Hiatal Hernia and Lifting?

KimINfortheWin

Provide your stats (height/weight/age/bodyfat% if you know it/etc) :
Height: 5'2
Weight: 217 lbs
Age: 39
BF%: Was 43ish, getting measured again this weekend. I've dropped 4" from my stomach since March.

What's your current gross intake of calories, on average?
Now 1600. Started off at the 1200 like most MFP noobs.

What's your current average intake of protein, carbs, and fats, in grams? (GRAMS, not percent!)
With MFP's current way of measuring, I am not entirely sure. My diary is open.
It looks like I average (I'm not so great with math!):
Protein: 100ish
Fat: 85ish
Carbs: 100ish (only from fruits/veggies)

Do you use a food scale and measure everything?
Not as well as I should. I've ordered a scale.

Do you track all of your intake, daily? (Everything?)
Yes

Do you take cheat meals or days off?
We went on a vacation in July for 2 wks. Up into Canada, where everything was fried/bread/unhealthy. I only gained 1lb from it. The following week we were still in that routine of eating out. This week's food is pretty typical of our meals generally since March 2013. I occasionally splurge on a DQ icecream or fried clamstrips meal about twice a month.

How much weight have you lost so far and over what time period?
18.5lbs since March 2013

Describe your activity (exercise and non exercise) and did you change that activity withing the last couple of months?
40hr/wk desk job
Walking 2-4 miles 4-6 times/week briskly.
Just started C25K 3x/wk for a 5k in September.
Just ordered 30DS.
Have P90X and P90X2 at home. Husband used them....debating trying that too or seeing through what I have first.

How long have you been stalled and if it is not a complete stall please be very specific as to how much you have lost over the stalled period.
Stalled: 5/5-5/31 - no weight loss at all
Stalled: 6/11-7/23 - no weight loss at all
I'm just now losing again. I stalled for a long time as I repaired my metabolism from the 1200 levels.

Are you breastfeeding?
No

Do you have thyroid issues/risks or PCOS?
Not that I am aware of.


Back in 97, I used to lift when I worked at UPS. In the gym there. I had worked up to 450lb leg presses and 120lb bench press, and 220 crunches on a slant bar. Oh, how I wish I hadn't stopped that!!! Needless to say, I had totally let myself go until March, when I had to have surgery to re-open my esophagus from my acid reflux. Along with that surgery came the news that I have a hiatal hernia.

Now that my eating is much more on track, I am looking to refine! Getting a scale because of measuring cup inaccuracies. My husband and I eat gluten-free grain-free due to it's inflammatory results. (he's bipolar and anti-inflammatory has made a 360 in him!<3) Result in me is weight loss. It's a win/win. A hard win, but a win nonetheless.

So, after all the chatter here's my question. I love the results of the heavy lifting. And I still have decent muscles in my arms/legs from my previous lifting from over a decade ago (cringes at the years). I can definitely still feel them there underneath all of the fat layers!

But I'm a little afraid of the hiatal hernia part. The gastro doctor barely spoke English, no less understanding what I'm trying to do here. But I don't have a lifting restriction. We do have a Bow-Flex XTL. It's not the same as free weights I know, and I do plan to go to free weights as soon as I can. I have to show the hubby I mean business, and start down that road. I've been prepping him with the heavy lifting request with all of the before/after photos. XD

The hernia has gone down quite a bit with my new eating habits..but I obviously do not want to make it worse. Would there be any lifts I should avoid as I get started? I also need re-trained with my form, can you recommend good websites for 5' 2"short girls?

Any other suggestions?

Thanks bunches for anyone willing to help!!

tomcornhole

Hello fellow GERD sufferer. I had GERD for over 25 yars and it finally got to the point that they thought I was getting Barrett's esophagus. And I have a hiatal hernia. It sounds like yours is more serious if you had to have surgery. I used to eat a bottle of Tums a day. Switched to Prilosec about 4 years ago and that helped some.

But now it's all under control. Must be the diet change and significant weight loss. I haven't had any reflux for a almost a year now. I do still have the hernia and if I stuff myself, I get the reflux back in spades.

But to your question, my hernia is about 3-4 cm. Not huge, but th doc called it large. I started lifting again on machines about a year ago. I am currently doing barbells at the heaviest weights I have ever lifted. So far, I haven't had any issues and no GERD.

For you, ask a doc who speaks English better if your situation would allow heavy lifting. The surgery part concerns me and should be addressed by your doc before proceeding. I hope they clear you.

I also hope that you can kick GERD butt. It ruled my life and I probably would have ended up with cancer if I didn't get it under control. I am 100% certain I fixed it with diet (mainly eating less volume and not eating late at night) and losing a lot of weight. I also don't have sleep apnea anymore. Life is good.

Tom

KimINfortheWin

Since moving to my new eating habits, I have only had to eat Tums once. Like you, I was investing in cases of it. Seriously.

It's basically gone away completely! No heart burn, no acid reflux. It was bad enough that I had to chew my foods so extremely, that if I didn't, it'd get stuck mid-esophagus. They ballooned it out. I have also not had to take the Rx anymore since about 3 weeks into the new lifestyle. Life.Is.Great in that regard.

Regular physician then? I could go ahead and start working arms/legs but wait on the dead lifts and things that make me strain my abdomen that much until I get to talk to my physician.

On a side note, got my BMI done again and its down to 38.xx%!! So excited about that!

Thanks for the feedback Tom!

Sarauk2sf

Tagging...and seconding the suggestion to discuss with a doctor that you have less of a language barrier with.

Sarauk2sf

Also, how much weight did you lose between the 2 stalls you mention, and how much have you lost since?

KimINfortheWin

Never thought I'd be putting my weight on a public forum to begin with! My husband didn't even know my weight for 10+ yrs. But...I'm sort of laying everything out on the line to get where I need to be, if that makes sense. Even if its super embarrassing! :ohwell: I also let my new weights(lose or gain) sit for about 2-3 days before I log it, to make sure its not just water, sodium, etc.

Weight 08/01/13 218.5 lbs
Weight 07/24/13 219 lbs (Vacation was 6/29-7/14)
Weight 06/11/13 221 lbs (6/23 stall broken)
Weight 06/06/13 222 lbs
Weight 06/04/13 223 lbs
Weight 06/02/13 223.5 lbs (stall broken)
Weight 05/05/13 224 lbs
Weight 04/30/13 226 lbs
Weight 04/23/13 228 lbs
Weight 04/16/13 226.5 lbs
Weight 04/09/13 228 lbs
Weight 04/08/13 228 lbs
Weight 04/01/13 232 lbs
Weight 03/25/13 237 lbs (this was my original weight)
(Here's photo links where I see the stalls better than here. http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y470/kim_pelsor/2013-08-03_2209_zpseff5af4f.png)

Around 5/27 is when I upped my calories from 1200 to 1400. Then 6/13 is when I upped to 1600. When I originally went up to 1400 calories, I went up about 5 lbs. I didn't count it because I read that was normal and it would come back down and regulate. Which it did.

KimINfortheWin

I called my regular physician. They were thrilled with my 19lb weight loss so far. Didn't see me having a problem lifting. Without an office visit too!


I have also called my Gastro office. They have not contacted me back yet. Hopefully I'll hear something back today.

Sarauk2sf

I called my regular physician. They were thrilled with my 19lb weight loss so far. Didn't see me having a problem lifting. Without an office visit too!


I have also called my Gastro office. They have not contacted me back yet. Hopefully I'll hear something back today.

That is great. Give us an update with the news from your gastro and we will then give you our suggestions.

Sarauk2sf

Locking so we can track active threads better. If you want to follow up please PM one of us, including a link to this thread, and we will open so you can..