Exercise - Working Back to it After or During Treatment

SpecialK

Martha - so sorry about Rhody - so hard to lose her with all you have going on.

mrtw - be careful about using hand weights as they cause you to change your gait while walking, which could introduce other issues. I agree about the stretching exercises - particularly ones that "open" your chest. There is a thread here on BCO that deals with exercises that minimize risk for lymphedema. Click on the two links in the heaer of the thread. Here is the link:

http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/58/topic/801453?page=1#post_3508346

Bounce

Gentle Exercise - Vigorous Eating - I loved that one!

Has anyone heard of NIA Exercise?

I found a link to it by chance today and it seemed like something a beginner might do but I wanted a non-exercise loving person's opinion of it.

Ruthblu - you have inspired me to knock the exercise off 15 minutes at a time! It is do-able.

I have also started walking up the 2 flights of stairs to work each day. Baby steps.

mrtw43

Thanks for the LE info, I think I will pass on the weights for right now. My home is a two story, so I will just try to add more stairs to the daily routine and cut back on the football snacks.

gonegirl

Major cool, Bounce. Just found a youtube video of NIA and it looks relaxing and moving. Here is the video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0LAxZDct1E

Very stressed. Too much going on and I ate a damn big cookie today. Sugar is my enemy.

SpecialK

gritgirl - when stressed it is hard not to eat a big cookie.

gonegirl

i'm in Philadelphia. Very close to cousins and husband had 4th surgery on aorta. He is doing well so far. I'd forgotten this hospital gig thing. I am very good at getting things and tracking things for patients. Hope someone will do the same thing for me.

mrtw43

I have been working for the last few days and haven't had the energy to exercise when I get home. I will start again tomorrow.

curveball

I continue to walk some days--maybe a mile and a half today and about the same Monday. One of these days I need to buy myself a new helmet so I'm not scared to ride my bike. Fall is coming and cycling in the rain is no fun, especially since my brakes don't work once the rims get wet. I have been trying (pretty lackadaisically) to rebuild my stamina since chemo the second half of 2012, but aromatase inhibitors didn't work for me--my oncologist is recommending some type of chemo next and I might do it. I have an appointment Monday with another onc closer to where I live now for a 2nd/opinion more questions. Not looking forward to it AT ALL.

I have really neglected doing my back stretches the last couple of months and now I am paying for it with a pulled muscle (I think) from putting my carryon bag in the overhead bin on a recent plane trip. So yesterday I started doing those again too, with half the number I used to do daily. Boy am I stiff.

edited to add: @gritgirl, I hope your husband (or is it your cousin's husband) continues to do well after his surgery.

fredntan

mrtw-when i did my walks i either used my scarf or a stretchy band thing to do some arm stretching or exercises. get yourself into a PT. they can show you basics.

gritgirl i had snickers bar today

i also used to use a small rock on walks as weight.

this is jade. i love her. didnt want her.

Claire_in_Seattle

OMG.....what a sweet girl!!! Please give her a super hug for me!!! - Claire

MaraUK

• Hi fredntan she's lovely just showed her to my dh. I am trying persuade him to replace our lovely old border collie but he a bit resistant at the moment I think he worry s that he won't take to another doggie. I think he needs to because he has just retired and needs a loyal friend to help him get though my illness.
• Gritgirl not a good week for exercise a very stressful day at the hospital yesterday for some reason I was really emotional. I actually chatted to a councillor sorry I think I need to start another thread. But I feel I know you all so well.
• This week I intend to tell my family and friends about my secondary dx. Sorry for rambling.
• Mara x

fredntan

we have six cats-most outdoors, 5chickens,

the dog is my 17yr olds-she promises she will take her off to college in three years. we will see. chickens are my 21 yr olds.

we found the pup at a poultry swap at tractor supply few weeks ago. free. she is lab/border collie mix. i just love her.

her name is Jade

TarheelMichelle

Hello to Jade, what a sweet pic! And great going, everybody who has been exercising. And those who haven't, well, you all have good excuses.

Gritgirl, sending positive thoughts to your relative in the hospital. (I, too, wasn't sure the exact familial relation, but no matter, I hope he recovers from surgery quickly and with no problems).

Seasonal allergies hit me more in the fall than the spring, so I'm plodding along with my weekly jog/walk. I was looking forward to yoga on Tuesday but the class was cancelled. Dang it. I hate it when I finally summon the motivation to increase my exercise level, for nothing.

Mara, rambling is not prohibited here. I'm sorry you had a bad day, and I wish you well as you share the news of your secondary with those in close proximity to you.

Thanks everybody, for posting. It's nice to have this exercise circle, whether it's moving fast or slow.

SpecialK

DH surprised me yesterday by coming home at lunchtime with a bouquet of roses for my birthday. We took a 4 mile walk, ran some errands, and went out to dinner. I was well behaved right up until the chocolate cake ...

mrtw43

It is cold and rainy here so I didn't get a walk in but I did sub in a school library and spent a lot of time moving books and walking around

SpecialK

mrtw - It all counts!

I have gone back to myfitnesspal with my tail between my legs - other than the choc cake I have been good with some exercise and being a lot more careful about what I am eating, which is not really that much fun, but I need to be more serious!

MaraUK

thanks tarheel for understanding

Mara

gonegirl

fran, very cute..

mara, i'm so sorry things got rough. hope you feel better. it's all acceptable.

specialk, happy birthday.

mrtw, it all counts.

sorry for the confusion. my cousin diana, her husband had heart surgery. very risky, so i drove to philadelphia to be at the hospital. he has a bad aorta and they replaced yet another part. i was there for surgery and was in room with patient after surgery. i am exhausted. here's the irony. medical days, any medical day, tend to be days i get more exercise. i walked many hospital halls plus had to walk to buy a phone charger i had forgotten to bring with me. i hate hospitals, but wanted to be there for cousin. she is like a sister for me.

i am in washington dc and so am having the same cold, wet day mrtw is having. :-)

TarheelMichelle

It's cold here too, and my husband is stuck in NYC because of the weather. Another night of my heart growing fonder.

Get some rest, gritgirl. Don't wear yourself out. You are a good cousin to drive all that way and help out during hospital time.

SpecialK

mara - stay here with us! Ramble away - I can't imagine the difficulty in having to tell the family and friends, it is hard enough just to tell them one has BC.

gritgirl - you are a good cousin, and I know it is hard just to be at a hospital, it is emotionally tiring!

fredntan - love the doggy! And the chair she is on!

tarheel - love your new pic - you are adorable!

curve - take it easy! Don't hurt yourself - sorry you also find yourself in muddy waters on the next step in treatment.

Thanks everyone for the b-day wishes!

gonegirl

curveball I missed about the ai. I'm so sorry

Mara. What second diagnosis

MaraUK

Hi everyone thanks for understanding.

Gritgirl it's not a new dx it's just because it all happened at the same. I have not told family or friends now it all too much and I need to let it all go. I can't protect them any more so this week we are going to tell everyone concerned.

Thanks for caring

Mara x

gonegirl

ooooh. Good luck with that. I mostly block folks out on this in terms of their reaction. They don't get it. My father and brother are both doctors. Took me a bit to realize they figured I was going to die. Only good oncologist care folks, and others going through it, get this. We can live a long time. I see myself as a cockroach, it's hard to kill me.

TwoHobbies

I see I missed a lot of posts. This working thing is interfering with my social media life. I just want to send a big group hug. We can't fix it all whether it be losing your dog, facing treatment decisions, telling your family or just having anxiety but I hope a virtual hug lets you know you are not alone.

My exercise has been low during the week again. I am getting some walking from the parking lot into work. I go to rads in the morning and so I park a lot farther away. It takes about 7 minutes to walk into the building and to my desk. As we say I'm counting that! I did walk 30minutes last night and planned on mowing the lawn today but I guess I'm too late. It just started raining.

RhodyMMM

Yay me.....we did the 5K Making Strides for Breast Cancer walk on Saturday and I made it! I think I had a nice rhythm going and my knee held out until I stopped. That was the end of that and I could hardly move for two days, but I did it. Felt great. There was a great turnout and we had a great team from work. We decorated our boat and took it to Pittsburgh for the weekend so it was a great getaway too. Don't know how to upload pictures or I would put one up!

SpecialK

twohobbies - do what you can - that is the name of the game!

rhody excellent, but sorry your knee hurts!

gonegirl

wow. You films who push yourself while in treatment. be kind to yourselves.

Just got a bunch of walking in. Walked to and from a restaurant, altogether 2 miles. The walk back home was much faster. Think of it. Lots of food and then walking. Let's just say I rushed right to the bathroom. Faaast walking.

Rhea3rdDiag

Thanks to all for the input on exercise. I am 4 weeks out from mastectomy on my right side....and am beginning to exercise again. I walk around the property, walk the dog, do my exercises, and that is about it....yet my range of motion improves daily. Input from many on this thread has helped me realize that it takes time, not to push, and keep moving. Thanks to all for the support.

My plan is to begin gentle yoga, walk longer and do more tummy work as I feel like I am beginning to bulge in the mid section.....always my trouble zone. Best to all in sticking to an exercise plan....gently and slowly.

RhodyMMM

Trying to get back in the saddle....walked about a mile today, had round #3 of chemo on Thursday. Nearly killed me but I did it....slow and easy. Phew!

Martha

TwoHobbies

Hi ladies.  Well my exericse for the week was mowing my lawn on Monday and walking around the lake for 25 minutes one day.  I'm trying to learn that right now, that is enough.  Some of us at work are planning on walking at lunch so I'll try to do that a couple of days to start.  Trying to go slow.  I finish radiation at the end of the month and then I get my ovaries suppressed first week of November.  I'm convinced all attempts at weight loss will be for naught after that so I hoped to lose a few more pounds and get a little fitter but time is running out.