I’m going to throw this in the rehab section because I don’t really know where else to put it.
For a quick background, I’m making this thread for a friend/lifting partner who has Cystic Fibrosis (in short, a lung disease that causes massive mucus build up in the lungs, and also a very bad inability to process vital nutrients) and need a few ideas for lifting alternatives, and general helpful insight.
Obviously the nutrient issue is pretty cut and dry, his docs have told him he just needs to eat constantly, and has medication to help process said nutrients, otherwise he was just shit on by genetics.
Some basic details:
He’s like 130lbs (or so he says, I’m willing to bet closer to 120)
Eats like a pig
Minor back injury, basically only prevents deadlift
Anything too taxing causes caughing fits
And he really fucking wants to get strong(er), he’s dedicated, he stretches everyday, and we haven’t missed a planned lift together since he started up with me about 5 months ago.
He’s definitely gained some visible mass, but not what I’d call “newbie gains”
So my immediate questions are: (also open to any off the wall suggestions not related to this info)
Hard gainer diet? Something easy and affordable (he’s on disability, so money is a very real limiting factor)
Alternatives to deadlift and squat (I have a few squat alternatives, but more is welcome; and deadlift upsets his back, as well as being too taxing on his lungs)
Expanding breathing capacity? I don’t even know if this is a possibility, I never smoked, and have really healthy lungs so I don’t have any knowledge
.
Our routine is a chest/tri, back/bi, leg/shoulder split, with abs sprinkled in 4 or five days a week. 2 days on, 1 day off schedules. (I like to always be prepared for curveballs that would make me miss a day, we schedule 4 unmissable days, and the rest we do if we can)
His docs recommended a lot of excersise, and promoted heavy (er) lifting as a good idea.
Thanks for any advice!