Know your own body

[loucogringo]

i am 23 years old, and was born with cf. I have played football at school/county level, and then switched to tennis. I have won a national doubles title, spent two years on a tennis academy, got a big schlorship to play tennis for a USA college ranked 4th in the nation, and got a contract to tennis coach at a huge sports academy in New York. I am currently competing semi-pro at tennis, and plan to become a personal trainer in June. In addition, i am also signed up to become a ski instructor in Canada, 2006. I travel whenever i can, and go to the gym four times a week.Exercise is obviously a big part of my life, but the amount of times i have been encouraged not to push my body so hard, and rest more etc...Well, ironically, the worst i can remember myself being was when i had a chest infection and followed orders to sleep it off. This my work for people without cf, but i found it fatal for me, and just gave the infection time to grow. The lack of activity on my lungs meant the infection took control. To cut a long story short, it ended my USA tennis dream, and i decided not to return after one semester.No one would believe me if i told them i have cf, because how I look on the outside is very deceiving, and masks the damage inside!I am a strong believer that injurying a muscle is better than losing your lungs.What are your views on exercise?

 

[Diane]

I have to agree with you that staying active is always best. I always tell my mom exercise is like stirring your iced tea....If you just let the tea sit without stirring it , everything sits at the bottom and the iced tea is lousy and noone will want to drink it. If you stir it, all the ingredients mix together well and it is great ! <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif" border="0">
~Diane 40 / cf / diabetes / b.cepacia

 

[supermanfan]

<blockquote>Quote<br><hr><i>Originally posted by: <b>loucogringo</b></i><br>
I am a strong believer that injurying a muscle is better than losing your lungs.
What are your views on exercise?<hr></blockquote>

Absolutely. You lose your lungs you lose your life.

 

[Mockingbird]

Yes, exercising is good. Definetely exercise while you can 'cause it can get very difficult very quickly. =-) Even if it is just walking it can make a lot of a difference. I don't know about exercising with a lung infection though. If your body isn't getting enough oxygen and you are exercising, you can give yourself a heart attack! It's important to know your limits.

Jarod
22 w/cf

 

[loucogringo]

Yep, exactly.
I always find it interesting, that i often feel good towards the end of the day, when i have been moving around all day, but then wake up feeling chesty again. Its catch 22 really. You must push yourself in the day to stay fit, but you must sleep to let your muscles recover. Of course, when you sleep your lungs are dorment, allowing the hard work to be undone again. This seems a harsh cycle, where being a robot that doesnt need sleep would be the only answer! I believe all you can do is treat every day as the only day, like a groundhog day if you want. Just because you felt great yesterday, did your physio, exercise, took your tablets etc, nothing is banked the next day, and you must do it again.
tom.

 

[loucogringo]

Ok fair enough,
exercising with an infection isant recommended, but it depends how bad it is, and what the individual is used to. Why stop your gym routine, just adjust it to lighter weights, slower speeds on the treadmill, less reps etc. I believe the only thing other than a cure that has the potential to work miracles is the power of the mind. It is greatly under used, and can pull you through when your not at your best. I feel stronger in the mind when i keep exercising, as it sends out a message to your body that getting ill isant a way out, and your still in control!
Chris

 

[anonymous]

Whenever I have an infection depending how bad it is I try my best to keep up the excersise no matter how weak I am. I find that to bring me out of my slump. As far as having a heart attack at this age from exersising is pretty rare, especially in the shape you are in with all the excersise. Keep up the good work man and hang in there.


Nate 25/CF