Other than that, I have also remembered the importance of exercise. Yes, many people usually want to roll their eyes when they hear of exercise or staying healthy or fit at the beginning of the new year. Truth is, once I have tried to stay in shape and keep up with it no matter how difficult it may be, I have seen great results. Most people exercise to lose weight or get toned, but I have to keep reminding myself that it is crucial for living with CF to stay strong and have higher lung capacity. We often compare ourselves to others, but each of us has our own battle and needs that are sometimes different from everyone else's. I am hoping for higher PFT (Pulmonary function test) scores and for a little bit of tone, not to mention to hopefully cut down the CF belly a smidge :) While keeping up with exercise, I have noticed how my lungs clear out more gunk. I wish CF'ers could realize how cardio activity keeps lungs strong. It's hard to feel the pressure-like feeling on your lungs when you are running or increasing the incline on an elliptical, but afterwards they feel very open and free. It's a great feeling that is hard to explain. Not to mention I feel as if exercise prevents lung infections from stepping in. I often hear students say they get enough exercise by walking around campus, but I can't emphasize how cardio activity improves lung function. On top of that, I have noticed my digestive system works better while keeping up with abdominal exercises.
I can't express how grateful I am to have a free gym pass just by being a student and being able to use new equipment!! It's hard to go up the Mt Olympus stairs from the Smith Fieldhouse afterwards and I feel more out of shape when I do, but there's nothing like getting to the top and thinking about a good chocolate milk afterwards.
If you decide not to run out in the cold or can't make it to the gym, here are some tips I have. I am absolutely not an expert, but I can at least give a little bit of advice:
-For any of you cf'ers, keep up with abdominal exercises if you have digestion problems. It will help.
-Keep up with good, complete treatments. There have been some mornings where I have skipped Pulmozyme until nighttime, and remember during a workout when I feel a greater pressure on my lungs that I skipped Pumozyme that morning...
-If you have to choose between an elevator or stairs, always take the stairs
-Remember that carbs give you energy before (but not too shortly before) a work out, and protein afterward rebuilds the muscle that breaks down during the exercises.
-Don't try to do too much at once, otherwise you will want to give up. To keep good lung function, it takes keeping up with exercise and practice.
-And most importantly keep up with what you're doing and don't give up.
To sum this all up, I read a quote on Pinterst: "We must all suffer from one of the two pains: the pain of discipline or the pain of regret. The difference is discipline weighs ounces while regret weighs tons." I would rather live longer through discipline than suffer from other consequences. Besides, exercise isn't too bad as it becomes an accustom.
