Interview with Lina
about excercising with lipedema

Lina Meimann is a qualified sports and health coach running a gym. In March 2020, she was diagnosed with lipedema. In her interview, she tells us how she governs her life herself and what role exercise plays in it. 

Editor: How much exercise do you do per week?

Lina Meimann: That depends on how many classes I teach. Because of my management position, I gave up some classes. Sometimes I don’t run the class but just join in. I try to exercise at least four to five hours per week.

REGULAR EXERCISE TO IMPROVE WELL-BEING

Editor: How does exercise help with the symptoms of your condition, your pain for example?

Lina Meimann: I notice it immediately when I don’t exercise. It’s like I’m missing something and my legs feel heavy.

Editor: Do you wear your compression products when you’re exercising?

Lina Meimann: Yes, preferably colorful products that really stand out. I combine them with my exercise gear. I often wear dark-colored garments for the legs instead of exercise pants because the seams are very inconspicuous, and I can just wear a long T-shirt on top.

Editor: What are the key properties of compression products during exercise in your opinion? 

Lina Meimann: They have to be flexible, not stiff. That’s why I wear Bauerfeind’s VenoTrain curaflow. I immediately feel comfortable when I put on this product. Then I don’t have to worry. I think it’s great that I can still wear the product even with slight fluctuations in weight, without the effect being impacted. It provides me with complete freedom of movement and feels really smooth. 

Editor: Do you follow a specific diet that suits you best?

Lina Meimann: My diet is high in protein, which works best for me in combination with my exercise regime because I don’t lose muscles this way. I try to lose weight like most people affected by lipedema. It always feels like a roller-coaster ride. I’ve basically tried all types of diet, from low carb to keto, everything there is. This may work for some but not for everyone, which is something you should keep in mind. Personally, I prefer high protein because I know how important it is from studying for my sports nutrition license. But if someone is getting on better with the keto diet, then this person should stick with it. You should find out in-depth information and really be inspired by it. In the Bauerfeind curaflow App, there are some recipes you can try to begin with.

Editor: Muscle development and weight loss are often seen as mutually exclusive. What do you think about that?

Lina Meimann: It can actually work for beginners if they have a diet rich in protein. Muscles won’t grow without protein and you can’t lose weight without a calorie deficit. You can combine the two. But you can’t see them as related aspects, with fat cells on the one side and muscles on the other. They’re separate entities that have to be considered as such. Fat cells cannot be turned into muscles. Unfortunately, a lot of people believe that.

Editor: Would you like to tell our readers something else?

Lina Meimann: Yes, please take your own path! I believe you should always listen to all opinions, whether about exercise, nutrition, or surgical options. Shop around to get information from various sources. And then you have to do your own thing, choose what works best for you. That’s important because even if something works for someone else, it may not work for you.

This condition doesn’t govern your life, but you do. You can be annoyed if something isn’t working, you can be sad, too, but you have to keep picking yourself up and trying again. There’s no reason to bury your head in the sand.