Recovery From Major Surgery: Just Imagine If I Hadn’t Started lifting at Age 61

[Gene61]

I just had a radical prostatectomy at age 71. While it was “minimally invasive” robotic surgery it still left 5 holes in my abdomen and I was on strict instructions not to lift for 10 weeks, which was reinforced by sharp pain whoever I did try to exert myself. I lost 7 lbs over all and more muscle than that as my body fat % shot up. When I resumed lifting I gingerly put half the weight as normal on the bar and struggled with a set of 5. Yikes! When you are in your seventies you lose it so fast when you don’t/can’t use it. Thank God (and Rip) that I started lifting 10 years ago and built up a reserve of muscle and strength. If I hadn’t, instead of going through a linear progression to get back to a 250lb squat, I’d be struggling to regain normal daily functioning.

[Mark Rippetoe]

Glad to hear it, Gene. Good luck to you.