Motivation

Just starting off my day, too.  I'm ready to do my exercise, clean the house and spread compost in the garden since its not windy yet.  Did my 10 K steps yesterday and also got on the stationary bike for 15 minutes or so.  Did weights 3 times this week, too.  Carl is checking on doctors to see if he can get his shoulder repaired before December. He is still driving me crazy.

Take care all.

Just starting to feel a little more back to normal and like I'm shaking this bug.  Its really put me down for the count.  I have managed to get some gentle yoga in every day so that has helped, but feel like I've lost a lot of ground.  Bringing back my memories of how weak I was after chemo which I'm hating.  Hope I'm immune from anything else coming my way this winter, this has been the pitts. Thank goodness for yoga

Ainm, that bow belongs to you, 33 lbs, way to go, you're doing awesome

Meg, Before I forget, here's the info on the "osteopenia dvd." It's "Skeletal Fitness: A Workout for Your Bones" by Mirabai Holland. It includes a 50 minute, bone loading workout, with warm-up, upper body with hand weights, stretch/pull/twist with towel, isometric and wall resistance with lower body bone loading, and stretch/relax as well as 2 sections on bones, osteoporosis, etc. The instructor is laid back, maybe too laid back for some, but I have found the workout useful as I return to greater fitness, challenging enough that I feel as if I am accomplishing something, not likely to risk my lower back integrity (L4-L5 injury of a couple of years ago), easy to follow. I got it through Amazon.

Kari & Allie--kudos to you for keeping your activity going! And let the rest of us know how your get-together went. I'm with Ainm; I'm envious! kmmd--I'm happy for you that you are feeling better & that you were able to keep some movement going during your illness.  I know what you mean about illness or other setbacks triggering memories of chemo. I think it's in retrospect that I truly realize how debilitated I became during chemo. I hope never to go back to chemoland again....

Ainm--I agree with kmmd--you deserve the accolades for your weight loss and working towrd greater well-being. However, I do know what you mean about giving others "credit" as well; I, too, have been motivated to work out more since joining this thread and receiving so much support. If you called me, I would just do my best to get you to exercise "along with me"! Joy, you made me laugh with the comment about exercising more than your fingers and your mouth! I hope you get in the kayaking fun and that the exercise center will be a good fit for you. I'm sure your dog won't be abandoned in the process!

pk, flower artist, Anne, Mandy, and any other newcomers--Keep moving and keep sharing your adventures with us! And Spring, how are you doing with working out now that you have returned to work? Be good to yourself!

I think I'm starting week 13 of daily exercise, and I have missued just one day! Yesterday I did the 50 minute bone loading workout mentioned above; today I walked for 45 minutes then raked after cleaning out my garage this afternoon. I am So tired! I also have been trying to think about how I can stay as active as I would like and still get other things done, too. It's a puzzle!

Aww Kari--how nice!! You made my day. The same back to you! You really ARE sweetie pie happy face!

We had a great time mtg up in beautiful Napa. Such a fun afternoon!! 

Oh good--I admit I ate mine too on the way home--had an extra...

Hey Mandy - my surgeon is the one who ordered my mamo and I followed up with him. I go back to him in 6 months. I see my chemo onc every 3 months for blood work and any issues I might have. And my rads onc- I don't have to see him again for a year. I had a 6 month checkup and everything was fine.

Off to go kayaking before the rain moves in. I'll post after.   

Ainm ~ Can't wait to hear that you've blasted through that 200 mark!  Let us know so that we can celebrate with you!  I'm really proud of you for sticking with everything you're doing to continue to see that scale go down.

And Brenda, I can't believe you've missed only one day in 13 weeks!  That's incredible!  Good for you!

I've been dealing with a very painful lower back for a few days -- probably the result of all the lifting and moving I did in my antiques space last week.  It was the first time I'd done all that without my DH's help, and I guess I really overdid it.  Anyway, I hope that's all it is.  Surprisingly, walking seems to help, so I've been out there chalking up the miles this week -- almost 5 this a.m.  But sitting -- especially getting up and down -- is a killer.

Well, happy Veterans Day everyone.  My DH is a Vietnam vet -- Navy riverboat -- spit on when he returned home way back then.    Deanna

Hi gang,

Port is history!!!! Went to the hospital yesterday to get it removed, was told to be there for 8am and I was. Waited until gone 4pm to be seen!!!!! Ended up not getting out of there until 6.30pm - so frustrating!! But at least the port is gone. Quite achy and sore today - more than I though it would be.

Brenda, wow 13 weeks exercise that's great. When I read that I though I would never manage that so I checked the Wii Fit calendar and I found that I had done a minimum of 30 mins exercise everyday for 15 weeks - but you hold the record because I missed 4 days (out of 105 days) the time I had the 'flu and remember you did my exercise that time so I think that cancels out the one day you missed!!!

Deanna I'll let you know when I get below the 200, I'm almost there - I never thought about it until you mentioned it. wow it will be my first time under 200lbs in years, oh I'm getting excited now thinking about it. I really hope that I will keep it up I so want my onc to be able to notice a significant weight loss when I visit him in Jan (my appointment with him is on the anniversary of my surgery!!). I just want to show him I am serious about working towards prevention of recurrence.  How is your back? I know what you mean about overdoing it - do we just get more stubborn with SFBC, because I noticed when I was clearing out mum's house that I pulled and pushed and lifted stuff that a year ago I'd have asked for help with!!

Kmmd - How are you these days, did you shake that bug??

Kari and Joy I'll have my spare room all ready for your trip to Ireland!!!

Mandy - so glad you joined in. How did that check up go. Everything as it should be I hope.

Pk - How is your arm - did it ease??

Take care everyone and hi to anyone I may have missed.

Okay, they say confession is good for the soul: well, I missed another day exercising. Monday was an extremely challenging day and I just felt overwhelmed, so I decided to allow myself no exercise. It was one of those times that I knew that rest would help me feel better than a concentrated activity or exercise would. Work was especially demanding, and my med onc appt that afternoon was emotionally draining. Suffice it to say, some days I am better able to live life "one day at a time," while other days I find myself apprehensive about the future. I tell myself that this is to be expected; after all I have had breast ca three times. I allow myself to have a full range of emotional responses, but intellectually acknowledging that does not necessarily mean there aren't days when I just want to put my head in the sand. Perhaps those are the days when I need to wrap my heart in a warm, comforting blanket and just ask for more hugs!

 Deanna--I'm sorry to hear about your back (says one back injury survivor to another soon to be survivor ). Do you use ice to help? I have found that ice packs for 20 minutes really make a difference when my back 'acts up." I also have a back routine that I do that helps me to get "realigned" and to stretch, which I find helpful.

Ainm--You sound so relieved to have had your port removed! My med onc and I have agreed that I will have to keep mine for at least a year since I am at risk for needing it again (ugh....). When I was going through chemo, my chest area around it always seemed sore but now it feels much better, so I am complaining about it much less. Your 15 week record is awesome! Congrats again on the weight loss! You sound motivated to keep moving, and you will have to let us know when you reach your goal so that we can send you cheers that you can hear all the way to Ireland!

Mandy--I understand about the chemo brain, and yes, it does seem to be worse some days than others, doesn't it? It feels to me like I have a certain amount of fog in my head that grows more dense when I have increased stressors or demands to manage. When I was first diagnosed with ca, and after I finished treatment, I saw my med onc every 3 months, the rad onc every 6 mos, the surgeon every 6 months, and my primary care doc every 3 months. At that time I also had mammo's every 6 mos. Since my last diagnosis (Jan) and the official end of the latest treatment--not counting Tamox, of course--I now see my med onc every 2 months, my internist every one to two months, and my surgeon as needed only. All think I should have mammo just once a year and the MRI only as needed, which makes me somewhat anxious, but I continue to do self-exams and will follow up promptly if needed. Anniversaries are tough sometimes, and I hope your spirits will lift soon.

And, hi to all the others who keep showing up here for a shot of motivation or to give one!

Yikes Joy--don't wash away!

I missed yoga this morning as I didn't get the dog home soon enough to go. But did go for a walk with him this afternoon. Hopefully yoga in the a.m. 

Deanna-hope your back is better soon! 

Joy, love your photo!!  cute about the Morton's girl.

Ainm, so happy your port is out! YAY!!  Can't believe you were at the hospital ALL DAY...and what a terrific job on your commitment to exercise, you ARE doing it girl!!  You just make me smile!  I was watching The Biggest Loser (I watch most things after the fact...DVR it) and I think wow, look at them busting their butts and hanging in there with their commitments!  So Motivating to watch that show!!

Mandy, wow that is a lot of follow up!  Sorry you are down and sad...what's going on?  Big hugs!

Brenda, hugs to you as well with the draining work and appt juggling.  One day at a time!

Gotta run...back to work now.  Kisses and smooches and hugs! 

Edited to Add:  HI ALLIE!!!! 

Joy, that will be nice to get the change of scenery at the SR Center!!  mix it up girl!!

heehee, back at ya Allie!!

kmmd! I am glad you are feeling better. 

I took a week off because I bumped my knee a few weeks ago and I keep irritating it  and so it's sore whenever I run .....bummer!!!  I did step aerobics today and I gotta say it feels okay.