Stage IV MBC Fitness

Nkb

Emmy- so far I love the watch. I don't have to dig out my phone for all those notifications and texts and even tho things are small-it works. I love answering texts with it, although now I look like a crazy person talking into my watch. It does have all sorts of exercise goals and programs-

zarovka

Polar is more accurate. I often compare my fitbit to the fancier technology. The fitbit tells you roughly whether you are active, really active awake or asleep. And since I can wear it all the time, the long term data is interesting even if not accurate at a granular level. I would not use it to figure out cardio zones while working out. I still like the activity information that it sends back to the fitbit app. You get credit for everything like climbing a bizillion steps to a temple which would never get from one of the higher end heart rate monitors.

Emmy - you are on the right track. Everything you say is dead on. Keep going.

And the rest of you ... what are you doing to keep moving?

>Z<

Iwrite

Hello Ladies,

Back in the pool today. Only 1/3 of a mile but it's a start. Hoping to hike tomorrow if the sun comes out. Determined to be outside...even though it's Illinois :-

GracieM2007

ok question....it is wet outside today, we’ve had fog for two days now! What do you all do in this kind of weather? Do you walk inside or go out anyway? Need to get in my 30 minutes at least but I will end up soaked

illimae

I often walk in my house, I walk circles from the living room to formal living to dinning, through the kitchen and back. I also make multiple trips up and down the stairs putting things away or just to get the activity in. There's always cardio workouts on TV or DVD as well

GracieM2007

Awesome Mae! I’ve done that before...walked inside but just wasn’t sure I was getting the oxygen I could get outside! Ok sounds weird I know but I’ve never exercised like I have this last year and am still kind of a novice at all this! However I did go out and got in my 30 minutes and it wasn’t too bad

Nkb

GracieM2007-I'm glad you got out for 30 minutes. Years ago when I had children who didn't want to hang out at the gym's kiddie area-I bought an exercise bike and now use it early morning or evening if I get too busy to exercise in daylight. If you have room for one it could be your backup.

I've also heard that people go to indoor malls and walk-some malls even open up early just for the walkers.

I did a faster pace walk yesterday and 3 reps of an outdoor flight of stairs (116 stairs x 3) at the top on the 3rd rep I felt like I was going to faint-almost sat down, but, weathered it and then walked home. My Apple Watch said that my heart rate was 126-if it is 30 points off like it was using the polar and the bike-that is probably why I felt so bad. I also think that I probably wasn't as hydrated as I should have been.

mara51506

Gracie, good for you for getting out. The only time I avoid wet weather is if it is torrential downpour plus wind or a thunderstorm. Drizzly, gentle rain etc are not a bother even though it is colder here. I have done the same as illimae and walked up and down from my living room to kitchen and back to music. This is if I want to actually walk versus doing my Leslie Sansone videos in one spot. Either of these options work well if outside weather is a problem

Nkb

A little update on the Apple Watch. Today I went for a walk with some big hills and checked the apple watch heart rate against my count at my carotid with a second hand watch several times. It was surprisingly accurate! Within 2-4 beats. I am not sure if this is because I am wearing it a notch tighter on my wrist? or if the watch is "learning"?

I still don't buy a resting low of 51 beats per minute (wore it overnight) and will check that resting HR if is comes up again as that low.

Heidihill

Wow, that is low, Nkb. My nonovernight resting heart rate is 60. Below 60 is considered to be bradychardia, which could be a problem but could just mean that you are very fit. If you have don't have symptoms of lightheadedness, fainting, blacking out, shortness of breath, or chest pains, and your heart rate responds to exercise by increasing to meet the blood flow demands then kudos to you! The fainting spell you experienced may just be overexertion/ dehydration but might be worth dialling down to two sets instead of three to see if it makes a difference.  

Nkb

Heidihill- I agree. That was a little disturbing. Today it said 56- against my count of 60. Will watch it. Seems like with Ibrance it takes a lot of fluids to stay hydrated! My BP and pulse have always been a little on the low side, but, I’m not sure that reading was correct.

Hope everyone else is out and about today.

illimae

Morning all, H&P infusion and Xgeva shot today but I plan to get the steps in this evening.

I've been fairly active for the past few years and my heart rate has always been in the 50's generally. PCP knew and I never realized it was unusual until I got cancer and set off the alarms on the machines, lol. BP is low/normal and temp is a degree or two below normal, doc said some people are just low.

GracieM2007

Mine almost always runs in the 50’s and at night gets into the 40’s. I was concerned so I went to a cardiologist and did a nuclear treadmill. My heart is fine, reacts just fine, slows down fine. He adjusted my meds for heart murmur, dropped 50 mg a day and it hasn’t changed st all. I do have some lightheartedness on standing, but figure it’s all the meds

zarovka

Fifth day in a row doing one hour of yoga in a sauna. Back bending. Walking every day. Not on any treatment at the moment. Feeling great. I can get used this.

>Z<

Nkb

Gracie- sometimes low blood pressure makes you feel lightheaded upon standing- I always sit for a few seconds and then get up- ready to hold on to my dresser in the transition if needed. Also stay hydrated- seems like with the ibrance and faslodex i need lots more fluids than usual.

Z- how great to feel like your old self againfor awhile. I feel so much more competent in general when not feeling physically fragile.

Iwrite

Z - So good to hear that you feel energized! Hoping it lasts for a long long time!

mara51506

Z glad you are feeling more like your old self.

I bumped up my exercise, doing 40 to 60 minute walks around my neighbourhood. I also downloaded bitgym for Android.It tracks your movement in the tablet camera and takes you on virtual walking tours. I do this on my stationary bike and do an extra 30 mins of exercise most days.

zarovka

My daughter loves those apps and they get her moving. Anything to take you out of your day and focused on exercise.

These days I am locking myself in a hot sauna for an hour and I do yoga. I crave the heat these days. But it also helps be locked away from everything I need to do and every communication device.

>Z<

ShetlandPony

Yes! Getting immersed in an hour of yoga or dancing, with no devices, gets me into the flow* state that is conducive to happiness.

*the flow concept described by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi

Z, I like not having the stiff, creaky feeling I had on the aromatase inhibitor. Silver lining.

Nkb

Shetland- sounds lovely.

Did my intermediate yoga class after no yoga for a month. Felt great-I did use restraint.

ShetlandPony

That's right, Nkb. Work smart.

zarovka

just finished 90 minutes of hot bikram yoga. Wow.

Keep moving ladies!

Paula I have been caught up in my own diagnostic drama and treatment decisions but I think of you often. How are you?

Mara and Ilimae... you guys are in such a good place mentally by th tone of your post I forget to worry about you. How are you?

Z

illimae

Z, I'm doing well, thanks for checking in. I'm getting my steps in pretty consistently, however, this weekend DH and decided to rest up after a friends party last weekend. My follow up brain MRI is Tuesday, I'm expecting shrinkage of the small existing lesions, hopefully that is the case. DH leaves town for work on Saturday, after that I can get back to better eating and more activity (we tend to have a couch potato effect on each other).

I won't be placing too high in the current Fitbit challenges but I am happy to see good step numbers, it's let's me know everyone is ok

Heidihill

Hugs and fingers crossed for you on Tuesday, Illimae!

GracieM2007

Thinking of you today Mae and hoping tomorrow is a great day!!!

DivineMrsM

Gracie, the weather change presents a mental challenge to me when it comes to sticking with walking. It throws me off a bit. I don't want to go out when it is 40 degrees. Dh has an exercise room with a treadmill, but it is upstairs in a part of the house we don't keep heated all the time. It has a space heater that warms the room quickly, but on chilly mornings, my mind tells me how good it feels to snuggle on the sofa downstairs. But, I have managed to make myself get into a treadmill routine because I'm committed to keeping on walking 20 days a month.

For Christmas, Ds was asking for a piece of exercise equipment suitable for a small apartment. In searching the idea, I came across an elliptical trainer and I am going to ask for it for myself for Christmas. It is small enough to keep in a spare room downstairs, the convenience of that works for me. I will still use the treadmill to get my hour long walks in, but this smaller piece will help me get my 250 fitbit steps (or more when I like)an hour thru the winter. Its about 70 bucks. You can use it sitting or standing. I just want to keep moving thru the winter. Shorter daylight hours can get to me!

zarovka

Gracie - how are you feeling ... you another one I am concerned about but forget to check on because your posts are upbeat and you are active.

Illimae - I am so glad you are doing well. Thanks for the update.

>Z<

illimae

Thanks Z, Heidi and Gracie, I appreciate it!

Divine, please share your product review once you've had a chance to use it, I am very interested but equally clumsy, I'm thinking I might just suddenly fall off without something to do with my hands.

DivineMrsM

illimae, I'll be happy to let you know how the elliptical trainer performs.


As my walking has produced some weight loss, I recently started doing a few neck exercises to tone that area. Being in my late 50s, and measuring 5'1", I want to avoid the short, dumpy middle-age-looking-old look. My neck is never going to be completely taut again, but I see a subtle improvement with minumum effort. I checked out youtube videos on the subject and ones by a woman named Danielle Collins popped up. She is to the point and easy to follow.

mara51506

Z, I am feeling pretty good. Still getting all my workouts in, mostly walking and some bike with the virtual app as well. I get about 90 mins exercise most days. Taking advantage for as long as possible. The fresh air is good for me too. Purchased lots of clothes for the cooler weather. Nothing like fleece-lined pants to cut the wind here in Canada. Even did a little snow walking last week.

My next MRI should be end of nov to check status of my brain mets progression, they were still tiny and not causing trouble at this time. Brain was not even swollen, so I maybe should be worried though I am not feeling badly about. I am feeling pretty optimistic myself.

Hoping for your continued recovery and ability to continue the hot yoga since it agrees with you as well.