been going to the gym

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Trinityheart8891

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 31, 2007
Messages
286
Location
Northern VT
hey guys,
just figured I'd give a quick update, I've been trying to go to the gym again to do some low grade cardio and some core training (abs, chest and back)things are going ok so far, none of the fiasco I had last time I tried going to the gym. it is frustrating to moderate myself, and try to figure out what my limits are, I have figured out that I can do 45 mins on a treadmill at a leisurely pace, but the minute you add an incline (like the eliptical) or the minute it becomes isometric (weights, so far I am only using 5-6lbs) it gets me out of breath and causes symptoms, and I actually was kinda dizzy when I came off the treadmill the other day, but I am trying to watch myself. (I'm still pre op)

The one change I do see is that I have more energy afterwards. I dont know how much improvement, if any I'll get in my exercise capacity, but the energy I have afterwards is more than worth it. I dont really have any goals for going to the gym, except getting off my butt, and toning up a little bit (could use to replace some fat with muscle, but I probably wont lose any weight in the process, I wouldnt be happy losing any more than10 lbs anyways)

anyways, I just thought I'd let you know, does anyone have any tips/advice on the limitation factor at the gym? sometimes I'd just like to take off running, but I know I am not ready for that yet its hard to figure out how far I should push myself, and when I should back off, and sometimes I have too much mental energy for my own good, I dont need to dump my BP or go into ventricular bigeminy cause my head was up for something my body wasnt.

I gotta go now
laters
Morgan, 21
 
I would check with your cardio and a rehab program

I would check with your cardio and a rehab program

Hi Morgan -

Dizziness after mild exercise and long after surgery does not sound good. I would recommend seeing and talking with your cardiologist or GP then enrolling in a cardio rehab program where they can monitor you to make sure nothing serious is going awry.

Take care and good luck.

John
 
Dizziness

Dizziness

I've just started back to the gym myself (7 weeks post op). I can echo your experience on the eliptical. I've been walking quite a bit (just started on the treadmill...and slowly adding incline with no trouble). But, I tried the eliptical the other day and after about 10 minutes, I was pretty dizzy. I immediately got off and got on the treadmill and was fine. I'll probably go to cardiac rehab and let them put me on a monitor just to verify things are OK. You might talk to your cardio just to be safe (as others have said).

Take care....
 
You should get yourself a heart monitor so you can see when you reach you max without symptoms and then focus on maintaining that heart rate. Given your age you can probably get into the 150s without too much work, hopefully without symptoms. Anything over 130 is going to burn calories. Just find that sweet spot with a heart monitor and then you can work on endurance.
 
Good work, i too have just joined the gym and had an initial program set by a personal trainer.

Here's some tips...

Get a heart monitor, a cheap polar isn't much at all, the machines at the gym can be a fair bit off, especially the treadmill.

Do some light weights and floor work first, leave the running/cardio to the second half of your visit as you will burn more fat after you have used some of your initial energy.

Use light weights, never strain, assume that if you can't talk while you are lifting something then its too heavy for you...watch that heart rate monitor...

I have been given some core strength exercises such as squats (with a ball behind my back), ankle taps (wierd 1/2 situp things) and some other floor exercises just for the initial couple of months to get some core strenght back....they are the hardest.

Don't just do 45 mins on a treadmill and then walk away, even after i've done my core exercises and then weights i still have 30 minutes of cardio that i usually do.....i split this between 15 minutes on the treadmill and 15 minutes on a bike (its a sit down bike with a backrest). I work harder and sweat more on the bike....maybe because its at the end of my session or because its just better for me to push harder on it (i'm not a natural runner), i don't know.

I find the treadmill makes me (and everyone i've talked to) a little unsteady on your feet if you do it for a long period of time.

As for the eliptical i have no idea which machine that is...sounds like the weird ski type thing, if thats it then i can't stand that one and it makes me unsteady on my feet also.

Hope some of the above helps.
 
Rehab Stuff

Rehab Stuff

I'll echo what others have said about using a heart monitor when you workout. I really liked the information provided by the monitor during my rehab program and use one regularly now as a part of my exercise program.

There are a lot of material out there concerning heart zones training. A monitor and good heart zones training materials really help keep one from overdoing the self designed exercise program thing.

I'm also a firm believer in formal, hospital-based cardiac rehab programs.

-Philip
 

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