Motivation

Hi Jr ..... have you tried some of the walk at home type DVDs?  There are pretty gentle, but they use most of you.  Not as high impact as step aerobics or running.  I also default to the VHSs of the 80s and 90s where you do dance aerobics .... modified as necessary.  I, too, find yoga to be less than fulfilling. Pilates uses a lot of yoga, but a bit faster, still not enough to get my heart really working and I resent the time I spend doing it since I'm not in an aerobic zone.  You might want to try to NY Ballet stuff .... its got some faster parts so it gets your heart going, but a lot of it is stretching (just like pilates and yoga).

I think my problem is pretty much to opposite of yours.  I've got some pretty awful low back stuff going on and find sitting too long to be painful.  When I do anything too consistently it gets bad as well.   For me, as long as everything keeps changing every few minutes I can do pretty much anything I want ..... but, gosh, just taking an hour long walk can become painful.  (I do have a good chiropractor and she gets me back in alignment and I'm fine, but then I fall out and then I need to see her again ..... its getting longer and longer between visits though.)

Take care.  I'll try to keep posting and keep my motivation up.  (Tonight I put on Tina Turner's Private Dancer -- now THAT got me moving.......)

Hi Flower and JRG...

I love Yoga, it has saved my butt! Well, saved my sanity in general (over the years) and range of motion recently while recovering from a surgery.

I am not into punishing my body right now. I feel my body needs kindness, and Yoga and walking feel kind. I was thinking of a 'walk to run' program, but not right now. I want my body to feel cherished and cared for. It has been through a lot.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it!!!

Spring. 

Hi Flower!  I've never tried Zumba, but maybe that would be fun for you, since its dance exercise.  We used to have a regular on this thread, Lisa, who is a Zumba instructor...You can get dvd's also.  I have tried a lot of different things and get bored easily, but I keep tryin!!

Did Pilates before work this morning and will try and walk after work.  Yesterday was beautiful 80 degrees, today is brisk, in the 60's and WINDY!!!!!!!!!!! 

Flower, check out www.zumba.com for some info.  RENO!!!!!  We have been in Reno so many times over the summer and fall.  We just drove through there 2 wks ago!  2 hrs from here.

Hopped on the treadmill after work yesterday and felt wonderful!!  Got up and did the morning Pilates routine with the jumps and kicks in the beginning...gosh I was panting like a pig!  geez....but I did it! Acupuncture today during my lunch hour...wonder if it will make me feel 'drunk' again!  I'll report back!!

Smile ladies and let's keep MOVING!!! 

Cute quote of the day:

"Well," said Pooh, "what I like best," and then he had to stop and think. Because although Eating Honey was a very good thing to do, there was a moment just before you began to eat it which was better than when you were, but he didn't know what it was called.
 ~A.A. Milne
 

Kari, I love that Pooh quote!  We need to pay attention to those moments! WAlked about 3 mi today, and still need to do my at home Yoga.

Good morning cuties!  Reporting in from home!  Another vacation day for me...use it or lose it...and I ain't losin it! LOL!!

So Acupuncuture on Wed. didn't seem to help.  I was in an awkward position and could not get comfortable...ended up taking Ibuprofen that evening.  Then I had my last PT appt yesterday.  I had a crazy busy work week and yesterday had a 'copy job from hell' and was standing ALL day on the hard floor and running back and forth to the color copier and my desk getting reports/projects done for people.  My low back was killing me!!  So the PT said I have really good motion in my back and to keep up the exercises for 3 more months to really strengthen and if it still gives me pain in February to go back to my doc and ask to go to the spine clinic.  OK will do....He gave me some good pointers and said pilates / yoga is excellent but to stop when my form gets wobbly...don't push it, like you know I love to do!

Pilates this a.m. and a beautiful day lies ahead!! 

Spring, holy cow! 3 mil!!!

Deanna, I've wondered the same thing about the yoga!!  I have a yoga dvd with 5 different workouts...I don't really understand!!

Love this quote of the day!  OK ladies, make it a FANTASTIC day!

"Some people think it's wads of cash that make a life worthwhile.
But what makes this world a better place is a super, smashing SMILE!"
~ Morgan Falchi

Hi, ALL- Spring, I appreciate your comments on cherishing and caring for your body. Thanks for giving me a nudge more in that direction....

I started my eleventh week of daily exercise this past Saturday; I did miss one day finally--last week when I had to be with my mother in hospital (cardiac) and help look after my stepfather, who also is very ill. I missed the workout but did not feel guilty. I'm going to allow myself the occasional miss, and I will only allow guilt if I become really lax and need that for motivation. Yeah, sometimes guilt can be a motivator!

Today I walked for 45 minutes; yesterday I did a weight workout followed by stretching for an hour. I am still doing the "Esmonde Technique" most mornings (PBS) followed by activity later in the day when I can manage; even if it is a 15 minute walk with my aging dog I give myself credit for moving! I am still amazed at how long my body needs to recover from chemo and surgery. As Spring has said, my body has been through a lot with this latest cancer-go-round....

Tnanks, Kari.  I think quite a few of us are at that point, and I was thinking it might be one reason this thread has been a bit quieter lately.    Deanna

Deanna may be right, and what a good thing.  Spring, I hope the walks and yoga don't take a hit, but totally understand how hard it is to work long hours, exercise, and still get the rest of life in. 

Been sick this week.  Sure wish a few coworkers had kept their germs at home.  But, managed to get some yoga in even if I can't stop coughing long enough to try to run.  

Hope some of us stay around, I still have some weight I want to lose, and do need motivation to keep exercising on the weeks work makes it hard 

Good evening ladies, my apologies for not dropping by in so long. I did post on a few other threads but I have not forgotten this one.  I was feeling a little stressed and negative over the past little while - do you know what I mean when I say I felt I was/am spreading myself a little thinly??  There seems to be so much that needs to be done and I just cannot seem to make a dint in it. I was clearing out my mums home as she moved to live nearer to me and it was quite emotional, also it took me out of my routine and I found it hard to be disciplined about my food as I was eating on the run a lot - I only lost a half pound this week. I did at least 40 mins Wii Fit every day. I haven't even taken the time now to catch up reading the thread - I was afraid if I didn't post while I had time I just wouldn't get around to it at all.

It's funny but for quite a while people were very kind about inquiring about my health, my siblings didn't expect too much from me and even my immediate family were very accommodating but in the past week I feel that the kid gloves have come off!! I think I've had my time in the spotlight so to speak and now it is expected that I just turn the page and get 'back' to it.  I don't mean to whine but I still get quite tired but no one is telling me to take it easy any more.  I pulled and pushed and lifted furniture, cleared a lifetime of accumulated belongings and nicknacks, I cut back a years growth of hedging and shrubbery in mums garden, and now I have to organise new floor coverings and white goods, beds etc so that the house can be rented out. Add to that the fact that I'm doing a course on how to look after her (she suffers from dementia) and actually look after her at the same time.  I know I shouldn't complain but sometimes I feel I just didn't get enough time to come to terms and get over my own dx and then again I wonder is that a good thing???  I go back to the hospital next week to get my port removed so I know that my dr's are satisfied that I am out of danger so is it wrong of me to constantly fear the chance of recurrence? I know with my dx many would consider me to be not that serious a case but when I read my clinical dx I feel I tick a lot of the boxes for recurrence (I know that would be if I didn't have any of the adjuvant treatment) but it does happen sometimes and if I drew the short straw and got SFBC in the first place how can I be sure that I don't end up drawing the short straw again?? Ho hum - sorry for being such a pain - I better finish now as I just seem to be digging myself in deeper with every word.

Thanks for taking the time to read this and sorry for being such a misery guts!!!

Ainm - don't worry. We need to look after ourselves. We look fine, act fine, and touchy feel fine. But no one knows what we are really going through in our minds and body. I don't want anyone to baby me but I also need time for me. I take longer to do things and I need more rest than before. But I am they only one that seems to see the difference. So now you need to call the shots and stop when you need to. Don't push yourself too far or you will have a set back. Ask for help when you need it. You are doing great and if I could I would give you a great big hug (cyber hug) You don't act sick so you are not going to be treated as if you are. I think we all are looking over our shoulders and wondering and I, personally, always wonder if it will come back. You take care of yourself and we are always here when you need us.

kmmd - I have been having coughing spells at work so for the past few days I have been putting vicks on my feet and haven't coughed. And I sleep without coughing. So I guess it is working for me so far. 

Aimn ~  With the exception of your Mum's situation, I think your post could have been written by any one of us.  Your frustrations and fears are so universal after what we've been through.  We're still exhausted at least half the day, but everyone else is over the drama and letting us know that it's been too long for us to be less than 100%.  And then there's that huge question mark constantly hanging over our heads -- Are all those little cells completely and totally gone forever?  Or were some of them clever enough to hide out, planning to reappear?   It's so scary, and yet everyone around us seems to be moving on from it and making it clear that we need to, too.  All I can tell you is that each week does seem to get a bit better.  I had a huge emotional boost after doing my most recent surgery, and perhaps you'll feel a similar boost when you get your port removed.  Hope so!

Hi, Allie ~  How was your trip?  And thanks for suggesting Hatha yoga.

kmmd ~ Sorry to hear you're sick.  Take good care and get well.

Spring ~  Glad you felt up to going back to work.  Wish you didn't have to, but glad to know you're that much healed.

I need to be more consistant about walking.  I'm still doing 3.5 to 4.5 miles when I get out there, but last week was full of excuses.  Hopefully this one will be better.   (((Hugs))) to all ~   Deanna

I started slowly and changed for couch patatoe to 1/2 marathoner in about 8 weeks. Start slow and  feel the strength you have every step you take, I also found having a trainer helpped alot at the begining. Everyday move forward one step at a time. I found the excersie gave me both physical strength but also mental and emotional strength. Set small goal and celabrate each one. Good luck and keep telling yourself you can and you will get there.

Hi Everyone.  Following through these notes that I've missed over the past few days is good for me.  I'm 'glad' that I'm not alone in my feelings about the 'maybe it really isn't gone'.  I'm trying to keep my eyes on the future and not get hung up on the past ..... but there is always going to be this 'why me?' and 'is it really over?' feeling.

My exercise seemed to take a kind of a hit during the later part of last week. Didn't stop, but wasn't up to my normal goals. Seems that something nasty went on in my back and when I saw the chiropractor she had to adjust 5 different places.  My silly right hip tried to move forward.  I seem to be holding the adjustment pretty well now but I'll see her this Friday for a follow-up.

I've been a really good exerciser that past 3 days.  All of them have been 10K plus on the pedometer -- and I've even gotten on the darned stationary bike -- they'll teach me to slow down on working out.  Now, if I could only get Carl to finish off the Halloween leftovers .....

Thanks for the recommendation on Zumba.  I had a number of Latin Dance workouts, so it really fits right in with the other stuff I've been doing.

Keep up the good work everyone ---that includes me.

Ouch!  5 lbs. falling on a toe sounds bad, Kari. 

FlowerArtist, sounds like you're doing great if you're logging all those steps in spite of a hip alignment issue!

I walked 4.7 miles (9400 steps) this a.m. Not sure why, but my joints have been hurting a lot this week.  I've been dealing with achy fingers ever since chemo and probably due somewhat to the A/I substitute I take (I3C).  But this week my elbows have been aching, too.  Strange...    

On a happier note, I got a new SUV yesterday!  My 4-year old one was starting to have issues, and the extended warranty co. was a real pain to deal with.  So I have new wheels!    Deanna