9 replies to this topic

[TeddyB]

Anyone else lifting weights while beeing on a tki? What are your experiences?

I was planning on starting very easy with a few times pr week, and then gradualy pushing myself a bit harder over time. My goal is to keep my muscles strong, not bodybuilding.

I did 30 minutes warm up and 30 minutes of easy lifting on thursday, and i feel like ive been run over by a truck today.

Teddy

[kellbell]

Ive been working out on and off since dx almost a year ago. It is different everytime. This time Ive been going to the gym now for two weeks and its not as hard as it was back then. Im not sore the next day but the day after that Im terrably sore. It's wierd that two days later I feel sore. I was expecting to feel it the next morning but I felt great, I work out every other day so the next day I was surprised, I also felt as though I was run over by a truck. It made it hard to work out that day but I am determined to stick with it this time! We'll see, good luck to you, and I hope it gets better.

[Marnie]

Just be sure to take it easy.  I had been lifting weights and over-did in March.  Ended up tearing something.  Originally thought it was rotator cuff, but an MRI ruled that out.  It's 10 months later and my shoulder is still not healed up.  Don't think the CML had anything to do with the muscle tear, but I surely do seem to heal up slowly since diagnosis.  I have to take part of the blame, however. .. I also think it's related to all of the motorcycle riding.. .I refuse to give it up in order to let things heal up properly.  Maybe since winter is almost here I'll have better luck.  As long as I don't do any damage snowboarding.  Sigh.

Marnie

[CallMeLucky]

Tried but kept getting injured.  Muscles were having trouble and long time to heal.  Waiting to see once I get settled on Sprycel if its any better, but on Gleevec I had a lot of trouble.

[LivingWellWithCML]

I do weights on Gleevec and I have been fortunate to have gotten stronger than ever since diagnosis almost two years ago.  I try not to overdo it and focus more on toning than mass, and I am now a lean and mean 6'1" and 145lb.  An upper body weight routine at the gym 3x per week is incredibly therapeutic for me.  I also think it masks the Gleevec fatigue, so I recommend it in moderation and as tolerated.  Today was a highlight, though, cause I ran almost a mile at the track this morning (first time since ankle surgery in July), then hit the gym afterward and even did almost 20 pull ups at my full body weight, which felt amazing.

I started the upper body routine from scratch about 4 weeks after I was diagnosed and I never looked back - the first couple of workouts are the toughest as your muscles incur natural damage and repair, but keep at it as tolerated and you should be fine.  Good luck!

[Cliffee]

Ive been lifting weights for many years and have continued to do so since my DX last July 2011. I take 600 Gleevac and it hasn't slowed me down a bit. I also hit the elyptical for 30 minutes three times a week.

I'm 45 yrs old.

I agree with Dan. Excercise really helps mask the fatigue. I have noticed that when I miss working out I start to feel the laziness kick in like you wouldn't believe.

[mdszj]

Teddy

I had been hitting my heavy bag for about the past 3 years after I decided I needed to get some general exercise and get rid of some upper back pain.  I used to be into karate and judo for almost 20 years, many years ago when I was in my 20 and 30's.  I am now 56, was diagnosed in July 2012, and am taking 100 mg Sprycel.  After a bit of a rough start when I was first diagnosed and had some platelet issues due to them tanking from the Sprycel, I stopped working out while I recovered from a splenectomy in September (I had ITP as well, prior to CML dx).  After a while I decided to quit feeling sorry for myself and started the heavy bag again.  It is a great general purpose workout.  One beneficial side effect of any type of exercise for me is it helps get rid of the Sprycel headache.

So I would say keep lifting, eventually the pain will disappear and you will feel invigorated and not be as tired.

Hope this helps, Mike

[cleocans]

I started lifting weights in January of this year.  Before that I ran a lot.  I have gained quite a bit of strength.  I do not feel my TKI, Sprycel, has affected my lifting at all.  But if you are just getting back to lifting weights or starting new you will be sore!  Sometimes as a beginner it will take longer for the soreness to go away.  But as you keep going and your body gets stronger it gets easier for your body to repair the muscles.  The soreness hopefully won't last as long!  But some days after upping some weights, I am sore for three to four days, but usually just a couple.  You just need to get your body some time to adjust!

Kim

[Ray99]

Just like many people on this board, I also work out two to three time a week, weight machine and treadmill.  It does help general feeling of wellness.  If you haven't work out for sometime and just got into it, you may feel tired.  But I am sure after a couple of times, you will feel better.

[TeddyB]

Thanks for the replies everyone!!

Good to hear others are working out while on a tki.

I did a lot of lifting when i was 16-21 years old, but im now 37, so it will be like starting from scratch i guess.

Was out shoveling snow for an hour today, so i think that is enough exercise for one day, but tomorrow or Tuesday i will go back to the gym for round 2, looking forward to it

Teddy