As my dumbbells collect dust, my twin loves to work out

You must love yourself to keep a healthy lifestyle. But I don’t exercise enough; in fact, I have 20-pound dumbbells collecting dust in a corner of my small condo here in Manila, the Philippines. I decided to ask my twin, Aaron, about his exercise routine, partly for inspiration.

Aaron was diagnosed with myasthenia gravis (MG) in 1999 when he was 24. Before MG, Aaron had been a fitness fanatic; he and his then-girlfriend would watch workout videotapes and exercise to them in sync. I used to laugh at them; I thought it was so silly. But now I regret not joining them.

Before MG, Aaron was a manual laborer, but because of his muscle weakness, he’s now more of a homebody and an avid gamer. Still, he makes every effort to work out regularly, even if he can’t exercise as strenuously as he used to. My twin makes an effort to go to a public gym while I barely work out at home.

To learn about his exercise routine and motivate myself, I shared a video call with Aaron, who’s in New York City, our hometown.

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Aaron works out two to three times a week, depending on his energy levels. Hot weather exacerbates his MG flare-ups, so his summer visits to the gym are in early mornings or late evenings. Sometimes, if necessary, he’ll skip the gym and work out at home.

Aaron’s doctor gave him clearance to work out, since he’s had a range of medical issues. For instance, Aaron had dealt with severe eye misalignment issues for decades. Thankfully, he got strabismus surgery last year to straighten his eyes, but unfortunately, he couldn’t exercise for a month after the procedure. That bummed him out a lot.

The staff and certain trainers he works with are aware of his condition. He told me that he once almost passed out in the gym. Now, he said, he knows his workout limit and tries not to push it anymore.

Aaron loves the gym because of the vast array of equipment, but he can’t use all of what’s available, such as rowing machines or any other machine that involves pulling a heavy force. In line with that, he stressed that he always confers with staff to find exercises that are safe for his body. He loves bench press exercises to work out his arms and chest, but he’s safe and always has someone spot him.

In general, he loves working out with dumbbells, lifting moderate weights. He said he especially likes doing hammer curls to help define his biceps and add strength. Still, he limits the weight for safety. He won’t lift anything over 60 pounds; if he does, his hands automatically open up, signaling a potential injury. That sometimes hurts his ego, he said, but he’s made his peace with it.

He said that he’ll keep trying until he can lift more. “I want to get stronger and fight the weakness,” Aaron said.

Otherwise, he enjoys doing situps and crunches when he has the energy. But he’s cautious when walking up stairs and doesn’t run much anymore because of his MG. Instead, he walks on the treadmill to help his balance and strengthen his core.

Sometimes he feels sore and a little weak after a workout, but not working out worsens his health and MG symptoms.

After listening to him, I felt a little guilty for not taking better care of myself. He recently told me that he once stopped taking his MG medicines because he experienced a partial remission. I admonished him and, perhaps worse, judged him. My intention, however, at least in part, was to ensure he wasn’t overdoing it.

I don’t have any disability, and I barely exercise. I told Aaron about my 20-pound dust-collecting dumbbells, and he laughed. “The only way to do it is to do it,” he advised. We used to say that to each other as kids to motivate each other.

I know the toll MG has had, so I respect how Aaron still loves to exercise. Now I look at my dumbbells, sitting in their corner, and ask myself how much I want that healthy lifestyle.

Note: Myasthenia Gravis News is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Myasthenia Gravis News or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to myasthenia gravis.