Post external Malaise hasn't disappeared

[Recovery Soon]

JR-

I have only slight remnants of PEM to minor life exertions. Prior to the program it was much much worse. I had the condition for a relatively short time and I was very concerned that activity would make me much worse. And it did.

After using the program the minor exertions stopped triggering me, which I took as evidence that I was on the road to recovery.

But exercise PEM s still as strong as ever.

As an example about a month ago I did a weight workout, and other things, like hitting a heavy bag, fpr a couple minutes. jumping rope for about a minute, and later going for a walk. I had no fear of these activities or anticipation of symptoms to follow, but continued because I was having so much fun (while carefully limiting the duration and intensity of the workout.

Then, just like clockwork. 36 hours later the bottom fell out, and I was very sick for the next 3 weeks.

So, yes, the minor exertion PEM is much better, almost gone...but the exercise PEM is just as strong as ever, which I find contradictory, and difficult to understand.

[neverpartyagain]

maybe you should give it some time and NOT do workouts or whatever everytime you feel better. give your body a rest. for me it sounds that you try exercise every few weeks to see if you feel better what is defintively wrong.

[JR]

Recovery Soon -

Hmm. I can understand why you would feel frustrated with what seems to be a contradiction. I wish I had a brilliant suggestion, but I don't. We're all just sort of figuring this out along the way, and hoping for the best. It does seem like you've received some significant benefit from the program though, which is good. All the best!

[Archangel]

Hi Recovery soon --

have you thought of doing some yoga? You can get quite a workout, but still, it is different than running, weights, etc. It sort of starts to circulate your body's energies.

Gabriel

[Recovery Soon]

Thanks for all the the suggestions.

nevertpartyagain- I have given lots of time without working out. Probably 6 months or longer. I just tried it recently.

Archangel- Yoga is a good suggestion. Other people have said that as well. Maybe I will give that a try at some point and see how it goes. I used to do yoga when I was healthy. I was also thinking about Tai Chi.

[BEATCFS]

lol "neverpartyagain" the story of my life...

anyways recovery soon:

I used to train heavily before cfs and know how you feel. I definitely recommend you try immunocal if you've tried the other two. Also I find High dose glutamine helps with intense work outs.

I do believe graded exercise has some merit when trying to get back into shape. Instead of just going hard because you feel good, stick to a set regime and progress slowly.

example:
week 1: 50% of 1rm
mon - bench 1x4 , rows 1x4
thurs - squats 1x4

week 2: 50% of 1rm
mon- bench 1x6, rows 1x6
thurs -squats 1x6

ETC

[trooper]

I also recommend yoga and/or Tai Chi. I have been doing yoga for about 10 years and find that I can tolerate these exercises. They also have benefits in terms of breathing and relaxing, very compatible with the Gupta program. Yoga is totally non-competitive, so I will sit or lie down during class if I feel I need to. I try not to let my heart rate get too high. I have just purchased a pilates reformer because I want to tone and strengthen my muscles and I can also do this, again, as long as I take care not to push myself too hard. You will make progress and get stronger.

[efly]

Hi,
Whats a pilates performer ?
Thanks
Efly

[trooper]

A pilates reformer is a machine invented by Joseph Pilates, I think about 1920. It was originally invented for dancers who were injured to exercise without further aggravating their injuries. It it easy on the joints and also gives you some stretching while building strength. I just turned 60 years old (20 years with CFS!), so it hurts my knees to do squats and those type of exercise, but no problems with the pilates reformer. Walking at a gentle pace, pilates, and yoga are the only exercises I can do without causing PEM, but of course if I do too much or push too hard, then I will have PEM. I've seen very modest improvement with AR but I'm not done yet. I'll keep working on it. I have 20 years to undo.