Time off the gym.....feeling flabby :(

Hi girls :)
Feels ages since I posted something!
Hope you are all OK? Pre ops looking forward to it and post ops healing well :)
My moan today is that I feel so rubbish being off the gym :(
Ive been doing some light leg work after the OK from my surgeon but ive done no arms or abs as I haunt felt able to. Arms can wait!
Before my op I had started body building, not just weight lifting, so doing body weight squats with a yoga ball against a wall isn't really making me feel any better. I was squatting 45 kilos before, and I only weigh 48, so thats classed as strong.
I know I will make back my gains, and I know the boobs are fforever and this is not but I just feel rubbish. Anyone else feeling/felt the same?
Any advice?
Jen x

yep I had that...I countered it by doing crazy amount of reps...like I challenged myself to do 1000 body weight squats in a day....or bodyweight lunges for a kilometre!  Also try training abs by standing and lifting legs up...I found I could knee the bottom of a punchbag for example...not perfect and only really lower abs but all helps.

We've read similar posts so, so many times here Jen...

What you need to do is take a step back. 

Think about how your old boobs felt. 

Think about the reasons that made you book that first consultation. 

Think about the cost involved in paying for your surgery

Think about why you booked and how that felt once you knew all was going ahead. 

Think about the wait you've had for these boobs. Not just from the point of booking, but from when you wanted boobs in the first place. 

Think about the surgery you've just been through to get these boobs. 

Now think about 6 weeks. Yes, just 6 weeks Jen. Think about how small that time is in comparison to everything you've been through and the time you've waited for these boobs. 


Now Jen....just think about how 6 weeks is a VERY small price to pay out of your gym schedule to ensure you don't ruin all the work you paid a surgeon to do for you. 

Every time you even think about crossing the line to get back to your regime at the level you were at before getting that all clear from your surgeon, THINK Jen....is it really worth possibly ruining everything you've wanted for the sake of not waiting out that 6 week period or whatever it is your surgeon says not to use your upper body.

Think about the possibility of making aftercare void and you having to pay out of your own pocket for any damage you might do. 

Whenever those thoughts run through your head, do just think babe - it's just not worth it. 

I will warn you now too Jen, don't think it's going to be easy getting back to your pre-op fitness once you do have the all clear for upper body, it's not....it's going to take time. At first your arms are going to feel so weak and you'll have to slowly build that strength up again.

But you will do it Jen and you'll go on to more....with boobs

They're worth the wait Jen. 

I've frozen my gym membership for 6 weeks starting jan so I can't go, sometimes a break from the gym is good for you. I had a 3 week break and toned up more quickly, as cookie said when you do go back it's going to take time but it will be worth it. Plus it's winter so we're all covered up, you'll be fine when it's summer time x x

From a fellow gym bunny, I found it very hard to take the time off but thinking about it you couldn't do anything anyways, I was only just back driving at 2 weeks! So the thought of cross trainer or treadmill was out of the question! In fact I couldn't think of anything worse! 
When I did start back it was easing in gently staionary bike and some body weight squats, even sit ups at 6 weeks was a tad uncomfortable.
It's such a short time to have off the gym, trust me. My husband had a spinal op and had to have over 14 weeks off and he's into his bodybuilding! 

It is such a short time, take the time off to enjoy, relax and HEAL. Once you get back into it give it a few weeks and you'll be back to doing what you love. And muscle memory is true, your body will snap back if you feel untoned x

I'm no gym bunny, but I can't echo Cookie and Mrs B more. They're talking nothing but sense here. The fact is, you may feel ready to get straight back in it, but your body may not be. It might take some time to ease back into it. I couldn't run for at least 12wk, and even then it was tough going. 

Take it easy, and don't think about too much. You'll be back in they're before you know it.

Thanks girls!
Cookie and charlii, I did say I wouldn't be working out. I know yr only trying to be helpful but I do already know all those things.
Nobody knows how precious these boobies are as much as I do :)
Its just difficult feeling lethargic :(

I know you know, but sometimes a pep talk helps :) maybe just try and get out for a 30min walk each day, that might help combat the lethargy. Or just go with it, 'tis the season and all that sh1te!

Haha, yr right charlii :)

Jen23, how are you feeling now? I think for me this is one of my biggest worries. Im also a heavy lifter and worry about losing all the hard work but know how important the rest is for healing xx

Another worrier here! 

I've got 5 weeks till my op, so just going to try and smash it for the next 5 weeks. 
I am having a lift in Feb, then a BA in May, so I will be tearing my hair out!

But I am just going to try and not stress and just walk, walk walk everywhere. 

The weights can weight. 

I'm going to feel exactly how you do, when I have my boobs done. I lift similar weight to you, and I'm a marathon runner (if after 4 you can call yourself that!) I'm sure your body is thanking you for the rest! I'm sure mine will be :) x

Be careful about doing too much before your op as your muscles may be very tight! I don't work out so can't say for certain if that does have an impact, but I'd imagine having slightly more relaxed muscles might help post op x

I stopped working out my chest about a month prior to op in case I had unders. In the end I had overs. No idea if
It makes a difference to the op, but during my consultation he said I had tight chest muscles which was ONE of the reasons he'd try and go over. Obviously not the only reason, main one being breast tissue.

Thanks Boobies2be and mummamia for that information. It was actually a question I had written down to ask!
Since mixing to Yorkshire from Cambridgeshird 3 months ago, my fitness level has dropped quite a bit. I was hoping to keep it steady over the next few months :) 
Thank tou! X

HI Jen,

Cookie is right. Think about why you wanted your new boobs in the 1st place. I am a proper gymhead - have had a PT for years and go religiously 4 times a week.
BUT I had to have an operation on both feet at the end of November so have not been to gym to 6 weeks already now- and as you can imagine after all of the indulgence over Christmas and New Year, I am feeling heavy, wobbly, lethargic and rubbish about myself. I am even worried that when I go for surgery today the surgeon will be grossed out by the amount my body has changed since my consultations (How stupid is that - like they take any notice of that or care!!)
Now I have another 6 weeks to wait until I can back to the gym and I will be itching like crazy by then. But my partner has said basically word for word what Cookie wrote above.

 Although it makes me feel nauseous about how I will feel about myself after 3 months off training, I know that as soon as I can go back I will make up for this by getting into a good routine and building myself up. I know I will be just a shadow of my former self, but I am sure that I will definitely get back there pretty quickly .

Jen, I think we both have similar gym personalities and I know that your determination will mean that you will get straight back on that saddle and build up to your previous self within no time. Please don't try and take short cuts as you will more than likely damage yourself and put yourself back even more that 6 weeks. Hang in there chicken, surely you only have a couple more weeks to go! xxx

Hey girls,im OK!
At 8weeks PO yesterday im actually still out the gym. I will be going Back on Thursday so will see how it goes :) will be doing legs and try some abs as I still don't think im ready for biceps and haunt got the flexibility back to do triceps yet x

Well done Jen! Good luck on your first trip to the gym. Glad to hear you are taking it easy. I hope you are back up to speed soon but make sure you don't overdo it, even if it feels ok at the time... as you know it may kill you for days afterwards