Let's Post our Daily Exercise

karen1956

No walk tonight....and missing it now at 10:30.... I was busy trying to do #Giving Tuesday and then it was too late...Didn't want to go out after 9:00 pm. Funny though as last week at my daughers, I was walking at 10pm. I think part of it here is that it is icey out tonight.....I'll be out walking tomorrow morning...its my "late" morning, don't have to leave till 7:30 so I can walk at 6:30 or 6:45. I like being back before my daughter leaves for school at 7:20. I only walk for 20 - 30 minutes in the morning, depending on how much time I have...like to put my make up on after my walk (all of my 2 minute make up routine!!).

Have a good Wednesday

Unbreakable01

today was a 40 minute Insanity workout with 3 sets of 10 rep curls with a 40 lb bar, and then a set of back squats with the bar. I was going to do more but I have my first 5k since my mastectomy ssurgery in July. I haven't been conditioning as much as I used to so didn't want sore legs!

Before surgery I was placing in my age division. I want to prove that cancer won't set me back, but know I shouldn't run as hard right now. My body isn't quite ready for a full on sprint.

Heidihill

go for it, unbreakable!

Didn't make it to Zumba, but then i hauled 10 liters of water uphill on my bike.

Anonymous

Good work unbreakable but don't overdo. You have plenty of time to get back to your pre-BC condition and you don't want a setback because of too much pusihing.

NatsFan

Unbreakable - I think the only way I'd ever place in my age group is if I'm running when I'm 80! You'll get there eventually, but don't be too disappointed if your time isn't what it used to be in that first 5K - just getting out there is a victory for now. Be good to yourself and hopefully you've worked up slowly to those weights - you don't want to risk triggering lymphedema by doing too much too soon (which is what I did ).

Cubbie - LOL on the snow shoveling workout machine! And I'm with you on being a slow runner - if I can manage a sub-12 minute pace for a 5K, I'm ecstatic!!

35 minute run on the dreadmill after work yesterday. Starting a senior ballet class tonight - should be interesting. I took 8 years of interpretative dancing as a kid, plus one year of ballet and tap, but that was almost 50 years ago! I guess I shouldn't count on any muscle memory after all that time.

Unbreakable01

Patoo - The competitive side in me wants to push it, but after having breast cancer I have learned to slow it down a bit and listen to my body. I thought I was going to have a short time frame of recovery before getting back into working out, but it took a little longer. Dealing with insomnia, fatigue, and then getting sick I let my body rest.

NatsFan - For the most part I semi eased into the weights. I have my benchmarks of what I could do before, so I did go for a pull-up, which probably is not the best because of all the weight and it doesn't help I have some cording, but I got 1 in. I used to do 12, but that one I'm much more cautious of.

You never know, your muscle memory may kick in. :

NatsFan

Unbreakable - please do be careful - cording is often associated with later development of lymphedema so you really want to take all the precautions you can. I'll bump the thread here in the Exercise section which contains info and a detailed handout you can download about developing a safe exercise program after breast cancer surgery while minimizing your risk of developing LE. I know it's hard but I speak from sad experience - it's far better to take several months or even a year and work up slowly to get back to your former weights and doing a pull up, rather than rush it and increase your risk of triggering LE.

Unbreakable01

NatsFan, thank you for the information. I asked my breast surgeon last week if I had cording, she said yes. I also asked if there were any restrictions to working out, she said no. If my doctor said everything is ok, I figured why not. I have learned a lot on the message boards that doctors don't always share. I appreciate your concern and care.

Anonymous

Absolutely our friends here know much more than the docs, at least regarding after effects of surgery. No restrictions, is she kidding? Check the lymphedema thread for the stories. Please be careful. I don't have lymphedema but I know (from these boards) that it is nothing to fool around with.

Wonderland

Hi All. Was able to walk/run late this afternoon before it go too dark. Felt nice!

Opt4Life

I've put on 10 lbs from stress eating between diagnosis and the start of chemo. My goal is to exercise on my normal schedule (4 to 5 days a week) throughout chemo. I finished chemo today around 1:30 and had plenty of energy for a 60 minute elliptical workout at the gym afterwards. Now to get my eating (snacking really) back under control.

Anonymous

Welcome Opt4Life. Exercise will definitely help but please be good to yourself and listen to your body. There is no gain in potential injuries by pushing yourself too early. Your journey has just begun and you have plenty of time to work it out. {{ HUGS }}

ruthbru

ruthbru

Above is our Walking Wednesday group sadly forced inside by Mother Nature. My triple workout day of walking, Zumba and yoga.

Mary, I am interested in how your ballet class goes. If it's anything like my Barre class, it will kick butt!

Welcome Unbreakable & Opt4Life!

Unbreakable, I don't have lymphedema either but started back with upper body work very, very slowly and carefully (and am still very mindful of how my arm is feeling). Doctors are shockingly ignorant about the whole topic. A lady I work with just had 24 lymph nodes removed (melanoma) and was sent home with no instructions what-so-ever, just "move your arms around like normal".......this came up when I called to see how she was doing.....after arousing from a faint (that nothing has changed in the almost 9 years since I was diagnosed); I said, "Do NOT move until I get over there", and quickly printed off a bunch of stuff from BCO & also the American Cancer Society, which I rushed over to her house. OMG! I was so mad at the doctors!!

Opt4, do listen to your body. Definitely aim for some exercise every day, but if you need to cut back on the intensity; know that whatever you can do now will help you bounce back faster once you are done.

karen1956

It was gorgeous this afternoon when I went for a walk during a break at work....but tonight after dinner, I couldn't make myself go outside for a walk...not sure how much was the cold and how much was the icey side walks where neighbors don't bother to shovel their side walks and icey roads....SO around 9:15 I decided it was too late to walk outside and started walking around my house and up and down the stairs to the basement...walked for about 45 minutes so I managed to do close to 4K steps tonight to get my 15K steps for the day. Even though it wasn't outside, the walking felt good. Tomorrow it will be even warmer, close to 50 so the rest of snow/ice should be gone. Now I just have to not shove food in my face!!!

Cubbie2015

Did 45 minutes of walking at the Y again today. I keep hoping to get back to the jog/walk, but there has just been too much going on.

Unbreakable, my surgeon said I didn't have any restrictions either, which really surprised me. Everything I have read says that we should be building up slowly. The funny thing was, when I asked my OT, who you would think would be the expert on the subject, about going back to yoga, he referred me back to my surgeon. I doubted that my surgeon was going to say no. I feel like there still isn't enough detailed guidance from our doctors or OT/PT specialists about getting back to exercise safely, at least where I am.

Anonymous

karen1956, are there no statutes that people have to shovel their sidewalks? In NJ they had 24 hours to shovel or be ticketed.

NatsFan

As Ruth and Patoo have said, surgeons are shockingly ignorant about LE. I suspect some of the reason is that LE may not present itself for a year or two after the initial surgery, so unless the surgeon follows up with the patient for a few years, they never know how many of their patients develop LE. Medical schools teach very little about the lymphatic system and LE - some studies have shown that in all those years of medical education, they spend just a few hours on the entire topic of LE. Ruth - I had the same thing happen to a friend who had melanoma and had a few dozen nodes removed removed as well - she was also given no restrictions and no info about LE precautions. Arrrgggghhhhhhhh!

Most PT and OT are not familiar with the issue, and if you read some of the stories in the LE section of BCO, out of ignorance some of them have actually done things to trigger or worsen LE. Sadly, there are "weekend wonder" courses that a PT can take about LE - some are even online and never involve examining a real patient, yet they walk out being able to claim some expertise in LE - these are the ones who are most likely to do damage. Because of the lack of info out there, a few years ago some of the women who were posting regularly on BCO about LE got together and put up a website about all things LE - http://www.stepup-speakout.org. It's well worth looking over if you've had any nodes removed at all. While most b/c women will never develop LE, studies have shown that a significant number of us will. Sadly, we have to be our own advocates in this area, learning all we can about LE and risk reduction measures, because most of our doctors and surgeons do not possess the knowledge to help us. I can't believe doctors are still not educating patients about LE, and sending them off with few or no restrictions.

Ruth - my ballet class is not like a barre class - it's much more of a traditional ballet class. We did a traditional ballet warmup, doing plié, releve and tendu moves in the various foot positions, then some basic steps that we'll be building on as the class goes on. I am not naturally graceful and tend to have terrible balance, so I figured ballet might help with those, as well as some flexibility. I can tell that my hammies and calfs are very tight from all the running - women who were a decade or two older than I were doing much deeper plies than I was able to manage last night!

Patoo - we used to have a 24-hour shoveling statute at our old house, but it was complaint-driven enforcement only, and I think most people don't want to bother to call and tattle on a neighbor. It was very annoying, though - It was always the same people who failed to shovel their sidewalks. I guess they figured they were more important than the rest of us.

Claire_in_Seattle

I have been doing my walking and exercises this week, including a memorable foray out in the rain and wind the other evening. I am not that sure about the "character building" part, but my pot roast was much appreciated post walk. Nothing much else going on other than I am gearing up for a very busy Christmas holiday. But work a lot more than celebration as my client of 10 years is back. Right now, I have 3 distinct projects going on which keeps me hopping. Why I got out on my bicycle over Thanksgiving.

My designer moto boots arrived yesterday. Got for a song on eBay, and I need to shine them up. They are fun and just fab. I may splurge on an electric fireplace for my place. The big thing it lacks. I would come out even regarding electricity as have electric heat anyway. We shall see.

Hope everyone has a wonderful day!!! - Claire

Anonymous

45 mins (3 mile) walk with Leslie Sansone class this morning. Then about 80 mins running/exercising in pool this afternoon.

odie16

Welcome to the newcomers! Any movement is better than nothing so don't overdo and just be proud of whatever you can do.

Walked for 30 minutes on the treadmill last night and was really appreciative of the office gym since it was cold, dark and raining. I applaud those who brave the elements for exercise but must admit that I am not one of them.

Spent today putting up the outside decorations since the sun finally came back out. Finished decorating the Christmas tree before heading out to bootcamp. Hope to get some walking in tomorrow as I start the holiday shopping.

ruthbru

Cardio Sculpt this morning & subbed this afternoon. Tonight I am knee-deep in trying to get packages ready to send to distant relatives.

Annie88

It was a beautiful day for a walk at the park. I walked 4 miles today, it felt great! It has been small steps,literally, to get back into the routine.

mysunshine48

My exercise today was walking through the Atlanta airport coming home from a 12 day visit with my daughter's family. Definitely ate too much of the wrong stuff, so need to get back into a routine!

karen1956

Patoo....yes, side walks are supposed to be shoveled 24 hours after the snow stops...but many people don't and unless you complain nothing happens...I've lived in my house for over 22 years and the houses that don't shovel are often the ones that are the healthiest with children who could help!! It just annoys the heck out of me!! Tonight its mostly melted so for till the next snow storm all is good. For the next week, the weather is going to be in the 40's and mostly the 50's so it should be nice. And mostly sunny!!! I can take winter when it is like this!!

NatsFan

Annie - looks like the birds were glad of the beautiful day!! Mysunshine - walking through that Atlanta airport can be quite a workout!!

30 minute run on the "dreadmill" last night. I hate running on a treadmill, but it was cold and windy last night - running in the dark is bad enough, but I wasn't about to brave a cold wind too. Call me chicken!

Anonymous

mysunshine, Atlanta airport is definitely a workout. First (and last) time I was there I walked for awhile before I discovered that you absolutely have to take the train to get out of the airport.

4 mile (1 hour) Leslie Sansone walking class this morning. Sun was out but now cloudy. Hope they still have the tree lighting this evening but going over that way in a bit anyhow and will just walk around through the entertainment and vendors. Already over 11000 steps.

Jazzygirl

Whew, behind here again once again but some updates since yesterday!

12/3- short work out at the gym to do resistance for 30 min

12/4- lovely 90 min yoga class with one of my fav yoga instructors here.

I read some things here about going back to exercise and not having good guidance from doctors. Certainly the case for me too. I started with some outdoor walking, then returned to the gym and worked with a personal trainer for six weeks. I won't say they are all that knowledgeable either, some more than others. I make it clear I did not want to injury myself so they were careful with me. I did walking, yoga and swimming for a long time and eventually added other things with time. As I got stronger, I did some more personal training with someone who was even better and she got me back to as close to 100% as possible. It takes so much longer than you realize to come back from this so please be patient with yourselves.

Please be careful and don't overdo when you are getting started back to exercise. Baby steps.

Scottiemom11

Found out late this afternoon that my insurer is still reviewing my lumbar epi for Monday. They have had the reqs for a month and they know it medically necessary. This is so rediculous but I keep going. . .getting on the treadmill and walking as much as I can to keep the back nerve pain at bay. I have enough nerve pain with my foobs and can't believe I may have to postpone.

Sorry for the vent. At the gym.

Scottie

Kindergarten

Hi, Scottie, I sure hope everything gets resolved ! Don't those insurance companies know not to mess with breast cancer survivors!! 😃😃😃 you hav every right to vent!!

Exercise today was walking down at the water and climbing up the hills!!!

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!!!