Re: exercises/

[Guest guest]

Hi i read your email about starting an exercise program. I work out 3 days a week. Usually every other day and then one weekend day every other weekend. I do a 30 minute cardio, and then one day i work on my upper body with weights then the next work out session i work on my lower body. I just alternated back and forth. I am with you on exercising. My doctors want me to exercise they encourage me to. I have a Trach and a stent. Exercising helps me keep my endurance up. I don't get tired as fast as i used to when i go out to the grocery store or getting out to go work out. I feel good after i work out, mentally and physically.

Take care

Original Message -----

From:

To: Rpolychondritis

Sent: Thursday, February 14, 2002 8:51 AM

Subject: Re: exercises

Hey, RPcisers(?): I think I may have heard you all groan whenever I have mentioned how important I think exercise/diet are. But exercising in some way as a group might be a fun way to get started and keep each other motivated. You know, if you tell yourself, "I'm going to walk for 1 minute 3 days in a row, and then 2 minutes the next 3 days, you've just started a progressive exercise program. If walking is not your thing, you can grab a can of soup and lift it 5 times per arm for 3 days, and build up from there. Since everyone starts at a different fitness level, your own doctor - when asked - can give you a list of exercises that take into consideration your physical limitations. I went to our hospital's Cardio-Pulmonary Rehabilitation Center and asked them for a copy of their warm-up and cool-down stretches. These are for people who are starting from scratch after major surgery. If your breathing is compromised (like mine) they can also give you a little sheet describing 'pursed lip breathing'.The benefits are many, but for me exercise is one part of my life that I can control. With different doctors telling me what to do, what pills to choke down, get this scanned, have that x-ray'd, I started feeling like they had taken charge of my life. But exercising has taken the place of my job and is something I have to work at. I'm my own personal trainer. The payoff is that my musculo-skeletal system is staying in shape so that when the RP cure comes along to repair my cartilege, I'm going to be ready.If we begin something as a group and are accountable to each other, we might just stay with it and provide support when we can't exercise and have to start over again. Your thoughts/comments? -- DISCLAIMER!!WE ARE NOT MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS, THEREFORE ANY INFORMATION THAT IS RECEIVED HERE IS FROM EXPERIENCE ONLY. PLEASE CONSULT WITH YOUR DOCTOR BEFORE TRYING ANYTHING THAT IS SUGGESTED. WE ARE NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR YOUR PHYSICIAN AND ARE NOT TRYING TO BE. REMEMBER EVERYONE IS DIFFERENT AND TREATMENT MAYBE DIFFERENT FOR MANY OF US. THANK YOU