Staying Fit While Staying Home. What's your plan?

Moderators

Among the chaos with the COVID-19 crisis, gyms have closed, buddy workouts and close contact have become obsolete, and trying to get in exercise at home can prove difficult with family/work distractions -- So, what are you doing to stay in shape while traditional workout options are affected?

Share your tips below for staying active and healthy while also complying with safety measures!

Moderators

Need some ideas/inspiration or wondering what types of exercise are safe for you? Check out the main Breastcancer.org site's Exercise section!

Peregrinelady

Fortunately we have ten acres of woods that need work. Limbing, logging, etc. and getting lots of steps on my Fitbit!

Moderators

Peregrinelady, that certainly sounds like a workout! And with 10 acres, we're sure you have lots of gorgeous sights to behold as well!

Thanks for sharing!

--The Mods

ShetlandPony

My dance and yoga classes are going online. And I can still walk in my neighborhood.

MountainMia

I've been walking outside most days, when it's nice enough. And I spend time most mornings, 20-30 minutes, doing stretching and core work. It's not enough, physically or mentally. Just before things shut down, I'd gotten back to my pre-treatment lifting levels and actually started to move beyond that. My endurance wasn't fantastic still, but I felt optimistic that my strength had come back. So, this is tough. I do have dumbbells and an elliptical, so just need to make the decision to use them.

One of the things about going to the gym that had surprised me was how much I appreciated having people around. Even when I didn't talk to anyone there, they were around. Even though I'm pretty solitary in general, I don't love this isolation.

Anonymous

Luckily we live across the street from a very large national forest. We will hike there when weather permits; there are hundreds of miles of roads that are still closed for the winter and they are very walkable... and I am a yoga instructor so I have been leading a class of one (my husband). My yoga studio is live-streaming all their classes on instagram and it has helped me with my separation anxiety from my yoga community somewhat.

We have 10 lb weights so I use those in lieu of my gym routine...and am doing a bunch of crunches and wall sits for other muscle groups.

Anonymous

mountainmia, I understand completely what you mean about having people around. Having to self-isolate isn't normal-in fact, it goes against what it means to be human, I think.

Anonymous

I am an exercise specialist and the creator of the Recovery Fitness Cancer exercise program. I would like to offer the Breastcancer.org community a free breast cancer exercise class by zoom this Tuesday at 9am. For more information go to carolmichaelsfitness.com. or email me for a zoom invite at caroljmichaels@gmail.com. We have been helping cancer survivors improve their recovery for over 25 years.

bcincolorado

I live in the dark ages at our house and still have a VCR and my Richard Simmons videos I'm pulling out to use.

ctmbsikia

beachpoint, thank you for the invite. Let us know if you would consider a 4pm or 5pm EST time? You may get some CST and PST posters here to join too. Crazy times. I am very fortunate to at least be working, for now, so 9am on Tues I can try but pretty sure I can't sign on at that time. In our facility we rent spaces and one of them is a gym- so my employer actually pays me to go the gym 2x's a week for circuit training class. I'm so glad I was able to join free. Trainer is really good and modifies stations for me and a couple of others that aren't "young and fit" It's awesome. I miss it. It's been 3 weeks now. I have so missed 6 sessions and I know I need to work out and not sit here with my back twisted at my kitchen table!!! I have been trying to do cardio by just walking and running up and down steps. So miss the strength training. I have a weight bench here, but its not the same without a trainer guiding you. I could do more harm than good. So missing the guidance.

Yogatyme

I'm a rebounder and generally do 30 min/day. With all the time on my hands and increased anxiety, the time is increasing daily. It helps immensely.

JoniB

My company has taken many steps to lift people's spirits and establish an online community. My particular department wants everyone to take a walk or exercise at noon. My husband, who is self employed and not working because of Covid-19, and I walk every day at noon around the neighborhood and I hop on my treadmill when I've finished work for the day. I also take breaks to lift light weights and do floor exercises. I'm exercising more now than before. I have motivation - my son's wedding is in October (if the virus subsides) and I'm convinced the store did not take my Arimidex belly into account when selecting the dress size they ordered for me.

ruthbru

My husband & I have been 'borrowing' our two grand-dogs every day and taking them on fun adventures. Good for us & them both. My fitness classes have gone online (Zoom), which is great because it keeps me on a regular routine and I get to 'see' my exercise friends. I have a group of friends who get together & walk each Wednesday morning. We have still been walking, but on our own, and then we 'meet' for a virtual breakfast video chat on Facebook Messenger. I also have about 37 exercise DVDs to choose from. No excuses!!!

striveforhealth

I haven't returned to exercising yet. Thursday will be 6 weeks post surgery... so it's time to get moving again. I start my rads at 9 am on Monday. I have a few core and stretch CD's that I can pull out to slowly get myself started. I'm hoping that I can do a little each day after rads to get into a good routine. It was nice to read what everyone is doing for themselves. Thanks for the inspiration!

MinusTwo

I miss Silver Sneakers & I miss my Chair Yoga class. No - I likely won't do them on line. I'm walking 3-4 miles a day at a brisk clip. Also spending lots of of time in the yard doing heavy maintenance digging, sawing, pruning, hacking, weeding, planting, etc. I have sore places that I didn't even know were there.

Moderators

Congrats to all of you for coming up with such creative ways to keep moving!

All of your responses are amazing and such a great inspiration to us all while we figure out how to stay fit and healthy! Keep these coming!!

--Your Mods

2019whatayear

I go outside and run everyday- on the streets around my house- easy to stay away from any other people. To maintain my weight I weigh myself daily and make sure not to eat after dinner- tempting to snack the night away these days! Very inspirational to see all these members staying fit during quanratine!

ctmbsikia

Guess what? I haven't done a darn thing! I don't even want to go out walking but I know I should. By the time I am done working I feel I am still stuck in the kitchen making dinner, eating and eating all day long!! Not the best place to be while working. I so miss my 2 classes per week that I did while at work.

I am thinking of hooking up the DVD player and doing a Jillian Michaels circuit 40 minute work out My daughter had a few of those so she gave me one. MUST get into the basement and get the weights and TV going, making that seem like going to my class.

ruthbru

If you want a group of exercise buddies, check out the Lets Post Our Daily Exercise on the fitness thread!

gailmary

like Peregrinelady we have a 12 acre woodland that needs work here in Wisconsin. All winter we were out there working, weather permitting. The work won't let up now that its spring. Plus 1 acre yard that I love to dig around in. Hike once in a while. I just love how fresh air feels!

GAILMARY

edj3

I'm a runner, so no changes here. I run very early in the morning and rarely see anyone. Although my marathon in June has been canceled as a live race, it's offered virtually so I'm staying on track for running it in June.

We have free weights, a tower, and a rowing machine in our dining room (which really is our sewing room and work out room, we just never eat in there--this is a much better use of the space).

Anonymous

My next free exercise class for breast cancer patients is Monday at 12:30pm. Email me at caroljmichaels@gmail.com and I will send a zoom invite. Thank you! To learn about the Cancer Recovery Fitness program go to CarolMichaelsFitness.com.

Moderators

We are so appreciative of all of your posts here, and happy to see that you're all motivating each other! Thank you for sharing and keep it coming!

Moderators

Staying Active During Quarantine: Tips for People With Breast Cancer

April 8, 2020

Sami Mansfield started her career as a cancer exercise specialist in 2003. Since being inspired by coaching her first client who had been diagnosed with cancer 15 years ago, her career has been dedicated to helping people with cancer — any type and any stage — live as well as possible. Sami's experience encompasses work in both community- and hospital-based cancer centers, nonprofit organizations, developing and consulting on clinical trials, and as a speaker presenting to both patients and healthcare professionals. She is a certified cancer exercise trainer, a CrossFit Level 1 coach with extensive exercise and nutrition experience, and the founder of Cancer Wellness For Life. She also offers functional movement basics classes on the We Build 4 Life YouTube channel.

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, gyms are closed and personal trainers can't visit their clients. So how can people with breast cancer stay active and continue their exercise programs?

Listen to the podcast to hear Sami discuss:

• how to motivate yourself to exercise when you're working out alone
• how exercise can help both your physical and mental while being while you're isolating
• tips on how to exercise if you have no equipment at home

Running time: 23:07

Listen now or read the transcript.

Valentina7268279

I am so happy I found this... before coronavirus crisis I was going regularly to Gym but now I go every day jogging in the mornings, around 7 am and I usually don't see a lot of people but it makes me anyway so anxious.. but after reading how many also jog outside, I feel better. Which measures do you take when coming back home? Thank you!

Moderators

Valentina7, we're impressed you push yourself at 7am! Way to go!! Really! And by measures, what exactly do you mean?

Peregrinelady

I am thinking she means measures to prevent infection as in taking shoes off or showering.

Valentina7268279

exactly 😁, I take my shoes off and leave them outside the apartment, take a shower and wash my clothes immediately.

And I disinfect my phone and keys...

JoniB

I was excited to see the post by beachpoint regarding her online exercise class for breast cancer patients/survivors - that is because I recognize beachpoint by her website. I have been taking exercise classes with Carol since April 2016, right after I was diagnosed with my breast cancer recurrence. I found Carol through an internet search when I was looking for an exercise class for breast cancer survivors. My friends are often surprised that I drive as far as I do to attend class, but it is totally worth it. Carol has a big following in NJ and rightly so - she is informed, compassionate and professional. You can see her impressive background by going to her website. I've added one of her zoom classes to my pandemic exercise routine and look forward to continuing classes at her studio when we are no longer quarantined. If you are looking for a great online exercise program you should check out Carol's Zoom class. I've cut and pasted her post below. Feel free to PM me if you have any questions.

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Apr 3, 2020 02:17PM beachpoint wrote:

I am an exercise specialist and the creator of the Recovery Fitness Cancer exercise program. I would like to offer the Breastcancer.org community a free breast cancer exercise class by zoom this Tuesday at 9am. For more information go to carolmichaelsfitness.com. or email me for a zoom invite at caroljmichaels@gmail.com. We have been helping cancer survivors improve their recovery for over 25 years.