What do you do?

I am not one for the gym.  I like to bike, hike and mostly run.  I love to be out in all weather and wear lots of layers in the winter here in the Boston area as the days get colder.  It's 48 and sunny right now.  One thing I do to get in additional exercise or to change up the routine is use biking or even running to literally "run" errands.  I have to go down to the drug store later this morning to pick up a Rx.  It's two miles away.  I will use that for my run.  Or to pick up a library book I had on order, I'll get on my bicycle.  The important thing is to plan exercise into your day either alone or with a friend or the kids. 

As for the 15 lb weight limit, that's a lot of weight.  You can do plenty of different toning exercises with alot less weight than 15 lbs.  

Have fun!

Debbie

Hi, all! I am a newbie here. At least to responding to posts - I've been reading the discussions for awhile now. What a great bunch of folks! This is a great source of information and support. Thanks for letting me wade in!

 I had a bilateral mastectomy and tram flap reconstruction on Aug. 29. I started walking the halls of the hospital as soon as my PS would let me out of bed - he was as anxious as I was for movement to begin. I've been walking regularly ever since. This has been great for me both physically and mentally: walking was my preferred form of exercise pre-surgery so it feels good to do something so "normal"  (you all know about how what's normal changes after diagnosis!), and because I was pretty fit going into surgery the walking hasn't been hugely difficult. I am almost back to completing my regular 7 mile loop and am working on picking up the pace. Also, I am focusing a lot on eating well instead of just "lite". My PS advised me to increase my protein intake to help with healing, which led me to learn more about good nutrician for somebody like me (read: 49 year old female, premenapausal, mostly veg. eater). It's been an education, but I feel really good about the changes I've made and the impact they're having on my family.

 Curious:  any other tram-flappers - what has your PS told you about doing ad-stregthening exercises? Do ya'll also get that weird tightening in your belly where the flap was taken? It feels like someone inflating a basketball in there!

 Thanks for letting me jump in!

Hi, Diana.  I don't know where you live, but where I live the county has beautiful aquatic centers that are very inexpensive to use and open as early as 6 a.m.  If you really love to swim, you may want to look into that.  I was doing great, swimming every day, but I've been in a slump and have gotten away from it, but vow each day to start in again.  Post-treatment, I felt and looked my best when I was going swimming every day.  Actually took off some of the chemo weight...now that I've stopped, I put it all back on and then some.  I would recommend checking to see if your county has indoor swimming facilities.

The toe infection must be making exercise a little tough. I walk, run, bike, swim, dance, horseback ride- depending on the season, my mood, time constraints, etc. Lately I've been doing fitness walking with intervals of running. I had my second mastectomy in September (prophylactic this time) and needed  to slow down a little to recover from that. I did 2 triathlons over the summer which was fun. Just recently I've started horseback riding again. It's always a good idea to throw in some weight training- usually I do this at home but sometimes use the machines at our YMCA. It's nice also to have at least one activity you can do anywhere and that doesn't require much in the way of equipment. I like running and walking for that reason. Best of luck in your search for a fitness activity and in healing your toe!

EWB - The water aerobic classes at my gym are very popular, even in the winter. The water is warm and the exercises are easy on your joints because you're held up by the water. I think it's fun to exercise with a group; the talking is as much fun as the working out. Other low impact exercises at a gym are the elliptical trainer (you don't have to pick up your feet from the pedals) and the recumbant bike (you're sitting down with your legs out in front rather than beneath you). Many gyms also have "gentle aerobics" classes that are low impact. If it's cold outside and you don't want to go out, you can even put on music with a good beat and just walk around in the house. Lifting your knees up will raise your heart rate. Clap your hands, dance & sing, have fun! Make a pact with yourself that no matter how tired you are, you will do some type of exercise every day. Start with 10 minutes in the morning and go from there. If 10 minutes is all you can do, don't beat yourself up... 10 minutes is a good start! Get up and do 10 minutes before lunch and again before dinner. Soon you will increase the minutes and feel better too. You can purchase light hand weights - 3 lbs is good to start - and use them for arm and shoulder exercises. Hold in your tummy, stand up straight and tell yourself "I look good!" Pretty soon you will feel good too.

Hi, CCBoise. I hate to tell you that you're in for some downtime. I don't know if you had a recon (I did), but I couldn't return to cardio and Pilates (which really helped w/the impaired mobility post-mx) for a good 4-6 weeks. I could, however, once the drains were out walk as long as it wasn't fast enough to "bounce". The water aerobic idea in the previous post is a good one--as long as you get your surgeon's OK.

If the Lexapro doesn't help, talk w/your MD about another (e.g., effexor). Women respond differently to them. I went through Wellbutrin and Cymbalta until finding Lexapro did the trick.

Take good care.

CCBoise--you sound like you're doing well and making good decisions (especially having your party catered). I haven't had chemo or rads, but saw a friend through 2 rounds of chemo for colon cancer and a recurrence. Having friends/family take her to her treatments (and walking when she could) helped tremendously. Hang on to that family/friend support network--it sounds as if they're there for you.

Good luck. Jan. 12th will be here before you know it--though if you're really stressed, call and see if they can move you up.