Exercise-how much is too much?

Evamutt

I was doing HIIT classes from June -Sept 2017 & really pushing myself till I got non life threatening arrhythmia. I only take ONE medication & am in fairly good health heart wise. One of the side effects of this med, was the kind of arrhythmia I developed so I quit taking it & I'm almost back to normal now. It's not for sure it was the med, so I'm not sure about going back to the classes. I REALLY enjoyed going. The trainer said to go at my own pace & maybe even do half the class. I'm curious of your opinions. I know we're all different but hoping some of you had more experience with possibly over doing it. I've almost always gone to the gym but did my own thing which is no where near the intensity of the classes. They stopped all the other classes, like water aerobics, zumba,& stretching I was going to

d_thomas02

As I've gotten older, I've noticed that I have to listen to my body a lot closer than I did in my youth.

I can't run a sub 30 minute 5K anymore (there is a joke in there somewhere...). Doesn't mean I don't run. Just have to choose a pace my body can live with. (And I'm positive that pace will get slower as the years continue to go by.)

For years I was proud of the fact that I didn't need meds. Now I'm on blood pressure and cholesterol meds. Diet and exercise just were not keep things in control anymore.

I have to be careful spinning wrenches now. Very easy to pull muscles if I try to just muscle through a stubborn bolt.

Getting older sucks sometimes, but it sure beats the alternative.

While I agree with your trainer, I'd also discuss it with the doc who prescribed your meds. Life is about balancing risks and benefits.

SummerSkier

Well - since you don't know the cause for sure, can you ask to get perhaps a stress echo test done. I would think if you were going to have heart issues during HIIT or aerobic type exercise that would be a good thing to get evaluated first. I am not a doc, but I think with heart issues you REALLY have to be careful and listen to docs vs trainers or the internet.

MostlyWater

You gotta listen to your body and your dr.

UncleMac

MostlyWater wrote: »

You gotta listen to your body and your dr.

Exactly!! Although if your body starts calling you bad names, don't listen closely... lol

Evamutt

I had echo-stress test done Dec 2016 & it was good. I'm getting new insurance & new Dr Jan 1. My heart was back to normal 6 days after i stopped taking it, then like an idiot, I took one 2 days ago & symptoms came back. ugh! No more of that med. Even so I think the classes were too intense anyway. Too many squats etc. So I'm waiting to feel normal again & get back to my own routine. I haven't gained wt scale wise but I lost my firm abs

UncleMac

If weight loss is the goal, my dietitian told me that the 80/20 rule applies.

In other words, it is 4 times easier to lose weigh through changes of diet & portion control than through exercise. He suggests exercise is important for quality of life reasons rather than weight loss.

If exercise reaches the point where it's negatively affecting your quality of life, time to reassess.

Farback

I agree with my friends here, go as hard as your body allows. I exercise hard, but I do notice my 61 year old scarred heart likes naps in the afternoon or after dinner more than I used to. I'm only on 20mg statin and a 81mg aspirin a day, and worked very hard to be cleared to return to firefighting after my heart attack in 2014. I hate taking any drug, and tend to ignore my age, but it and the damage are real.

BBee5064

Great advise Farback

Evamutt

thank you all for the great advise!