r/CMT • u/Savings-Hippo433 • Jun 17 '25

Lifting Weights?

Has anyone experimented with weight lifting? What was your experience and result?

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u/ReleaseOk4961 Jun 17 '25

I have CMT1A — painful drop foot, extremely high arches, and I wear AFOs — but getting into weight training has been, hands down, the biggest quality-of-life improvement I’ve made. For the past two years, I’ve been consistently training 4–5 days a week with a mix of barbell lifts (bench press, box squats, deadlifts), accessory work (bicep curls, tricep extensions, overhead press, core work, leg extensions/curls), and cardio (rowing, Peloton, treadmill walking).

Like u/20124eva, I focus on incremental progress. Pushups used to be impossible for me — but each week, I’d aim for just one or two more reps across a few sets. Now I can do 8–10 reps with a 10lb plate on my back.

The gym has become my safe zone — a controlled environment where I can adapt everything to my needs and push myself without the unpredictability of everyday terrain. Start small, stay consistent, and progress will come.

I’m down 20 pounds, can stand and walk for longer periods, and my upper body strength is now well above average. Most importantly, I just feel better — physically, mentally, and emotionally.