Bodybuilding and Surgery?

[invitro]

Okay, I know this will make some of the more serious surgeon-types laugh, but here goes....

I am interested in surgery (general/ortho/neuro) but also in bodybuilding. Whereas I have not competed, I have had several years of working out/dieting under my belt. Eventually I guess I will start using "pharmaceuticals" but that may change.

The question I have for all of you....is it possible to have a bodybuilder physique while residency? People have told me that it is indeed possible....a certain chief resident at Miami in ortho is purportedly HUGE. I have only met one person like this...he was in a New York ortho residency, and using steroids however. Also he was a competitive bodybuilder previously, so he might have the "muscle memory" thing going for him. Very impressive physique though....he looked awesome in scrubs with his huge shoulders/arms popping out.

As a medical student (MS2) I find it very hard to keep up the workouts AND still maintain mostly honors in classes...difficult but still doable.

Any insights or comments? I would really like to do this.

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[GobindSingh]

Invitro,

Good stuff bra.

You sound kind of like me. I want to go into a surgical field as well and am very much concerned about the ole skeletal muscles.

I think it can be done but requires commitment. 'Pharmaceuticals' certainly do help but I have never used any nor will I ever.

Diet, I think, is really important and that is something that most of us in medicine or medical school shortchange. Diet and time management are prolly the 2 most important things to maintain a high level of fitness during medical school and residency.

I'm still learning though.

 

[Skylizard]

Originally posted by invitro
...I will start using "pharmaceuticals"...

A little off topic, I think you need to be carefull about starting this for several reasons. First, some residencies drug test. Granted it is predominantly narcotic drug screening like we do on trauma patients but you may be surprised. Second, if you are using illegal drugs of any kind and in someway get discovered, as a physician, you will be up a creek without a...license. Finally, residency is difficult and takes its toll on residents and their personality. While the whole idea of "roid rage" is widely debated, you may be accused of having "roid rage". People will see you are built like a house. You may snap. It may be a situation in which a 110 pound skinny would snap. But, those around you may start to wonder and express concerns you are using illegals and psychologically unstable. As a result, your residency may use any complaint as an excuse to require drug screening. If that happens, you are up a creek without a...license.

I will give you an example. I have a peer of mine that has had a great deal of difficulty adjusting to the sleep deprivation of residency. He was falling asleep during rounds etc... No one ever said he smelled like booze or had any other excuse to suggest intoxication other then he was sleepy. The PD accused him of having an alcohol problem because he was sleepy and tried to force him into alcohol counseling! Now imagine that you are 245 pounds & 8% body fat and you loose your temper because you are a resident and fed up like all the residents before you. Some PD or nursing staff may try to assume you are using performance enhancers and suffering the "roid rage".

 

[apma77]

thanx for your 2Cents skywalker..your input is always appreciated🙄

 

[sobytalz]

Originally posted by invitro
Okay, I know this will make some of the more serious surgeon-types laugh, but here goes....

I have only met one person like this...he was in a New York ortho residency, and using steroids however. Also he was a competitive bodybuilder previously, so he might have the "muscle memory" thing going for him. Very impressive physique though....he looked awesome in scrubs with his huge shoulders/arms popping out.


dude....you are such a homo...get a freakin' life

 

[GobindSingh]

Hey there's nothing wrong with a man admiring another's man's 'yokedness'. It can be very motivational.

 

[invitro]

Okay....I agree...my statement may have sounded gay, but I was only telling the truth....the guy looked great.

Besides, I would think that the homophobes would have been weeded out by now.....just kidding.

Anyway, I appreciate the replies. As to whether or not I will actually use "pharmaceuticals" I think I will not....but seeing as how it's so widespread...it's sometimes tempting.

In all honesty, I would rather look like a "men's fitness" model than the hulks who grace the pages of "Flex". Even so, just to look like those fitness models it takes a lot of time.

In all seriousness, are there any residents who are able to workout continuosly and maintain their physique? What surgical residency (if there is one) would be conducive to this?

 

[fourthyear]

I am very worried about keeping up workouts during residency too, except I'm not really into bodybuilding - running is more my thing. I start in a couple weeks, so I have been trying to consistently work out every day the last few months, while I have time, so that maybe the habit will continue at least somewhat next year. I realize, however, that I can't keep up with a training level to be competetive. I wasn't even able to be as competetive as I'd have liked in med school, but at least I only gained 5 pounds in the whole 4 years, which isn't too bad I guess. If I can maintain this weight thru residency, I'll be happy. Your job will come first in residency and you can't leave just b/c you had a 7pm workout scheduled. So I think you can maintain yourself good shape if you make it a priority, but you won't likely be able to make it enough of a priority to be a high-level competetive bodybuilder.

The diet part is tougher. I usually lost weight on surgery rotations in med school b/c I skipped meals so much. But that's not good at all, especially for bodybuilding. Try to keep lots of protien bars on hand and, if there's a frige you have access to, maybe some sandwiches you can eat quickly if you do get a break to sit for food. This way you have snacks around that are healthy and don't eat the vending machine food or quick burgers and fries like many surgery residents resort to when they are ravenously hungry and have just 10 minutes to eat.

Some hospitals actually have workout rooms or access to workout facilities on the college campus they are affiliated with- I noticed these on interviews. You might want to look for them as you look at programs. So you can get your workout before you go home at night. And on call might even get a chance for a quick feel-good workout if you have 20 minutes of down time.

 

[fourthyear]

As far as which specialty would be more conducive to your goals, I'd say Ortho just b/c it seems that more ortho people tend to have been athletes in the past and seem to have that mentality that working out is important - so you'll be surrounded by people who will actually enjoy conversations with you about somethign you are interested in.

I know people in all surgical specialties excercise, but I think most would agree that ortho has the highest concentration of them.

 

[invitro]

Cool beans. I'm glad I'm not the only one interested in staying fit during med school/residency!

 

[Smythe 1]

Originally posted by invitro
Okay, I know this will make some of the more serious surgeon-types laugh, but here goes....

I am interested in surgery (general/ortho/neuro) but also in bodybuilding. Whereas I have not competed, I have had several years of working out/dieting under my belt. Eventually I guess I will start using "pharmaceuticals" but that may change.

The question I have for all of you....is it possible to have a bodybuilder physique while residency? People have told me that it is indeed possible....a certain chief resident at Miami in ortho is purportedly HUGE. I have only met one person like this...he was in a New York ortho residency, and using steroids however. Also he was a competitive bodybuilder previously, so he might have the "muscle memory" thing going for him. Very impressive physique though....he looked awesome in scrubs with his huge shoulders/arms popping out.

As a medical student (MS2) I find it very hard to keep up the workouts AND still maintain mostly honors in classes...difficult but still doable.

Any insights or comments? I would really like to do this.

the ego trip of being a surgeon will more than compensate for the micropenis, which means you might be able to give up bodybuilding altogether

 

[njbmd]

Originally posted by fourthyear
I am very worried about keeping up workouts during residency too, except I'm not really into bodybuilding - running is more my thing. I start in a couple weeks, so I have been trying to consistently work out every day the last few months, while I have time, so that maybe the habit will continue at least somewhat next year. I realize, however, that I can't keep up with a training level to be competetive. I wasn't even able to be as competetive as I'd have liked in med school, but at least I only gained 5 pounds in the whole 4 years, which isn't too bad I guess. If I can maintain this weight thru residency, I'll be happy. Your job will come first in residency and you can't leave just b/c you had a 7pm workout scheduled. So I think you can maintain yourself good shape if you make it a priority, but you won't likely be able to make it enough of a priority to be a high-level competetive bodybuilder.

The diet part is tougher. I usually lost weight on surgery rotations in med school b/c I skipped meals so much. But that's not good at all, especially for bodybuilding. Try to keep lots of protien bars on hand and, if there's a frige you have access to, maybe some sandwiches you can eat quickly if you do get a break to sit for food. This way you have snacks around that are healthy and don't eat the vending machine food or quick burgers and fries like many surgery residents resort to when they are ravenously hungry and have just 10 minutes to eat.

Some hospitals actually have workout rooms or access to workout facilities on the college campus they are affiliated with- I noticed these on interviews. You might want to look for them as you look at programs. So you can get your workout before you go home at night. And on call might even get a chance for a quick feel-good workout if you have 20 minutes of down time.

Hi there,

At UVa, we do have a gym on site but it is far from the main hospital. I ended up with the best of both worlds having a great fitness center complete with whirlpool open 24 hours in my condo complex.

You have and I do mean HAVE to take the time to workout. In surgery, the better your concentration and better you can handle the stress. Most of my fellow residents workout regularly and some of the ortho dudes are totally buff.

njbmd

 

[OrthoBod111]

Hey Everyone

Sorry for pulling this old thread out.
But id really like to know what happen3d to the people who were discussing this topic. Did you all get ortho residency and manage to do bodybuilding?

Any one still around with similar interests? I am looking to connect via whatsapp as a group for people interested in bodybuilding and ortho.

thanks

 

[Winged Scapula]

Hey Everyone

Sorry for pulling this old thread out.
But id really like to know what happen3d to the people who were discussing this topic. Did you all get ortho residency and manage to do bodybuilding?

Any one still around with similar interests? I am looking to connect via whatsapp as a group for people interested in bodybuilding and ortho.

thanks

With the exception of @invitro , most of them have not posted in a decade.

You can click on a user's name and it will tell you when their last post was.

 

[Bombrainiac]

If you're in a serious residency training program, you won't have time to work out like before residency, then recover from your workout, then prepare your meals and eat regularly so your don't just become catabolic, and do this consistently for 5-7 years while potentially getting married, having kids, publishing papers, going to conferences, being on call, etc, etc, etc, etc. So figure out way to work out SMARTER, not HARDER, or even at the same level you're working out now. If you are doing surgery, you HAVE to work out to stay fit -- it'll help you have the mental and physical stamina to train in surgery, so you can get the most out of residency. Taking steroids during residency is simply ******ed. You may get drug-tested, and you should ready your resident handbook. It will clearly state that you are expected NOT to engage in any illegal activity, which includes the use of prohibited substances. If you get caught, your career is done…not to mention the hormonal imbalances that you'll just be adding to if you're juicing while in residency. Start residency…you'll see what I mean.

 

[SLUser11]

If you're in a serious residency training program, you won't have time to work out like before residency, then recover from your workout, then prepare your meals and eat regularly so your don't just become catabolic, and do this consistently for 5-7 years while potentially getting married, having kids, publishing papers, going to conferences, being on call, etc, etc, etc, etc. So figure out way to work out SMARTER, not HARDER, or even at the same level you're working out now. If you are doing surgery, you HAVE to work out to stay fit -- it'll help you have the mental and physical stamina to train in surgery, so you can get the most out of residency. Taking steroids during residency is simply ******ed. You may get drug-tested, and you should ready your resident handbook. It will clearly state that you are expected NOT to engage in any illegal activity, which includes the use of prohibited substances. If you get caught, your career is done…not to mention the hormonal imbalances that you'll just be adding to if you're juicing while in residency. Start residency…you'll see what I mean.

Do you even lift, bro?!?

 

[Bombrainiac]

Do you even lift, bro?!?

Yes, I lift, run, cross train, and rock climb. But, no way that anyone has as much time to do these things as before residency. Also lifting heavy can give you a tremor. Just food for thought...

 

[Moose A Moose]

Do you even lift, bro?!?

Hahaha. Dunno if that went over his head.

The tremor mentioned is vet true.

 

[SLUser11]

Yes, I lift, run, cross train, and rock climb. But, no way that anyone has as much time to do these things as before residency. Also lifting heavy can give you a tremor. Just food for thought...

 

[ThoracicGuy]

Yes, I lift, run, cross train, and rock climb. But, no way that anyone has as much time to do these things as before residency. Also lifting heavy can give you a tremor. Just food for thought...

 

[SLUser11]

 

[Merely]

Lifting gives you tremors..?

 

[Moose A Moose]

Lifting gives you tremors..?

Very temporary.

 

[pd1112]

I know some residencies require drug tests, but I highly doubt any of them pay for mass spec for anabolics.

 

[SLUser11]

....I highly doubt any of them pay for masspec for anabolics.

If masspec is short for massive pecs, then I can answer this: The residencies will not pay you specifically for having massive pecs. However, you typically will be given an allowance of 2-3 aggressive high-fives per week from the ortho residents.

 

[blebb]

I know some residencies require drug tests, but I highly doubt any of them pay for mass spec for anabolics.

You won't be tested for anabolics. They give you the basic pre hire panel to make sure you haven't smoked weed in the past week.