Hi guys
So I'm 6 weeks post double bypass op.
My cardio rehab team have referred me to the local gym. However, in hindsight I've decided it's not for me. I can't face going to the gym, come out in a sweat just thinking about it!
I was just wondering do you have any recommendations for home fitness videos? YouTube is a minefield, not sure which one to go for.
Cheers in advance! 😊
There plenty of info on the main BHF site about exercising with a heart condition, so perhaps give that a try. One linked below
bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo...
And there is a lot to be said for brisk walking, some experts say it can be just as good as flogging yourself in the gym under certain circumstances. If you do BBC sound podcasts look for Michael Moseley Just One Thing Exercise Special with Prof Marie Murphy.
Thank you very much for the info.
I will definitely gave a look,am already walking on a daily basis, always been a keen walker.
I go to local authority gym near me. It’s is a great friendly and supportive place. The staff are great and very understanding. I used to be anxious about it, but bit the bullet and don’t regret it. Gyms are not all full of muscular toned gods. There are lots of people just doing a bit to get healthier. You may be surprised.
Walking then running been good for me
HiYea I'm walking daily, always loved walking. So will definitely be carrying on with it.
Never tried actually running tho.
Hi Carsry, I think you should give the class a go. It’s more than just exercise , you’ll be supervised to show you the right levels of activity , you won’t be pushed (far from it , I found it a bit too easy but I was a gym bunny 🤦🏼🤣). You will also meet other people and be able to share experiences. My rehab class also offered other days where they brought in specialists in nutrition , mental health , resuscitation thst I found interesting and helpful. It’s an opportunity to learn about yourself , your pulse rate and be confident to then go it alone . I wouldn’t dismiss it because you don’t like the idea of going to a gym 👍🏻
Inspirational words mate, thank you!
I do attend the cardio rehab sessions which are great, but the gym option entails a referral to the gym at the local leisure centre.
I've a morning session booked which although isn't exclusive for cardio patients , it's at 9.30 on a weekday and I've been told it much quieter .
So, I'm going to put my big girl pants on and go along!
Thank you again 😊
My apologies for thinking it was the 6 week level 3 rehab. If you know your stats I agree you should do what you enjoy and will stick to for consistency. Anything enjoyable is going to get the best results , deffo don’t torture yourself with gym based stuff if it’s not your👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻❤️ Plenty of other stuff to consider once you know what you like , walking , outdoor work , dancing , anything that’s going to get your heart rate up to your required levels for the basic 150 mins a week.. I regularly clock up over 750 mins a week with my outdoor work round the farm 🤦🏼🤣 on top of training .
Jesus, you put me to shame 🤣!
Before my HA I used to walk up in the mountains, so my real aim is to be able to do that again.
Am tackling my first hill today so wish me luck!!
Good Morning Carsry
I do not have lived experience of this but having read many posts I have formed the impression that rehabilitation is really worthwhile.
You don’t say what exactly you have been referred for-is it a group post cardio rehab class, is having some personal training or is it that a trainer at the gym will see you and write you a an appropriate programme?
Gyms may seem very intimidating when you first go in but soon become familiar. I would doubt you would do anything hot and sweaty immediately -I imagine a programme would consist of something like a 5-10 min warm up walk at an easy pace followed by a few rounds of specific exercises using a machine that you will have had demonstrated to you, maybe some simple exercises (that you can also do at home) with or without weights eg squats/lunges/step ups…
If you have the chance to be shown how and what to safely and appropriate for your fitness and health, I would encourage you to go for it. What’s the worst that can happen? -if after 6 weeks or so of going you still think you dislike gyms at least you will have learned some things you can do at home. You never know-you might actually enjoy it. I hope so!
Thank you for your kind words.
So, I am taking part in the cardio rehab sessions, but they have now referred me to the local leisure centre.
I have a session booked during the time allocated to any cardio patients but the gym is also open to the public.
I have decided to give it a go see how I get on
Thanks again 😊
I’m going to go when I get to the top of the waiting list but feel very similar to you about the gym. I am walking but obviously not as far as I used to - yet. The only thing I can say is when I took my Dad to his 8 years ago, he was 80 and not the oldest there. That thought is keeping me going. If I thought they were all going to be 20 something size 10s I would be crying myself to sleep.
I’m going to give it a go and hopefully the reassurance of being monitored will help my long term recovery.
Good luck x
Thanks for your reply!
OK I am going to give it a go, will let you know how I get on 😊.
Xx
I’d love to hear how it is. Keep in touch xx
My cardi rehab team provided me with an exercise dvd, stretch bands and heart rate monitor. So I did mine all at home.
Push them for it and if they don't then refer to another place for it. Rehab should also have done an initial assessment in the hospital to assess your starting point
Sounds perfect.
Rehab carried out an initial assessment and apparently I'm fit enough for the gym!!
What's your dvd called please?
Hi the Dvd came from the rehab people I don't remember the name (2 years ago now). But I do remember that they sent me the links to the activities on YouTube and I did them from that.
I think there were three different levels so start with the easiest and if it's to easy move on. Rehab also gave me a booklet to fill in for every week with pre populated columns for effort, heart rate etc so they should be able to give you that
Excellent, thank you so much 🙏
post my OHS (2 years) cardiac support team actually ran the class at a local sport centre and i did not want to go , for many of the reasons you mention, but mostly i was a lazy over weight bloke ( then 68) .
going was the best decision i’ve made since my triple by pass .
the team were so supportive and they gave lots of talks before exercise going through what you can expect from life going forward and about the medications you might be taking.
Plus meeting people who had gone through heart issues ( some much worse than bypass surgery) was such a mental confidence builder and the trainer supplied from the sports centre was brilliant, she had developed a set of exercises along side the cardiac support team, to increase your health and more importantly how much you can do post OHS .
there was an option to get a cheap rate post the free support classes, which i didn’t take up , but have still kept myself physically active since then, but sometimes do miss the camaraderie of people going through similar issues as oneself.
That sounds ideal, I do find the cardio rehab sessions really helpful. However the gym sessions are at the local leisure centre with their staff.
I have decided to give it a go, and of course stick to my daily walk.
No, haven't been given any video recommendations as yet, apart from the BHF ones of course.
😊
In my group at Wythenshawe, we each had had several heart attacks, cardiac arrests and mitral blockages. That was 2011. Swimming was URGED. 13 years later, as I reply to this, I belong to another group in Newcastle who have a bloody good laugh comparing histories and lauding the efforts of Medics who have helped keep us alive.
Ta-ra!
Frank.
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