I was not diagnosed as HCM until I was 57. All my life I could not run or even jog. I'd collapse when I tried. But I could use weights. I've been working with weights for many decades. I slowly work up. When I was diagnosed they all told me no weights, and I told them to forget it. I had no intention of stopping doing what I'd been doing for so many years with good results. I simply leveled off on my efforts. Then I found it boring to just keep doing the same thing, so I started working up an the weights again in 2 pound intervals.
Recently they were discussing a defib with me and they said that my heart didn't show that much thickening. Now if you reach the age of 60 and after decades of weight lifting there is no effect, it hardly seems like such a no-no. Of course that just me and for others it might be a problem.
I do believe that each well toned muscle in my body aids my weak heart. I continue to do a substantial weight routine on Medex machines at the gym. Back lifting 230 pounds, leg presssing 300 pounds for instance. There is nothing that makes me feel worse than neglecting my weights.
It really is an individual situation--Guidelines are only guidelines. Being a weakling is a big risk factor in life in many ways other than HCM. We all have to make our own choices.
Recently they were discussing a defib with me and they said that my heart didn't show that much thickening. Now if you reach the age of 60 and after decades of weight lifting there is no effect, it hardly seems like such a no-no. Of course that just me and for others it might be a problem.
I do believe that each well toned muscle in my body aids my weak heart. I continue to do a substantial weight routine on Medex machines at the gym. Back lifting 230 pounds, leg presssing 300 pounds for instance. There is nothing that makes me feel worse than neglecting my weights.
It really is an individual situation--Guidelines are only guidelines. Being a weakling is a big risk factor in life in many ways other than HCM. We all have to make our own choices.
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