Fitness Goals for 2008?

AnneW

My training is going slowly right now. I haven't been released by my ps to lift yet (though I had no problems picking up my 20 pound cat!) Plus, this nerve pain will keep me from doing some overhead stuff (which could put a damper on my climbing--insert desired swear words!)

I'm hiking, wlking/jogging for an hour on the treadmill, doing a weekly spinning class (my dh leads it, and I help compile the music and set the routine), and I started Pilates reformer traing with my trainer, since I can't lift. We're focusing solely on lower body and core, and man, is it intense!

Anyone else do the Pilates reformer? It is so hard for me to get the breathing down--totally opposite from yoga breathing!--and keep a neutral spine, too!

Anne

yellowrose

Hey Everyone,  I just remembered this thread and found it buried.  Hopefully none of our 2008 goals got buried!

Still working on my weight loss.  In spite of the surgery that interferred with exercise, I have managed to continue towards my goal of additional weightloss and fitness.  To date, I have lost 37 lbs.

How are y'all doing? 

SoCalLisa

Hi there..me too with the weight loss...have lost thirty, twenty more to go

lewing

Thanks for bumping the thread.  I had to go back to the first page, though, just to remember what my goals were way back when . . .

Mostly, I'm on track.  My goal was to maintain my weight, and I succeeded through AC.  It may be creeping up a little now that I'm on Taxotere (third treatment was on Thursday, just one more to go, yay), but not by too much, and some of that is cyclical (I seem to put pounds on at the beginning of a treatment cycle, then drop them, then pick them up again).  I'm definitely flabbier around the middle, though.

Have managed to keep up with the running, throwing in walking breaks as needed if I'm feeling punk.  I do 30-45 minutes just about every day.  I haven't been as successful with the core and upper body stuff, or the yoga - I'm afraid they fell by the boards. 

I did run the Race for the Cure, much faster than I had any right to expect, seeing as how I was 3 treatments into dd AC at the time, and anemic.  (Can't remember my exact time, but I was the second place survivor and got a pink gym bag stuffed with goodies for my pains.  God, I hate pink!!)

Oh, and I did manage to volunteer at one local race, and hope to do some more.  Working the men's finish chute was a trip.  It gave me a new appreciation for the work of race volunteers!

Linda

AnneW

WooHoo, Lisa, you go, girl! Now that is something to be proud of!

I have used a personal trainer all year, and will continue doing so. We started out doing flexibility and strength in the gym, mostly to help with sports conditioning (hiking, biking, climbing.) We've had a few "restarts" due to surgeries. But I'm faithful.

I do my best to get in 4 hours of cardio each week. And1-2 strength days.

Now, though, I'm working with her on Pilates, using the Reformer machine. It's an amazing way to strengthen muscles by isolating them. No cheating or using accessory muscles is possible. It's tough to learn, especially the specialized breathing (so different from yoga breathing.) My trainer is against the generic "pilates mat classes" because they are essentially a marketing gimmick, to get people to pay for classes in the gym. True Pilates folks apparently know that you only go to the mat when you are very advanced, and can do all the other core exercises on a machine. At least, that's her spiel. So I stick happily with this machine that I can only do at her studio (they cost about $3K) but also do a more traditional strength work out, too, with her.

If I get brave, I'll have her work with me on high intensity interval training (HIIT) but I think it will kill me!

One new thing I'm doing with her, though, that is harder than I ever remembered, is jump rope! Doing 45 seconds jumping, 15 seconds resting, and repeating 3 times gets my heart rate up so fast that the sweat just drips! I was never a good rope jumper, but I'm working on it! And, what an easy item to pack in a suitcase for trips!

Anyway, that's me in a nutshell.It has been nice to see that I don't need a big fitness "goal" to stay motivated for fitness.

Anne

paige-allyson

Nice to see this thread bumped up- congratulations on the weight loss Lisa and Linda for keeping up the workouts during chemo. I have maintained my weight loss and did (and finished!) the New England Danskin triathlon the weekend before last. My training partner and I have our sights set on another sprint tri in September and a half marathon in October- needless to say I am working out a lot and not spending much time on-line!

ellenoire

woo hoo Alison! How was the tri? Clearly you caught the bug if you are doing another one! 

I am hoping to do a mini tri( 1/2 a Sprint) at the end of August, but I am making no promises to anyone until a couple of days before.

 I could not keep up any sort of workout schedule during chemo. My few good days were spent at the docs, and working at my store so there was no energy or time left for workouts.

I start back with my trainer and Pilates trainer  soon too. I have been doing Pilates for 10 years. Anne, I agree with your trainer about "generic" mat classes, but with a good trainer, small classes and/or private sessions there is no reason not to do mat work. Joseph Pilates himself demonstrates his 34 original principals on mat. That said, I love the reformer but cannot afford the classes here, as most of them are semi private. Good Luck with Pilates, it can be an amazing way to keep your core in shape. 

paige-allyson

Ellen, The tri was great. I didn't drown so it was all good after the swim. I did fine with the bike and run. I set the bar really low for this one, just to do it and have a good time. For this next one I have more of the usual competitive mindset of wanting to improve my skills, fitness, and times. This means no leisurely bathroom break, cup of coffee, and bag of jelly beans during T1- people saw my transition 1 time and asked "What were you doing?! Coffee and jelly beans!!!!"

So you are done with chemo it sounds like, good! Yeah, it's not exactly the sort of thing that leaves energy for athletic go getting. I walked (alot) during my chemo but that was about it other than a few leisurely swims and bike rides. This summer's been nothing like last summer- thank god!

yellowrose

I remembered this older thread and just thought that I would share an update.

We (as women) are always told that as we get older that it is more difficult to lose weight (slower metabloism), cancer drugs add to the problem, and the lack of estrogen , etc. etc. 

I has been a long two years but after my diagnosis I was determined to minimize as many reocurrence risks as possible.  The meant losing weight, alot of weight.  I am now nearing my weight goal that I set back in September 2007. 

I now workout regularly, maintain a healthy diet with planned occasional splurges and am feeling great.   I have lost 55 pounds and have less than 20 pounds to my goal.  I feel great, my BP is now normal, blood sugars are good and choesterol is (according to my dr.) now as good as a teenager!

I am here to let you know, don't listen to people who say that you can't do it and don't give up because healthy weight loss is possible.  Stay the course and you will succeed.

yellowrose

I meant to ask yesterday.  For those of you who were on this thread a year ago, how are you doing towards your goals?