Exercise programs, diets, etc.

I am still fairly new here, but have been welcomed by a few and feel this is a very supportive group, I am happy to have found you all

I wanted to start a topic/discussion on exercise. It is something I've done sporadically throughout my life, but now that I am (almost, gulp!) 40, I am trying to take much better care of myself, and reduce my weight and risks for heart disease, diabetes, etc.

I recently started a program called "Body for Life" by Bill Phillips. He owns Men's Health magazine and wrote the book Body for Life as well as "Eating for Life". The program is basically this: You eat 6 snall 'meals' a day, consisting of a quality protein and a carb, throw in vegetables for 2 of those 'meals', and basically eat healthy. Carbs don't really include sweets and sugary things, and its advised to stay away from white flour. A portion consists of an amount about the size of your fist.

The workouts are 6 days a week. The first day, You do weight lifting (upper or lower body), next day 20 min of cardio, next day weight lifting (upper or lower body, depending which one you did on day 1), next day cardio, and so on and so forth. The weight lifting consists of about 45 min of exercises (they are illustrated and explained in the book). The 7th day is a "free day"....you don't exercise, and you eat pretty much whatever you want. It gives your body a rest and boosts your metabolism.

I started about 2 weeks ago, and have been doing well, except that I've had a bad flare up in my groin area (labia) which has been extremely painful. I counted about 9 bumps that do not seem to want to drain. I am concerned that all the sweating during my workouts has caused this.....but have been feeling so good otherwise, that I don't want to quit!

I've dropped about 11 pounds so far, in 6 weeks ( I started with Weight Watchers, then moved to the Body for Life program). I have approx. 70-80 more pounds I want to remove, and I know it will take me about a year, but I really love the program and don't want to quit. I've missed a couple days of cardio, which I feel is fine because I know I will still see results.

Does anyone have any advice for workouts or things that they do to minimize pores getting clogged? I know HS doesn't necessarily happen just from the excessive sweating, but with me, it does seem to get worse when I do.

For me now, NOT losing the weight is NOT an option. I really have to do this for myself, my body image, my health, and my self esteem. I would appreciate any advice from anyone on this subject.

Thanks,

Karyn

I think the only advice for your workouts might be wear cotton at least that breaths then wash well, and apply a antibactrial cream to areas that are or maybe affected

How are you doing with the HS pain durning your workouts? Sometimes they can really make it to painful to do anything but lay in one spot.

I have found that anytime I sweat it makes my HS flare, so I only do the yoga type and swim for exercise for now anyway I am always trying to push my limits. But I also have several other medical condtions that make movement hard and painful to do the kind of things I would love including workouts.

Take care and continued success

Bella

Glad you are here.

Thanks for the great info. I was such a workout addict before. I am struggling to get back to that now.

I enjoy reading the info in Men's Health. I enjoy women's fitness magazines but they tend to stray with other topics. So I would hit Men's Health. I will look that book up. Thank you for that info.

Currently I am going by the 6 small meals..I did this while involved with sports.

Love it so far.

I really want to get back into my sports/exercise routines. I am almost 40 as well.

Right now I cannot do what you are doing..but you go girl. We are all cheering for you. HS has hit all my joint areas making movements restricted. But I am getting around alot more.

I would love to know what you think about Bella's question...how are you doing with HS pain during workouts?

I too find it hard when you sweat. HS gets agitated in the area of the sweat.

Bella..keep it up as well with the yoga type workouts and swimming.

Sometimes I dance a little in my livingroom while the sun is shining. It lifts my mood, gets the blood flowing, and makes me feel like I did some exercise other than housework.

Carmen..start slow as that worked for me. It started by doing small walks. Working/tending a garden. It all adds up.

The only thing we have to lose ladies...is weight. LOL.

This reply is to Bella....thanks for writing, and for the encouragement. I am taking prednisone right now, but I only take it for about 10 days at a time if I can help it, because I am afraid of being on it long term. Usually after a few days, the bumps will start to go down, but this time, these ones in my groin are very STUBBORN. I am taking a Z-pac now (was on Levaquin, but that was awful, so I stopped taking it). I am not sure the Z-pac will do anything, I have had more luck with just 10 days of prednisone with nothing else.

I told my dermatologist about the Body for Life program, and he was very encouraging, even though he admitted that the friction of exercise would probably aggravate the HS, he seemed to think that losing fat would only improve my symptoms in time. We will see!

You asked about how I deal with the pain of HS during a workout. On my weight lifting days, I am very focused with my breathing, form, and counting..and to be honest, the muscle pain takes precedence over the HS at those times. I am getting to the point where I look forward to the muscle soreness, as a testament to the fact that my muscles are growing Stretching does wonders also, and I do take the epsom salt baths daily.

I used to have awful cysts under my arms ( I have multiple scars where they have been cut open and drained) and on my stomach, but in the last few years the HS seems to have moved south. I have a lot of scars on my stomach and under breasts, down to my belly button, but thank god those sites seem to be dormant now. I do still get small bumps under my arms now, but I try to drain them immediately when I notice them, and start prednisone right away.

I skipped my cardio yesterday, as that is fast walking for me, and I couldn't deal with the pain between my legs. It feels right now like I have deep 'bruises' in my vulva, and it also itches and hurts at the same time deep in the labia When the bumps go down I will resume my walking. I didn't go this morning for lower body workout for the same reason, I hate to be in that much pain and feeling helpless, so even though I hate missing the workout, I tell myself it gives me extra time to heal, and I keep up with the diet. I will get back on track when the inflammation goes down in a couple days. I am going to get some of the turmeric that hsshutterbug has recommended, and see how that works.

Bella, your yoga and swim workouts sound perfect. I used to be on a swim team as a preteen/teenager and loved it. I haven't swam for many years, but I should look into that again. Do you find the chlorine helps at all with HS?

I will keep you posted on my progress. I also joined a yahoo group called "Body for Life for Women", so I try to keep reading the posts there. So far, I don't know anyone else doing the program who has HS, but I'm sure there must be others.

I think I will do a search for "moisture wicking underwear". Someone must make that. I worry about cotton because it stays wet. When I worked in Yellowstone, we used to call cotton 'the death cloth'. We never wore it skiing in the winter, because if you got wet, it would stay wet and possibly cause hypothermia.

I'll let you know what I find.

Sorry for such a long post!

Take care,

Karyn

I never knew that about cotton I thought is was the best for staying cool and dry.

But thank you for the new imfo and please do let me know if you find a good site for "moisture wicking underwear" I should order some too.

As for the swimming I do, yes the chlorine is a huge help, I like to go everyday but sometimes can't and if I miss more than 3 days swimming the HS get worse and I must miss several days everytime I get one lanced they say NO pool only the baths that I do daily with the epsom salt and tea tree oil or powdered dreft but that is really only good for the ones down low not under arms or breasts since my tub is not big or deep enough to cover those areas.

Bella

I did find a bunch of athletic wear sites that have wicking underwear, here is a link to one at "Title Nine" -

http://www.titlenine.com/shopping/product/detailmain.jsp? itemID=2285&itemType=PRODUCT&iMainCat=674&iSubCat=680&iProductID=2285

They are not outrageously expensive, $14, and if they wick moisture that is a plus for us!

I would probably only wear them for workouts, (which is 6 days a week).

Let me know if the link works,

Thanks,

Karyn

Thanks for the encouragement!

I know what you mean about the women's health magazine's straying into other topics (beauty, gossip, etc.) I like that stuff too, but I like to read about the actual workouts, diets, etc.

I found a great website called "www.Stumptuous.com" for women's weight lifting. THere are some great articles there. And www.bodyforlife.com is a good one too....some of the before and after pics are amazing and truly inspiring!

Do you take anything for your joint pain, like supplements, or is the pain strictly because of the scars/skin? I haven't had issues with joint pain unless I overdo it with weights, like I did a few years ago, then didn't go near any gym for a long time. I seem to feel okay with stress tabs, they are like a multivitamin only with extra C and B vitamins.

I wonder if extra vitamin E would have any effect on the HS. I've never had a Dr. suggest vitamins, or yoga, or meditation, isnt that funny? They will prescribe drugs, but the obvious stuff, they miss.

The benefits I have found so far with weight lifting are that I sleep MUCH better at night (am exhausted at night, mind and body) and I feel stronger.

Dancing, gardening, walking, are all good. Lifting the spirits helps to heal the body, I truly believe that. We all need something to look forward to , every day!

Karyn

I found another link to a site that sells antimicrobial/moisture wicking panties and sports bras, and these come in sizes up to Plus sizes:

http://www.landsend.com/pp/ActiveHipBriefs~180276_59.html? bcc=y&action=order_more&sku_0=::MIA&CM_MERCH=IDX_00002__0000000556&origin=index

Karyn

Great info. I dig the gossip as well in the mags..lol..guilty pleasure. But when it comes to exercise I really want the info more than anything.

I took a look at the link on athletic underwear. Great site as well.

If anyone is out and you hit a workout /athletic/outdoor store, then look

for anything made with Coolmax. This is noted at the site you linked for Bella..Karyn.

All my outdoor gear has been made with Coolmax. Came across it when I took up running. That is great fabric to wick away moisture. Extremely helpful when running or hiking up a hill with all your gear.

Coolmax gear don't get heavy if they get wet. They are made ultra light.

If you workout and your t-shirt gets wet with sweat, it gets really heavy and the sweat will hit your body again. Coolmax will hold it within itself. The material tends to be more breatheable, allowing for it to dry faster as well.

That material will work well for all HSers, regardless if you are working out or not..just for the wicking away effect.

The underwear link..has the boy shorts. That is the new undies I switched to and with HS ..its a godsend. No elastic to grip your thighs...freedom.

Any HS women out there should invest in them.

Lots of department stores carry them. Found some at Sears in a 3pk. Much cheaper than the cost of regular undies.

I wear these undies with confidence..as boxers were not good for me.

Good luck and may you all have relief.

Keep us posted...on your progress Karyn.

Bella..how do you feel during your swim & after? HS wise that is..