Talk to me

NYCLawGirl · Aug 3, 2009

okay, so i'm in agreement with amy about everything, BUT, i think you should have an exercise tolerance test and/or work with a licensed trainer/PT with experience with CF to help you determine your ideal HR. i say this because i was a pretty hardcore runner -- 45 mins about 5 times a week and, even though i was using O2, my HR was normally going about 150 for the majority of exercise and up to about 167. i'm 27 and have 28% lung function, btw, so i thought those numbers were fine.

turns out, my IDEAL cardio zone (where my heart and organs are getting the best workout possible) is to aim for 145 for the majority of the workout with a peak exercise point of 160. so now i typically walk at around 3.5-4 mph but use an interval setting on the treadmill (the hill walk is great) so that i'm sometimes pushing very hard and sometimes a little less. the result is that in 45 minutes my HR averages in the 140s for about the first 30, goes up to the 150s for 10, and then maxes out at the upper 150s or 160. anything about 165 and i immediately take it down a notch.

this is just for me, everyone's different. but it's a lot better to get a personalized assessment to maximize the value of your workout. most hospitals/clinics can set it up for you, or at least offer some good guidelines.

amy's a kick-ass workout role model. but just because she gets to train her heart for a century run doesn't mean we should all be doing it <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0">

NYCLawGirl · Aug 3, 2009

okay, so i'm in agreement with amy about everything, BUT, i think you should have an exercise tolerance test and/or work with a licensed trainer/PT with experience with CF to help you determine your ideal HR. i say this because i was a pretty hardcore runner -- 45 mins about 5 times a week and, even though i was using O2, my HR was normally going about 150 for the majority of exercise and up to about 167. i'm 27 and have 28% lung function, btw, so i thought those numbers were fine.

turns out, my IDEAL cardio zone (where my heart and organs are getting the best workout possible) is to aim for 145 for the majority of the workout with a peak exercise point of 160. so now i typically walk at around 3.5-4 mph but use an interval setting on the treadmill (the hill walk is great) so that i'm sometimes pushing very hard and sometimes a little less. the result is that in 45 minutes my HR averages in the 140s for about the first 30, goes up to the 150s for 10, and then maxes out at the upper 150s or 160. anything about 165 and i immediately take it down a notch.

this is just for me, everyone's different. but it's a lot better to get a personalized assessment to maximize the value of your workout. most hospitals/clinics can set it up for you, or at least offer some good guidelines.

amy's a kick-ass workout role model. but just because she gets to train her heart for a century run doesn't mean we should all be doing it <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0">

NYCLawGirl · Aug 3, 2009

okay, so i'm in agreement with amy about everything, BUT, i think you should have an exercise tolerance test and/or work with a licensed trainer/PT with experience with CF to help you determine your ideal HR. i say this because i was a pretty hardcore runner -- 45 mins about 5 times a week and, even though i was using O2, my HR was normally going about 150 for the majority of exercise and up to about 167. i'm 27 and have 28% lung function, btw, so i thought those numbers were fine.

turns out, my IDEAL cardio zone (where my heart and organs are getting the best workout possible) is to aim for 145 for the majority of the workout with a peak exercise point of 160. so now i typically walk at around 3.5-4 mph but use an interval setting on the treadmill (the hill walk is great) so that i'm sometimes pushing very hard and sometimes a little less. the result is that in 45 minutes my HR averages in the 140s for about the first 30, goes up to the 150s for 10, and then maxes out at the upper 150s or 160. anything about 165 and i immediately take it down a notch.

this is just for me, everyone's different. but it's a lot better to get a personalized assessment to maximize the value of your workout. most hospitals/clinics can set it up for you, or at least offer some good guidelines.

amy's a kick-ass workout role model. but just because she gets to train her heart for a century run doesn't mean we should all be doing it <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0">

NYCLawGirl · Aug 3, 2009

okay, so i'm in agreement with amy about everything, BUT, i think you should have an exercise tolerance test and/or work with a licensed trainer/PT with experience with CF to help you determine your ideal HR. i say this because i was a pretty hardcore runner -- 45 mins about 5 times a week and, even though i was using O2, my HR was normally going about 150 for the majority of exercise and up to about 167. i'm 27 and have 28% lung function, btw, so i thought those numbers were fine.

turns out, my IDEAL cardio zone (where my heart and organs are getting the best workout possible) is to aim for 145 for the majority of the workout with a peak exercise point of 160. so now i typically walk at around 3.5-4 mph but use an interval setting on the treadmill (the hill walk is great) so that i'm sometimes pushing very hard and sometimes a little less. the result is that in 45 minutes my HR averages in the 140s for about the first 30, goes up to the 150s for 10, and then maxes out at the upper 150s or 160. anything about 165 and i immediately take it down a notch.

this is just for me, everyone's different. but it's a lot better to get a personalized assessment to maximize the value of your workout. most hospitals/clinics can set it up for you, or at least offer some good guidelines.

amy's a kick-ass workout role model. but just because she gets to train her heart for a century run doesn't mean we should all be doing it <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0">

NYCLawGirl · Aug 3, 2009

okay, so i'm in agreement with amy about everything, BUT, i think you should have an exercise tolerance test and/or work with a licensed trainer/PT with experience with CF to help you determine your ideal HR. i say this because i was a pretty hardcore runner -- 45 mins about 5 times a week and, even though i was using O2, my HR was normally going about 150 for the majority of exercise and up to about 167. i'm 27 and have 28% lung function, btw, so i thought those numbers were fine.
<br />
<br />turns out, my IDEAL cardio zone (where my heart and organs are getting the best workout possible) is to aim for 145 for the majority of the workout with a peak exercise point of 160. so now i typically walk at around 3.5-4 mph but use an interval setting on the treadmill (the hill walk is great) so that i'm sometimes pushing very hard and sometimes a little less. the result is that in 45 minutes my HR averages in the 140s for about the first 30, goes up to the 150s for 10, and then maxes out at the upper 150s or 160. anything about 165 and i immediately take it down a notch.
<br />
<br />this is just for me, everyone's different. but it's a lot better to get a personalized assessment to maximize the value of your workout. most hospitals/clinics can set it up for you, or at least offer some good guidelines.
<br />
<br />amy's a kick-ass workout role model. but just because she gets to train her heart for a century run doesn't mean we should all be doing it <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0">

Juniper · Aug 3, 2009

I'm really interested in what everyone is saying about excercise. My Fev1 has steadily fallen over the last few years i'm about 57% now. My only excercise is walking my dog maybe 30 mins a day. I would love to improve my FEV and it sounds like more excercise might do the trick. My main issue is time i work a full time job and with the meds i have very little spare time. how do you all fit it in ??

Juniper · Aug 3, 2009

I'm really interested in what everyone is saying about excercise. My Fev1 has steadily fallen over the last few years i'm about 57% now. My only excercise is walking my dog maybe 30 mins a day. I would love to improve my FEV and it sounds like more excercise might do the trick. My main issue is time i work a full time job and with the meds i have very little spare time. how do you all fit it in ??

Juniper · Aug 3, 2009

I'm really interested in what everyone is saying about excercise. My Fev1 has steadily fallen over the last few years i'm about 57% now. My only excercise is walking my dog maybe 30 mins a day. I would love to improve my FEV and it sounds like more excercise might do the trick. My main issue is time i work a full time job and with the meds i have very little spare time. how do you all fit it in ??

Juniper · Aug 3, 2009

I'm really interested in what everyone is saying about excercise. My Fev1 has steadily fallen over the last few years i'm about 57% now. My only excercise is walking my dog maybe 30 mins a day. I would love to improve my FEV and it sounds like more excercise might do the trick. My main issue is time i work a full time job and with the meds i have very little spare time. how do you all fit it in ??

Juniper · Aug 3, 2009

I'm really interested in what everyone is saying about excercise. My Fev1 has steadily fallen over the last few years i'm about 57% now. My only excercise is walking my dog maybe 30 mins a day. I would love to improve my FEV and it sounds like more excercise might do the trick. My main issue is time i work a full time job and with the meds i have very little spare time. how do you all fit it in ??

saveferris2009 · Aug 4, 2009