NYCLawGirl
New member
So, I am trying to build back up my endurance after being sick so much this winter/spring. This is one of the few areas that I have a little conflict with my doctor on, because she actually thinks I've been working out too much (she's concerned about calories and my O2 level, which I get). She told me 20-30 minutes 3-4 times a week with a target heartrate in the mid 140s - no higher than 160. The problem is, I'm completely beseiged with stories about people who pulled themselves out of a s****y FEV1 and off the trasplant list through exercise, and I really want to be one of those people.
I CAN work out pretty strenuously. Prior to my doctor telling me the whole "25 minutes 3 times a week at 140" thing, I was working out 45 minutes probably 5 times a week at a pretty good pace, with my heartrate normally in the 150s-160s and up to 180 during peak exercise. Which makes sense to me because my HR has lately been around 100 even just resting. Also, I'm careful about it - I wear my O2 all the way up at 3 liters and monitor my levels pretty religiously throughout the workout, so I do slow down a little when I see my levels dropping or if my HR gets too out of control.
How do you guys balance the exercise/heart thing? I'm not AS worried about the calorie problem (although I am currently fighting really hard to raise my weight, but drinking 6 boost plusses per day has to be making up for the exercise!), but I definitely don't want to be damaging my heart. Right now I'm so frustrated with CF that I'm back to working out everyday - as a compromise I only do real cardio 4 times a week (every other day), but I walk at least a mile on my off days. I am also looking into a trainer to build strength which I'm hoping will help. I just need a little guidance on whether I'm striking the right balance between giving my body the rest it needs at this point in my disease and fighting as hard as I can to break this downward trend.
Any advice?
I CAN work out pretty strenuously. Prior to my doctor telling me the whole "25 minutes 3 times a week at 140" thing, I was working out 45 minutes probably 5 times a week at a pretty good pace, with my heartrate normally in the 150s-160s and up to 180 during peak exercise. Which makes sense to me because my HR has lately been around 100 even just resting. Also, I'm careful about it - I wear my O2 all the way up at 3 liters and monitor my levels pretty religiously throughout the workout, so I do slow down a little when I see my levels dropping or if my HR gets too out of control.
How do you guys balance the exercise/heart thing? I'm not AS worried about the calorie problem (although I am currently fighting really hard to raise my weight, but drinking 6 boost plusses per day has to be making up for the exercise!), but I definitely don't want to be damaging my heart. Right now I'm so frustrated with CF that I'm back to working out everyday - as a compromise I only do real cardio 4 times a week (every other day), but I walk at least a mile on my off days. I am also looking into a trainer to build strength which I'm hoping will help. I just need a little guidance on whether I'm striking the right balance between giving my body the rest it needs at this point in my disease and fighting as hard as I can to break this downward trend.
Any advice?