Lifting weights

[Guest guest]

> for all you exercise mavens and weight lifters:

>

> I am now lifting moderate weights. I assume NOT

> lifting every day is

> the

> best strategy? Or just what IS the best way to

> lift?

>

> Francesca---

There really isn't one best way to lift--there are

very many ways to lift weights, and each lifter has

his or her preferred program.

I suggest starting with a simple program, and

advance/change it as you get more comfortable with

lifting weights.

One example of a simple program would be to do a total

body workout each time you lift weights. You could

then lift weights for about 30-45 minutes, 3 times per

week (or twice a week if you couldn't fit in that

third session).

The simplest way to start is by using machines rather

than free weights. There are so many potential free

weight exercises, and form and technique are so

important with free weights, that it is easier to

start with weight machines.

One method is the method popularized by Nautilus, a

maker of weight machines. There are an assortment of

machines for the upper and lower extremities, chest,

trunk, etc. You can start with one exercise for each

body part (for example, one biceps ex., one triceps

ex., one lats (latissiums dorsi) ex., one " peck "

(pectoralis major/minor) ex., etc. The machines will

usually be labeled as to what body part they work.

You perform one " set " consisting of 10 repetitions of

the exercise, and then move on to the next machine.

After doing this for about a month or so, you can

perform 2 sets of 10 repetitions.

How do you know when to increase the weight (you

select the weight using a " pin " that goes between 2

weight plates)? : once you can perform 10-15

repetitions of an exercise comfortably, you can try

the next heavier weight (by moving the pin one plate

down).

Usually there will be someone in the gym who is

assigned to helping the new lifter get started.

You are 100% correct when you suggest that not lifting

every day is the best. To start out, 3x/wk is best

and simplest. You need to give your muscles time to

recover their energy supply (e.g. muscles store

glycogen) and to give them rest from the stresses

imposed upon them.

So lift one day, and don't lift the next day. Also,

if you eat something fairly soon after completing your

workout, your muscles will recover faster (this is

true for aerobic exercise also) than if you wait

several hours to eat.

Some additional considerations:

1. Warm-up: just don't walk in the gym and start

lifting. The best warm-up would at least include

getting on a bike or treatmill for 10-15 minutes and

raising your core body temperature, which includes

your muscles. You may want to very gently stretch a

bit after that.

2. Don't lift weights that are too heavy for you. If

you do, injury will probably follow. One of the keys

to any exercise program is to not get injured. So

stick to your plan of lifting moderate weights, not

heavy weights, especially as you start out. You can

lift heavier if you want, but ONLY later on.

3. Your main initial objectives are to just get used

to the machines, learn to use correct form and

technique, and just get a feel for body conditioning

with weights, without getting injured.

I will be happy to answer any questions you have

regarding this matter.

Bessen

rjb112@...

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Hi Francesca

It seems that the best time for a GH spurt is the morning on an empty

stomach. And with very heavy weights so that you are maxing the effort.

There are lots of aminos that can help it to kick in, arginine ornithine and

others. (apgl if I remember the letters correctly) But it seems that they

wear off after some months of consistent usage.

GH has a mixed jury, some say that it shortens lifespan though enhancing

youthful effects for awhile.

I have read that heavier weights with fewer reps do more for bones than the

light ones with many reps. Suz?

best

MM

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[Guest guest]

I would say with my experience -- which isn't much -- but I am on my third device, with the first being implanted in 1999.... I do not limit myself based on the ICD. I feel as long as your device has been implanted that your leads are very secure in their place. Now I do resistance training at the gym and do not limit my movements. However I am a woman and quite a weakling, so the most I move is about 50 pounds. So yeh - what is excessive???

I don't think you could pull your leads out of place now if you wanted to....(?)

Good luck to you.

~guin

Lifting weights

I've been looking for a straight answer on this topic for months, and I'm pretty sure there isn't one, but I'll give it a shot. Does anyone have any good advice about lifting weights with an ICD? Here's why I'm confused: My first EP who implanted my defibrillator in March '06 didn't give me any restrictions other than to avoid contact sports. But I found him flaky and inattentive, so I switched doctors earlier this year. My current EP told me weights are ok, but to avoid pushing motions like bench press or shoulder press because they could damage the lead. But then I talked to an exercise physiologist at the same hospital, and she told me those movements are fine as long as the weight is not excessive. The problem is that I didn't think either of them sounded particularly sure of themselves. So there's three different answers from three different doctors, with none sounding convincing. Has anyone had any luck getting real info on this?Right now I lift weights 3 or 4 times a week, but I'm constantly nervous that I'm doing something I shouldn't be.Thanks,

[Guest guest]

and Bill,

I was reading my email and not paying attention to who they were from and

when I got to Bills I knew who this one came from. Bill, you are a gem.

The next time I am talking with God I will remind Her that She should send a

few more folks like you to help the rest of us survive.

, Ask a fourth medical person and you are likely to get a fourth and

fifth answer. The next person is likely to give you a " Yes or No " answer

which counts as two.

Like Bill I have heard that any amount of working around the house is

definitely a no no. Work in general should be avoided unless you need to

work for such things as food and shelter. I have had my ICD for just about

two years and probably do things I am not supposed to do just because I

can't remember all the rules. I know I am not supposed to stick my fingers

in the wall outlet but I couldn't do that before I had the ICD. I tried

that once when I was a kid and it hurts a little.

Everything in moderation! That's my motto.

Joe Schmidt

God Loves Us All

Re: Lifting weights

----- Original Message -----

From: " " <

> Does anyone have any good advice

> about lifting weights with an ICD?

:

Lifting weights with your ICD is not a good idea. The ICD is very small,

and those little electric leads would probably break immediately. If you

must lift weights--and I cannot imagine why anyone would want to--remember

to spread the weight out evenly. Some for your spouse, some for your kids,

some for the guy that comes over to your house and drinks all your beer . .

..

Lifting anything with medical implants rarely is possible. the one

exception is Pamela whose implants lifted her career very

noticeably. The down side was that she could no longer lift herself from a

prone position without help. (Fortunately for her whenever she was in a

prone position there was someone nearby to help.)

So I'd be very careful about lifting weights. Somethings should never be

attempted because they are just too heavy, even fior a healthy male athlete.

Most notable among these is a wife's purse. The only thing worse than thing

to lift that is the psychological trauma of seeing what they actually carry

around all day.

From California where all of us husbands have regular wait training.

Bill

Please visit the Zapper homepage at

http://www.ZapLife.org

[Guest guest]

;

You might also call the Manufacturer of your ICD and ask their opinion -- what another opinion!?

I find the Reps very helpful at Medtronic.

Good luck,

~guin