Muscle loss and muscle building

I have been taking an every-4-week injection of Lupron for 21 years. The thing with exercise is do not overdo it. Twice during these 21 years, I engaged in a week-long project that required exhausting effort and resulted in far less than desirable sleep. I lost 15 pounds during each of those projects and the weight was all muscle mass that I could not regain. Once at 175 pounds, I am now 145 pounds. The consequences are unending fatigue. Nevertheless, the benefits of exercise far outweigh the consequences. I don't think that I would be alive today without it.

Your 21 year journey gives me a lot of hope. I'm not obsessed with doing a crazy amount of lifting at the gym, but I want to maintain the strength I have.

I am 75 and have always been active. I have been on lupron for seven months and I have experienced very few side effects. However, despite weight training several times a week and cardio every other day on stepper I can not maintain any muscle tone. It has been very discouraging. Considering terminating ADT treatment at 10 months.
The good news for you is that every patient displays different side effects and hopefully you will experience only minimal muscle atrophy.

I'm 73 been working out since I was 7. On ADT for 8 months. Lost 10 lbs. of Muscle. It has leveled off since February. I have lost 40% of my strength, no big deal. I use light weights and concentrate on perfect form and slow mostly intense repetitions. Interestingly , ADT has not affected me aerobically. I bike 40-50 miles a week at a good clip.

Since you have some lifting experience, do you think I'd have any problem building muscle by going with heavier weights? How do I know which weight is right for me to lift? 8 reps until failure? 10 reps?

Terminating ADT treatment??? Isn't that a really bad move? Did you discuss other options with your doc?

Common belief is, if you can lift 12 good reps, increase the weight and go back to 8. When you can do 12 good reps with that weight, increase the weight and go back to 8...rinse and repeat...

There are certainly a lot of other methods / routines people like, such as heavy days / light days weekly routines, but, the first one has always seemed one of the easiest to get started with and do consistently. Maybe while doing that you can research other routines types.

Without Testosterone, there can be no muscle building. I'm just trying to get all the benefits of weight training without damage to joints, ETC... I think you could benefit from having a trainer for awhile . There are enumerable benefits without the muscle building.

Making gains is certainly difficult, but, I feel horrible when I don't work out for any length of time. I really think the weights / running routine is getting me through the ADT therapy.

I've, like others here, made gains in cardio for sure, I've also made VERY modest gains in lifting ability. If I'm not "building" muscle, it's helping me keep what little I have. 🙂

Stage IV Prostate Cancer. Age 69, diagnosed age 67. The treatment plan is the big 3 (Radiation, Chemo, ADT), still on hormone treatments. My recovery is more like a total rebuild. During the first six months of treatment, I was knocked for a loop and bedridden. Too weak to stand. It took about six months to walk safely around the block. Twelve months ago, I hired a wellness coach with experience working with cancer clients. My strength is coming back. Here's my routine: Think nutrition, not diet. Stretchy bands three times per week for 20 mins, swimming three times per week for 30 minutes, walking daily for 30 minutes, tia -chi three days per week. My balance, strength, and attitude have all improved dramatically.