Exercise ? how ?

Firstly I want to say that I get alot of "exercise " with my work , I own a kennel and there is alot of bending , lifting , etc involved. Alot of days I barely drag myself thru . ..

which leads me to my question . I have accumulated about 40ish lbs . I know it can't be good for my body to be carrying this extra weight around .

Last fall when I was the sickest , I thought I had Multiple Sclerosis or ALS  , I had NO strength in my arms and my legs felt like they were coated in cement . I was very weak , and the worst of it lasted 3 months , then I went Gluten free and cleaned my diet up really strict , it helped alot , I started to feel much better . But then within a month I had another small relapse .. then it seems that it ebs and tides .. I'll feel pretty good only to come crashing down with severe fatigue , pain and soreness all over and its hard to brush my hair , or change the baby . Doing anything with my hands is challenging . I also have a big issue with air hunger, when this is acting up , it just feels like I am suffocating .

So this all gets in the way of me exercising . I am scared of it now   I am afraid that if I push too hard I could collapse or I could stop breathing . Or I could have a heart attack !  I feel like my heart might just give up . Or that my diaphram might just not be able to lift and breathe if I get out of breath.

I know it always feels extreme when your out of shape and trying to get back in shape , but with everything that I experience to do with the lyme I am scared to do what i know it takes to get fit . I'm scared that it will lower my immune system or something .

What should I do ? I already get moderate exercise from cleaning kennels and doing my duties up there . But how do I get back in shape in the face of this illness ? Its really bothering me , I am a single Mom , and I am now 36 , I  see things happening with my body due to age that I know I could fix if I start now , but seems like if I continue the years of no toning and no cardio than its going to be a downward spiral . I just want my body to be sleek and strong like it use to be . It bothers me that along with the way I feel ... now I look like a I feel . I dont mind the normal aging process stuff , I know we can't look 18 forever , and that is not my goal .. I just want to have definition and strength and to be able to sit in a pair of jeans without 3 rolls getting in the way .

did any of you workout to get into shape or lose weight after being sick wiht lyme . Am I even able to do this ? Is it safe ? Or is it bad for me to work out . What I would like to do for workouts is , toning using 5lb weights , walk on treadmill with my ankle weights ( eventually ) . Ab lounge ( I love  my ab lounge , helps the abs without hurting the neck ) . I just feel so weak in my torse and so "weird" that I am scared to do anything that fatigues those m uscles . ..

 

Hi Lotta,
I don't know if what I have to say is going to help you, but I feel bad not answering!! LOL!!

Like you, I have a lot going on at my house, only with goats not dogs, so between them and a decent sized garden, I get plenty of exercise when the weather is good. During the hottest part of the summer and the winter though, I must rely on other things to get exercise. My answer is a treadmill. I never push myself very hard on my treadmill though, as I've discovered the very unpleasant results of herxing if I do.

I know what you're going through.
I did high intensity cardio workouts and am now reduced to walking which is still a good exercise, but not something I enjoy or get that "rush" from doing. I walk 5km a day and some days double that. I've worked up my intensity to the point that I feel good about. But it takes time to increase intensity.

You should be giving yourself a big pat on the back for all the exercise you already get while working!

Why not just try to walk 1/2 mile a day on the treadmill? Don't push yourself to walk great distances until you feel you are ready. No need to make it difficult on yourself, but it would get you moving and burning those calories.

Most LLMD's will tell you 'exercise as tolerated' still I believe.

LOL! I need to get back on my treadmill regularly myself - I'm feeling guilty talking to you about it!

The following is from http://www.ilads.org/lyme_disease/B_guidelines_12_17_08.pdf

LYME DISEASE REHABILITATION
Despite antibiotic treatments, patients will NOT return to normal unless they exercise, so therefore an
aggressive rehab program is absolutely necessary. It is a fact that a properly executed exercise program can actually go beyond the antibiotics in helping to clear the symptoms and to maintain a remission.
Although the scientific basis for the benefits of exercises is not known, there are several reasonable theories. It is known that Bb will die if exposed to all but the tiniest oxygen concentrations. If an aggressive exercise program can increase tissue perfusion and oxygen levels, then this may play a role in what is being seen. Also, during aggressive exercise, the core body temperature can rise above 102 degrees; it is known that B. burgdorferi is very heat sensitive. Perhaps it is the added tissue oxygenation, or higher body temperature, or the combination that weakens the Lyme Borrelia, and allows the antibiotics and our defenses to be more effective. Regular exercise-related movements can help mobilize lymph and enhance circulation. In addition, there is now evidence that a carefully structured exercise program may benefit T-cell function: this function will depress for 12 to 24+ hours after exercise, but then rebound. This T-cell depression is more pronounced after aerobics which is why aerobics are not allowed. The goal is to exercise intermittently, with exercise days separated by days of total rest, including an effort to have plenty of quality sleep. The trick is to time the exercise days to take advantage of these rebounds. For an example, begin with an exercise day followed by 3 to 5 rest days; as stamina improves, then fewer rest days will be needed in between workouts. However, because T-cell functions do fall for at least one day after aggressive exercises, be sure to never exercise two days in a row. Finally, an in intermittent exercise program, properly executed, may help to reset the HPA axis more towards normal. On the following page is an exercise prescription that details these recommendations.

PROGRAM:
1. Aerobic exercises are NOT allowed, not even low impact variety, until the patient has recovered.
2. Conditioning: work to improve strength and reverse the poor conditioning that results from Lyme, through a whole-body exercise program, consisting of light calisthenics and/or resistance training, using light resistance and many repetitions. This can be accomplished in exercise classes called "stretch and tone", or "body sculpture", or can be achieved in the gym with exercise machines or carefully with free weights (see cautions above).
3. Each session should last one hour. A gentle hour is preferable to a strenuous half-hour. If the patient is
unable to continue for the whole hour, then decrease the intensity to allow him/her to do so.
4. Exercise no more often than every other day. The patient may need to start by exercising every 4th or
5th day initially, and as abilities improve, work out more often, but NEVER two days in a row. The nonexercise days should be spent resting.
5. This whole-body conditioning program is what is required to achieve wellness. A simple walking program will not work, and simply placing the patient on a treadmill or an exercise bike is not acceptable (except very briefly, as part of a warm-up), as aerobics can be damaging and must be avoided.