I'm doing an extreme workout routine. I feel great!

Hi everyone, it's been a while since I was here. I have taken some time away from the lupus and fibro forum to chill out and work my butt off. Literally.

I started an extreme workout regime. At home. The routines are 60-90 minutes long and include cardio, martial arts, weight lifting, yoga, etc. It's incredible. I thought I wouldn't have a hope of even getting through the first week, but I'm now on week 7 and I feel totally different.

My muscle, and deep tissue pain is virtually gone. I have energy and strength. I've lost 9 inches and 6 pounds. Dropped a pant size and down two shirt sizes. I have muscles where I didn't know they existed! My resting heart rate went from 78 down to 62. My blood pressure went from 140/90 down to 118/70. My doctor says I'll be off the bp med soon. I feel like a million bucks.

I can't mention the company that does the workout on the forum. But if you want to contact me by email, just click on my name and my addy will be there.

Never thought I'd start to see relief for my pain, but now I am. Working out is working for me!

I hope you all have a pain free day,

Ginny

Post Edited By Moderator (Sherrine) : 6/24/2009 3:32:25 PM (GMT-6)

I tried to do yoga once, and it hurt way too much. I try to walk every day or every other day, and it is doing ok for me. Any time I try to do much exercising other than walking, though, I get really worn out and hurt for days afterwards. But, I am glad that this is working so well for you. It's always nice when we find something that helps us find relief from the pain.

I've read that people with Fibro who do exercise programs, extreme at first.. that it actually helps. It can be painful at first, but eventually your nerves will re-adjust and even though they are firing the same, you dont feel it as pain because you are basically used to it. It will feel normal to you. There has been extensive research done on this. And programs exist at some hospitals for people with Fibro and similar disorders. Its hard because it will be painful at first most likely, but if you stick to it...it gets alot better and eventually the results turn out like Genny's! (according to research) It can be hard because when I do a lot all at once, I know it is good for me... but a lot of the time I feel it is only hurting me. But the thing is, Fibro isnt like any thing else. It may hurt worse when we do things, but that doesnt mean we are "injuring" ourselves further. But, I often feel I am... But, I figure in the end it can be worth it. But its not easy.

Kudos to you Ginny! I am about to start working out. I am starting college soon and the recreation center is totally FREE! Along with a ton of different classes (yoga, martial arts, etc) and different intramural sports! AND personal trainers are free also! I am excited because I will be able to use all the equiptment for free as much as I want. And I can walk in to the different classes if I wish... So, I am hoping it will help me and I will enjoy it and stick to it with a strict schedule. Besides, I need to lose lots of weight and stuff anyways so... my goal is to become healthier, stronger, and leaner!

Good luck!

Lost,
Not everyone can push through the pain and get better. It's true that if you simply lay around and hurt you will feel even worse. It's also true that exercise does benefit fibros somewhat. We just have to find the correct level of exercise for each of us. The secret is to start out slow and easy and build up endurance over time. That way you can tell when you are over the top and back off a bit until you can build up your strength at the level you are at. Work at the same rate for a week or so and then add a bit. Slow and easy wins the race.

lost in philly,
Starting slow and taking it easy is really, really hard. We remember what we used to do and compare ourselves to that. If we used to be able to be active for an hour, now we think 15 minutes should be ok. You may need to start at 5 minutes. Then add more activity in 5 minute increments throughout the day. Try 5 minutes in the morning, mid-day, and in the afternoon. Nothing crazy or intense. Walk for 5 minutes at an easy pace. After a while, try going a bit faster for 30-60 seconds of that 5 minutes. Ideally, you won't feel like you did anything at all the next day. Then SLOWLY increase your time, then your difficulty level.

Maybe 5 minutes will be your limit for a long time. It's still 5 more minutes of activity than you were getting. Think in terms of minutes, give yourself permission to take as long as a year to get to what you think you should be doing.

I've found that I have to overlook the pain and fatigue and continue to increase my activity level. When I feel like I am dying, I take an extra day to rest but then I push myself through it. It was scary when I first started doing it because I really thought I would die. I realized that when I push myself, my flares are shorter (most of the time.) Now this works for me but everyone is different. This did NOT work for me about 12 years ago. Extra activity made my flares last longer and become more debilitating.

Good Luck!

Ginny,
I started my exercise plan with yoga a long time ago. The so-called beginner's class was more an intermediate class and I would never have gone back if I hadn't already paid for 12 classes. It was one of the best decisions I've made in a long time. By the time the 6 weeks was finished, everyone around me noticed a change in my energy and pain levels, even people that didn't know I had fibro. I have the same problem, some of the positions bother my neck too much. I tried Pilates and couldn't move my neck for a week.

I just added weight training a few weeks ago and I love it. My legs are stronger already and you can see the change in my muscles. I've doubled and tripled some of my weights already. I'm sore but it's the muscle soreness everyone gets when they start weight training.

I just added some arm training today. I work out with my husband and he's great. He understands fibro better than the personal trainers in the gym. Whenever I start something new, he has me start without weights, just the machine or bar. He wants to make sure that the new movement doesn't bother me. If I'm not sore from it, he adds some weight the next time we work on that body part. He knows my fibro pain is worse in my upper body so he had me start with my legs for a few weeks to get used to everything.

Now, if only my brain would start working!

great job on your workouts! i think its great that you found something that works for YOU!
i am not sure if i have FM yet but i do have a lot of aches and pains and tiredness, all unexplained.
i have to do yoga EVERY DAY or else i wake up the next morning with back pain. i find the yoga helps immensely and i also found taking a class is totally different than doing a DVD at home.

i think both are awesome ways to do it (and i still do both) but for me personally i found enrolling in a class actually pushed me harder and i reached a more relaxed point becase on the DVD i usually skip the relaxation and meditation parts

i find the class to be amazing and helps so much with my pain issues.

keep up the great work! i think its great you found something to help cope with the pain AND it makes you so much healthier in general!

UGH, I have a big setback.  I had to come off my Neurontin because my doctor suspects that it is the reason my platelet count is dropping.  I HURT BAD tonight.  I"m down to 300mg from 600mg.  I can't even begin to imagine how I'll be when the dose is zero.  I am in so much pain and discomfort that exercise is the last thing I want to do.  My neck is the worst.  This sucks so bad.  I want to get really mad and beat the heck out of something.  This constant good, bad, good, bad is driving me insane. Does anyone else feel like they're going to lose any sense of self control and completely lose it?  Seriously, I'm on the brink....

 

I pray it turns out that the Neurontin isn't the cause of my blood issues.  It really does work for my pain. That I can confirm for sure!

 

Good night everyone,

Ginny

Hi Joshua Tree and welcome. I'm glad your starting off slow and you don't expect to do the program as normal people would. I just can't get into these routines but I would love to paint several rooms in my house for a workout.

 

I'm glad you joined, read the fibro 101 thread, second on first page, it contains lots of great info. Read and ask questions and we will be here to help you.

 

Ginny I'm sorry your having a set back. I know that let down when I had to go off the vit D, the only thing that has given me motivation and a little more energy in years. I hope it is not the neurontin causing you the problems.

 

luv and hugs

Marlee

Hi lost in philly,

 

What is making a difference for me is staying active while increasing my heart rate to levels that will burn significant calories, strengthen my heart and lungs, and strengthen my muscles.  "Staying active" is important.  Moving around.  Not being sedintary.  But to improve your health and get rid of all the gunk in our bodies, we need to raise that heart rate.

 

I know what you're saying about the lack of energy, increased pain and trying to work out.  It's really hard.  I'm in one of those phases right now.  Housework is definitely a method of working out, for sure!!  I suppose I'm in the midset of really wanting to make a huge change in my health.  If I'm not sweating it out for 45 minutes or more, I'm not going to be happy.  That's just me.  Everyone else's personal expectations are going to vary. 

 

Just do what you can.  If house work is your workout of the day, then cudos to you!  You did it! If you dont' want to do just the bare minimum, add in some weight bearing exercise with your house work. A little at a time, and build up to more and more!

Good luck!! 

Hi there Ginny. I have to say that I am very impressed with all of your hard work. I like to hear about fibro patients being active. But I am very sorry for your set-back. I myself understand the frustration and let down you must be feeling from the pain. Last year at this time I was unable to walk more than 5 minutes without severe pain in my hip with every step. Through hard work and excellent chiropractic care I was up to walking one hour at a time on the treadmill and outside but that has changed. I have a severe bunion on my one foot that has only just recently caused me problems to the point I'm back to being unable to walk 5 minutes without lots of pain. Very annoying to say the least especially since the foot is screwing up my back and hip as well. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you that you will be able to take the neurontin again very soon so you can get back to your work-out and less pain. As for me, I'll be having surgery on my foot the end of August. Ugh 2 more months to wait but it will be good to get out walking again. Take care, Lisa