Topic: how much and what kind of exercise do ya do?
randibear
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 11290
posted
i have to exercise at least 30 minutes three times a week. this will help with my jenny craig diet plus get the ole system going.
i have a gazelle which i use because of a torn cruciate ligment in my left knee. i just can't get the hang of that nordic track, too uncoordinated i guess.
hubbie wants to start walking every morning also.
i don't want to overdue but am going to go slow.
so what kind of exercise are ya'll doing?
if it raises your body temperature will you herx? sounds strange, but makes sense to me.
-------------------- do not look back when the only course is forward Posts: 12262 | From texas | Registered: Mar 2007
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lymebytes
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 11830
posted
Hi, Gazelle's are great, low impact and I use mine for stretching my leg muscles. Funny you can get the hang of that and not a Nordic track, my husband was just the oppposite, no problem on the NT but the Gazelle was a challenge.
I walk on the treadmill. I walk at a fairly fast pace, almost a jog and sometimes I do jog for short periods, then cut back to a brisk walk, but I always start slow and work my way up and try to do 20 minutes.
I have noticed breaking a sweat makes me feel better. I have anazlyzed this and believe, breaking a sweat is a good way to detox, get warmth and oxygen inside the body.
My legs began to hurt recently so I had to cut back some, but I really try to break a sweat daily, I think it is the best detox there is.
I have noticed like many, it hasn't helped budge my weight gain issue though.
posted
My three main areas of exercise are Pilates, Dressage (horseback), and at the Gym I do: exercise bike (no hills - for my knees), and the eliptical machine. Then some weight machines for upper and lower body.
Pilates is great for breathing and strengthing your core in addition to other muscle groups.
I like to sweat when I workout. Sometimes in Pilates I only just break a sweat even though it is very strenuous to me.
Dressage is difficult and a whole other story in terms of muscles and coordination (never mind brushing and tacking up the horse!).
I do all of this with a PICC line, too. Just careful with that arm...
Robin
Posts: 276 | From Maryland | Registered: Dec 2006
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posted
I walk on a treadmill on my lunch break at work for about 25 minutes 4-5 days a week. (At a moderate to brisk pace.)
I also do some physical therapy exercises (upper body) which I supplement with a few extra upper body exercises 3 times a week.
I do a lower body workout 2 times per week.
I'm trying to incorporate stretching at least 3 times per week.
I bounce for about 5 minutes on a rebounder nearly every day, which serves as a kind of warmup for my workouts or some stretching.
I also have an elliptical at home, but haven't really had the energy to use it much lately.
I have oodles and oodles of home workout videos, but also haven't felt like doing them for several months, so I just do what I can for as long as I can without overdoing it.
Posts: 83 | From us | Registered: Nov 2006
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posted
I forgot to mention that I try to exercise 3 times per week. But, lately I can sometimes only do 2 times per week.
I think I try to do too much at a time sometimes. But, I usually feel good while I am doing it. It is the recovery time that gets affected.
I'm have been researching rebounders, too. It seems you really have to buy a good one in order not to hurt your back and knees. I have been looking at the Cellerciser and the Belliton Rebounder (a bungee rebounder). Haven't purchased one yet.
Robin
Posts: 276 | From Maryland | Registered: Dec 2006
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posted
Robin - Yes, I think the cheaper rebounders have a stiffer bounce which can be hard on already sore joints.
I have one of the Urban Rebouders, which is at the lower end of the higher priced rebounders...it has a stiffer bounce than some of the others I've seen.
Posts: 83 | From us | Registered: Nov 2006
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posted
Before getting sick I would run 25miles a week, plus 2-3 days of weight lifting. NOW, I try to walk around the block once a day. Heavy cardio is out for me. I think Babesia messed up my
lungs. When I am physically active I start coughing and heart rate goes way up. I do think it is important to try and do something whatever
it may be. Exercise is good for our mental well being too.
Posts: 323 | From Michigan | Registered: Sep 2006
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5dana8
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7935
posted
At present I am in my summer slump ~ light house cleaning, shopping & if I am lucky short walks in the evening with my dogs. That's about all my body will allow me to do till fall.
-------------------- 5dana8 Posts: 4432 | From some where over the rainbow | Registered: Sep 2005
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Aniek
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5374
posted
Dr. B's guidelines warn against cardio exercise in the beginning stages of treating Lyme. I discovered that I was getting light headed, dizzy and motor tics when I did cardio exercise.
I do yoga. I do flow/vinyasa which has some cardio because you move throughout the practice, but it's not like doing aerobics or running. I find it very helpful because it both stretches and strengthens the muscles.
When I can, I do 4 times a week, but my schedule these days keeps me to 2 times a week.
Start slow. Don't expect to be in the same shape as you were before Lyme. And allow yourself the post-exercise rest you need. For some people, that rest needs to be for a couple days.
-------------------- "When there is pain, there are no words." - Toni Morrison Posts: 4711 | From Washington, DC | Registered: Mar 2004
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mojo
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9309
posted
My Lyme Dr. likes me to work out with light weights. I do upper and lower body work with 4 and 5 lb weights and also do some ab work. I am getting my muscle tone back (I was an avid exerciser before I got real sick) and it feels good. Mostly, I get in about 2 workouts per week but I try for 3.
I also try to walk as much as I can.
Posts: 1761 | From USA | Registered: May 2006
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Andie333
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7370
posted
Before I got too sick (and before I was dx), I was walking three miles at a time several days a week and swimming a mile the other days.
For the first year I was in treatment, I couldn't take any exercise at all. I had a LOT of pain in my hip and knee, and it just didn't work for me.
But then I started walking again...slowly. I'm now up to about a mile at a time several days a week. I'm also anxious to start tai chi and weights to get some strength back.
Andie
Posts: 2549 | From never never land | Registered: May 2005
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posted
I recently was able to add 20 minutes of cardio on the elliptical on some days. Dr. B says to eliminate cardio if your stamina doesn't allow for it ... I'm able to do it about half of my workouts.
I lift weights (mostly free weights) four days per week. Two upper body days, two lower body days.
I did this workout before getting sick ... but I used to do 40 minutes of hard cardio with it.
-------------------- sixgoofykids.blogspot.com Posts: 13449 | From Ohio | Registered: Feb 2007
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posted
Yoga (yin, restorative, accu), rebounding, walking and jogging.
Can't wait to start weight lifting again!
Posts: 925 | From California | Registered: Sep 2004
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lymednva
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9098
posted
I am exercise intolerant, as I'm sure many others here are. Just making it through the day is more than enough exercise for me at this time.
Yesterday I went car shopping with my son. I spent a lot of time in the showroom , waiting for him to return with a car and then I would go in it for the test drive. I have to avoid walking too far, use electric arts to shop, etc.
For many of us real exercise is totally out of the question at this time.
I tried 2 minutes on a recumbent bike, at the lowest setting and it was way too much for me. I almost had to stop half way through.
I believe that when my treatment has progressed further I will be able to exercise, but that time is not now. It's only been a year, and I've been ill for over 40!
-------------------- Lymednva Posts: 2407 | From over the river and through the woods | Registered: Apr 2006
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CaliforniaLyme
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 7136
posted
I have been basically back to normal for 6+ years while on maintenance abx-
I run 8 flights of stairs 3 times a week 2-3 times in a row
and go for long daily walks
and hike when I can!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
-------------------- There is no wealth but life. -John Ruskin
All truth goes through 3 stages: first it is ridiculed: then it is violently opposed: finally it is accepted as self evident. - Schopenhauer Posts: 5639 | From Aptos CA USA | Registered: Apr 2005
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CaliforniaLyme
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 7136
posted
p.s. and I STILL have "baby tummy" from my now 2 and something year old!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
*SIGH*
-------------------- There is no wealth but life. -John Ruskin
All truth goes through 3 stages: first it is ridiculed: then it is violently opposed: finally it is accepted as self evident. - Schopenhauer Posts: 5639 | From Aptos CA USA | Registered: Apr 2005
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beachcomber
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5320
posted
Daily yoga for me. Run, cycle or swim whenever I feel like I can, about 3x a week. Weights.
But, it is all relative. A once 16 mile cycle is now a 4 miler. A once 1 mile swim is now 1/4 mile. My running was never very good so, I'm happy with the 20 minutes I can manage now. Yoga has been my constant, even when I had a PICC and could barely get off the couch for weeks at a time.
One thing I do is to wear a HR monitor, per my MD. It helps to regulate me because I pay better attention to what my body is capable of.
CALyme: What is your maintenance Rx and dose? Am not trying to hijack this thread, am simply curious as I am working toward that goal.
Posts: 1452 | Registered: Feb 2004
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posted
I think I should clarify my exercise journey. When first diagnosed with Lyme, I couldn't exercise without being thrown into incredible pain and stiffness.
So, I went to a physical therapist. He found some bones out of place (chiropractor missed)and helped stretch nerves, etc. Started me on slow exercises and stretching. With his support (3 times a week for months, and then 2 times a week, then 1 time a week when I finally joined a gym), I was able to slowly, slowly start exercising again (I started ABX about 3 months into physical therapy).
I think I went to him for 9 months straight and made it the highest priority for me. Get my body back. Had to go back a few times after and I still see a chiropractor every 3 weeks (was once per week) and massage every 2 weeks or so.
In other words, it was hard work and I had to have alot of support around it, but I am exercising again! After about 4-5 months on ABX, I had enough energy to horseback ride again. Started slowly, build myself up. Takes time.
The turning point for me was the physical therapist. He is very knowledgable in sports therapy and good. Not all are good.
So, for those of you who can do very little. Don't give up! And get support if you need it!
Robin
Posts: 276 | From Maryland | Registered: Dec 2006
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