am a cancer survivor. Had Colorectal Ca that spread to my rt Lung 1 year after surgery, rad & chemo. More surgery and chemo. Chemotherapy is really nasty stuff. It seemed to stay in my system for months effecting taste and smell. Made it difficult to eat for awhile. It's been 17 years and I am still doing well. Best advice is follow your Dr's recommendations, excersize & eat well and most of all be positive and try to get back to your normal activities. I never thought that my Cancer was going to eventually get me even tho I was told I had a 1 in 10 chance to live 5 years. Have faith Pard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
San Fernando Slim, SASS #20521 Posted October 29, 2012 Share Posted October 29, 2012 Follow the Doctor's advice. We want you around for a long, long time. SFS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brother King, SASS #69031 Posted October 29, 2012 Share Posted October 29, 2012 I don't know how old you are, but if you're over 40 then I highly recommend that you visit with your doctor about bioidentical hormone therapy couple with your weight lifting and cardio exercise. All the other advice is good advice, but too often folks overlook the undeniable fact that as we age our ability to produce hormones in the right combination becomes impaired as well. Your doctor may refer you to an anti-aging specialist. Yes, you can exercise, no you won't become Barry Bonds, but then you weren't that worried about a MLB Hall of Fame award, were you? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Okie Sawbones, SASS #77381 Posted October 29, 2012 Share Posted October 29, 2012 Far too often docs are focused on the disease, and they forget to use ancillary resources to their fullest. Nutritionists and physical therapists and pharmacists and nurses all make up part of the necessary team to get the job done with cancer patients. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bad Hand Posted October 29, 2012 Share Posted October 29, 2012 During my recovery I found swimming to be the best (for me)overall exercise. Little stress or impact on the joints, almost all muscles involved. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Shoer 27979 Posted October 29, 2012 Share Posted October 29, 2012 During my recovery I found swimming to be the best (for me)overall exercise. Little stress or impact on the joints, almost all muscles involved. I swim like a rock. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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