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exercise recommendations?

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Posted 8/16/2013 10:31 PM (GMT 0)
I've been very inactive, basically confined to my home, recently due to my symptoms..mainly trouble breathing, dizziness, shakiness, rapid heart rate, weakeness etc. I dont really have joint or muscle pain like many of you do. I was never really a huge exercise junkie but I think it would be good to do some light exercises around the house to get the blood flowing--it might help the heart problems too.

Any recommendations for something very light to try?
Posted 8/17/2013 1:24 AM (GMT 0)
I would start with basic stretching exercises. You should be able to google a stretching routine or something similar.
Posted 8/17/2013 2:54 AM (GMT 0)
On my good days I find that rubber exercise bands are great. I also use a pair of 3 lbs weights. I used to bike 40 to 100 miles a weekend and worked out for one to two hours a day before getting sick. Since then, I have lost all of my muscle definition, my butt is gone (no joke) and went from a size 34 waist to a size 30. I used to like looking in the mirror and now I avoid it.

To try to gain some mobility and to not lose all my muscle, I use the bands for resistance and use the weights to strengthen my arms. On good days I walk around the block and on bad days I try to at least get out of bed and walk around the bed for 5 minutes at a time. I have found that if I don't get out of bed and walk around, my body gets very sore and my equilibrium is adversely affected the next day.

On bad days, I have found that a water bottle on each hand helps as weights. I also try to do squats by grabbing from the edge of the bed and slowly squatting. The dizziness/vertigo as I go up/down keeps me from doing more than a few at a time.
Posted 8/17/2013 3:46 PM (GMT 0)
Maybe check into some workouts that are done in sitting in a chair. I think www.collagvideo.com might have some.
Posted 8/18/2013 12:52 AM (GMT 0)
I would say Yoga...I started doing yoga back in March (the simple moves) and as I felt better I would increase the amount of moves I did. Excellent for blood flow and meditating.
Posted 8/18/2013 12:48 PM (GMT 0)
Please start off with the easy stuff - whatever you choose to do! Some simple stretches, as Diana suggested would likely be a good place to start off with.

And be careful to not over-do. Stop as soon as you feel you should or if you or your muscles become tired or ache, whether or not you have managed to "finish". We often experience a small flare one to three days after doing too much, so watch for that as well.
Posted 8/18/2013 10:12 PM (GMT 0)
I just finished with 3 months of Physical Therapy and my LLMD had a very strict protocol for the PT to follow ...lots of stretching and nothing that would cause sweating or that would put me into a Anerobic state... I could ride a recumbent bike for 5-10 minutes ( 5 starting out and working up to 10)
Posted 8/19/2013 6:39 PM (GMT 0)
Whole body vibration machines have gotten popular, but some vibrate too much is seems. Dr. Mercola has videos of the brand he sells and it doesn't look like there is as much vibration as most, but his are expensive. They were first developed for astronauts since they would lose muscle in space. It would allow them to stay in space longer since it would build muscle. It would be an easy way to keep your muscles in shape if you don't have the energy to do the exercises. There are some in health clubs now and other places. We have a business here that only has vibration machines and many people who are overweight are using them with good results, as are people with poor muscle condition. A friend of mine has the small one Dr. Mercola sells, so I may try it one of these days. There are many on the market, with a lot of cheap ones from China, sold under different names. I'd stay away from those myself.

Just another thought for you and a way to build muscle without much threat of injury.
Posted 9/19/2013 6:46 AM (GMT 0)
As Healing98 suggested, I would also ask you to give it a try. Exercise Bands are inexpensive and they come in multiple resistance level, usually light, medium and heavy. You could bye the kind of band that suits you. Some kits also have suggestions about the different exercises that could be done using these bands.
Posted 9/19/2013 8:36 AM (GMT 0)
I would say walking outside on nice days. Physical therapy may benefit you too.
Posted 9/19/2013 11:15 AM (GMT 0)
Yoga yoga yoga! I read recently about "yoga for trauma survivors" and how it improves mood and brain functioning, as well as gives a sense of control back... I thought, well my body has been through a trauma... maybe this is a good idea.

Yoga in general does much to improve my overall state of mind. It's been a while since I went to a class, but I do a few stretches after my detox baths.

Also, a short walk outside on a nice day feels great. I do NOT do it in the heat, because it makes me feel awful.
Posted 9/19/2013 11:25 AM (GMT 0)
I like walking..  My favorite are Leslie Sansone DVD's called Walk Away the Pounds as it's more of an aerobic walking with knee lifts, leg kicks, etc.   If it's raining or snowing outside this is a great way to get exercise!  She has beginner DVD's with just slow walking to get your body going.

I agree with everyone else, start slow and build up to exercising. 

Denise

Posted 9/19/2013 11:06 PM (GMT 0)
I walked today because it was a beautiful day here in New Jersey. I took it very slow and did about 3/4 of a mile. When I started I thought I would not be able to finish but I did !..Felt nice to be outside. I have symptoms similar to yours nj_to_mo so I know pretty well how you feel. Plus, the motion of walking gets the lymph fluid moving which in turn helps get the "BAD" stuff out...Maybe you can walk a little tomorrow? Good Luck.
Posted 9/20/2013 6:50 AM (GMT 0)
There is no doubt that walking is the best exercise in order to stay fit and fine. You could always prefer that when you feel the weather outside permits you to do so. But, sometimes the weather is so bad that we do not feel like going out and want to stay back home. Or even when you do not have much time to spend going out for a walk. You have to think of something that is equally effective and can easily be done at home. This is when I would suggest Exercise Bands as I have already said above.
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