Exercise is . . .

Exercise is . . .HARD!!

I’ll be honest, I was one of the last kids to complete the mile in high school.  I walked when I could and only ran when forced. I came up with every excuse possible to get out of even changing for gym, let alone participating. If you would have told me that years later, I’d be running by my own choice, I would have laughed at you.

Well, here I am, years later and trying to run.  I believe that, as unpredictable as CF is, we do have some control over the disease.  I’m not saying that if you are 100% compliant with treatments and you exercise everyday, you will live to be 110, but I surely don’t think compliance and treatments can do any harm. In fact, I think it is one of the few ways we do have some control over our disease.  Exercise, as much as I hate doing it, makes me feel better.

I started exercising a few months ago, using my iPhone and the app, Couch to 5k. I am enjoying using the app, even if I can’t complete the rigorous course it provides in only 9 weeks. Unfortunately, I fell behind after getting sick and gave up on it altogether.  It’s hard for me to find motivation to keep doing it because I truly hate it that much.  Now, however, the idea of a potential pregnancy has me working at it harder than ever.  If there are any ways I have control over my PFTs and how my lungs feel, exercise and treatments are it.  I would love to see my PFTs increase prior to becoming pregnant and I will work my tush off to make sure they stayed high.  So, I’m jogging/powerwalking (continuing the Couch to 5K app) and this time I’m doing it with my best friend which means it keeps me on track and helps me not to focus on how hard it is to breathe or how much my legs are burning.

It’s still difficult though and I still despise actually running.  I’m looking forward to the day where I wake up everyday wanting to run – I just don’t know if it will ever happen.  However, after today’s 1.5 mile walk/jog in thirty minutes, I felt GREAT.  My lungs felt so much larger and I coughed and coughed and coughed for hours afterwards.  I didn’t get anything up but I sure got it moving around and I’m ok with that (although, I prefer the former, obviously). 

I am SO proud of this screen right now!



So, here’s to my new workout program and hoping that I can stick with this one. I want to walk into my CF clinic next month and have my FEV1 higher!!  If it’s not higher next month, then in three months hopefully it will be where I want it. No matter what, exercise isn’t doing me any harm so I will keep at it as hard as I can!!