Motivation

There go those Cal girls again-They just cannot keep to themselves. Just had to add that little comment eh miss K? Penny-I am happy that you missed another hit, but could you have blown it straight south to hit California instead of us poor winter wearies in the heartland? It looks like we might get a few inches of the white stuff tomorrow. I guess it IS still March after all.

Val-it looks like you are off and running. Way to go girl! We all start with one step. Each one we take forward takes us farther out of the dark tunnel. As I said, don't look back! Full steam ahead!

Spring is coming. Time for everyone to get out into the fresh air and celebrate life. (well, unless you are going to get hit by another snowstorm, as we might here in the midwest). I am on the hunt for a new bike. I finally wore out my 1 speed, so I may even graduate to a 3 speed. We do not need many speeds here in flatland USA. Besides less gears makes a harder workout, which is the point. Anyone have a particular bike they really love?

Well, I guess I am on a roll, albeit small, but still..... I walked again this morning even tho I had several things to do in the house. It felt very good & I'm glad I did it. And, yes, vivre, I did howl at the moon, well, actually the sun & the blue sky ~ I talked to myself rather loudly, glad my neighbors aren't close enough to have heard ~ Went through the Why me? thing & then took a long, deep breath of fresh air & walked faster. My legs felt great when I was finished. My daughter told me to add 5 minutes every day or other day so the workout would be longer & I will do that next week.

Still must work on my mental state, but I suppose that will come with time, won't it?

Trying to make changes in my diet as well. Any tips?? I have Kashi Honey-flax cereal dry in the morning, not a milk drinker; I eat it like trail mix. Try to have a yogurt mid-morn or applesauce. I'm not too good for lunch, some crackers & cheese or Tostitos (yeah, I know, not the best thing to have but I like crunchy & Salsa. Do not eat potato chips.) Dinner is whatever I fix for DH, but we do eat chicken & I make home-made soups/stews with that or venison.

I'll trying here, sometimes it ain't easy....

Have a wonderul weekend everyone,

Val

Thanks Deanna!

Yes, it is neuropathy.

How much do you take?  How long does it take to work?

Jo Anne

Geez Muma, it is bad enough we have those tropical princesses bragging about the weather, now we have to hear you brag about being on vacation! Have you no mercy? Okay, since you are from Toronto, I can forgive you this time. LOL I just cannot wait until the flowers start to bloom here, or I take a vacation in May. You all are never going to hear the end of it. I will win the biggest bragger award!

Val-I am so proud of you. I can remember so well dealing with the the anger-no rage, at getting bc. I was mad at the world. It took a lot of long walks, but as I said, eventually I came to a peaceful place that is so liberating. Mother nature is there to heal you, and she walks hand in hand with God. I do believe that God gave us so much beauty in this world to heal our imperfect bodies and souls. You can feel the warm healing rays of the sun, even on a cold day. You can feel the cleansing breath of fresh air. And everyday now, as we see a new sign of spring, we are reminded of the power of mother nature to constantly renew and bloom again. I think cancer finally encouraged me to look at how alive everything around me was. Now I try to embrace life instead of just walking through it.

Valjean, As I said, I love the name. If any of you have never read it, read Les Miserables. It is a long long book, but next to the Bible, the greatest book ever written. It is all about the power of love. A downtrodden man, ValJean who always felt angry at the world because of the cards he was dealt. One day, while committing a crime, he is shown the kindness of God's love through a priest who goes to his defense. ValJean's demons continue to chase him, but has he begins to have faith in others, he begins to believe in himself. He gets the chip off his shoulder and this lifts the weight off of his back, and he makes a life for himself that is not only prosperous, but helps others. It is the ultimate story of survival. Formidable!

That is why I use the name Vivre. It means "to live".

Spring - Detox tea is an herbal tea that aids in flushing out your liver and kidneys.  I love it.

Hi Mandy, When I was in chemo my ONC recommeneded I see a PT (Physical Therapiest, that insurance paid for!) They were experts at figuring out what exercises I couls/should do in chemo to lessen the fatigue and increase my energy. It was great. (Walking, light weights, etc).

Lisa, do you find "Detox tea" online? I have never run across it! 

I just got some Almond Milk at Super Walmart, It is in a "box" like Rice Dream, actually, I think it is called Almond Dream?  I've had teh Blue Diamond Almond milk and it was delicious. Just not close by!!!

Hi everyone!

I started a wii FIT thread to keep myself motivated, but those gals just will not continue to post!!! So here I am!!! Except for the last week because I have been sleeping, I have done 30 mins to an hour of exercise on that thing. Half of it is yoga and balance, the other half aerobics - step, boxing and hula hoops.

Next week I'll be done rads so will start my diet. I'd like to lose a couple pounds.

I'll also be walking when the weather's good. If it rains, I'm back on the wii FIT.

I don't know where to begin. You guys are so insightful, you really make me T h i n k. I reread your posts, slowly, & then again.

vivre ~ Wow, you have a old soul. (hope that doesn't offend you) I never really thought about Mother Nature in such a way before. I like the outdoors, love to search for waterfalls, & I love trees & walking by the beautiful Lake Michigan, Lake Huron or Lake Superior.  It is almost like a rebirth, isn't it? I'm listening to the rain hit the window as I sit here writing, it sounds so peaceful.

   'Now I try to embrace life instead of just walking through it.'

                 That sentence is always going to stay with me.....

I have not read Les Miserables, but I'm going to buy it. I was feeling downtroddon....until I came to this site. I use Valjean alot for things because my first & middle names are Valerie Jean, & it's easy to use.

Springie~I am not insulted at all! Hey, even if you were a professional, I couldn't pay you!! LOL But I will take your advice for free. If one wants to be a certain way, so to speak, we must begin by acting, thinking & actually being that way. Hmmm ~ makes ya think.

Deanna~I don't eat much fruit, but I do make smoothies a couple of times a week, with strawberries & blueberries &/or blackberries. I do eat, forgot before, raw broccoli & carrots sometimes for lunch dipped in a no-fat italian dressing for a little flavor.  

Lisa~I've wanted to try steel cut oats since I heard Oprah talk about it years ago, but have always continued to buy reg oatmeal. I have that maybe once every couple of months, not enough I know. Do you get the detox tea in a health food store or just a reg. grocery store? I love the state of MI, esp the northern lower & the U.P., it's beautiful. I haven't been down to the Algonac part of the state, I usually head north.

unique~Welcome to this thread! I've seen the wii FIT advertised on TV. I've done the bowling on my daughter's wii, lots of fun; the FIT would be a good workout, I'm sure.

Everyone of you has given me lots to think about, & wonderful ideas to try. I see all these hands reaching out to me..... thank you so much.

Have a beautiful Sunday,

Val

Woke up to snow today, as expected. Misery loves company, eh Penny?

Muma-We will forgive you using the rain as an excuse for not exercising, as long as you are helping the US economy by spending some $$$. Have a great shopping day!

Val-I agree, I have always thought I had an old soul. Unfortunately, the chronilogical age is now about equal! LOL So glad we are inspiring you to better health.

Lisa and the new "girls". How are you all? Hope you are inspiring all those young uns you teach to take better care of themselves. You will be such a great role model for them. What a blessing you are.

Here was a real motivator for me: Yesterday I found a 40 pound box of catlitter on sale. We have 3 cats. I managed to wrestled it into the cart, the car, and then the house. Afterwards the light bulbs went off. OMG, that is how much weight I have lost! When I look at this huge box of catlitter, I can't believe I carried all that around with me every day. No wonder I now have a "spring" in my step! Now you know why I do not worry about recurrance. I have gotten rid of ALL my excess baggage.

Oh and Valjean...I went to college in the UP!  I graduated from NMU which is in Marquette!  I'll pm you about the tea.

Springie...(like that)

You won't find Zumba DVD's in the store....but you can get them on Ebay.  Look for the boxed set of four...that is what I started out with.  They have newer ones on the zumba site...but they are big bucks! 

My son has the Wii and we bowl, box and play baseball and gold...but we don't have th new "fit" games yet!  I love the boxing ...I kick my family's butt!  LOL

Hi ladies!  Finally catching up and reading all your posts.  Yesterday it was gorgeous here...even the weatherman said we almost feel guilty about the great weather due to all the storms across the country....but it felt good to be warm!!  Today windy, windy windy and 10 degrees cooler, with gusts up to 40 mph.  Hubby got our bikes dusted off, haven't biked much but I need to firm up these flabby thighs!! 

I too am still feeling some numbness in my toes when I walk a lot.  Didn't notice it while on Taxol.  Told my onc about it on Thurs.  She hopes it goes away (along with all the other se's) in time.  I take B Complex, have been all through chemo/rads and my finger numbness has improved, although in my lymph-free arm I feel it more.

I've enjoyed reading all your posts and you all REALLY inspire me!  I think we're all doing a really good job at eating/exercising/motivating.

When I went to my onc and Avastin monotherapy treatment Thurs. I met a few women in the waiting room.  1 breast cancer patient, looked in her 30's who was told 18 mos. ago to make funeral arrangements cause her cancer had spread like wildfire and there she was feisty and said she battles this disease and ain't goin nowhere yet!  And another really inspiring lady with lung cancer who was telling everyone to be happy, look at the bright side, eat good, exercise.  There we all were, asian, white, black...and we were sisters sitting there understanding what each other was going through and MOTIVATING each other.  I then went into the chemo room, which was packed, and looked around and just smiled at people and I felt so lucky.  It was weird....but I left there in the BEST mood, went back to work and just had a good day! 

Vivre, I love your outlook and I too think of your embracing life and not just walking through it!!

Wish we could all go to Zumba with Lisa and her new girls! 

Unique, glad you came over from the rads thread!  Good to see you.

Springie, let us know how goes it at the gym today with the weight machines!  Go girl!!

Val, love the sound of all those lakes you are surrounded by!  We are about an hour from Lake Tahoe, and it is gorgeous.  Wish I could see it everyday, there is just something about the water that does it for me.

Well hubby is gone to work today in the Bay Area, so I'm solo.  I need to clean now...oh boy!!  NOT

Have a terrific day!

I love it!  My husband was always the clown in the chemo room!  The nurses told me on Thurs. they missed him (it was my first solo treatment and they were so proud of me, heck I was proud of myself!)