Motivation

ktym

PX90?  Are you guys doing that at the gym, video, DVD?  I want to try.

I'm still at that want to do more and set my body back when I do too much stage.  I'm so frustrated.  I know its happening and somehow still can't stop overdoing sometimes and then get so mad when it happens.  If I was a kid I'd keep trying to touch the hot pot on the stove I swear. 

sobx

As soon as they post about the PX90 maybe kmmd and I will get some "motivation". I'm dragging my butt. So sick of rain. It was in the 60's and dropped to the 30's over night. 36 when Dd and I walked this am. Flotilla was cancelled as far as us selling things. Too damp, windy and rainy for us. Parade is next Saturday so the brownies are in the freezer for next week.  Off to church. Have a great Sunday.

Brendatrue

Sunday afternoon greetings to all--I started the day with about 40 minutes of boneloading and stretching. Afterward I was so tired I just wanted to take a nap, but I jumped in the shower and found some more energy. I can relate, kmmd, about doing more and then having a setback; I get exasperated when that happens so easily!

Violet, welcome; show up whenever you can and let us know how you are doing. I had chemo earlier in the year and I am slowly recovering; I have moved intensely or otherwise exercised for at least 90% of the last 120 days (yep, I finally quit counting--probably to the relief of some ). After chemo I felt like a blob, and I had been exercising fairly regularly prior to starting chemo; I was one of those unfortunate souls who had significant problems with low WBC's and had to have injections to boost my counts with each chemo treatment. I really had to learn how to rest, rest, rest, when I wanted to move, move, move. I do know of some people who were able to maintain an exercise/movement routine throughout chemo, and I hope you will be able to find the balance between rest and movement that works best for you.

pk, I've got to look into this PX90, perhaps more for curiosity, although I hate to admit it. flower, I agree with another wise woman who spoke earlier: spend time taking care of yourself, too--it's especially important when you are a caregiver. joy--boo, hiss about your work schedule! And on top of that you managed to bake all those brownies? Yikes! Are you a human dynamo? I hope you did something just for you this Sunday afternoon! spring--I'm glad to hear this latest round of surgery was more tolerable and that you are already moving again. kari--I hate to hear that your aches & pains continue. I hope the xrays will yield some info on what to do next to help you cope and improve. Keep us posted. Allie--Happy Birthday! Enjoy your week! Mandy--good luck with the gym membership. That would work for me only if the gym was right across the street, or downstairs. Right now I seem to be managing a mix of walking outdoors, classical stretch, bone loading, and miscellany--like walking on the treadmill. Sometimes when I watch tv--which isn't too often--I'll sit on my theraball and march, bounce, or move around. I keep trying to add movement throughout the day. Deanna--I can't remember what I was going to say to you, but hello anyway (yes, chemofog has still not lifted...). And to anyone else I forgot, sorry; take good care and keep moving!

FlowerArtist

Hi all:

I agree with you Brenda.  Gyms don't work for me; just too easy to avoid.  My routine is to get up and put on my workout clothes and do my tapes.  I won't eat breakfast or change or do anything else until I've put in some amount of time doing my arobics.  I actually like doing them but I seem to try to avoid them just because they ARE a routine.

I've been doing a lot of Lesle Sansome's walking DVDs.  They can be intensive (especially if you can turn off the instructions) and the moves are easy!  I also am doing some of the 10 minute solution stuff, primarily the Latin dance stuff.  I also keep a bunch of old videos from the 80s, which I do once or twice a week when I can't stand to do the other stuff anymore.  And when it gets really bad, I pull out my old 50s and 60s CDs and just dance, dance, dance and call it exercise.

Brenda, I ALWAYS record my exercise and 10K days, been doing that for years (yes, really, for years, long before BC) ... I can usually motivate myself just by saying "one more and I'll match last month".  I know its pretty anal, but it works for me.  (Yeah, and I weigh myself everyday ... and, of course, beat myself up when I gain and pat myself on the back when I lose .... mostly I stay right on at 132 ... unfortunately, there are more days that I'm higher than lower right now.  Just call me Obsessive/Compulsive Sue.)

Carl is being a bear again today.  But I'm handling it pretty well....actually, everybody here is going a bit crazy because we are housebound because its snowing pretty heavily, yes, all of us, including the cats!  It sure is pretty though.  (I don't think HiJinks and Star agree with me and Carl doesn't seem to care today ..... but it sure is pretty!)

Take care all. Love and hugs to everybody.  Prayers for those needing them, which is all of us!

kfinnigan

Penny, thanks for making me giggle!  

Allie, HAPPY BIRTHDAY GIRLFRIEND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I wish you could sneak in a visit with Rach while in NYC!!  Hope you have a wonderful week and come home safe.

Mandy, cool that you got the 3 month gym membership.  Keep us posted on how that is!  I don't belong to a gym, but when my DD's were in high school they both worked at a gym and I could get in free!  Loved the classes.  I miss that!!

kmmd, I am at the same stage as you, ready to go go go, but the bod says no no no!

Joy, hope this Saturday you get to sell those brownies!  And I hear ya on the cold, its chilly here!!

Brenda, awesome job, you are always doing something!!  

Flower, you've been keeping up with Brenda!  you go girl!  love the visual of the dancing!  I love to shake it myself! haha

Went and took about 10 xrays on Saturday, they did a thorough job.  I have an appt. with my PCP Friday to go over them.  I walked yesterday and today at lunch.  

Hope you had or are having a great day! 

Springtime

Hi all, back from my stage 2 recon surgery, this pas Sat and just getting my head back into the game. I could not read all your posts above, but just wanted to check in.

The surgery was 4.5 hours last Tues and he did a lot of work, everything I wanted. We flew back home this past Saturday. I'm now just taking Tylenol 4x a day now, so everything is "moving along" in the bowel area! Thank God! (constipation after surgery is one of my biggest issues!)

We walked 1 mile both yesterday and today! Back to my post-surgery exercise regimine!

I have 4 surgical drains (but one is ready to come out) and have to wear this horrible compression garment. I hope to be back to regular me, or nearly so , by Christmas.

Love you girls! Keep moving!!!

Spring. 

pk0199

Spring, you are amazing!!! 

FlowerArtist

Keep smiling, Spring!  You are doing well and will be back really soon.

(OK, I've now had enough snow .... its STILL snowing and I spent hours shovelling today.  Who needs an exercise program with that?  Housebound with a bear that won't hibernate is NOT fun.....Ok, he has been a lot better today, but it sounds good, huh?)

Take care, all.

I'll be checking in tomorrow, too, since I'm stuck inside.  (We desert people just don't know how to handle all this white stuff.)

Hugs

Springtime

I love snow!!! It is just gray and cold here in NC.. A little snow would be so pretty!!!  (a LITTLE!!!)

sobx

Bite your tongue Spring! You can keep it in your area.

Suppose to be in the 70's Wednesday and I actually have the day off. Working nights as usual this week. This is getting old but I do get my rest.

Just don't feel like myself. No ummmmp! Might be the weather, season or who knows! Hope everyone is doing okay.

Let us know how the x-rays turned out Kari. Move slow and careful. Hope they get to the bottom of it. Got to walk the Dd and get ready for work. 

Springtime

C'mon Joy!!! Snow!!!!!    

kfinnigan

Ended up going to a concert with a coworker after work yesterday!  WOW, I hardly ever do anything after work or go anywhere with a real person! haha, it was fun, but a late evening, something I'm not used to, but I'm trying to LIVE!!  Walked yesterday and today at lunch at the mall, still not too crowded with the kids in school.  I will keep you posted on what my PCP tells me on Friday.  

SPRING!! WOOHOOOOOOO for you!!!!!  so happy you're doing well.

Joy, maybe its the holiday season that's got you down...along with you missing your boy? And working nights?  would make sense.  Cut yourself a break, you're way too hard on yourself. 

flower, this storm was a doozie wasn't it?  How much did Reno get?  it even snowed here on the valley floor.  It has been way too cold.  All the performers at the concert last night were from Texas and Tennessee and they thought it was never cold in Calif.  It was funny

ktym

Spring, a little North and we'd make you happy.  So glad to hear that you are doing so well.

This week is a year for me, next week a year from surgery.  I am so crabby it is ridiculous.  Good thing that I didn't know a year ago how short, wirey, and grey my hair would be, and how weak I would be.  Ignorance is bliss. Oh well, we will all keep putting one foot in front of the other and faster and faster, correct? 

kfinnigan

I like that...one foot in front of the other...like the christmas show...was that Mr. Winter singing that song?

We are doing it girlfriends! 

Ainm

Hi all, Haven't been on for about a week - finding things a little overpowering at the moment. The Christmas preparation hebejeebies are catching up on me I've spent hours crying over the past few days. I was trying to explain to my DH today that I'm upset because nothing has changed in that I'm still under pressure to 'make' Christmas for everyone (self imposed pressure) and yet everything has changed because I'm not the same person I was 12 months ago.  It was just about this time last year that I found the change in my breast and I made an appointment to go to the doc - I remember the nurse asking me was I concerned because the earliest appointment I could get was for 9th January and I was genuine when I said no that I wasn't worried - that idea came back to bite me.  Mum's dementia seems to be taking a bit of a dip too - she gets so frustrated and no matter how many times I tell her I will sort things out she still phones umpteen times each day to tell me about things I must do for her - this is as well as me calling to her daily to sort out her tablets, meals, laundry and lighting the fire. Anyway I wish I could just hibernate now until after Christmas - I'm a real Grinch !!  I can't face the thoughts of shopping for gifts etc but I have to do my own shopping and my mums. I've sorted out most of her Christmas cards but still have my own to do and I have no idea what to get anyone - and the weather is nasty!!!  Oh well I guess I just have to get on with it - I suppose I need some motivation but I just can't think of any thing to motivate myself.  I'm sorry for being such a wet rag!!!  I am going to see the girl from the Wig Clinic I went to next tuesday for some advice on my hair - it's about and inch and a half, grey and curly at the moment!!! I've been very lazy tonight and I haven't done any individual comments but I hope you are all well and hopefully a bit more up beat than me!!!

Springtime

Ainm needs a cruise. !!!!!!!!! Cabana Boys!!!!!!!!!!

Imagine taking off on a ship to somewhere warm, where all the decorating is DONE, meals are prepared, entertainment and activities abound, and you just float through the day picking amongst lovely alternatives.

Christmas stress can be a real bear! (ok, that's not the b word I was thinking of!)

This year, and last year (!!!! cripes 2 years!!!!!) I had surgery early Dec, and I told everyone, I will not be able to decorate for Christmas. So last year, my teen daughters did it, their way, but it was okay. This year, we haven't decided if we're staying home or going to visit relatives (I may or may not be okay in the car for 10 hours).... so that is my excuse!

I still do the cards though, and a lot of Internet shopping.

Ainm, I am sorry, it also sounds like an "anniversary" thing, you know, a year ago.... 

pk0199

Ainm, big hugs to you. I agree with Spring, sounds like an anniversary thing. Take it one day at a time!

Spring, wow, you look mmmarvelous!

Kari, haven't you got those xray results yet? Told you that you should have let me do them.

Joy, come on up and have xmas with us and tell work to just go away!

Still doing PX90, I really think my flexibility has gotten better. Weight on the other hand, well we just won't talk about it. 

FlowerArtist

Hi All:

 KM, I know the crabby thing.  Hit me too the 'anniversary" week.  Was suddenly nasty, nasty, nasty and so very insecure...has it come back? why did it happen? what did I do? why me?  All the same sort of thoughts that I had the first time around.  Yuck!  It went away pretty quickly after I passed the date, though.

Yeah, KF, we've had one heck of a storm.  I'm pretty much in the hills on the west side of Reno (which puts me into the Eastern foothills of the Sierras) and we got slightly more than a foot here.  The real problem is that the temps got warm enough today to melt some of the snow and then immediately dropped and now instead of nice pretty snow, we've got slippery,sliddy ice!  I walked up to the store today to get bread.  I didn't mind the walk up to much (even though UP is the right word), but coming down was nasty because I wasn't working hard enough to keep warm,.  (It is about a mile each way .... can I count that as my exercise?  It did put me over the 10K step milestone.)

Christmas motivation?  Christmas, what is that?  Cards are coming in, but none have gone out.  I won't have a tree this year because the tree putter-upper can't handle a tree.  (Sigh) Odd, last year I did it just because I was going to show that D*** Cancer it didn't have the upper hand and this year, I can't do it because I can't get a tree up by myself.  So NEXT year is going to have to be a real blowout! 

Yes, it is going to be an Internet Christmas for me.  Actually, for the past few years I've done more and more Internet shopping because they can ship directly and I don't have to stand in line at the Post Office to send things.

With the exception of my very own bear (Carl) all of the family is doing well.  Even Rose is doing OK, she doesn't like being old (well, who would?), but she's doing OK. Geeze, if I even get close to 97 and as alive as she is, I'll consider myself really special.  She lives alone (in an apartment in an active senior building), does most of the house work (she says they don't do it right) and takes care of most of her finances without help!  Got a lot of respect for that woman.

Got a lot of respect for all of us, too.  We are all moving forward in our lives after a really nasty trick played on us.  None of us deserved BC, but we've all handled it and are moving on.  We go sisters!

Take care.

Hugs

ktym

Ainm, sorry to hear that

Kari, any results?

Spring, you just had surgery, don't think of decorating with anything but bandages

Had this nightmare last night that I developed this huge recurence in my axilla.  Good thing I woke up from that one.  

 We'll do minimal decorations this year too.  Not sure if cards will go out.  Of course DS is older, but in our immediate family in recent years, and my larger familys (parents, siblings) we decided a long time ago to give to charity and not exchange gifts.  Just enjoy the time to get together which doesn't happen often enough. The charity is sorely needed this year with the economy and everyone is so much less stressed.  

Springtime

All done with surgery! A reason to glow. 18 months of HE77 over! I can't wait - just 2 or so more weeks and I should feel more recovered from this last surgery.

I didn't walk yesterday. I better do it today! I am visiting here to give myself MOTIVATION!!!  It is not raining today, the sun is out, and it is warmer. I have no excuse! 

sobx

Off today (wed) and made four loaves of bread. Wouldn't you know I picked the hottest day of the week to bake. In the 70's and very windy. So the doors are open and fans on. guess I am down because I haven't seen my son and finances are slim. I put a small tree up. My soon to be ex wouldn't put one up last year. I even put up stockings for me and Dd.

Spring you are loking great!! Take it easy and don't overdue.

Merry Christmas to all.

FlowerArtist

 (Sigh) Wish it were in the 70s here.  Baby, its cold outside.  Barely 20 and its 2 in the afternoon. BRRRR.  Wish I knew how to bake .....

Spring, glad things are going well.  You will become motivated as the days go on. 

Sobx, wish I could send you all the happiness and 'ups' you need.  I do send good thoughts and hugs.

Love and hugs to everybody!

kfinnigan

Ainm, sounds like the dread I was feeling at my one year cancerversary in July.  But I'm feeling much better and different about things now.  Hope you will feel better too soon, but you are taking on too much.  Forget the cards or whatever else seems mandated to you.  Make new traditions, hey you are a 'new you'!!  I like the cruise and cabana boys suggestion!!  Maybe just sit and watch the Travel Channel and picture yourself there, put on a straw hat and drink something with a little umbrella in it.  All kidding aside, I am sending you big hugs and positive energy to get through the holidays!! and best of luck with your mom and the shopping.

Well....I went to the acupuncturist today and told her I had xrays taken, so she peeked at the results and said she wasn't supposed to tell me anything, but she did...hee hee...she said I have a bone spur on the right side of my neck, one spot that always bothers me, now it makes sense. She said my low low back (sac area) is normal, she said the low back xray needs to be retaken.  I told her I wondered why my PCP hadn't written me to tell me that.  So I emailed my PCP and told her I had an appt. with her Friday to go over the xrays and wanted to make sure the xrays all came out ok and asked if I needed to do anything else.  Just got a reply that all the xrays are normal and she'll discuss the xrays on Friday.  Thought that was strange since the acupuncturist said I needed to retake the low back one.  

Any thoughts Penny?  I wish you could have done my xrays too!

Joy, love the image of you baking the bread and putting up a tree and stockings!  Good for you!  70 degrees sounds like heaven to us on the west coast right now!!

Spring, you have been through a lot and your attitude always has a positive effect on me.  Thanks cause you ROCK!

Flower, are you familiar with Chilcoot, not too far out from Reno.  My MIL spent her summers there and my DH has family in that area still.  20 in the afternoon?  BRRR is right.  holy cow!  its 3 pm and in the lower 40's here.   

Springtime

66 degrees in Raleigh today, and WINDY! I did take the mile walk! 20 minutes! That is not so bad for the shape I am in! Ha!!! I only did it b/c I came here and said I would! Thank God for this place! I'd be a couch potato otherwise! 

Kari, does your acupunturist put the needles in your LE "at risk" arm? I was asking about that on another thread today.... 

pk0199

Kari, not sure why you would need the lumbar spine xrays redone especially if she has said the sacral xrays are okay. I would definately see what your PC says. Sometimes the chiros and acupuncturists want the xrays done standing, but personally if that is what it is, i wouldn't let them redo it. That ends up being a lot of ionizing radiation and if they need to be repeated, then they better be very non diagnostic!

Also interested about Spring's question, I don't let my acupuncturist touch my left arm (at risk) at all, I made that clear right from the get go.

Joy, wish you could come have christmas with me, worry about you being alone. Bring the bread!! Oh, have to love snow, snowing again today. 45 min drive home took 2 hours, we are getting lots of days like that. On the positive side, it is only -10 C! Better than the -30C we had the other day. 

ktym

Kari, good to hear things are ok.  I've been seeing an acupuncturist too.  Seems to be really helping. 

Spring, that cracked me up, only walked so you can come here and say you did.  Yoga day for me yesterday, should really get some treadmill time in today.

pk, cold here too, I actually have been thankful for hotflashes!

kfinnigan

Thanks Penny, yeah maybe from the acupuncturist's point of view she thought it should be redone but since my pcp didn't say so, then I don't want extra radiation in me!!  Geez I walked out of there telling my DH 'great, there went a lot more radiation into me...'  I really need to know what the heck is causing this low back pain!!!  and I want to know NOW!!  Arrgghh!!  

The acupuncturist did put a needle in my left hand (left arm is my at risk side) once but it didn't bother my arm at all.  Yesterday she only did the right hand, she said I was really tight all down the right side of my back.  But last night I got really sore in the parts of my back where the needles were and I was very tired all day after my appt.  I was in bed at 6:45 last night!  No exercise!

Today, I will have to walk at lunch...crap I forgot my fruit today!  can I blame it on chemo brain? ha 

Springtime

Okay, I haven't yet walked my mile today, but I came here to tell you I am GOING to do it today, so this will make me do it!!!

Good news! I am now free of 3 out of 4 of the post Stage 2 surgical drains! Yay! Only one left, and I can carry it in my pocket.  Still in the binder, but it feels better to be less encumbered.... 

I am still not clear on acupuncture and the LE "at risk" arm.... hmmm.  

ktym

Spring, yaahoooo,  (I really hated those drains).  Ran hard today, tomorrow my day to rest my muscles they are not happy with me

kfinnigan

Spring, I go back to acupuncture on Jan 20, I will try and remember to ask my gal about it then.  Great on the drains and have you walked today?

Got up at really really dark thirty and did a program on the treadmill with hills.

Another good thing about exercise my DD tole me:  Exercise taps into the fountain of youth by extending our chromosomes and making us live longer.  Cool!

So I just got back from my PCP, she went over all my xrays and said my neck one shows arthritis/bone spurs...yada yada yada My back pain is from who knows what...I'm already seeing the acupuncturist (not helping), saw physical therapist (didn't help) and will now go back to my chiropractor to see if that will help.

The low back xray showed some 3mm mass spot and the radiologist said it could be a dense stool (hey, how did he know I'm full of sh*t!) and couldn't rule out a kidney stone. I asked if I should be worried and she didn't think so...I said what if its da can-suh...she said she could order a CT with contrast (I was like Oh nooooo) and she said I've had enough radiation and that if I get different peeing issues or pain/bloating on left side then let her know and they will do one. But I'm not having issues like that. She said 'we could keep chasing this down, but I really think its nothing'...so then I had her look at that 'thing' in my mouth (I've had a weird bump in the back of my throat for 2 mos. now) and how it raises and recedes after eating certain foods...so she is having me go to the allergist today at 3:10 to get tested for food allergies and sending me to an ENT doc on Monday to get checked for da can-suh...just to make sure. Again, she said it doesn't look like it...and I said well that's what they thought about my boob, and hey, it tried to kill me!! so that's that.