Just wondering about exercise. Aside from my really bad days which are currently few (though I've just started a new abx routine so we'll see how long the feeling good lasts!), I've been walking a few miles every morning and lately have been wanting to get back to running
Up until this past March I trained for and ran marathons. Can someone tell me why this is not recommended - not the marathons, I get that as it is very demanding on the body - but just a few miles a week would make me happy. My body misses those endorphins...
I know the recommendations are for no aerobic exercise - I just don't understand why? Does walking fast count as aerobic? I do keep up with the strength training but the running always helped me keep my sanity and lately my anxiety has been getting worse and in the past running always helped and I slept better too which is another issue I am currently having trouble with.
Any info I'd appreciate.
Posted by feelfit (Member # 12770) on :
Aimee,
Dr. B's guidelines say no aerobic exercise until you are feeling better. It does run down the body, especially if it is fatigued and needing to heal.
That said, I truly understand where you are coming from. I have always believed in exercise to be beneficial. I was a runner too but became too ill to do it any longer.
If I felt well enough to run, and I do believe that our bodies tell us when we are ready, I would do it without a second thought.
As you have stated, aerobic exercise boosts mood, helps with sleep, and gets blood moving. It is shown to decrease the risk of heart disease and stroke. To reduce cholesterol.
All are major factors in maintaining and regaining health.
IF you feel ready, I would definately start slow and see how you feel. Otherwise, too much could set you back in a huge way.
This is my opinion only. I would ask your doctor if he/she feels that it is o.k. given that you are feeling capable of doing this.
Best, Feelfit
Posted by Tracy9 (Member # 7521) on :
I have recently forced myself to start walking and it is really helping me. I went from 1 mile to 2 1/2 and today did 4, which was too much,
It is helping me get fit, sleep better, feel calmer, and have more energy. I think it's been about three weeks now, and this is coming from someone who has barely left the bed for the better part of two years.
Posted by seekhelp (Member # 15067) on :
Wow, whatever I have is different than you posters. I'm strong willed, but I couldn't 'force' myself to do that w/o collapsing 1/4 mile into it.
Tracy, it blows my mind you are bed bound a lot and able to do this in a week or two or three! Impressive to say the least. Good job.
Posted by Lymeorsomething (Member # 16359) on :
I've been following a regular exercise routine...doesn't seem to hurt or help. I've been rudder amidships for the last six months. I don't know what it will take to finally slip over the hump.
I'd rather keep the body in some kind of shape. What seems to hurt me more than exercise is too much rest The more I sleep the lousier I feel Posted by lemonsnotlymes (Member # 19926) on :
I believe that walking is one of the critical things that helped me turn the corner.
I started for 15 minutes at a relatively slow pace and over the course of a couple of months my body was healing and I now go for over an hour, with a bit of a jog thrown in there. (Now, I am also have thrown in biking, lifting, and more treadmill work when I can't walk outside.)
My body craves the movement now. The sun, the air, the music, it all clears my head and gives me peace and an overwhelming sense of healing and hope.
Just remember, you do need to rest in between days. Definitely listen to your body. But IMO this disease WANTS US TO LIE DOWN! Walking definitely helps my immune system which made my bugs mad!
Posted by losferwrds (Member # 19741) on :
Dr Bs protocol when it comes to exercise I believe is no aerobic exercise if you are acutely ill and chronically fatigued,
Sweating is one of the easiest and best detox methods and the ketes don't like O2.
The only caveat is maybe if you oxgenate your blood ya force them deeper in to tissue
As usual with everything else one person says it makes you worse, one better, MAG, D, AEROBIC, does anyone have a clue???
NOPE....
I personally feel better after aerobic exersice, I am no marathon runner, I do 20-3o minutes on eliptical, take a 5-6 mile bike ride and it makes me feel good... Also 10 minures in the sauna at the gym, a good sweat is great for detox, but moderation is the key.
Posted by Aimee (Member # 20946) on :
Thanks for the replies - it makes sense to me to see that Dr. B recommends against exercise if you are acutely ill and fatigued. There are definitely days when I feel wretched and exercise is far from possible.
But those days are mercifully not every day. I personally feel better when I get some aerobic exercise in on the days I feel well. I just wanted to make sure I wasn't impeding my recovery unknowingly by walking and running as I feel able.
Praying for wellness for all!
Aimee
Posted by abp2626 (Member # 21485) on :
My LLMD told me absolutely no exercise too.
It seems so counter productive to everything I've ever known my whole life.
I've always done aerobic activity at least 1 hour a day, if not more.
I've been a big lump doing nothing for months now (I will say, I am feeling better though) and I get winded going up stairs and chasing my son around the yard.
It is embarassing. I, too, miss the endorphins and my ability to burn calories.
All that being said, if I can actually beat this disease and one day be healthy, it IS worth it.
In the meantime, I will continue to huff and puff like the little blue engine the could!
Posted by MorningSong (Member # 19989) on :
Light exercise is important, but please be very careful.
I started feeling better and was able to go for 25 minute walks. My energy was continuing to grow and I felt great. It felt so good to have energy that I went on a 40 minute walk -- then crashed and have been in recovery for the last couple of weeks. Looking forward to being able to go for light walks again (not 40 minutes).
Please be careful.
Posted by coltman (Member # 21272) on :
Generally from what I gather aerobic exercise =bad. As in least effective exercise benefits wise. It has to do with the energetic pathways used in particular type and the particular benefits exhibited.
Aerobic exercise are generally good for only one thing - oxygen use (which is very important nevertheless if you compete and your sport requires it) .For pretty much everything else (metabolism , bone strengthening , muscle building ,detox etc) anaerobic activity is preferable. -It elicits greater response and more benefit in shorter time frame.
Now personally I am still way to fatigued most of the days now to drag my *** to gym, but I plan to return ASAP, getting some energy supps/ thyroid meds which I hope will help me get over PM lethargy -then I ll get back to gym and proper training.
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
-
If infection is in a heart (or a brain) and it is over-stressed, it can become further damaged. There are also many other things going on with lyme.
Exercise takes on a different definition. We really need it, but in a different way - and depending upon where you are in recovery. Also not all lyme patients are the same. Best to consult ILADS LLMD.
----------
There are some links that will help answer you question in this thread:
A very cheesy - video that is clearly a spoof. But is shows the equipment.
You might find one for sale at Craig's List in your area.
I compared Health Waker to the Tony Little ``Gazelle'' (you can find the Gazelle at www.HSN.com ). I found the Health Walker to have many structural advantages and far better in many ways. I love mine. I just tossed the electronic stuff - no need for that timer.
There are no oil-filled gaskets or rods (as in the Gazelle). Very solid. Even finding one used, it should last forever.
I can go very slowly - or for very short times - but still get some good work for my lungs and circulation. It's actually mild fun.
I have it in my closest, just pivot out half of it, use it even with shirts hanging right behind me, and pivot it back in to rest on the back of my closet wall.
=========
Here is more detail, but the connector site is out of date.
Thank you all for your replies. I crashed hard on this new combo of abx and have not had a single thought of any kind of exercise enter my mind for the last 5 days.
I do enjoy the walking and am slowly starting to think about that again. I miss the running though and wonder if I will ever be able to do that again. I just bailed on the half marathon I had signed up for last year when I was still healthy - that brought me down.
Guess I'm still not real clear about whether it is best to walk or not - I know it makes me feel better as long as I don't over do it. It helps with my anxiety and clears my head, I also sleep better. These things make me think it is good. My LLMD just said to take it slow.
The books I have read as well as guidelines seemed to indicate that non-aerobic exercise until you are healthy is what is recommended. I suppose I can always just increase my strength training and stretching if that would be better.
Thanks again, I am learning so much!
Aimee
Posted by sutherngrl (Member # 16270) on :
I am with Seekhelp. I tried walking on my treadmill for 15 minutes and I was laid up for 8 straight days. It literally about did me in.
This is the part of LD that is confusing to me. How can some ppl walk miles and some of us can't even walk 1/4 of a mile without almost dying?
Posted by sixgoofykids (Member # 11141) on :
Walking is good.
Aerobic exercise is not when you are lacking the stamina. It takes a lot of energy for the body to heal and you want to reserve that energy for healing.
Also, forcing the endorphin rush in taxed adrenal glands is not good.
Strength training, yoga, pilates, stretching, etc. are all good and even necessary. You have to get the lymph flowing to get the toxins out. I did light strength training and stretching (wish I had known about pilates) throughout, no matter how ill I was.
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
I'm strong willed, but I couldn't 'force' myself to do that w/o collapsing 1/4 mile into it. ![[Wink]](wink.gif)