Jealous of the heavy lifters!

Any strength training is better than nothing, for sure. Can you do body weight exercises? Push-ups, pull-ups, squats, etc, are all great. Movements that work your core like holding plank positions for a long time are also good.

Also, while pushing yourself is certainly good, just be careful. If your doc has really put a 25lb limit and you're almost doubling that you need to really consider if it's worth any potential injuries.

Yes, any is better than none and it sounds like you're doing great. I would be careful and listen to your doctor.

What does your doctor say about non-lifting resistance like pool runs, etc? That might be an option.

And, please, don't start doing bodyweight routines without your doctor's say-so. I can't imagine why you'd be medically restricted from lifting more than 25 pounds but be allowed to do pushups, which are akin to pressing much more weight than that. I don't know anything about your condition, but I can't think of a reason that lifting a physical weight would be dangerous that would not also make bodyweight exercises dangerous as well...

jhc7324 wrote: »

Also (I don't know if this is the situation in your case or not) many doctors have very little practical knowledge of physical therapy/strength training. A lot of times they'll just recommend you avoid something (like heavy lifting) because they don't understand it, and not that it really is important that you avoid it. If you get this impression from your doctor, question him more forcefully about it, and ask for a recommendation/referral for a physical therapist, or other such expert that might have a better understanding of how heavy lifting actually impacts your condition.

In my experience, Docs are far more likely to say "Don't do this" when the real answer is "It would be beneficial to do this, as long as you go about it the right way"

I've seen several people post with situations like that. It might be beneficial to try and find a healthcare team that includes a physical therapist who understands your medical condition and is able to work with both you and your doctor.

Dear Riotgrrl, sorry about your condition. Many focus on compound movements, moving big weights with many muscles at once, but it's hardly the only way.

Bodyweight exercises (if approved) can be almost as good--consider a push-up is very similar to an upside-down bench press! You can play with volume or even intensity by adding an incline/decline to the movement or lifting yourself with fewer limbs.

Resistance bands (if approved) are another way. Perhaps you can't safely lift 30lbs, but it's okay to push your muscles against 30lbs of resistance bands?

Isolation exercises (if approved) are also an option. These would take longer, but if a 3-muscle movement that moves 65lbs is out, three 1-muscle movements that move 25lbs is a reasonable replacement. It might take more time and there are some exceptions!

Finally, your condition is unique enough, do you think your doctor might write you a prescription for a few physical therapy sessions so a professional can teach you safe movements and exercises for your situation? Even I use a trainer due to (justified!) worries about self-injury.

gotolam wrote: »

Why are all of you suggesting bodyweight exercises as an alternative to her doctor imposed limitation?

Because as most of us have already said, her condition sounds serious enough for most of us to not want to risk lifting. Of course, it's OP's choice, especially since we don't know what her condition is and aren't doctors.

hollydubs85 wrote: »

gotolam wrote: »

Why are all of you suggesting bodyweight exercises as an alternative to her doctor imposed limitation?

Because as most of us have already said, her condition sounds serious enough for most of us to not want to risk lifting. Of course, it's OP's choice, especially since we don't know what her condition is and aren't doctors.

Well her upper body weighs more than 25 pounds so doing something like pushups could potentially be something she shouldn't be doing.

According to her profile, she has lung problems and has had associated heart problems.

OP: your health conditions are serious and I understand that weight loss is beneficial, but you should probably be focused on losing and keeping the weight off through diet, and not disobeying your doctor's orders.

Yes, strength training is great, no matter the amount of weight you lift.

CA_Underdog wrote: »

deksgrl wrote: »

[Well her upper body weighs more than 25 pounds so doing something like pushups could potentially be something she shouldn't be doing.

That's why most suggested checking these suggestions (bodyweight, resistance, isolation) with her doctor and also checking if he could engage a physical therapist to help her.

and not disobeying your doctor's orders.

It doesn't sound like she intends to disobey her doctor--she actually said she'd ask her doctor about these. But, these are prudent and helpful concerns to have. Safety first!

She said she is lifting 40 # but her doctor told her not more than 25.

riotgrrrl39 wrote: »

I am sorry that I did not clarify what my condition is. I have an autoimmune lung disease that has cause two secondary conditions, Pulmonary Hypertension, and Congestive Heart Failure. The heart failure is minimal, it's the Pulmonary Hypertension that causes the limitations. I work with a respiratory therapist when I do the workouts I do now. They know of my limitations. I can feel a very weird warning "pressure" in my heart and lungs if I do something too heavy, so I don't try and push past that. I do wall push ups, and can handle a short (very short) plank. I will talk to my Doctor about anything heavier. He means well, but I do think they underestimate what I can do. The 25# limit is just what is stated on all the websites about PH. Per Cleveland Clinic: "Activity guidelines:

Restrict lifting, pushing, or shoving to less than 25 pounds, since these activities increase the pressure in your arteries and lungs. "

So yeah, there's that.......but.....oh, and I also watch what I eat and eat at a deficit.

I apologize I was not clear before.

I give you major props for what you've achieve given what you've listed above.

Not to put a dampener on things, but bodyweight routines might not use external "weight", but the load is still present - as is the systemic stress.

I would continue to improve on your wall push ups and planks in the context of the supervision of your therapist. Just take it slow and with expert medical advice. If your doctor is concerned what excess load could do to you, then it seems sensible to abide by his concern.

In any event, only your medical team can give you the advice you seek here.

riotgrrrl39 wrote: »

I only wanted to know if it was possible to achieve any benefits of lifting at what I am able to do now, not so much how to increase what I lift. I have fought so hard to stay as healthy as I can and stay out of the hospital as much as possible. I won't risk it for vanity's sake. I just want to do SOMETHING to get back to what I used to be.

It sucks, but only your doctors can really guide you here.

By doing more challenging bodyweight variations, you'll get stronger, but you'll also be increasing the load. There's just no way to get around it.

Increased strength requires load progression. Whether that's a bigger dumbbell, more plates on the barbell or a more challenging push up variation. At some point you need to increase the load to get stronger - doing the same thing with a load or exercise you've already adapted to will cease to make you stronger. But to increase the load past a certain point could be deadly to you. Where's that line you can't cross?

EWJLang wrote: »

You can do many isolation type lifts with dumbells of 20 pounds or less and get some of the muscle benefits you seek. Heck, I regularly do 20 reps of tricep extensions with a 5 pound dumbell and can feel a little soreness the next day in the dreaded bingo wing zone. Perhaps some single-sided rows and extensions would be good for your upper body, and some weighted side leg lifts for your glutes?

Limited load doesn't mean no possible muscle work, just lighter and gentler. Just do what you can within the parameters of your own safety, and think positively about the good work you are doing.

^^ This.

Lifting heavy things does strain your lungs and heart. It also temporarily raises fluid pressures in your head (people with certain types of glaucoma should not lift).