Re: Exercise - weight lifting

[Guest guest]

Hello Mike,

Very Warm Welcome to you! I am Joana from London, and I have CMT type one. All

doctors who I have seen through the years told me to go way of weights...but I

have to say now.. This year I started to do weight at the gym!

Funny enough, I could see some differences in my body. I never over do it..not

at all! I am doing slowly and take my time while doing it...and also I started

to do the treadmill...I never thought I could do it, but now I am doing almost

every day!

Also I do some hydrotherapy. Taking Vit C and E helped me too. I wonder if

someone does weights here?

My legs started to look better and stronger and so my arms. I have to say that

this is my personal view. NOT many doctors knows a lot or enough about CMT ,

what we can , and what we can not do...who really knows??? This is sad but it is

true!

I found that I need to see things for myself instead of listen to some doctors!

I really try to use the common sense here! If my body tell me to stop, I

do...and after I continue exercise again, and I carry on like that!

I wish you all the best!

Enjoy !

Joana

> Hello, I am new to the group - glad to have found this resource.

I

> was diagnosed with peripheral polyneuropathy about 2 years ago, at

> which point my brothers and mother were tested similarly and the

> condition was determined to be of the hereditary variety.

>

> I'm a 26 year old male, generally in pretty good physical

condition.

> I would say at this point that the fatigue and soreness are the

most

> bothersome of CMT symptoms to me. I try to exercise a few times a

> week, both cardio as well as weight training. I have noticed that

> weight training has not produced results I was used to seeing a

few

> years ago.

>

> Can anyone comment as to including weight training as a part of an

> exercise regiment, and any tips or special considerations for

people

> with CMT? I guess I shouldn't expect to gain a significant amount

of

> muscle mass, but I would think that keeping muscles active an

> exercised would be beneficial. Any help would be appreciated.

>

> Thanks for reading!

>

> Mike

[Guest guest]

Mike,

I am 59 years old, have CMT, and have lifted weights for the last 30 years.

I took a break this year because of major reconstructive surgery on my right

foot. I swim now and will add weight training as I am able. The weight

machines are great and eliminate some of the concerns about balance. I

will have surgery on my other foot in January. I can honestly say that

weight training is one of the best things I have ever done for myself.

There is some concern about excessive lifting and I would not recommend

trying to amass muscle. When I worked out too hard, I was very fatigued and

had to rest, but next time I would lift lighter and bounced back OK. That

said, I am 5'11 " had 16 inch biceps, 46 inch chest, 34 inch waist, and

weighed about 200 lbs. when I was working out regularly and am confident I

can and will attain that again. My upper body strength was an enormous

benefit when I was hopping around on a walker, lowering myself into the

bathtub, etc. following surgery. My thought is--go for it, but listen to

your body as to rest and pacing. Good luck.

Tom

[Guest guest]

Thank you to all who responded, I really appreciate the help!

Tom - thanks for your story. I almost exclusively use weight

machines when I lift, largely due to the balance issue. I try to do

2 days of weights each week, and cardio at least 2x a week. I've

definitely noticed increased soreness from lifting, but I think more

noticeable has been the fact that I haven't been able to build even

a small amount of muscle, using the same program that had previously

(prior to ~2 yeras ago) worked for me. I have a pretty small frame,

and am not trying to gain significant mass, but would like to see

some realistic results. Regardless, based on what I've heard here

and from others, I plan to continue my program, if only for the

reason that it sounds as if, no matter how you do it - swimming,

yoga, pilates, etc - that for people with CMT it's almost more

critical that muscles are exercised.

You said that after your recovery is complete that you plan to

attain your previous results - do you find that it is better to do

a " heavy " day, and then follow up with a " light " day, or just in

general lift as you would, and as you experience more fatigue to

take adequate rest? Just wondering if building in a lighter day may

help both reduce the fatigue and maybe help me get more out of my

workouts - maybe I should give that a try.

Thanks again - very cool that so many of you have been able to

contribute your experiences.

Regards,

Mike

[Guest guest]

Dear Tom,

I am so pleased to read your email.Thanks a LOT!!!!

Wondeful to know this news.

Can you imagine that my doctor here in London and also in Brazil

always told me that I should not do any weight..NEVER!

And now to see your email...it is really great because I started to

do wheight at the gym this year and really enjoy a lot!

I don't feel tired at all aftewards!Just occasionaly...if perhaps I

do a bit too much..lol

I do Feel great!

Yes, I do not over do, I do listen to my body at all times, as you

said.

I am only 51 and I hope to continue doing this from now on!

Have a Wonderful Day There Tom!

Take care and Good Luck with your foot!

Joana from London

[Guest guest]

Mike,

My lifting routine varied greatly as I experimented with what worked and what

didn't over a period of many years. I usually added some aerobic

activity--swimming or stationary bike riding. There was a time when I attempted

to follow the yammering of trendy magazines about sustaining an elevated heart

rate for 20-30 minutes, 3-4 times per week to get what was widely believed to be

necessary for so-called " aerobic benefit " . This in addition to weight lifting.

It was way too much and wore me out, So, I threw away all the magazines and I

began listening more carefully to my body and eventually ended up lifting 1

heavy day and two light days per week, mixed with a swim or two or a slow ride

on the stationary bike. Occasionally, I would talk to friends at the exercise

club and work out very little. At times, I would change my routine completely,

lift heavier and lighter during the same routine. Here's the thing, I always

feel better, physically and emotionally when I exercise and remain active.

Conversely, I am much more likely to feel sluggish and irritable when I lay on

the couch too much.

My advice Mike, listen to others for ideas and hints, then

experiment to see what works for you. You are the best judge of what's right

for you.

Tom

[Guest guest]

I am happy to hear that so many of you can still swim, work out with

weights and do difficult water aerobics. I had to give up swimming

because when I straightened my legs, they " froze up " ; I got leg cramps

and my knees would not bend.

I still do water aerobics, but only twice a week now; I was in better

shape when I went daily. There are some water exercises I can't do

very well, but I try them anyway; I have a problem with exercises that

involve walking across the pool. And . . . I'm not as co-ordinated as

I once was.

I still work out in the gym, using various equipment; but I find

myself decreasing the amount of weight I use. I never directly lift

weights with these shaky arms--I use machines with cables and pulleys

to do the work. I also use hand weights in water aerobics.

Joe

[Guest guest]

Thanks so much Tom. I agree, I definitely feel much better when

getting to the gym 3-4 times a week, I think it helps to ofset the

fatigue. I am going to try staggering heavy and light lifting days,

and see if on the whole this shows better results for me versus

regular heavy days.

Thanks again!

Mike

[Guest guest]

Years ago I met some one named Benji on a CMT list. He did a lot of weight

training. I hope he pops up soon so you can talk to him.

[Guest guest]

Joana,

It is amazing to me that any doctor would tell people not to lift weights. Many

research studies demonstrate the value of lifting weights, especially for women

who have often been discouraged from weight training simply because they are

female. Even nursing home residents in their 80s, both male and female, who

lift weights have fewer falls, fewer injuries, and overall better health. The

idea of lifting weights often conjures up images of Arnold Schwartzenegger,

which almost no one can achieve, so we are discouraged.

You are a shining example of someone who SHOULD LIFT WEIGHTS, not sit idle and

wither away. Please keep ignoring your doctors and take

care of yourself.!!

Tom