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I was probably unclear, I've been doing heavier lifting, not getting heavier. This is because the cardiologist didn't seem worried about lifting heavier weights. I do walk but I don't really consider it an exercise. I always wear a 45 lbs vest and take my dog for 1-2 hour walks. It's not hard...

After my last annual check-up last fall I've noticed I've been going heavier than I have many years. This is only because the cardiologist didn't seem too worried about it and basically just recommended I don't do max lifts. How can the cardiologists guidelines and opinions vary so much?

How does one figure out pre-surgery exercise recommendations? I've been trying to do it for over 10 years but the more I look into it, the less I know. Every year a different cardiologist has a different opinion. 10 years ago I was told to not lift over 45 lbs, which is a ridiculous statement...

Almost two years without really lifting any heavy weights, until a few weeks back when for some justifiable reason I decided to start bench pressing again. Nothing too crazy, but yesterday I was lifting 160 kg (352lbs) with relative ease and then I realized, what the heck am I doing? Looking...

As boring as it may seem, moderation might be the key. Go heavier on smaller, isolation exercises (where going heavy doesn't mean you have to hold your breath), find variation and challenge in training through something else than increasing weights. I pretty much try to use as small weights as...

Lived in Espoo my whole life. I appreciate your message. I know my grandmother had her surgery done something 20 years ago (and she is still alive and kicking at 84). I'm not aware of the details regarding her condition pre-surgery. I have to bring up this genetic testing with my...

When I got into lifting weights (at around 16) I had done sports competitively since I was 6. However, I was far from an athlete. I was smoking, drinking, eating unhealthy, playing video games all day and night. Basically doing everything unhealthy except for drugs. I wasn't obese, because I was...

One of the most frustrating things in trying to find out what is safe for me to do is that the answers I've gotten have varied so much. I've visited 3 "leading" cardiologists (2 of them sportscardiologists) in addition to the annual check-ups with different cardiologists. The answers I've...

I've suffered from migraines since I was a child (migraine with aura). During my entire life I've only twice had migraine happen twice during the day, the last one just a few weeks ago. Pretty much exactly the same timetable as you had and I also had far worse headache after the second seizure.

The only thing that helps me cope with the situation, is the thought that I'll one day (after the surgery) be able to return to heavy lifting. I don't when in how many years the surgery will be or what my life might look like then, maybe I'll have different aspirations by then. Currently it is...

Just an update. In August I gave up bench pressing and the other heavy lifting I had done for the past 6 months. Now, for the past months I've been lifting more frequently (5x a week) than before, but lighter. I don't go to failures and I work in rep ranges from 10-15, sometimes even 20-50...

I know there is not a doctor in the world that would recommend I would do powerlifting in my current state and that is not what I am looking for (been there, done that). I am trying to find out what doctors would suggest is safe for me to do in my current state and dream that one day (post-op) I...

What are your thoughts and what have your experiences been with repetition ranges? My cardiologists have basically always advised to do longer sets. I just don't think it matters that much if you are doing sets of 5, 6, 8 reps or 15, if you are always leaving a few or more reps in the tank...

I really appreciate all the replies. It's a tough situation, to feel physically absolutely great and strong - but having to restrict yourself so much in training. I've struggled for years trying to give up heavy lifting, as I feel it's such a huge part of my identity, what I love doing and what...

Just a quick background, I'm a 26 year old male, I've been lifting weights since I was 16-17. I was diagnosed as a child with BAV and currently (without trying to butcher what the doc's have told) the heart is functioning great, there is small leakage and I have an aneurysm at approximately...