Confused on where to start after treatment

Amie0215

Like many other women, I have completely lost all muscle tone - everywhere. I'm mush. I don't have a clue where to start. I tried walking, stretching, and light weights. The problem is I'm still weak (I'm 5'8" and 172 lbs). I was on my kitchen floor organizing the bottom cabinets and I literally could not get up. I did not have the body strength to do this simple thing! It scared the daylights out of me. Does anyone else have this problem, or go through it? I need to do something, but I don't know what. I work 10 hour days M-F - office job.

Falconer

Hi Amie,

Here is a link to the great exercise thread on the BCO site:

https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/58/topics...

So many women there do all different things to keep fit and healthy. For me, it's yoga first and running or walking or hiking second. That's it. I'm not a gym person but many many women on that thread are. Best of luck to you!

TWills

I felt the same way, my hospital group has a program through the wellness center and maybe yours might have the same or something similar. Mine was a 6 week strength training program and I worked with a trainer that specialized in BC recovery. Basically we did light weight training and some endurance training twice a week, I actually could have done it on my own but just didn't know where to start. If you have a YMCA near you they also have a program called the Live Strong Program for cancer recoveryand it's also free.

ruthbru

Come join us on the exercise thread Falconer mentioned! Walking is always a good way to start. If you can work with a trainer or have a program like Live Strong, those are awesome. If they aren't available in your area or don't fit into your schedule,t here are many good exercise DVDs out there. I like Denise Austin myself. With a DVD (or class), you can first just do the movements and no weights and then very gradually add the lightest weights (or even soup cans) and work up slowly. It takes more time than any of us like to get back to 'normal', but it can be done. I think that constituency is the whole key.......find something (or better yet, things) that feel right to you and stick to a regular schedule of doing them.

NotVeryBrave

I'm getting ready to start a 12 week program through the hospital for fitness and nutrition for survivors. I'll be meeting with PT and a nutritionalist and being set up for exercises in the gym which is medically supervised. I feel like I really need some guidance on where to start.

LilacBlue

Terrific recommendations from everyone. Can add that cancer exercise specialist programs are an excellent start and most YMCA have the wonderful LiveStrong Program. In my area of the world, been able to start a tiny initiative called Pink Ribbon Pilates, twice weekly free pilates class to those in or out of treatment for breast cancer. Some pilates and yoga instructors have specialist training with classes geared towards those with bc, so a online search may help you find them where you live. We can condition our bodies at any age, at any time, so good luck Amie and do take the first step to change. Another positive aspect is a sense of empowerment, of coming back to physical wellness.

TrmTab

Hi Amie

6 months post MX I knew I needed to do something different, I wasn't being successful at returning to my pre-MX exercise habits and I needed centering, core strength, overall improved fitness...

I joined a yoga/pilates studio and it has been great. For me, getting classes on my calendar has been great at commitment to go...and frankly just having someone leading, telling me to do this, then that has been very freeing. I have a very welcoming studio with folks from 20 - 80 years old and me at 56. I can't do everything, and when I had surgery for exchange in Sept I was out of pocket for a month and then "three steps back" when I returned, but I did return and now 4 months post exchange am back to full speed and continuing to improve day to day...

Walking and a couple of classes a week really worked...and I too have a professional 50 hr a week job.