Exercise/Heartrate Question

[Melissa75]

Ditto Christian's "You go girl!" And, I am just outside NYC so keep me in the loop on this CF run I kinda keel over at the 2.5 mile mark though.

Can you go to a gym and meet with a personal trainer. I did it one time (free with the membership). He was a PH.D candidate in physical therapy and had even read a book about CF and compliance...maybe a based on the NYer article about Warwick--donno. Anyway, he understood that I wanted to maximize heavy breathing/cardio. He measured my VO2 max, which is the efficiency of the heart-lung-muscle combo I think. This allowed him to give me a target heartrate specific to me and not a generic age-weight-gender thing.

So, I am supposed to do 20-25 min of cardio with my heart in the 150's 3-4 times a week, and two days of weights in a heart-pounding circuit...i.e. no staring into space. I deviate from this quite a bit, but it is a good guideline to have. Basically, if I get into a two breaths in, two beaths out, plus some reaaaaally deep breaths, plus a trickle of sweat down my inner arm at the 12 minute mark, then I am on track. It is very hard to use mph or incline on the treadmill because from week to week I can be so much better or worse congestion-wise. Also, if I leave a dance class with a totally red face, then mission accomplished.

Now, my resting heartrate is in the 70's so that might mean that your doctor is right to recommend a lower upper threshold for you. I don't know.

I do believe that the complusive exercising I've been doing this past year is responsible, more than anything else, for my reduced need for antibiotics. I can't say my FEV1 has improved, but it would have likely gotten worse faster if I weren't doing this (IMO).

Do share any info you get or workout plan you come up with. It is this message board that inspired me to start exercising so much in the first place.
________
Melissa, 34, bronchiectasis (no CF)

 

[Melissa75]

Ditto Christian's "You go girl!" And, I am just outside NYC so keep me in the loop on this CF run I kinda keel over at the 2.5 mile mark though.

Can you go to a gym and meet with a personal trainer. I did it one time (free with the membership). He was a PH.D candidate in physical therapy and had even read a book about CF and compliance...maybe a based on the NYer article about Warwick--donno. Anyway, he understood that I wanted to maximize heavy breathing/cardio. He measured my VO2 max, which is the efficiency of the heart-lung-muscle combo I think. This allowed him to give me a target heartrate specific to me and not a generic age-weight-gender thing.

So, I am supposed to do 20-25 min of cardio with my heart in the 150's 3-4 times a week, and two days of weights in a heart-pounding circuit...i.e. no staring into space. I deviate from this quite a bit, but it is a good guideline to have. Basically, if I get into a two breaths in, two beaths out, plus some reaaaaally deep breaths, plus a trickle of sweat down my inner arm at the 12 minute mark, then I am on track. It is very hard to use mph or incline on the treadmill because from week to week I can be so much better or worse congestion-wise. Also, if I leave a dance class with a totally red face, then mission accomplished.

Now, my resting heartrate is in the 70's so that might mean that your doctor is right to recommend a lower upper threshold for you. I don't know.

I do believe that the complusive exercising I've been doing this past year is responsible, more than anything else, for my reduced need for antibiotics. I can't say my FEV1 has improved, but it would have likely gotten worse faster if I weren't doing this (IMO).

Do share any info you get or workout plan you come up with. It is this message board that inspired me to start exercising so much in the first place.
________
Melissa, 34, bronchiectasis (no CF)

 

[Melissa75]

Ditto Christian's "You go girl!" And, I am just outside NYC so keep me in the loop on this CF run I kinda keel over at the 2.5 mile mark though.

Can you go to a gym and meet with a personal trainer. I did it one time (free with the membership). He was a PH.D candidate in physical therapy and had even read a book about CF and compliance...maybe a based on the NYer article about Warwick--donno. Anyway, he understood that I wanted to maximize heavy breathing/cardio. He measured my VO2 max, which is the efficiency of the heart-lung-muscle combo I think. This allowed him to give me a target heartrate specific to me and not a generic age-weight-gender thing.

So, I am supposed to do 20-25 min of cardio with my heart in the 150's 3-4 times a week, and two days of weights in a heart-pounding circuit...i.e. no staring into space. I deviate from this quite a bit, but it is a good guideline to have. Basically, if I get into a two breaths in, two beaths out, plus some reaaaaally deep breaths, plus a trickle of sweat down my inner arm at the 12 minute mark, then I am on track. It is very hard to use mph or incline on the treadmill because from week to week I can be so much better or worse congestion-wise. Also, if I leave a dance class with a totally red face, then mission accomplished.

Now, my resting heartrate is in the 70's so that might mean that your doctor is right to recommend a lower upper threshold for you. I don't know.

I do believe that the complusive exercising I've been doing this past year is responsible, more than anything else, for my reduced need for antibiotics. I can't say my FEV1 has improved, but it would have likely gotten worse faster if I weren't doing this (IMO).

Do share any info you get or workout plan you come up with. It is this message board that inspired me to start exercising so much in the first place.
________
Melissa, 34, bronchiectasis (no CF)

 

[Melissa75]

Ditto Christian's "You go girl!" And, I am just outside NYC so keep me in the loop on this CF run I kinda keel over at the 2.5 mile mark though.

Can you go to a gym and meet with a personal trainer. I did it one time (free with the membership). He was a PH.D candidate in physical therapy and had even read a book about CF and compliance...maybe a based on the NYer article about Warwick--donno. Anyway, he understood that I wanted to maximize heavy breathing/cardio. He measured my VO2 max, which is the efficiency of the heart-lung-muscle combo I think. This allowed him to give me a target heartrate specific to me and not a generic age-weight-gender thing.

So, I am supposed to do 20-25 min of cardio with my heart in the 150's 3-4 times a week, and two days of weights in a heart-pounding circuit...i.e. no staring into space. I deviate from this quite a bit, but it is a good guideline to have. Basically, if I get into a two breaths in, two beaths out, plus some reaaaaally deep breaths, plus a trickle of sweat down my inner arm at the 12 minute mark, then I am on track. It is very hard to use mph or incline on the treadmill because from week to week I can be so much better or worse congestion-wise. Also, if I leave a dance class with a totally red face, then mission accomplished.

Now, my resting heartrate is in the 70's so that might mean that your doctor is right to recommend a lower upper threshold for you. I don't know.

I do believe that the complusive exercising I've been doing this past year is responsible, more than anything else, for my reduced need for antibiotics. I can't say my FEV1 has improved, but it would have likely gotten worse faster if I weren't doing this (IMO).

Do share any info you get or workout plan you come up with. It is this message board that inspired me to start exercising so much in the first place.
________
Melissa, 34, bronchiectasis (no CF)

 

[Melissa75]

Ditto Christian's "You go girl!" And, I am just outside NYC so keep me in the loop on this CF run I kinda keel over at the 2.5 mile mark though.
<br />
<br />Can you go to a gym and meet with a personal trainer. I did it one time (free with the membership). He was a PH.D candidate in physical therapy and had even read a book about CF and compliance...maybe a based on the NYer article about Warwick--donno. Anyway, he understood that I wanted to maximize heavy breathing/cardio. He measured my VO2 max, which is the efficiency of the heart-lung-muscle combo I think. This allowed him to give me a target heartrate specific to me and not a generic age-weight-gender thing.
<br />
<br />So, I am supposed to do 20-25 min of cardio with my heart in the 150's 3-4 times a week, and two days of weights in a heart-pounding circuit...i.e. no staring into space. I deviate from this quite a bit, but it is a good guideline to have. Basically, if I get into a two breaths in, two beaths out, plus some reaaaaally deep breaths, plus a trickle of sweat down my inner arm at the 12 minute mark, then I am on track. It is very hard to use mph or incline on the treadmill because from week to week I can be so much better or worse congestion-wise. Also, if I leave a dance class with a totally red face, then mission accomplished.
<br />
<br />Now, my resting heartrate is in the 70's so that might mean that your doctor is right to recommend a lower upper threshold for you. I don't know.
<br />
<br />I do believe that the complusive exercising I've been doing this past year is responsible, more than anything else, for my reduced need for antibiotics. I can't say my FEV1 has improved, but it would have likely gotten worse faster if I weren't doing this (IMO).
<br />
<br />Do share any info you get or workout plan you come up with. It is this message board that inspired me to start exercising so much in the first place.
<br />________
<br />Melissa, 34, bronchiectasis (no CF)

 

[Kristen]

My doctors have never told me anything about heart rate. I didn't start monitoring it until we started trying to conceive (because I have heard that a high heart rate can be bad while TTC).I will say that I definitely need to get my heart rate about 140 in order to feel like I am getting a decent workout. I try to keep it below 160, but sometimes it gets as high as 175 if I am running up a hill in hot weather (I've noticed my heart rate gets higher if it is hot outside). FWIW, my resting heartrate is around 70, and I don't have any weight or O2 issues.

Melissa, now I am interested in having the V02 max done. I've seen it at my gym before and never knew what it was.

 

[Kristen]

My doctors have never told me anything about heart rate. I didn't start monitoring it until we started trying to conceive (because I have heard that a high heart rate can be bad while TTC).I will say that I definitely need to get my heart rate about 140 in order to feel like I am getting a decent workout. I try to keep it below 160, but sometimes it gets as high as 175 if I am running up a hill in hot weather (I've noticed my heart rate gets higher if it is hot outside). FWIW, my resting heartrate is around 70, and I don't have any weight or O2 issues.

Melissa, now I am interested in having the V02 max done. I've seen it at my gym before and never knew what it was.

 

[Kristen]

My doctors have never told me anything about heart rate. I didn't start monitoring it until we started trying to conceive (because I have heard that a high heart rate can be bad while TTC).I will say that I definitely need to get my heart rate about 140 in order to feel like I am getting a decent workout. I try to keep it below 160, but sometimes it gets as high as 175 if I am running up a hill in hot weather (I've noticed my heart rate gets higher if it is hot outside). FWIW, my resting heartrate is around 70, and I don't have any weight or O2 issues.

Melissa, now I am interested in having the V02 max done. I've seen it at my gym before and never knew what it was.

 

[Kristen]

My doctors have never told me anything about heart rate. I didn't start monitoring it until we started trying to conceive (because I have heard that a high heart rate can be bad while TTC).I will say that I definitely need to get my heart rate about 140 in order to feel like I am getting a decent workout. I try to keep it below 160, but sometimes it gets as high as 175 if I am running up a hill in hot weather (I've noticed my heart rate gets higher if it is hot outside). FWIW, my resting heartrate is around 70, and I don't have any weight or O2 issues.

Melissa, now I am interested in having the V02 max done. I've seen it at my gym before and never knew what it was.

 

[Kristen]

My doctors have never told me anything about heart rate. I didn't start monitoring it until we started trying to conceive (because I have heard that a high heart rate can be bad while TTC).I will say that I definitely need to get my heart rate about 140 in order to feel like I am getting a decent workout. I try to keep it below 160, but sometimes it gets as high as 175 if I am running up a hill in hot weather (I've noticed my heart rate gets higher if it is hot outside). FWIW, my resting heartrate is around 70, and I don't have any weight or O2 issues.
<br />
<br />Melissa, now I am interested in having the V02 max done. I've seen it at my gym before and never knew what it was.

 

[Jeana]

My heartrate gets into the 150s when I am exercising. I just started a couple weeks ago, but I have a treadmill and I do 5 min at 3 mph, 3 1/2 min at 3.5 mph, 3 min at 4 mph and then 3 1/2 min at 3.5 mph and 5 min at 3 mph. So warmup and cooldown for a total of 20 min. Again, I've just started, so I know I'm kinda wimpy. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0"> I exercise about 3 times a week.

 

[Jeana]

My heartrate gets into the 150s when I am exercising. I just started a couple weeks ago, but I have a treadmill and I do 5 min at 3 mph, 3 1/2 min at 3.5 mph, 3 min at 4 mph and then 3 1/2 min at 3.5 mph and 5 min at 3 mph. So warmup and cooldown for a total of 20 min. Again, I've just started, so I know I'm kinda wimpy. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0"> I exercise about 3 times a week.

 

[Jeana]

My heartrate gets into the 150s when I am exercising. I just started a couple weeks ago, but I have a treadmill and I do 5 min at 3 mph, 3 1/2 min at 3.5 mph, 3 min at 4 mph and then 3 1/2 min at 3.5 mph and 5 min at 3 mph. So warmup and cooldown for a total of 20 min. Again, I've just started, so I know I'm kinda wimpy. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0"> I exercise about 3 times a week.

 

[Jeana]

My heartrate gets into the 150s when I am exercising. I just started a couple weeks ago, but I have a treadmill and I do 5 min at 3 mph, 3 1/2 min at 3.5 mph, 3 min at 4 mph and then 3 1/2 min at 3.5 mph and 5 min at 3 mph. So warmup and cooldown for a total of 20 min. Again, I've just started, so I know I'm kinda wimpy. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0"> I exercise about 3 times a week.

 

[Jeana]

My heartrate gets into the 150s when I am exercising. I just started a couple weeks ago, but I have a treadmill and I do 5 min at 3 mph, 3 1/2 min at 3.5 mph, 3 min at 4 mph and then 3 1/2 min at 3.5 mph and 5 min at 3 mph. So warmup and cooldown for a total of 20 min. Again, I've just started, so I know I'm kinda wimpy. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0"> I exercise about 3 times a week.

 

[PinkPigg]

Hey Piper,

Here's a link to a Mayo Clinic target heart rate calulator:

<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/target-heart-rate/SM00083">http://www.mayoclinic.com/heal...get-heart-rate/SM00083</a>

160s might be a bit anerobic but depends on age. Good idea wearing the O2 and monitoring rate & SPO2. That's exactly how I've been monitoring things myself.

I'm one who totally believes in the power of exercise. Back in 1992 I was severly infected and went into right heart failure. It was a very close call. Wore O2 24/7. Got the transplant workup and was listed. To get ready for TX the PTs suggested to start some sort of exercise. So started out only being able to do about 3 minutes on a exercise bike wearing 2 liters. Next day did 4 min, then 5 the next etc. About 10 months later was off O2 and put on inactive for TX. ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE and YOU CAN BE "ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE"

Now it's 17yrs later. Married my then sweetheart and living happily. Just decided to retire for sure with advice from this forum (including you) and many others. Point is that without exercise I <b>really</b> wouldn't be here.

My current favorite form of exercise is yoga. The things that make me love it are: 1) it is all about the breath. if you are breathing in a non-controlled fashion (i.e. that anxious feeling) you are pushing too hard and need to respect where your limits are and push them but not so hard you lose focus. 2) this ability to focus on the breath is great for calming yourself down during difficult times. 3) great natural high from truly relaxing and letting go of your thoughts. 3) increased flexibility and improves posture. 4) strength building. 5) meditative and spiritual to the degree you want it to be. If you want more info on yoga let me know.

Keep fighting!!!

Namaste,
Steph <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif" border="0">

P.S. My "target" is to keep control of my breath at all times. That doesn't mean I'm not breathing hard it just means that I'm able to control it and not feel anxious. It's all about respecting my own ability to do what I can that day and pushing myself but not so hard I lose control. Of course every day is different and letting go of the ego to improve every day is key. Set backs happen but we are used to that <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0">

 

[PinkPigg]

Hey Piper,

Here's a link to a Mayo Clinic target heart rate calulator:

<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/target-heart-rate/SM00083">http://www.mayoclinic.com/heal...get-heart-rate/SM00083</a>

160s might be a bit anerobic but depends on age. Good idea wearing the O2 and monitoring rate & SPO2. That's exactly how I've been monitoring things myself.

I'm one who totally believes in the power of exercise. Back in 1992 I was severly infected and went into right heart failure. It was a very close call. Wore O2 24/7. Got the transplant workup and was listed. To get ready for TX the PTs suggested to start some sort of exercise. So started out only being able to do about 3 minutes on a exercise bike wearing 2 liters. Next day did 4 min, then 5 the next etc. About 10 months later was off O2 and put on inactive for TX. ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE and YOU CAN BE "ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE"

Now it's 17yrs later. Married my then sweetheart and living happily. Just decided to retire for sure with advice from this forum (including you) and many others. Point is that without exercise I <b>really</b> wouldn't be here.

My current favorite form of exercise is yoga. The things that make me love it are: 1) it is all about the breath. if you are breathing in a non-controlled fashion (i.e. that anxious feeling) you are pushing too hard and need to respect where your limits are and push them but not so hard you lose focus. 2) this ability to focus on the breath is great for calming yourself down during difficult times. 3) great natural high from truly relaxing and letting go of your thoughts. 3) increased flexibility and improves posture. 4) strength building. 5) meditative and spiritual to the degree you want it to be. If you want more info on yoga let me know.

Keep fighting!!!

Namaste,
Steph <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif" border="0">

P.S. My "target" is to keep control of my breath at all times. That doesn't mean I'm not breathing hard it just means that I'm able to control it and not feel anxious. It's all about respecting my own ability to do what I can that day and pushing myself but not so hard I lose control. Of course every day is different and letting go of the ego to improve every day is key. Set backs happen but we are used to that <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0">

 

[PinkPigg]

Hey Piper,

Here's a link to a Mayo Clinic target heart rate calulator:

<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/target-heart-rate/SM00083">http://www.mayoclinic.com/heal...get-heart-rate/SM00083</a>

160s might be a bit anerobic but depends on age. Good idea wearing the O2 and monitoring rate & SPO2. That's exactly how I've been monitoring things myself.

I'm one who totally believes in the power of exercise. Back in 1992 I was severly infected and went into right heart failure. It was a very close call. Wore O2 24/7. Got the transplant workup and was listed. To get ready for TX the PTs suggested to start some sort of exercise. So started out only being able to do about 3 minutes on a exercise bike wearing 2 liters. Next day did 4 min, then 5 the next etc. About 10 months later was off O2 and put on inactive for TX. ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE and YOU CAN BE "ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE"

Now it's 17yrs later. Married my then sweetheart and living happily. Just decided to retire for sure with advice from this forum (including you) and many others. Point is that without exercise I <b>really</b> wouldn't be here.

My current favorite form of exercise is yoga. The things that make me love it are: 1) it is all about the breath. if you are breathing in a non-controlled fashion (i.e. that anxious feeling) you are pushing too hard and need to respect where your limits are and push them but not so hard you lose focus. 2) this ability to focus on the breath is great for calming yourself down during difficult times. 3) great natural high from truly relaxing and letting go of your thoughts. 3) increased flexibility and improves posture. 4) strength building. 5) meditative and spiritual to the degree you want it to be. If you want more info on yoga let me know.

Keep fighting!!!

Namaste,
Steph <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif" border="0">

P.S. My "target" is to keep control of my breath at all times. That doesn't mean I'm not breathing hard it just means that I'm able to control it and not feel anxious. It's all about respecting my own ability to do what I can that day and pushing myself but not so hard I lose control. Of course every day is different and letting go of the ego to improve every day is key. Set backs happen but we are used to that <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0">

 

[PinkPigg]

Hey Piper,

Here's a link to a Mayo Clinic target heart rate calulator:

<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/target-heart-rate/SM00083">http://www.mayoclinic.com/heal...get-heart-rate/SM00083</a>

160s might be a bit anerobic but depends on age. Good idea wearing the O2 and monitoring rate & SPO2. That's exactly how I've been monitoring things myself.

I'm one who totally believes in the power of exercise. Back in 1992 I was severly infected and went into right heart failure. It was a very close call. Wore O2 24/7. Got the transplant workup and was listed. To get ready for TX the PTs suggested to start some sort of exercise. So started out only being able to do about 3 minutes on a exercise bike wearing 2 liters. Next day did 4 min, then 5 the next etc. About 10 months later was off O2 and put on inactive for TX. ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE and YOU CAN BE "ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE"

Now it's 17yrs later. Married my then sweetheart and living happily. Just decided to retire for sure with advice from this forum (including you) and many others. Point is that without exercise I <b>really</b> wouldn't be here.

My current favorite form of exercise is yoga. The things that make me love it are: 1) it is all about the breath. if you are breathing in a non-controlled fashion (i.e. that anxious feeling) you are pushing too hard and need to respect where your limits are and push them but not so hard you lose focus. 2) this ability to focus on the breath is great for calming yourself down during difficult times. 3) great natural high from truly relaxing and letting go of your thoughts. 3) increased flexibility and improves posture. 4) strength building. 5) meditative and spiritual to the degree you want it to be. If you want more info on yoga let me know.

Keep fighting!!!

Namaste,
Steph <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif" border="0">

P.S. My "target" is to keep control of my breath at all times. That doesn't mean I'm not breathing hard it just means that I'm able to control it and not feel anxious. It's all about respecting my own ability to do what I can that day and pushing myself but not so hard I lose control. Of course every day is different and letting go of the ego to improve every day is key. Set backs happen but we are used to that <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0">

 

[PinkPigg]

Hey Piper,
<br />
<br />Here's a link to a Mayo Clinic target heart rate calulator:
<br />
<br /><a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/target-heart-rate/SM00083">http://www.mayoclinic.com/heal...get-heart-rate/SM00083</a>
<br />
<br />160s might be a bit anerobic but depends on age. Good idea wearing the O2 and monitoring rate & SPO2. That's exactly how I've been monitoring things myself.
<br />
<br />I'm one who totally believes in the power of exercise. Back in 1992 I was severly infected and went into right heart failure. It was a very close call. Wore O2 24/7. Got the transplant workup and was listed. To get ready for TX the PTs suggested to start some sort of exercise. So started out only being able to do about 3 minutes on a exercise bike wearing 2 liters. Next day did 4 min, then 5 the next etc. About 10 months later was off O2 and put on inactive for TX. ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE and YOU CAN BE "ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE"
<br />
<br />Now it's 17yrs later. Married my then sweetheart and living happily. Just decided to retire for sure with advice from this forum (including you) and many others. Point is that without exercise I <b>really</b> wouldn't be here.
<br />
<br />My current favorite form of exercise is yoga. The things that make me love it are: 1) it is all about the breath. if you are breathing in a non-controlled fashion (i.e. that anxious feeling) you are pushing too hard and need to respect where your limits are and push them but not so hard you lose focus. 2) this ability to focus on the breath is great for calming yourself down during difficult times. 3) great natural high from truly relaxing and letting go of your thoughts. 3) increased flexibility and improves posture. 4) strength building. 5) meditative and spiritual to the degree you want it to be. If you want more info on yoga let me know.
<br />
<br />Keep fighting!!!
<br />
<br />Namaste,
<br />Steph <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif" border="0">
<br />
<br />P.S. My "target" is to keep control of my breath at all times. That doesn't mean I'm not breathing hard it just means that I'm able to control it and not feel anxious. It's all about respecting my own ability to do what I can that day and pushing myself but not so hard I lose control. Of course every day is different and letting go of the ego to improve every day is key. Set backs happen but we are used to that <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0">