Total Gym will this work?
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southernoregongrape
Posts: 117 Member
I can not stand and lift weights or I lose my balance, and I can not lift anything over my head or I can't breath. So I decided to sit on my Total Gym and use the pulleys instead of weights. That way, I am pulling my entire weight (146 lbs) forward with each rep.
At 74, I'm not interested in getting ripped, just building my upper body strength.
And opening my chest to hopefully improve my breathing or at the very least to keep it from becoming worse.
MY Dr. is very supportive of any and all exercise I am willing to do.
I also go to the YMCA (our insurance pays for that) 3 days a week and use the Nustep (cross training) machine for a half hour each time (100-150 calories depending on how soon I run out of oxygen).
I will be starting either water exercises or chair yoga twice a week when the new class starts the end of the month also at the YMCA,
I used to walk a lot, but I live on a hill 12-14 % incline, and I no longer can breath well enough to make it around the block.
At 74, I'm not interested in getting ripped, just building my upper body strength.
And opening my chest to hopefully improve my breathing or at the very least to keep it from becoming worse.
MY Dr. is very supportive of any and all exercise I am willing to do.
I also go to the YMCA (our insurance pays for that) 3 days a week and use the Nustep (cross training) machine for a half hour each time (100-150 calories depending on how soon I run out of oxygen).
I will be starting either water exercises or chair yoga twice a week when the new class starts the end of the month also at the YMCA,
I used to walk a lot, but I live on a hill 12-14 % incline, and I no longer can breath well enough to make it around the block.
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Replies
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Any resistance training is better than nothing.
And as your muscles get stronger, you can increase your angle and increase the intensity - which is the requirement for making progress.
When muscles are tapped out - then the body feels the need to make more.
But at least used muscle is needed muscle from body's point of view (if extreme diet not being done), so will help retain it even in a diet.
sounds like really good program.0 -
Thanks for the reply. I have searched all over for a group that has medical issues that keep them from heavy exercises and who are over 70 years of age but not been able to find one.
Most of the forum seems to be centered around younger and stronger folks.0 -
Most of the information - even for younger folks - is still from the perspective of what it means to you.
Lift heavy means for you for instance. And that's what Total Gym will give you.
Heavy means compared to someone doing some pink 2 lb dumbbells for 20 reps and it's not even hard for them, because they've been doing it for a long time.
The body has no need to repair and get stronger from something that was not a stress on it.
You can maintain what you've got of course, but improvement comes from stressing it up to the point it needs to do more - get stronger, grow more muscle, become more aerobic conditioned, improve the heart, ect.1 -
I started out lifting 2 lbs in one hand, I'm now up to 4 lbs in each hand. As heybales said, it's all relative.
25 years ago I was lifting 3, 5, and 10 lbs 8-10 hours a day 5-6 days a week. I worked in a chicken processing plant where I scaled bags of chicken wings all day, every day. LOL
I was at my smallest size ever in those three years. I miss those days sometimes, other times not so much. Now I have found out that I have a connective tissue disorder and I will never be able to get back to that level again, but I really don't think I'd want to either. 1 -
Pulling my weight forward on the total gym does stress my arms, and that is a good thing. After 10 reps, my arms are tired and I am panting for breath. I m trying to build up my diaphragm to help my breathing. My Dr. says that my lung function is below 50 %. That was determined by a test given by a specialist.
Thanks again for the comments and suggestions.1 -
It sounds like you have a great starting point going forward. Heavy is all relative to you, so if all you can handle is pulling your body up with the machine, it will definitely help you to improve in overall strength. As Haybales said as you get stronger, start to change your incline angle which will help to stress the muscles further.
May I ask what the issue is with your lungs? Are you on oxygen or are they compromised in any way?
Kelly
Team EM2WL0 -
It sounds like you have a great starting point going forward. Heavy is all relative to you, so if all you can handle is pulling your body up with the machine, it will definitely help you to improve in overall strength. As Haybales said as you get stronger, start to change your incline angle which will help to stress the muscles further.
May I ask what the issue is with your lungs? Are you on oxygen or are they compromised in any way?
Kelly
Team EM2WL
I have COPD, asthma, hayfever and chronic bronchitis. All brought on by smoking for many years. My Dr. says that I only have about 50% lung working now. I run out of breath doing any lifting even bringing the groceries in from the car. I'm not on oxygen, nor do I have a driving cart to get around. She wants me to try to live with this the best I can without aids, and also to do as much exercise as I can tolerate. She says that in her experience the ones who have carts get worse fast. I also do not have a special parking pass even though I qualify for one. We both agree, that walking is good for me and I know if I could park up close to the building I'd do so.
Thanks for asking.1 -
Thanks for sharing. This will help aid us in helping you find things that will help you get stronger and healthier and keeping your lung capacity in check:)
Kelly
Team EM2WL0
