Working out

[a2z]

I haven't been working out for a while, and with the pain from the occasional nighttime leg cramp lasting up to a week, I fear I wouldn't recover quickly if I started.

I just started meds (between 300 and 350 Cd4) -- has anyone had any experience with this, and at what point after being on meds or CD4 count did you start again?

[Peter Staley]

I'm on meds, on work out with weights twice a week.  My recovery time seems to be the same as HIV negative folks (a day or two of soreness).

Exercise is good for us.  Period.

[sanitex]

             Hi peter pls do not be angry for my interuption ,my question is ,now my cd4 seems fluctuation possible to work out with it and why my cd4 didn't go up like before? while i'm still on my Tb meds for almost 2months now remaining for 4months front to finish


27/12/07 cd4 20 vl 1000000
10/4/08 cd4 97 vl 63
1/7/08 cd4 186 vl undetectable
24/10/08 cd4196 vl undetectable

[bear60]

And I was just reading this article in Poz:
http://www.poz.com/articles/hiv_heart_exercise_761_15632.shtml

[hades01]

I agree with that!

I'm on meds, on work out with weights twice a week.  My recovery time seems to be the same as HIV negative folks (a day or two of soreness).

Exercise is good for us.  Period.

[denb45]

I agree with that!

Me too    work out 3 to 4 times a week with 25 min Cardio and at least twice a week with 45 min weight training, my soreness takes about a day or two.........

[hades01]

Isn't exercise suppose to help your immune system?  Don't over do anything, listen to your body and stop when you have to.  cardio is always good for your blood pressure.

[MYSTERY]

A more sensible approach is to view fitness as a lifelong activity that truly requires only a few intensive hours each week. Those 2-3 hour daily sessions in the gym are not only unproductive in the long run, but sooner or later this kind of commitment will be difficult for anyone to maintain and that's when you see the "throw the baby out with the bathwater" approach to fitness (meaning you would rather scratch your nails on a blackboard than go the gym). As with everything, the key is moderation.

"Previous studies have shown that an excess of athletic activity can actually depress immune function."
The human body regularly produces free radicals, unstable molecules that react with stable molecules and cause cellular damage which may contribute to heart disease, cancer, premature aging, and an impaired immune system. During intense exercise, free radical production is greatly increased which is associated with oxidative damage to the muscles, liver, blood, and other tissues.

Under normal conditions, free radicals are generated at a low rate and neutralized by the body's well-developed scavenger and antioxidant systems. However, if overtraining triggers a greatly increased rate of free radical production, the number of radicals may exceed the capacity of your cellular defense systems. The unrestrained extra outlaw molecules (free radicals) then assault your cell membranes, with a resulting loss of cell viability and an increase in skeletal and muscle damage.

The damage to and inflammation of tissues that often accompanies exhaustive exercise are the most apparent signs of free radical activity. This phenomenon is typical in long distance runners, tri-athletes, and bodybuilders.

One of the world's leading authorities on antioxidants and free radical research, Dr. Ken Cooper, states in his book titled, Antioxidant Revolution, "There are at least two ways free radicals are produced during intense exercise. The first involves an electron leak, which may occur during exhaustive exercise. The increase in the body's oxygen consumption during a heavy workout can increase 10 to 20 fold or more."

The second way free radicals are produced during exercise is through ischemia reperfusion.

The following checklist, developed by Dr. Neil F. Gordon of the world famous Cooper Institute for Aerobics Research, Dallas, Texas, should help you identify the symptoms of overtraining:

Changes in sleep patterns, especially insomnia
Extended periods of healing for minor cuts and scratches
Gradual loss of weight in the absence of dieting or increased physical activity
Loss of appetite
Listlessness/tiredness
Loss of libido or interest in sex 
Muscle and joint pains
Swelling of the lymph nodes
Irregular or no menstruation in premenopausal women
Excessive thirst and fluid consumption at night

[Peter Staley]

MYSTERY -- no one in this thread has suggested working out with weights more than a few times a week.  Everyone's suggestions sounded "sensible" to me.

[keyite]

I've cycled to work for many years, but started also going to the gym three times a week not long after diagnosis. It's a great scheme, run specifically for poz people by the YMCA, and quite apart from the physical benefits, it's been a great venue for socialising (and I don't mean the 'under the showers' kind ), as well as an unbeatable natural mood stabiliser during that initial and pretty grim year.

[MYSTERY]

MYSTERY -- no one in this thread has suggested working out with weights more than a few times a week.  Everyone's suggestions sounded "sensible" to me.

Peter, my thread is not meant to disagree with anyone it is just providing information to people that might come to this thread wondering about overtraining and how much to do. I agree with everyone who has posted here.