Motivation

Kari, Lisa and Val - thank you for your lovely welcomes   Just off to my treadmill for a lively walk before making dinner.  I'm away for a few days so I hope I can survive without this forum... 6 days before I can run again (... not that I'm counting). 

big hugs

Helena

Hi Cuties!

I leave for my onc. appt soon so I will be brief (me be brief? ha)...

EWB - Tai Chi sounds cool!  I was just looking into seeing if classes were offered near me, but the schedule doesn't work.  Did you go to a class?

Lisa - your poor DH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  You are such a strong lady, kudos to you my dear!

Val - that Nordic Track sounds like a killer! LOL!  GOOD JOB!  I think its cute that your DD calls and checks out your mileage and stats on the thing! so sweet

Helena - I love that 'lively walk' and I thought of your 'happy pill' comment last night on my lively walk!

Spring - you sound like me as I said the same thing yesterday when I didn't walk at lunch, then HAD to last night!  BUT, our heat wave broke and it was in the 80's and breezy last night!  Hallelujah!  (sang that in my head), after 30 min. though my hip was a killin me so eased off and it felt a bit better.  I eat a banana everyday and stretch out, but notice when I walk fast my calves and chins do hurt...but then you do yoga so that is stretching them out.  Better try the banana thing.

OK, will report back later after onc appt.  

He who takes medicine and neglects to diet wastes the skill of his doctors.
- Chinese Proverb 

Kari- I go to support programs run by the Wellness Community. They have number of different things they offer including a Tai Chi class that runs weekly and this week I was able to try it out. Really enjoyed it much more that I thought I would and it was not a strain on the joints as I thought it might be. Will certainly put it on my calendar of must do every Wednesday afternoon...

Lisa- I have joined a gym recently (too good a deal to pass up! esp for when the weather is not good outside for my walk). Anyway, got the schedule and it seems they run zumba classes but I was concerned that it would be a bit much for me--reading further down on the list it shows a low impact zumba class! Figure I will try that until I am able to get up to speed...very excited to try it after seeing your youtube clips.  

Hi ladies--just back from the dog park with my DD (that would be Beemer the dog). Ha!

He ran so much he is sacked out on the floor now.

I went to yoga yesterday--and advanced class, yikes, so I am feeling it today. Joined the gym yesterday so may do some elliptical tonight. Have a dr apt tomorrow to get my ovaries ultrasounded--obgyn apt on Tues showed something on one of them. Presumably a cyst but even then--ugh! Assume it's the tamox but hopefully it's just something they can watch. Wish me luck.

Kari--my onc is the same way. They are really looking at vitamin D right now and mine said to take more (which I am--1000 IUs a day) and we'll re-test it in a few months. Initially it was at 31 I think. Other than that and a multiple, they don't really recommend anything.

Spring, I have heard bananas help with cramps...so potassium?

Have a great day ladies!!  

saltykm ~  GOOD FOR YOU!  I love walking, and I hope you will too, as you keep at it -- which I know you will!  Stay with us now, and keep posting.

Kari ~  Sounds like your onc app't went very well.  Your onc & staff sound like a great, upbeat group to be around.  Re. your hip pain --  Did you happen to catch a recent thread here about a product called Voltaren Gel?  Evidently, it's RX'd here, but OTC in Canada, and several women on that thread raved about it for joint pain from A/I's, etc.  Their glowing reviews made me contact our PCP yesterday to see if she would RX some for my DH's knee pain -- so that I can get him dancing again!  I forget exactly what it is, but one of the painkillers in a topical form.  Anyway, just thought you might want to look into it for your hip.     Deanna

I found you!!!

Well if motivation is to be given in direct relation to the amount of weight needed to be lost - I need to be drowned in it. I am very overweight - really - I am!!  I have struggled with weight for over 20 years and each time I tried to lose weight I would say it was for the good of my health!! This time it's for the good of my life!! I can lose weight and I can exercise what I find hard is to stick with it and to actually change my life style on a permanent basis - this has resulting in me becoming a yoyo dieter and getting bigger each time I rebound.

Well I finished rads yesterday and there has been no talk of reconstruction yet so in the meantime I need to lose as much weight as possible as sensibly as possible (I probably need to lose what some of you actually weigh!!).   I also started tamox yesterday so I don't know how feasible it is to think I can lose weight while taking it - but I have to try. I'm on painkillers for residual muscle and joint pain compliments of taxol and did have some hip and foot pain following todays exercise attempt (half an hour walk and half an hour on Wii Fit - at my pace).

So if any of you feel like a challenge - please take me on as a pet project!!!!

Look forward to hearing your suggestions and I hope I will be able to reciprocate with some support for you too.

Thank You.

Well, it is always great to see there are new people we are motivating every day. I sure hope you will all continue and not give up. Rome was not built in a day. It took me a year to lose 40 pounds, but I did it safely, so it is staying off. Ainm-I felt the same way you did. I had struggled with my weight, my whole life. I had an Italian grandma on one side, and a southern grandma on the other(everything fried, and veggies creamed or cooked until they were dead). My advice to you is DO NOT go on a DIET! Just make the committment to eating healthily. I never counted calories. I just cut out sugar and junk, and diary completely and committed myself to eating healthy foods. The weight dropped easily once I got started, and the way I felt was my motivation to keep going. It is so nice to be able to wear a size 6 with ease after having had to squeeze into size 12. If I can do it anyone can! Just believe in yourself and keep reminding yourself that good food is good medicine and bad food makes you sick. Don't give up!

Kari-I have always collected quotes and love the power of great words. I am going to have a continuous daily thread of great words of wisdom on my new site. I just might put you in charge of it!

Ainm - WELCOME!  We are glad you are here and please check in each day because you will get hooked and I swear it really does motivate you to want to eat well and exercise - I promise!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Your story got me to thinking....ok I hope I'm not overstepping my bounds here...your situation sounds like Oprah and the struggles she's endured regarding her weight through the years.  Very real and a tough fight...Also coming to mind is the show The Biggest Loser.  That show is so inspiring to me, it is such a battle some go through as far as their weight and health issues, etc. Is there a local program there that can aid in your quest for health?  Or maybe through your medical facility...not sure how Ireland works so forgive me.  Gosh, I really hope you find some inspiration on this thread.  I'm sure the others will have some great words of wisdom for you.  I just know for me...after this bc journey, we HAVE to take action!!  I will be rooting for you my sweet sister.  sorry to babble

Vivre & Kari, I have my foot in the door now and I hope I'll keep coming back. I have in the past joined Weight Watchers and have been successful at various attempts but it always comes back!!  I live in a rural area so joining any groups usually means a journey and before my diagnosis I worked so I never had anytime to join anything. I have my name down for a yoga group that is scheduled to start in November. I've also put my name down for a 7 week course aimed at people who have just finished BC treatment and this one starts at the end of September. As soon as I get sorted out for a suitable breast form I might try to find an aqua aerobics class. In the meantime I will just try to walk everyday and eat sensibly. My son gets conferred at university in September and I must try to find something suitable to wear - it's a fairly formal occasion although the ceremony is at 10am!!! I think I will try and order something on the Internet because I just never liked shopping for clothes because of my size and now I'll like it even less being lopsided!!!! Thanks for your time and help.

Oh Kathy - I'm new here too. Best of luck!! The people on this thread seem to be incredibly supportive. See you about!

Allie, where are you off to tomorrow??  Hope its gonna be fun fun fun!

kmmd - are you making today a great day?

DH came home yesterday and we had DD and her little doggies over for dinner and then the dog park.  We laughed and laughed and it was sooo nice having DD over.  I really miss my girls!  Its so weird...after raising 2 girls (had them at 21 and 23) and growing up with them...and DH working out of town most of the week, I get lonely!  I am sooooooooo happy I have you cuties!!  Too bad it took bc for us to meet, but I always knew upon my dx something good was going to come out of this ordeal and it has.  Awwwwwww...getting all sappy now, shoot.

Let's make it a great day!  Ainm and Salty Kathy (that's what I call you)...how are you 2 doing today? 

Know that although in the eternal scheme of things you are small, you are also unique and irreplaceable, as are all your fellow humans everywhere in the world.
- Margaret Laurence  

Good afternoon ladies...sounds like everyone had a long week! Take some time to relax this weekend- refill the body and the soul!

Yesterday I walked for an HOUR! I was rather surprised I went that long...again not fast but I kept going. Today is Tai Chi (I am trying it at home..the instructor gave me a hand out to help prompt my memory) and then a nap..I am so worn out.

Hugs all around...see you next week

Ainm & SaltyK ~ Welcome to you both!! We all have had our struggles with weight at one time or another most likely & our struggle to move ahead since our dx. And we all have had our setbacks & have felt like we cannot reach the end of the tunnel or lose our way.

Please remember, we ALL are here every single day to help each other, to coach each other, to help each other reach our finish line. If we get a bit off track, we come here for encouragement.

Please do not give up, we are here for you. We all can do this!! I have had my bad days, days when I have felt so down, so lost, but then I came back here & these lovely ladies, whom I call my sister-friends, have picked me up & set me back on course.

Try a little bit every day, a little change in your diet, a few more steps while you walk. Maybe one of us does something that works for us that might work for you. YOU CAN DO IT !!!!!!

((HUGS))

Val

What Valerie Jean said and Spring said !!