Hormone therapy: weight gain, muscle loss, bone density, fatigue &exercise?

I've only been on hormone therapy for a couple of weeks but I'm not
taking any chances and exercising more than I've ever done in my life
to stave off possible side effects such as listed in the subject
heading.
Daily treadmill and weight lifting 30 minutes every day.
I used to go to a gym for the last three years but only once a
week...so this regimen is 7 times more vigorous.
I take a fancy calcium supplement every day too.
So, my question is, will this be enough to neutralize the weight gain,
fat stomach and muscle loss usually predicted?
Can I possibly surpass the negative effects and actually bulk up a
little?
Will the exercise and calcium be enough to prevent osteoporosis?
I'm not overweight and in pretty good overall condition....oh, and 60
yrs old.

"skeptic" <ribrass@aol.com> wrote in message
news:d5d61a91-9803-4fb4-b23c-f09261de6be3@f63g2000hsf.googlegroups.com...
> I've only been on hormone therapy for a couple of weeks but I'm not
> taking any chances and exercising more than I've ever done in my life
> to stave off possible side effects such as listed in the subject
> heading.
> Daily treadmill and weight lifting 30 minutes every day.
> I used to go to a gym for the last three years but only once a
> week...so this regimen is 7 times more vigorous.
> I take a fancy calcium supplement every day too.
> So, my question is, will this be enough to neutralize the weight gain,
> fat stomach and muscle loss usually predicted?
> Can I possibly surpass the negative effects and actually bulk up a
> little?
> Will the exercise and calcium be enough to prevent osteoporosis?
> I'm not overweight and in pretty good overall condition....oh, and 60
> yrs old.

You're doing the right thing skeptic.

I don't know whether you'll be able to maintain your condition as well
under ADT as without. However, I do believe you'll do vastly better
than you would without exercise and diet.

I only had two Lupron injections (a one month and a three month)
and I underwent radiation during about 6-7 weeks of that time. So
my experience may not be relevant. However for what it's worth:

1. I did lose energy. My running fell from 4 miles to 1 mile at a time,
and slower too.

2. I did not gain any weight.

3. I was not depressed or more emotional during the period.

I don't know how much of the running loss was due to ADT and
how much to radiation. I suspected ADT more, but people who
have radiation without ADT also report significant energy problems.

Alan

skeptic wrote:
> I've only been on hormone therapy for a couple of weeks but I'm not
> taking any chances and exercising more than I've ever done in my life
> to stave off possible side effects such as listed in the subject
> heading.
> Daily treadmill and weight lifting 30 minutes every day.
> I used to go to a gym for the last three years but only once a
> week...so this regimen is 7 times more vigorous.
> I take a fancy calcium supplement every day too.
> So, my question is, will this be enough to neutralize the weight gain,
> fat stomach and muscle loss usually predicted?
> Can I possibly surpass the negative effects and actually bulk up a
> little?
> Will the exercise and calcium be enough to prevent osteoporosis?
> I'm not overweight and in pretty good overall condition....oh, and 60
> yrs old.

The real question is, "Can you keep it up once the flare quits and your
testosterone nosedives?" And may we presume you know not to work any
given major muscle hard more often than once every 2-3 days? And did you
take a baseline bone density reading so you and your doctor will KNOW
whether it starts to drop?

I.P.

On Apr 27, 12:01 am, "Alan Meyer" <amey...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> "skeptic" <ribr...@aol.com> wrote in message
>
> news:d5d61a91-9803-4fb4-b23c-f09261de6be3@f63g2000hsf.googlegroups.com...
>
> > I've only been on hormone therapy for a couple of weeks but I'm not
> > taking any chances and exercising more than I've ever done in my life
> > to stave off possible side effects such as listed in the subject
> > heading.
> > Daily treadmill and weight lifting 30 minutes every day.
> > I used to go to a gym for the last three years but only once a
> > week...so this regimen is 7 times more vigorous.
> > I take a fancy calcium supplement every day too.
> > So, my question is, will this be enough to neutralize the weight gain,
> > fat stomach and muscle loss usually predicted?
> > Can I possibly surpass the negative effects and actually bulk up a
> > little?
> > Will the exercise and calcium be enough to prevent osteoporosis?
> > I'm not overweight and in pretty good overall condition....oh, and 60
> > yrs old.
>
> You're doing the right thing skeptic.
>
> I don't know whether you'll be able to maintain your condition as well
>
> My experience over 20 months was that my weight lifts and reps were un affected, but did not improve. Stamina by cycling was notably decreased. General strength was not affected as judged by normal activities. Greatest bone loss is often in first year of ADT and mine was significant even with exercise, calcium supplements and Vit D added. Others report different results. My age was 59-60. Emotional changes were no more noticeable than that added by diagnosis. Depression improved as awareness of disease improved. No hot flushes. Memory and cognition unaffected and I even asked wife to report changes and she said none. Low fat diet was a factor in weight stability.
> 1. I did lose energy. My running fell from 4 miles to 1 mile at a time,
> and slower too.
>
> 2. I did not gain any weight.
>
> 3. I was not depressed or more emotional during the period.
>
> I don't know how much of the running loss was due to ADT and
> how much to radiation. I suspected ADT more, but people who
> have radiation without ADT also report significant energy problems.
>
> Alan

> My experience over 20 months was that my weight lifts and reps were un affected, but did not improve. Stamina by cycling was notably decreased. General strength was not affected as judged by normal activities. Greatest bone loss is often in first year of ADT and mine was significant even with exercise, calcium supplements and Vit D added. Others report different results. My age was 59-60. Emotional changes were no more noticeable than that added by diagnosis. Depression improved as awareness of disease improved. No hot flushes. Memory and cognition unaffected and I even asked wife to report changes and she said none. Low fat diet was a factor in weight stability.

On Apr 26, 11:44 pm, skeptic <ribr...@aol.com> wrote:
> I've only been on hormone therapy for a couple of weeks but I'm not
> taking any chances and exercising more than I've ever done in my life
> to stave off possible side effects such as listed in the subject
> heading.
> Daily treadmill and weight lifting 30 minutes every day.
> I used to go to a gym for the last three years but only once a
> week...so this regimen is 7 times more vigorous.
> I take a fancy calcium supplement every day too.
> So, my question is, will this be enough to neutralize the weight gain,
> fat stomach and muscle loss usually predicted?
> Can I possibly surpass the negative effects and actually bulk up a
> little?
> Will the exercise and calcium be enough to prevent osteoporosis?
> I'm not overweight and in pretty good overall condition....oh, and 60
> yrs old.

That is an excellent start. Others that exercise religiously have
found they were down to 60% of previous ability. It is the weight
bearing exercise that keeps bones strong including walking.

The heavier side effects of HT kick in after 2 months, gets worse
after 18 months. Energy get-up-and-go levels drop and I wanted to eat
more causing the weight gain.

A bone mineral density test is needed to determine current bone
condition as loss of testosterone causes loss of estrogen, which is
what is needed to build bone. More important than fancy calcium, a
generous intake of vitamin D is more important.
Lud