Exercise?

Alohagirl · Post by **Alohagirl** » Fri Aug 12, 2016 10:16 am

Aloha - I am wondering what people with MC do to stimulate the immune system by exercising? Does research back that it helps? If so, what are people finding they are able to do & what helps in light of fatigue that often accompanies MC? Thanks in advance!

Leah · Post by **Leah** » Fri Aug 12, 2016 12:31 pm

HI there. I am a personal trainer, so I had to deal with this tenfold! Taking about 10.000 mg of vitamin D helped a lot. What I think is best if you are in the throes of MC symptoms is to do yoga and/or pilates until you feel capable of doing more.... Good luck!
Leah

Vanessa · Post by **Vanessa** » Fri Aug 12, 2016 2:23 pm

If I couldn't get out for my morning jog (because of bathroom trips) I would do something indoors, a DVD of circuit training or something off of youtube. I would fight through the fatigue and do it anyway even if it meant a nap later. Usually it made me feel better when I was done.....Fatigue and energy levels got a lot better once my magnesium started absorbing better.

Leah · Post by **Leah** » Fri Aug 12, 2016 2:39 pm

Good for you! I also exercised through it.... just a bit less

Erica P-G · Post by **Erica P-G** » Fri Aug 12, 2016 7:57 pm

Walking and just moving in general has helped once I got my VitD and Mag introduced a while. Then I was able to get outside and pull weeds, and clean house bit by bit....that is considered exercise too

Now I can walk around my block and I feel good for doing it, but I also know that when I have really good days I over do and that checks me up a notch or two for a few days.....I haven't learned how to restrain myself just yet.

jessica329 · Post by **jessica329** » Sat Aug 13, 2016 6:32 am

Right now I am only doing Pilates with my Mom once a week. She is a certified private Stott Pilates instructor and says that keeping the spine strong, supple and flexible through gentle exercise is the most important for long term good health. Even though we only meet once a week, each week I notice a definite improvement in my strength and flexibility. Right now we are experiencing a really nasty heatwave, but once it breaks, I also walk loops around my house and ride my bike on good days. I do any and all exercise in the early evening.

Marcia K · Post by **Marcia K** » Sat Aug 13, 2016 2:59 pm

I walk around my development every evening which is around 22 minutes. I also kayak occasionally. I don't do anything strenuous or push myself. I feel good on most days. At 5'3, 115 lbs. I don't want to do anything to lose weight.

Chemgirl · Post by **Chemgirl** » Wed Aug 17, 2016 1:55 pm

I find exercise helped a lot. In the beginning I just stuck to yoga and some cycling (indoors when I was worried about bathroom trips). Eventually I added in some resistance training and now I run. I think it's ok to push yourself a bit. I find exercise to be a fabulous way to work out the stresses in life and that in turn helps with the MC.

I just want to add that even if the fatigue makes exercise seem impossible, it really does help to move around even if it's just 15 minutes at a time. It's all about making fitness a habit and building on a base so you feel like you can actually get out and do it.

humbird753 · Post by **humbird753** » Sun Aug 21, 2016 2:36 pm

Even though MC depletes us of all energy, strength and stamina, I realized early on after reading here that it is extremely important to exercise no matter what that meant to me versus someone else. As we all know, our digestive system is trying to heal, and healing utilizes a lot of protein. If we are unable to get protein from the foods we are eating due to the inability to absorb it, this will lead to a loss of muscle mass (the only other source of protein our body has available). As my system continued to heal, I increased the types of exercising I was able to do. In addition to joining an exercise club, I am back to golfing several times a week, also kayaking this summer, walking 4 to 5 miles most evenings, and mow/weed yards and gardens we have. I didn't think I would ever regain strength or energy (but have), in addition to a lot of muscles I had lost.

Like Leah and Vanessa have pointed out, they exercised through all of this, but did less due to MC. I found that to be true for me also. In the beginning just pushing myself to care for myself and keep up with the day-to-day basics in my home seemed overwhelming, but I did it anyway, and also added a small amount of exercise routines into my daily schedule. Prior to MC I was always very physically active, so the symptoms did force me to do less.

Paula