Ain't as good as I once was ...

Today I finally took my horse to my parents' house.  I live upstairs in their house so I was really bringing her home.  I'd boarded her for a couple years but since I'm unemployed ...

I'm accustomed to working and playing hard.  I sling feed bags and hay bales with no problems. 

That is *before* I had major surgery.  I'm almost 6 weeks out and released to do pretty much as I please. 

I didn't think packing my stuff into the trailer would be a big deal.  Oh but it was!  I am NOT as strong as I used to be.  I nearly dropped my saddle trying to get it on the rack.  It was such a surprise.  I've taken my body for granted apparently.  It's going to take some work to get my upper body strength back.  

I think I may have strained my calf muscle making a mad dash to close the gate before she made a run for it. 

Okay vets, tell me how long it took to get your strength back?  Was it just a matter of building up lost muscle or was it just weakness from having major surgery? 

 You're cleared to lift things as heavy as a saddle, right? Just worried about you overdoing it. I'd recommend slowly ramping things up - remember you ARE recovering from major surgery! So gradually increasing your strenght training.....Little by little, you'll get there!

My saddle only weighs 35lbs or 40lbs with all the stuff with it (saddle pad, breast collar).  I feel like I've packed that thing for miles but today 30 feet was hard.  It never occured to me that something I used to do regularly would be such a struggle now. 

I was very careful about lifting and twisting and didn't seem to have any problems other than general weakness. 

Thanks for the concern and advice!

I had open surgery (8-in*****ision because my belly was so big... photo on my profile if you doubt me, LOL!), so that DOES make a difference, but it was a full 3 months before I really felt like my energy and strength level was back to where it was pre-op.  Do not underestimate the complex and physically traumatic nature of the surgery you just had... not to mention the toll such a drastic drop in calorie intake has on your body!

The good news, though, is that VERY shortly after I felt "right" again, I had lost enough weight that I was starting to notice how much less effort it took to do just plain old everyday activities (anbd therefore I felt like I had much MORE energy)!

Lora

Thanks!  Did your strength sort of come back on its own or were you working out? 

I've lost almost 50lbs from my high weight and I definitely feel it!  I don't get winded walking up the stairs anymore!  I may be ready to jump the moon at 100lbs down, lol.

Thanks!

It just came back on its own.

Because of my open surgery and the incision oozing I had afterward, I did not get clearance for anything except walking or biking until I was 10 weeks out... and even then, because of my high starting weight and the severe arthritis in my knees, I didn't do anything physical other than walking until I was several months out.  (Ironically, it was just a couple of months after I started exercising that my weight loss slowed way down (at 6 months out and down 100 pounds)!)

Lora

Pre-surgery, I hated getting feed sacks into the barn and usually had DH do it.  With every one, I would think, I'm carrying this much and more around every day and don't have to.  So after surgery, I now have lost about a feed sack and a half.  But I can still barely pick one up.  I do think I have lost muscle as well as fat.  I have worked out at Curves from the day I was released to.  I do yoga/pilates type exercises daily and lift small hand weights.  I am 62 but I still think I am weaker than I was.

However, as far as energy level goes, mine is way up.  I think getting my D3 up was part of it, and of course losing weight was a great part of it.  It will happen, give it time.  You are still early out and at 6 weeks, I couldn't do much and was still really tired.

I feel pretty good energy wise.  I don't notice any weakness anymore when I'm walking or just doing normal daily stuff.  That's why I was so suprised today at my weakness. 

I need to find me a DH to pack the heavy stuff. 

I'm glad you've got your energy back and are feeling good!  How has the weight loss effected your riding? 

I started carriage driving instead of riding back in the late 90's because of my weight, hips and knees.  I just started riding again the last few months, after 17 yrs.  It isn't pretty.  My balance is gone and strength.  I have started core exercises to help.  I have a really bad knee, which has been bad for a long time.  The weight loss has helped it but not cured it, didn't expect it to.  When the knee is bad, I don't get on but drive the ponies instead.  There are pictures of my ponies on my pictures page. 
So I'm still not riding a lot, but trying to work my way back.  And yes, being on a horse's back is heaven.

OMG!!  That mini is seriously cute!  Is the other a liver chestnut?  My mare is.  Such a weird color, her mane is tipped in caramel.  I love the carriages and clothes that are used in driving.  You look great!

I'm not brave enough to climb aboard yet.  She's green and I really don't want to fall at this point.  But having her in my backyard so to speak is heavenly.  I smell like a horse!!  Nobody but a fellow horseperson would understand why that's so awesome!!