Stage 4 Fitness 2016

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  • zarovka
    zarovka Member Posts: 3,607
    edited July 2016

    Very impressive exercise programs ladies. It's not logging the miles any more, it's figuring out what you can do and then somehow getting yourself to do despite physical and time constraints we have.

    You all inspire me with your stories. Keep going ...

    I do have to get back into swimming.

    >Z<


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  • Andi67
    Andi67 Member Posts: 423
    edited July 2016

    Tomorrow is my last day at work.... my current assignment at Charles Schwab is ending and I plan to take full advantage and work out every single day! I am going to hike and run this weekend, and start encorporating yoga next week. The only thing left.... my dreaded swimming.....I really, really need to do it. I am GOING TO GET IN THAT POOL. I did once - about a year ago - and not since then. Anyway, Z - I will have lots of stories to report to everyone!


    XO

    Andrea

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  • Iwrite
    Iwrite Member Posts: 870
    edited July 2016

    You can do it Andrea! (And you'll feel better about everything when you do:))

    Getting to and into the pool is the hard part.

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  • zarovka
    zarovka Member Posts: 3,607
    edited July 2016

    Swimming is awesome for everything, especially the ever essential lymphatic system. Everybody jump in the water in support of Andrea!.

    >Z<

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  • Heidihill
    Heidihill Member Posts: 5,476
    edited July 2016

    I can't swim! But I do have a swim belt somewhere....

    Congrats on your new career as workout warrior, Andi!

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  • BionicBunny
    BionicBunny Member Posts: 146
    edited July 2016

    I'm in on this. My daughter and I have been swimming in the lake this summer. Usually we are the only ones swimming laps along the buoy lines-too funny! The next time I will be doing laps thinking of you Andi. Have fun everyone.

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  • zarovka
    zarovka Member Posts: 3,607
    edited July 2016

    Awesome Bionic Bunny!

    Tough Yoga Vinyasa class and a lot of biking today. Proud of myself as this is day 20 of Ibrance cycle 6.

    >KNC<

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  • BionicBunny
    BionicBunny Member Posts: 146
    edited July 2016

    Thanks Z! I got out on my bike today and did a 20 mile very slow ride. It was in the 90's and windy, and I was totally exhausted when I finished. But late this afternoon when DD suggested going for a swim, I thought, "yep", need to get in there, even for a short one. So we went to the lake and had a quick swim. The cool water felt great and I was sending good thoughts to Andi and all of the other fitness gals. Hope everyone has a great weekend.

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  • zarovka
    zarovka Member Posts: 3,607
    edited July 2016

    Yay. It's amazing what we can do. I've been mostly lying around today. It's day 21 of my Ibrance cycle. Time for a rest. Tomorrow I bike with my daughters in the Valle Caldera volcano. We live on the side of a very big volcano. Gotta go check on it every now and again.

    Keep moving ladies.

    >Z<

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  • ShazzaKelly
    ShazzaKelly Member Posts: 909
    edited July 2016

    Wow everyone is doing so well.

    Enjoy the swimming Andi. I will join you when the weather warms up here. I was a swimming instructor for many years but I don't get in the pool as often as I should.

    I am on week 4 of my half marathon walk training and haven't missed a workout. I've also got to yoga and Pilates in the last week. Yoga is new to me and I'm quite enjoying it.

    This weeks photos are taken from the end of my street while on my walk this morning. The weather was pretty wild over the weekend with gale force winds and the sea is still looking a bit angry.

    Have a great week everyone

    imageimage

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  • zarovka
    zarovka Member Posts: 3,607
    edited July 2016

    Beautiful! Walking a half marathon is a fantastic goal. Demonstrates optimism, commitment and gumption.

    We got chased out of a volcano by a lightening storm today. A little bike sprint left my legs burning. Feeling tired and virtuous.

    I am also concerned about some folks on other threads who are not doing well this weekend. This disease has so many ups and downs. But this thread is about taking advantage of the ups. Very important for the long term.

    Keep moving everyone.

    >Z<



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  • Iwrite
    Iwrite Member Posts: 870
    edited July 2016

    Hi everyone,

    Andi and Heidi - Good to see you posting!! Can't wait to hear what activities work best for you.

    Shazza - the pictures are beautiful and congratulations on the training program. A marathon of any kind is ambitious!

    Bionic bunny - 20 miles in this heat is quite an accomplishment!

    Zarovka - Your workouts inspire the rest of us!

    Brenda - So nice to see your posts. Your insights lift us up...and we remember those who have gone before us. Maybe some of the things we do today will inspire a "new club member" in the future. Some days, stretching counts as a major workout!!

    Did my first full mile swim yesterday morning and it felt great! No naps needed yesterday amazingly! Trying to outdistance this thing for a while feels like I have a bit of control. Enjoying every day!

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  • Sherriw
    Sherriw Member Posts: 47
    edited July 2016

    Maybe I'm the new club member you're thinking of?😀 I've just started treatment (two weeks in) and want to make sure fitness is front and center as I settle into my new routine. I'm thinking at this stage consistency is important so I'll be checking in here often for inspiration.

    I never really regained my fitness after my original chemo two years ago (obviously I'm kicking myself now but nothing to do but move forward from here). So probably no half marathons or big hiking trips in my near future. I do have an active lifestyle. I try to get out and do something every day. I dislike driving and do most errands and grocery trips on my bike. I love to be outside, so I'm motivated to keep up my fitness level so that I can enjoy lots of gardening and day hikes for as long as possible.

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  • Andi67
    Andi67 Member Posts: 423
    edited July 2016

    Thanks to everyone for the swimming encouragement! It seems that I actually may have no choice now but to jump in the water....I ran on Saturday, played tennis yesterday... and then today on a hike I fell. I didn't have hiking poles ...I didn't realize the trail was going to be so steep, and I tripped. I landed downhill on both knees, and it was so painful that I passed out. (very embarrassing.) I had to sit there for a long time and we almost called someone to come get me... but with the help of the two women I was with I did get down. I don't think I twisted anything, but both knees are VERY painful and completel swollen. I can barely walk. So much for my first day of retirement! Ugh.  I doubt I will be hiking, running, playing tennis for at least a few weeks, so swimming and/or yoga may be the only option...I am not even sure if I can do that! I am so bummed. :(

    Happy to hear about everyone else thought, and as usual Shazza, I love those pictures!

    SherriW - welcome to the fitness thread! I love hiking and gardening too. I was a total slug during chemo and it took a long time to recover from 4 months of sitting in a chair, so it's good that you are working it into your routine, and I hope that we can inspire you!

    XO

    Andrea

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  • Iwrite
    Iwrite Member Posts: 870
    edited July 2016

    Oh Andrea! What a horrid intro to retirement!

    Hope your knees feel better soon!! It's crazy how it feels when things we used to be able to do without thinking, now become hazardous because of Cancer/med related balance and strength issues.

    Don't know about others, but I expect to tell my body what to do rather than the other way around :-). Trying to be a little selfish in retirement and spending time taking care of this body. It has served me pretty well for 64 years and deserves some TLC, especially now.

    Once the knees heal a bit we will see you in the pool. I'm hoping that after building strength through swimming, it will be possible to regain some of the my former physical capabilities and enjoy them for a long time.

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  • BionicBunny
    BionicBunny Member Posts: 146
    edited July 2016

    Andi-I'm so sorry to hear about your fall. I hope the knees are starting to feel better and that you have a fast recovery.

    Sherriw-welcome to the group (of course, so sorry about the diagnosis that brought you here). This is a great group of ladies, and always encouraging and supportive.

    I enjoy reading everyone's posts and thank you all for them. Did a nice bike ride with my daughter today but now tonight I am barely able to keep my eyes open-maybe some of you can relate:) Hope you all have a good evening.




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  • zarovka
    zarovka Member Posts: 3,607
    edited July 2016

    Oy. Andrea. I am sorry about your knees. Glad you have wonderful placed to hike and great people to hike with.

    Sherri - medically, it really is about consistency. If you train for marathons, it's not a problem, but not necessary to manage side effects and promote healing. A 30 minute walk, even a 15 minute walk, is all it takes to make a huge difference. And when I am in the throws of some major side effect attack, that is a marathon.

    Today I dragged myself to a mild weight lifting/pilates class after my ct scan and bone scan hoping to be coached through easy movement in order to clear the dreaded contrast and adrenalin (I have a medical phobia) from my system. Pilates ab work is always astonishingly challenging, but I do feel better.

    >Z<

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  • Heidihill
    Heidihill Member Posts: 5,476
    edited July 2016

    Oh, no, Andrea. Hope you heal quickly. Maybe see a physiatrist or PT?

    Sherriw, welcome! I think being outside is half the battle. I always thought if I could get myself out the door I could keep moving.

    Have been trying to keep a 16 year old occupied with long walks, hikes, shopping and badminton. Soon we will be up in the mountains for more hikes and bike rides!

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  • Sherriw
    Sherriw Member Posts: 47
    edited July 2016

    thanks all for the warm welcome! I've had a busy couple of days but managed to work in my exercise each day. Yesterday morning I started with a 1.5 m loop through the neighborhood with my husband and the dog, enjoying some good nosiness checking out all the projects and gardening going on. I dropped them off back at the house and told myself I could either go for a long walk through my favorite park, or do another short loop if I pushed myself and ran it. I decided to run and get on with my day, it felt great! Anyone else make these little deals with yourself?

    Andrea - so sorry about your knees I bet that is so frustrating! The hike sounds worth it though

    Heidi - I have to say keeping up with a 16 year old sounds like great motivation, though shopping with a 16 year old sounds exhausting 😀

    Zarovka - I'm impressed you got yourself going after the scan. I always let that stuff be an excuse to waste a day, love that you made it an excuse to push yourself.

    My current goal is to get myself to yoga at least once a week. It's been more than a month (I had so many procedures and scans that came with doctors restrictions I only had a few days over the course of a month I was even cleared) but I will also admit that I've been worried about being alone in my own head for an hour in a quiet room. Too much too think about! But I know I'll feel better if I just do it.

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  • zarovka
    zarovka Member Posts: 3,607
    edited July 2016

    Sherriw- If the statistics are to be believed I don't have a day to waste.

    Yoga once a week is perfect. You have a great routine and approach. I do make all kinds of little deals with myself like that.

    Keep moving ladies!

    >Z<

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  • BionicBunny
    BionicBunny Member Posts: 146
    edited August 2016

    Hi ladies-I'm hoping some of you may have some ideas you'd be willing to share. I'm finding that I have to watch both my hydration and nutrition much more closely than I did before mbc diagnosis. When biking or exercising It seems like I have to eat and drink so much more than I used to or I totally run out of energy-bonk big time. I would appreciate your tips and ideas about how any of you handle this. Somehow the articles that I see in other fitness journals and articles don't consider the challenges of working out while on chemo and living with advanced cancer.

    Thanks for any ideas you might have.

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  • kaayborg
    kaayborg Member Posts: 613
    edited August 2016

    I've not ever posted here before but it seems the place to share my "big" accomplishment. My onc recommended aerobic exercise, something I've never been much about (just yoga, walking, and leisurely bike rides for me). But if she thinks aerobic exercise might help my odds, I listen. So this spring I began the couch to 5k progression but at my own slower pace. Yesterday, I ran 20 minutes straight, no walking in between! I cannot believe I can do this and with relative ease. Going from running 8, walking 5, running 8 to straight 20 seemed like a huge leap but I did it and I am so damn proud of myself I just had to boast about it somewhere. Can't believe running the initial minute at a time was enough to do me in at the beginning! Still have a few weeks to go until I'm 5K material but I'm going to be able to do it!


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  • zarovka
    zarovka Member Posts: 3,607
    edited August 2016

    Kaayborg. That is a huge accomplishment! I am so damn proud of you! It is impossible to understand how hard it is to run on these drugs unless you've actually tried drag your butt off the couch and do it. I am on the couch to 5K plan myself. I'd like to run a 5K with my husband in mid-october like we used to do every year. This year it will take a daily training regime worthy of a half marathon. I do a run/walk/run/walk sequence most mornings on a trail behind my house. Sometimes it goes well and sometimes it does not. But I am seeing a slow but steady improvement in how much I can do on my good days.

    Today was one of the hard days. I dragged myself through a mild routine even though I was shaking from the side effects of my treatment. It's rough, but it moderated the worst of the side effects. The rest afterwards can be the most healing part. It seems like the drugs get me both wired up and fatigued. The exercise allowed me to get a much needed nap today.

    Please keep bragging here, Kaayborg. It's great to hear about your progress.

    Keep moving ladies!

    >Z<


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  • ShazzaKelly
    ShazzaKelly Member Posts: 909
    edited August 2016

    Kaayborg that's fantastic. And this is the perfect place to brag. Keep the updates coming.

    Although I ran a bit before diagnosis I've found 3 years of continuous chemo keeps me tired enough that I can't imagine ever doing it again. Once I've got this half marathon walk out of the way I should maybe give a couch to 5k program a go.

    I'm finding that it's hard to motivate myself this winter. We have had so much rain. I'm still managing to get my walks in and my yoga and Pilates but it my performance is pretty sluggish.

    Bionic Bunny can't really help you there. Don't think I train hard enough maybe someone else has some good ideas.

    Everyone seems to be working hard though despite treatment. Keep up the good work and keep the updates coming. I'm finding this thread really keeps me going.

    Happy training Ladies

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  • Andi67
    Andi67 Member Posts: 423
    edited August 2016

    Kaaborg - huge accomplishment! Doesn't that make you feel so good? I think it can almost be addicting... the farther you go, the farther you want to go and you get to a point that you don't want to stop. I am hoping to run again by the end of the week. I took my boys and two of their friends to Beaver Creek for a long weekend and it was so beautiful that I just had to get out and hike. We did six miles to this gorgeus high mountain lake... I am going to post a picture. My knee hurt, but I was so happy to be with them (and they THEY were hiking.... they never would have done that when they were little!) so I just kept right on going.

    Z- you are one of those that amaze me... that you can exercise even when feeling the side effects of a treatment. I don't know what's wrong with me....I can make myself run 13 miles, but if I feel bad after an infusion day, I am a total couch potato.

    Bionic - I am not sure I have much advice. Pre Stage IV cancer, I could run and hike with very little food and water. I now take a camel back instead of a water bottle ( I have a little one for running, bigger for hiking/biking. _ and I force myself to drink water every ten minutes or so. At the end I usually drink something with electrolytesa and as little sugar as possible. Instead of taking energy bars, etc... like I used to, I take cut up apple, edamame, cherries... anything that has protein and or/natural sugars. Those seem to help to keep my blood sugar relguatlated. However - again, I am in a stage where I am not experiencing too many side effects.... so I am not sure what I would do then.

    Hike in Beaver Creek last weekend...so beautiful! XO Andi


    image






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  • mara51506
    mara51506 Member Posts: 5,088
    edited August 2016

    I am newly dx with a brain met. Never finished my Stage 3 treatment. I am obsessive with exercise and was walking round hospital off/on for several hours the 4 days I was there. I will have my craniotomy aug 12 and hope theexercise will help me recover faster. I mostly walk/stationary bike throughout the day and believe exercise kept me out of hospital when I was getting ACT chemo and no issue with the Herceptin. You all inspire me.

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  • zarovka
    zarovka Member Posts: 3,607
    edited August 2016

    Mara - we need exercise and then rest to integrate it. make sure you get both!

    Andi - you amaze me! the trick to exercising when you feel like crap is to dial it way back and recognize that a fraction of a normal work out is a huge accomplishment. 13 mile run becomes 1.3 mile walk. very hard when you have been an athletic woman like everyone on this thread.

    I am in vancouver. Rode around the seawall in Stanley park with my kids today. Easy evening bike ride. Ready for more tomorrow.

    >Z<



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  • Sherriw
    Sherriw Member Posts: 47
    edited August 2016

    awesome photo Andi!

    Congrats Kayborg, that's a huge accomplishment.

    I've had rotating house guests the last week so not getting my workouts in. Been active, but didn't get in my yoga class which was myonly goal. It's been great to see everyone so not complaining, but I need to remember to take care of myself too.

    Keep up the good work everyone😀

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  • mara51506
    mara51506 Member Posts: 5,088
    edited August 2016

    20 mins walk around neighbourhood. 20 mins air stepper, 40 mins stationary bike. 2 hour nap this afternoon. Feeling pretty good. Steroids are helping brain swelling and I am actually able to sleep 5 hours, then another 2 during the night. Packing hospital bag for my craniotomy in the meantime which is aug 12th.

    Good job everyone.

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  • zarovka
    zarovka Member Posts: 3,607
    edited August 2016

    I rode and biked around Vancouver with my kids for 8 hours today until had a little side effect melt down. Lying in bed now recovering. I am tired of these drugs. But I can't stop taking the drugs. Ugh.

    Nice nap Mara! And what a great exercise routine. Between the drugs and the stress, I can't sleep long and well when I don't exercise. The sleep is so critical .... when I can sleep well it's in an indicator I have the right lifestyle/routines in place. You are one brave woman. I've been reading about the drugs in development for HER2+. I am so hopeful you are just one craniotomy away from smooth sailing ... hang in there.

    Keep moving ladies ...

    >Z<

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