Exercise and well being during chemo and radiation

Leighrh

walked 2 1/2 miles on my bad day.... Got it done!! Going to bed now.

ksusan

Good work everybody (including the decision to stay in the AC!). Kbeee, I just got a tub of cottage cheese to vary my protein

I've had a quarter of a watermelon and a grapefruit, and now my wedding ring fits again.

rainnyc

KBeee, I've been addicted to cottage cheese and watermelon since starting chemo; good to know others are as well.

slothabouttown

I went away for a few days and came back to a new thread! I'm all in for this one, ready to up the exercise and need all the support I can get (where did you think the "sloth" part came from?)

Just got back from 4 days of tent camping at the coast. I was nervous about it prior but managed to set up camp, cook all the meals, go hiking every day and have some fun! I felt pretty much back to normal energy and stamina-wise. Now I just have to get through all the unpacking and cleaning and laundry that goes with camping! Anyway, that's my exercise for the weekend, hoping to keep it up all week.

SueH58

I stick with the basic proteins--chicken, fish, steak. Snacks of cheese sticks, yogurt and humus. Doesn't take long to take to 100 grams...

labhusky

I'm going to join this thread. I'm going thru chemo now so my energy level isn't the best & it's taking me longer although I think sometime this coming week I may start finally feeling better. Here in Southern California it's been so humid this weekend. All I've done was feed the dog, and get trash out. I'm sweating like a football player. Right now it's 75 deg with humidity @ 85. Ugh

ksusan

Sloth, I'm impressed! I think I'd have too much discomfort kick up if I camped at this point.

Italychick

lab husky, I'm with you here in So. cal. Where do we live right now, Florida? On my bike ride today, started raining and rode about 20 minutes in the rain. That doesn't happen here very often.

sloth, when we camp, it takes me like a week or two to clean up the mess. So that should count for some exercise!

25 miles today, 1,000 feet of climbing!

ksusan

Treadmill shelf

Foam shock absorber tied around treadmill arm; string (from hole drilled in shelf) wrapped around arm and anchored to the hand rest of treadmill

View from underneath of central hole used to anchor the middle of the shelf to hand reast

Optional livestock

littleblueflowers

Hey Slothabouttown, how far out are you from your last chemo? Wondering if I'm nuts to go camping 3 weeks PFC...

pboi

Thx for the treadmill pics Ksusan. The cat looks so comfy on the desk too! 😊

PB

Hopeful82014

Thanks, ksusan. Like the optional feline accessory. The photos and details ARE helpful.

FWIW - Plant Fusion makes a pea plant protein powder that is GF, Soy free, dairy free and contains 21 gm protein per serving and only 4 gm carbs. Not cheap byt not as expensive as many. Good with hemp milk as a drink or in a smoothie.

Sloth, Glad you could escape the heat.

slothabouttown

I'm 10 weeks pfc and 2 weeks out of rads. Energy wise I did fine, but I do have some discomfort, swelling or puffiness I guess from all the activity. Biggest concern was not getting too much sun. Best thing about this trip was my hair looked as good after day 4 as it did on day 1.

Hopeful82014

With the exception of 1/2 hour in the city yesterday (from salon to parking spot) all my exercise has been indoors - long trips on my faithful stationary bike. I did intervals yesterday but not this afternoon. I'm back in the rhythm of doing strength training again, too; it always takes me a while once the routine is interrupted.

It's been way too hot to do anything outdoors and the sun has been much too strong for my currently being radiated skin. I hate knowing that I'll have to be SO careful about it, too, for the rest of my life.

Italychick

sloth, there's the humor I love! I do have to admit, this current hairstyle is low maintenance!

karabesque

Cottage cheese and watermelon are about all I can eat too. Thank Goodness tomato season is almost here!

I walked for 20mins today.

I ate a greek yogurt and some rice.

Drank 90oz of H2O.

Took Vit B, Glutamine, probiotics and my meds.

Looking forward to feeling better tomorrow and doing a dance class!

rainnyc

We're going camping next week, just for two nights. I'll have just finished 12 weeks of Taxol/Herceptin/Perjeta. The day after we get back I have an appointment to see MO and see what the next phase of treatment is. A little nervous about it, but still looking forward.

Jackbirdie

good morning all! I am so impressed with everyone's daily exercise!

My brother and SIL leave tomorrow and have worked very hard helping to organize my packing and quite a bit is packed already.

So today we are taking the day off and I'm going to show them some of my favorite coastal walks, I plan on doing two separate walks, a couple of hours apart, perhaps a mile each. I will go at whatever pace I can walk and still talk, to ensure I stay in aerobic range, I get out of breath quite easily, so I will monitor carefully and stop and rest if I need to. I am still at the baby steps stage and just getting out there and trying is major for me right now. .

I know walking is the best thing for me right now, but it slaps me in the face with the awareness of how far I've fallen, which can be depressing and frustrating. But I know the only way to get where I need to be is THROUGH

ksusan

Katy, I'm glad they were helpful and you're that much closer to moving.

In exercise, anything counts. I remember lying on the floor in April, trying to do ROM exercises and being unsure whether I'd ever been able to lie with my arms behind my head and my elbows touching the floor, because I could only get my elbows down about 12 inches!

slothabouttown

Katy, get out there and kick some ass! I find its much easier to do the mileage walking along the coast than walking through my neighborhood. The scenery is so much more inspiring.

Susan, the treadmill is genious. Also love how a cat can make anything all about them, even exercise equipment.

ksusan

He does type on my laptop by stretching out his feet onto the keyboard.

KBeee

cool treadmill desk!

5.25 mile walk with a friend early this morning. Now hanging out in the chair for more Taxol

littleblueflowers

Katie, I'm so proud of you!!!!!!!

ErenTo

Great thread, I'd like to join as well! Finished chemo 2 weeks ago and starting radiation in 2 weeks. Managed to keep fairly active during chemo if it only meant walking and going the gym if I felt strong enough.I was pretty fit and active pre-BC.

Healthy eating during chemo was a challenge as my appetite was HUGE! Hoping to gradually work on that.

Hopeful82014

Hi, ErenTo - You might want to check out the Summer 2014 Radiation thread to help you get organized for the next step in your treatment.

In the meantime, though enjoy your break between chemo and radiation.

ErenTo

Thanks hopeful, have been scanning radiation board. Hope with the daily time commitment with radiation I can keep up with exercise. I've scheduled mine end of work day so will have some pretty long 6 weeks

Hopeful82014

Eren, once you get to/from your treatment center the time involved is minimal. I'm usually in and out very quickly. Allow additional time though for slathering stuff on your skin throughout the day and before bed. It does ad up. Still, if you work out at the end of the day it can definitely make for a much longer day. Good luck with it.

ksusan

Kbeee, good job! I find it satisfying to exercise before whatever treatment the day serves up. It makes me feel like I beat the system.

rainnyc

94 degrees today in NYC. No outside walking for me (well, 8 blocks to the air-conditioned library where I sometimes work). Bleh. Looking forward to camping next week; it's usually cooler in the state parks.

eheinrich

Well done Katy!

I have been terrible about exercising. Today I am packing and moving stuff and since it's a long walk from house to car I'm counting that as today's work out. Especially since it's crazy humid out.