Motivation

Helena, you go!  it does get you excited to get out and exercise being here

Maura, I thought my hair would never grown in after the taxotere. I began to think I was one of those with permanent hair loss.  It took a few months to get a little hair everywhere.  You know when it is so short it sticks straight up?  Even then I could tell a lot of follicles weren't working.  it took 4 months to get the curly thick hair.  After  5 months everyone assumed I just cut it that way on purpose.  It is very thick and curly and came in so grey, yikes.  Plus, absolutely no bangs.  I hate it, DH loves it.  Guess its better that way, he sees it more then I do : )

Ate lite for dinner, but still feel bloated. I HATE THIS!!! Walked on the beach with DH. Tomorrow is going to be a light food day! I swear! Vacation is hell on my eating habits!!!

Joy, you were a busy bee today! 

Maura, I had Taxol after AC, and my hair followed what I think is the typical regrowth pattern. It is now very curly. I am keeping it short. Curly short hair is the bomb - so dang easy to deal with.

Good morning cuties!

Yesterday was so hot outside and so cold in this darn office...was falling asleep all day, so went home and decided to change it up.  Changed and slathered on the sunscreen and swimsuit and rode my bike to the club.  Our neighborhood community has nice pools, not deep, and an exercise facility and community center.  So they had part of one pool sectioned off for lap swimming.  Deanna thought of you while doing laps.  My arms were burning!!!!!!!!!!!  That darn pool was so long! LOL!!!!  My hip had really been hurting from helping DD with yardwork so I thought the swimming would help.  It still hurt but I did it anyway! Vivre, I too thought of public pool water but said what they heck!  Then saw a coworker, as she just moved 1/2 mile from me.  Went and talked to her after my workout.  Then peeked in the exercise room..Spring, they had several elipticals!!  Smiled and thought of you!  I will have to try that next!  Rode my bike to Starbuck's for a free viviano smoothie afterward, yummo!  A girl in the office emailed coupons to all of us!  What fun!  Got sore from the workout!  YAY!!!!!!!!!

I have my 5th MUGA scan in an hour...hope my heart shows good progress!  

Keep up the good work cuties!  love you girls! 

A sad soul can kill you quicker than a germ.
John Steinbeck 

Hi, Kari ~  I hope your heart shows great progress!  I'll be praying for you this a.m.  I've never had a MUGAscan, but assume you get the results right away?  Love the fact that you're also swimming.  I'll think of you now when I'm at it again.  Doesn't it feel great to stretch?  I think it's really helping my left shoulder, which still hurt if I reached back too far.  I've also branched out in the past couple of days to the HealthRider, a piece of exercise equipment we had around collecting dust.  I remember shortly after chemo I couldn't budge the pedals, but this week I've been able to use it a bit again.  My problem that I've recently noticed is that my skin seems to be a size to big for my body -- kind of droopy in places since I've lost a few pounds.  I'm hoping the swimming and HealthRider will get after that!

Well, I'm waiting around this a.m. for one of the two urologists we've called for my son who is in excruciating pain again with that kidney stone that hasn't passed to call and hopefully get him in today.  I'm supposed to have a healing touch massage @ 11:00, but not sure that's going to fly if one of those docs calls back.  I'll tell you, they are harder to see than any doctor I've ever tried to get in with!  If it has been this hard to make an app't. with a bc doc, I think I would have given up. 

Have a great day everyone -- and, yes, I did 6900 steps this a.m.     Deanna

Kari - what does that mean - should you be up or down? 

Hey girlies! Went to yoga this afternoon and we did exercises with a "pilates ring" and that was really good. It was putting the pressure on to make me really work the muscles. Some of the exercises I had done in the water areobic classes was the same.

I also learned that I won a free massage from the lady that goes to the clinic and gives massages to those having treatments. Didn't even know anything about that till someone told me today.

Good going Kari!

Spring good luck with the next surgery. Keep us informed and we will keep you in our prayers. You will bounce back in no time.

I'll let you all know the results of my test tommorrow. But I will will be going to the concert on the waterfront first.  Joy

Kari ~  I would think that they'd want to re-do your MUGAscan to figure out if that new machine isn't giving accurate results for some reason --- which I hope is the case, since you aren't having any shortness of breath or other symptoms.  Sorry you got such disappointing news, but I'm praying it's just a bad reading.

Spring ~  Your vacation sounds wonderful!  I love all the stuff you're doing!  And I'd never thought about retirement as a chance to exercise more! 

Joy ~ Congrats on winning the free massage!  That should be wonderful, and you so deserve it!

Well, I had to cancel my healing touch massage this a.m. because 1 of the 2 highly-in-demand urologists called and worked my son into his late morning schedule.  He's recommending surgery.  Won't go into details, but we're going to get a second opinion -- something I and my whole family learned all too well with my bc experience and will always do in the future.  But, I'll tell you, it is exhausting being a caregiver, especially when someone is in pain so nerves on edge.  It gives me a new appreciation for what my DH went through taking care of me after my mast and during chemo. 

Well, DH isn't home yet.  He had to go into Mexico on business today (which had me feeling a bit uneasy with all the stuff going on there) and isn't home yet.  So, I think I'll try to grab a swim while I throw some chicken on the grill.     Deanna

The ring reminds me of the thigh machine from years ago. Only it is round and you push on it and it reacts like a spring. You can use it on the thighs and definitely the arms, back exercises  and stomach. And what I like you can do it while watching TV, sitting or even on the floor. I'll keep you all posted on how it goes.

Kidney stones are harder on men than women. Hopefully he won't have to have surgery. They go in and blast the little things so they are easy to pass. 

Everyone else keep on exercising!! 

Kari .. you know what I am going to say ... stupid MUGA, stupid new machine, stupid tests!!!!!!!  Get it redone and let us know straight away.  You've been doing so well, hang in there.  Don't let it get to you like my stupid test did.  Big big hugs my friend.  (thanx Spring for the response b4 - actually logged in at work to see - very naughty - keep enjoying the holiday).

Hello everyone - I'm pretty slack at posting but believe me I read you every day, you are my team.

Hi Pinkdove - I'm pretty new here as well - these ladies will get you up and moving, congrats on finishing chemo and hugs for the rest of your rads - I think you have all the best reasons not to be motivated at the moment 

Running 2morrow morning at 7.00am.  Great way to start the day.

Kari, concentrating on how you are feeling and not the actual numbers sounds like a good idea.

pinkdove: welcome.  You really will feel better if you get up and move some.  Just take it a step at a time and be patient with your body, its been through a lot.  (I can't keep up with Lisa or Spring either!) 

Meg, holy cow!!! Walking with a weighted back pack! You go girl!

Deanna, good on getting your steps in while dealing with life issues. YOU HAVE ARRIVED!!! You are incorporating exercise into your life, no matter what. Good for you!

So far today, 90 minute walk. Very hot!!! Maybe another long bike ride this afternoon. You get breeze on the bike and it's not so hot, even later in the day! I have told DH he needs his own bike once home so we can do biking together! I love it! (He's using my bike, and I'm using DD's bike, so we're both now on bikes that are way to small for us!!! )

Spring.

Hi BC Beauties!!!  Wow am I behind in reading/posting.  I have been wearing my pedometer and walking like a maniac to get my 10K steps per day.  I am doing OK.  Yesterday was only 7K but I worked for 5 hours and sat in my chair the whole time   My neighbor is trying to talk me into trying P90X.  I think that is a bit too much really.  My 4 year old started asking me when we were going to the gym.  Thank god for kids.  How can I keep telling her "no"?  I think the kids have more fun at the gym than I do.  It's like preschool for them.

Glad to see so many of you so active.  It is just what I need to keep myself going doing a little bit more each day!

I have decided on recon....I will be getting a tissue expander put in my L mast side in Oct and 3 months later my exchange and a R Mast (nipple/skin sparing) with immediate implant so if all goes well only 2 short surgeries and I get 2 new girls   I am really happy with my decision.  It took me since January to figure out what I wanted to do.  I was not a candidate for the SGAP or Trams so implants it is.

hugs

Diane

Have to run my son for some tests this afternoon, then he finally has an app't. with a Palm Springs urologist that UCLA has recommended.  So we're making progress on that front...

Just returned from my onc app't, and it struck me as sad that he didn't ask me one thing about my exercise or eating habits in the past few months, and I didn't volunteer.  I weighed 6 lbs. less on his scale than I did the last time I was in 3 months ago, but he never mentioned it.  Oh well -- as oncs go, I like him a lot -- but I'm just soooo glad I have all of you to care about what he doesn't.  I did ask him about the wisdom of not being on an A/I (which I'm not) and also about natural progesterone.  If you're interested, I'll post what he told me on "natural girls," where we've been discussing those issues more than here.  

Kari ~  I can't believe those rude women swam you into the wall!   That's no fun! 

Gotta run ~ (((Hugs))) to all ... and aimn we haven't heard from in a few days... Are you still there?   Deanna

My DH has just begged me to take a sleeping tablet so that HE can get a good nights sleep!!!!  LOL

Just popping in to say how proud I am that we are a growing group here, and that you all continue to keep each other motivated. I feel exercise is the most important thing I have done, and continue to do. Before bc, I exercised, but not as much as I do now. All my docs admitted that the fact that I was active, is probably why my cancer did not spread. Ironically, they do not emphasize it more. But my rad onc was very supportive. I got no fatigue during rads because I walked my way through it, even in the dead of winter. That was the motivation that keeps me going to this day.

Deanna-about your onc not noticing that you lost a few pounds. I went back to my surgeon for my 1 year, after I had lost about 30 pounds, and he did not say a word! That is when I decided that I was wasting my time with them all. I now go to doctors who actually understand women's health, not just cancer. I do not have cancer anymore. I just want to stay healthy and I have finally found doctors who know how to read the hormone, thyroid, and nutrition tests, and who applaud my weight loss and exercise routine because THEY are fit and healthy too. Never trust a fat doctor!

Ivory, I am so impressed you can carry 40 pounds! I can barely get the cat litter up the stairs. But I think I will stick to the ten pound weights when I walk. I like to keep changing hands, and I never get the muscle overload.

As far as the "burn" goes, I used to teach PE and I was taught that this is not a good thing. When you overtax your muscles, you are prone to injury. The burn is a build up of lactic acid. Remember, we are trying to keep our bodies alkali, as acid is a cancerous environment. That burning is a message that you need to stop. Believe it or not, too much exercise is counterproductive. It actually causes our bodies to become more stressed and can contribute to cancer. Prime example: Lance Armstrong.

So keep exercising daily. But do not overdo it.

Spring-you must make your DH get a bike when you get home. We love to bike together. We have lots of great forest preserve trails, so I feel safer when DH goes with me. It is such a great way for him to destress, and since I got him into biking, he is even more avid than I am. Plus, I notice that everyone else who is out biking always wave and look so happy-not like the joggers, who always look miserable. LOL Enjoying exercise is a key to keep doing it. I love my Beamer so much. I wonder if I can find snow tires for the winter?

Pinkdove-as I said, walking through rads really helps minimize the side effects. I would take an apple with me each day, eat it after rads on the way to the river and then walk for an hour. It helped me get rid of all the emotional baggage with the whole thing, not just cancer, but I was so scared about radiation. It just totally freaked me out, so walking was a way for me to purge some of the toxins. As I said, my doctors were pretty amazed. They kept asking me if I was tired, and I always answered no. I felt so damn healthy I almost felt guilty when I saw the other women suffering so much. But thankfully my diet and the walking helped me get through it. Try some yoga too! Oh, and put some coconut oil on your breast area. It is a safe moisturizer.

Ainm-I am so proud of you that have made the committment everyday. Do not get on a scale for a while. Then when you see the difference, you will really be motivated to keep going. The nice thing about losing weight slowly, as opposed to some quick weight loss diet is that it teaches you to break your old habits. I had a lifetime of bad habits to break, but I broke them all-well, almost, I still cannot give up my chocolate.  Now I can have stuff in the house for others, and I have no desire to eat any of it. In fact last week, I was grouting some tile and got all hot and sweaty and had a taste for some ice cream. An hour later, my stomach was revolting. I will not be eating ice cream again! Giving up dairy was one of the hardest things I did, but I believe one of the best. When I committed to no dairy and no sugar, the weight just dropped off. I never went on a "diet". I just took all the bad stuff out of my diet, and committed to eating for my health. I did not want to go on any drugs, so that was added incentive. I weigh now what I did in college. I never thought I would wear a size 6 again, but I can, and they are not tight. So just take it one day at a time, and think about how happy Vivre is now, and I hope you will find the same joie de vivre!