The Facts David M. Luder, M.D. Our guest author for this issue is David M. Orenstein, M.D., who directs the Cystic Fibrosis Care Center at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh and holds the position of professor both in Pediatrics at the School of Medicine and in Health, Physical and Recreational Education, School of Education, at the University of Pittsburgh. This is probably a trick question, because there is very little that is good or bad or fun for all of any group. Any exercise program should be developed in consultation with a CF care center physician. You say I can increase my fitness . The best kind of exercise is any form that someone will stick to over a lifetime.
Experts suspect that aerobic exercise is best.
Exercise hard enough to feel pleasantly tired. For some people, using oxygen during exercise can be very useful. Individuals with CF can do well exercising in the heat, but they lose more salt and are not as good, as their friends, at knowing just how much fluid they have lost. It is also important to increase salt intake when exercising in hot weather. You are correct that exercise burns calories, but it also stimulates appetite, so most people who are not overweight to begin with do not lose weight with an exercise program.