Motivation

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  • Yael
    Yael Member Posts: 1
    edited January 2010

    Hi,

    Has anyone heard of Dragon Boating for breast cancer?? 

    In 1998 there was research by Dr. Donald McKenzie, MD, PhD out of Vancuver, Canada.  He formed a Dragon Boat team for his breast cancer patients.  Dragon Boating is an ancient Asian sport where people paddle on a long boat shaped & painted as a dragon.  There are 10 rows of seats, 2 paddlers to a seat.  Additionally, there is a drummer in the front, to keep the rhythem & a tiller in the back.  Other than the total Zen feeling of being one with the boat, the team & the water, you get to excercise (especially helpful for lymphatic drainage) & a sense of health & wellness.  If the whole boat is filled with breat cancer survivors, you have a built in support group as well.  Since Dr. McKenzie publications, Breat Cancer Survivor dragon boat teams have formed all over the world & race.  The spirit is unbelievable.  I am currently heading a BCS team in Tempe AZ.  We are hosting a Dragon Boat festival the last w/e of March.  There is a special BCS ceremony after the BCS races.  Each paddler gets a flower in the boat.  The boats go into formation & special music is played.  All the other dragon paddlers cheer the BCS teams on. Write to let me know if you are interested in hearing more particularly if you live in AZ.

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  • Springtime
    Springtime Member Posts: 5,355
    edited January 2010

    It broke 40 here today in NC!! Vivre, get on your shorts and come on down!

    I have been doing my 2 mile fast walk every day and also gentle yoga. Last night, I went back to Studio Yoga for the first time in 4+ months! I moved down to "gentle" class and had to be careful, but it was so good to be back in that space!

    My "prayerful intention" for my yoga practice last night was "celebrate". :)

    Spring.

    Deanna, maybe you have a little bug or something? Did you try taking a nap?? :)  Love, Spring. 

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  • vivre
    vivre Member Posts: 2,167
    edited January 2010

    Deanna, you most definitely must do the salt loading. I could not believe how tired I got after I started the iodine. I had not felt that lethargic since before bc, not even during rads. Then I reread Brownstein's book, and realized it was a detox symptom. I did the salt loading, and felt better within a couple of hours! You must continue to salt load as you use iodine whenever you feel any symptoms. I use to get headaches and had very dry eyes too. Now I do not get those symptoms, but sometimes my skin will start to itch and I do the salting. It does seem hard to believe, but it works!

    My goodness, Ainm, you are really having a tough time! My inlaws had burst pipes in their vacation home and the whole place flooded. It was horrible. Hope you thaw out soon! Only 60 days until spring.

    Speaking of spring(time), celebrate that heat wave! I am still wearing my polar bear suit.

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  • kfinnigan
    kfinnigan Member Posts: 1,729
    edited January 2010

    Been dragging my butt onto the treadmill before work for whatever I have time for, and I'm cutting into my 'making myself pretty time' too!  haha  Having hair is a lot of work! BUT, I'll take it!!  At least my head/ears are warm this Winter!

    Spring, what a lovely prayerful intention - celebrate!  love it!!

    Vivre, thank goodness you are human after all and wearing a polar bear suit, haha that made me laugh!

    Have had my share of burst pipes here in Calif even!  When I was a teenager it happened.  Had to have floors/carpets replaced throughout the house. 

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  • pk0199
    pk0199 Member Posts: 586
    edited January 2010

    Joy glad you enjoyed your visit with your boy! Sorry about the toe.

    Aimn, burst pipes, bugger!

    Finally got back on the wagon and got downstairs to the exercise room today. Went yesterday, but also found water in the basement! Just a pipe came disconnected but by the time we got it all fixed and cleaned up well... to late.  Exercised today feel great!

    Big hi to everyone else! Sending big healthy vibes to all. 

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  • Brendatrue
    Brendatrue Member Posts: 1,830
    edited January 2010

    All right, all right, another morning of whining just to get 30 minutes extra sleep, so the workout plan was kicked under the bed. However, I did a 30+ (I want the credit for a few extra) minute workout when I came home today, which means I am not a slacker. I have  motivation--right now, that is--to get up at 5:45 am tomorrow morning and workout before I shower and get motivated for work. Now that's a motivation topic to be sure; some days I just want to make my full-time job taking care of me, but then I would probably be insufferable.

    Deanna, I hope you are feeling more energetic and having less/no muscle & joint pain. How are you with regard to Vit D? Kari, You're impressing me with that first thing in the morning workout. Spring & Harley--walking and running, as in outdoors? I have got to get my butt back outside. Now that it is lighter longer I think I may be able to make that transition, although this week I am still getting over the respiratory junk I had and rather easily starting this frightful cough. kmmd & Kari--I have definitely reduced my morning style time; after I did the no or minimal make up and no hair gig for chemo and recovery I became invested in spending far less time in the morning pre-work routines. My hair is short still, and I think I am going to keep it that way. For years I have been trying to cope with fine, thin hair, and I have decided the best thing to do is to have a "wash and wear cut" now. I feel really liberated, oddly enough. Vivre--I'll check into the salt loading option. I remember reading a study a few years back about a group of woman with chronic fatigue syndrome who experienced reduction in their symptoms when they upped their salt intake. And, yeah, the convention sounds great; but it's just not workable for me right now (regretfully). Ainm--Take these days one at a time and try to stay focused on all you have accomplished over the past year in order to be well and good to yourself. YOU CAN DO IT!  pk--What a novel approach to exercise--cleaning up the basement. Do I get "extra credit" today for doing my exercise workout AND doing the laundry as well? Wink I'm glad you feel great today after your workout!

    Wishing you all sound, peaceful sleep and invigorating workouts whenever and however you can get them!

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  • Harley44
    Harley44 Member Posts: 5,446
    edited January 2010

    yes, I've been running OUTSIDE for the past three days!  Amazing!  It has warmed up a little... 

    Hope everyone is keeping warm!

    Harley

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  • Valjean
    Valjean Member Posts: 1,898
    edited January 2010

    Well, three straight days of workouts. Wasn't as hard to get back into as I thought it would be. I bought a set of those walking poles today, have always wanted to try those. They are supposed to help you burn more calories than walking alone, improve your posture & balance, reduce stress on hips, knees & feet, & improve stamina & endurance. Has anyone tried those?

    I also bought a pair of those new Skechers Shape-ups fitness shoes. They will help you walk better because the bottoms are curved to help your foot roll better through each step. They feel weird, but I think I'm really going to like them.

    Anything to help keep me motivated, right?!?

    Stay warm!

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  • ktym
    ktym Member Posts: 2,637
    edited January 2010

    Havne't heard of walking poles, sounds like fun.

    Todays my break day from working out.  If I don't take at least one I over train and lose ground on my muscle recovery.  Finding myself going through withdraw symptoms

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  • Harley44
    Harley44 Member Posts: 5,446
    edited January 2010

    Valerie,

    I have a funny story about walking poles...  my dh and I went on a cruise and I am not a fast runner, so at that time, I was doing more fast walking than running.  The cruise ship had two decks, one for running and one for walking.  So I went on the walking deck and proceeded to walk around the deck.  A man BLEW past me, running...  you are not supposed to run on this deck.  Later, a couple came walking by with those poles.  They were flailing away, and not paying attention to what they were doing.  As I walked past them, they nearly hit me with their poles!  So, as they really weren't going that fast, they also slowed me down, cause I didn't want to get hit with their poles.  So, reluctantly, I sped up and RAN past them!  They yelled "you aren't supposed to RUN on this deck!"  I yelled back, "You better be careful with those poles...  you will poke someone in the EYE!"  So, I went back up to the running deck.  I told my husband the story... he said "We've hardly been on this ship for 2 days, and you're making friends already!"

    kmmd

    Could you do some stretching or yoga or other non cardio exercise on your day off? 


    I have to go out in a little while... I hope it is warming up outside...

    Harley

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  • kfinnigan
    kfinnigan Member Posts: 1,729
    edited January 2010

    I've never seen anyone with the walking poles, but that was a funny story Harley.  Val, are the poles like the poles skiers use????  That seems like it would be hard to walk fast with those!  MY SIL bought those sketcher shoes, cause she's had 4 ankle surgeries and isn't allowed in flat shoes or barefeet for a few months, and she said she loves those shoes!  They looked cute on her too.  When I walk in the mall I pass the Sketchers store and I should stop and try on a pair one day, but shoot, I'm not there to shop, darn it! haha

    I got home last night full of energy, and it has to have been from the Black tea in the a.m. and the iced tea at lunch (a coworker took me to lunch!), I usually drink water ALL day, but thought I'd switch it up.  Did over 2miles and ran 3 times in 2 min. spurts and then raised the incline, then did floor work and upped my free weights and tested the waters with a few sets of arm work...have to admit I was scared though!  But no harm done.  Sore legs though today.  Dragged my butt up again (come on Brenda you can do it!!) this a.m. at 5:30 and got on the treadmill for a mile of interval incline work, and I was tired!  Think my muscles need a break this p.m. and need to do yoga or pilates!! 

    We finally saw the sun here yesterday afternoon for the first time in weeks!!!!!!  Today is sunny too and supposed to hit low 60's, I can't believe it!!!!!  so happy!  I've been freezing.  Storms are headed our way this weekend so I will be happy while the sun is out.  Hope everyone is getting a reprieve from stormy/frigid weather too!  

    HUGS all around! 

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  • Harley44
    Harley44 Member Posts: 5,446
    edited January 2010

    Kari

    yes, the poles look like the poles that skiiers use...  It was TOO funny!!   :D

    I hear it's warming up, and may be as high as 50 here tomorrow... so I better go out and get this exercise crap done, so I can go eat pizza tonight with my MIL's group of geezers!!   We are invited once a month to their pizza nite!   It's a group of retired, active adult community where she lives... she will be 81 in March!! 

    Hugs to all

    Harley

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  • kfinnigan
    kfinnigan Member Posts: 1,729
    edited January 2010

    geezers, hehehe

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  • Brendatrue
    Brendatrue Member Posts: 1,830
    edited January 2010

    FINALLY, I got back on track with my morning workouts this morning. Got up at 5:45 am--yes, Kari--I dragged my butt out of bed--and worked out for about 35 minutes. I always feel better after a morning workout, but try to tell that to my sleeper/alter personality when I am sleeping or trying to go back under! Tonight I will do some s-t-r-e-t-c-h-i-n-g before ending the day. And I will try to get enough sleep so that I get my butt out of bed again tomorrow morning at 5:45am!

     Valjean, thanks for the mention of Sketchers; I'll check them out. And kmmd, I was told one time by a Tai Chi trainer that I should visualize myself doing Tai Chi or otherwise moving when I was not able (or willing) to do the physical workout. She seemed to think that it would be both relaxing and reaffirming to my psyche and body with regard to the power of the workout. Interesting, huh?

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  • Springtime
    Springtime Member Posts: 5,355
    edited January 2010

    It was warm enough here to walk with no coat!!! in the 50's!!! Yay!!!

    No poles though! :)

    30 minutes of gentle yoga after work. I am writing my exercise on my calendar now ! it is good keeping track.  

    Love love love to all you lovelies.

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  • Harley44
    Harley44 Member Posts: 5,446
    edited January 2010

    I gotta work tomorrow.  No time for exercise...   I will have to try some yoga or maybe situps or something after I get home... it'll be dark and cold when I finally get home... and it's going to be way too cold in the morning, too...  :(

    Good night everyone!

    Harley

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  • Valjean
    Valjean Member Posts: 1,898
    edited January 2010

    Harley ~ Hilarious ship story! Thanks for sharing, you made my day! And, I'm so happy you make friends so easily. LOL  I can't wait to try the poles out, have to wait for the stupid snow to melt. Spring ~ 50's, wow, lucky you to go walking without a coat or at least go outside without a coat.

    I walked 45 mins in my basement today, fast, around & around & around with my new Sketchers on & I LOVE them!! About 3 mins in & I could feel a difference in my calves & then upper back of my legs. Not a hurt, just a stretching like. They do help you to walk better, from the heel to the toe in a nice motion; you are propelled into the next step. Look forward to using them on pavement. They have three layers inside, the sockline, the midsole & a kinetic wedge before the outsole. They make you somewhat taller of course, but you feel like you are walking on soft ground & that does lessen the impact your body receives when your foot hits the ground. (no, I'm not a salesman! LOL) Very pleased with them.

    Brenda ~ Very interesting what that Tai Chi trainer told you about visualization. I closed my eyes & visualized something like a slow physical workout (don't know Tai Chi, need to try it) & I think it really could be something to relax me. Our mental state really does have an effect our bodies.

    Hugs to all!   

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  • ktym
    ktym Member Posts: 2,637
    edited January 2010

    Harley, the ship story cracks me up everytime I think of it.  I find I have to make myself take some time off and do nothing but stretch or I over train and end up back tracking.  Brenda, hadn't thought of visualizing when I can't train, I will try that.

    Valjean, happy to have someone in the group trying the Sketchers, I wondered how they worked. 

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  • AllieM22
    AllieM22 Member Posts: 464
    edited January 2010

    Hi all--wow, I am motivated to do something after reading about all your exercise. I have had a very bad week of doing nothing. I have been super-draggy--I think maybe allergy related since I have been sneezing--but just feel like I am taking Benadryl--you know the sleepy, coma-like state you get with that?? I know exercise would probably help but I just couldn't make myself do it. Also we got our new elliptical machine yesterday--woo hoo! So I think I was allowing myself to slack off knowing that was coming and any excuses I had would be out the window... :) I still walk every day taking the dog out (twice) so was at moving but need to get back to real exercise! 

    Harley--have you tried watching TV while on the torture device? At the gym (and now at home) that makes a huge difference in distracting you while on there... 

    ValJean--we just talked to a friend who got those shoes and loves them. Said walking on regular shoes afterward feels really "flat". 

    Spring, glad you got back to yoga. I love the practice visualization--or sending out positive energy to someone. :)  Also I need it badly now as my bad is not happy with me and the lack of activity.

    have a great day all!! 

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  • Springtime
    Springtime Member Posts: 5,355
    edited January 2010

    Val, can you send a link to those sneakers? I'd like to check them out! Sounds like rolling in a way...

    IT IS FRIDAY!!!!!!! Yay!!!!!  

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  • Ainm
    Ainm Member Posts: 781
    edited January 2010

    Busy - Busy - Busy thread!!!

    Brenda You are not the only one who finds it hard to get up. During the bad/cold weather we had here last week I just stayed in bed - late - every morning because I knew I couldn't get out to work, but you are doing very well now with a 5.45am start, that's early.  I'm thinking of keeping my new curls short too - very easy care!!

    Kmmd I try to exercise 1st thing in the morning - but sometimes I'm still so tired!! But I am very pleased with myself, I haven't missed a day in 18 weeks, but my exercise is nothing like what some of you do - I'm a real wimp - I do about 60min Wii Fit Step daily about 8,500 steps.

    Harley Running - indoors or outdoors is something I have never done, I take my hat off to you!!  I have a friend living in Chapel Hill, NC but I have no idea how big NC is!! Hope work was okay. I was thinking about those poles too - I can think of very many things I would take on a cruise before I would pack walking poles!!!

    Spring My inspiration!! You rock !! So much surgery and you exercised your way through it. Can't imagine going without a coat at the moment - I forgot my scarf today and I was frozen.

    Vivre I could have done with your Polar Bear suit last week!!

    Kari My exercise attempts seem such a lazy attempt compared with what you do.  We've been having weird weather here too - flooding, then ice, lowest temperatures in almost 50 years, then snow, now flooding and gales but temp is now unseasonably high although the wind makes it feel so cold still.

    pkLooks like you had to deal with a soggy mess too!!  But like Brenda suggested it should be counted as exercise credits!! My Mum's house is a disaster - ceilings have fallen, all the floor coverings, walls, curtains, beds, furniture, wiring and electrical goods are a write off. We are waiting for an insurance assessor due next Tuesday (my mammo, onc visit, cancerversary day!!)

    Val  I've seen people using those walking poles - usually it's hillwalkers use them here i.e. off road, rough terrain walking. Now the Skechers sound interesting - I'm always on the look out for a good pair of (pavement/road) walking shoes - as a matter of interest around how much are they in the US? Here they are about 100 Euro (145 $).  Now don't get dizzy doing all that walking round and round!!

    Allie   I watch TV while doing my step - I try to watch something up beat so that I keep the pace up!!

    Well I'm sitting here nice and cozy in front of the fire, going to watch some TV now but definitely not exercising.  Have a nasty pain in my right shoulder (good side) can't think what it is - I can't remember doing anything that might have hurt it.  DH is nodding off in the chair next to me!! Can hear the wind and rain outside - Brrrrr.  Hope everyone enjoys the weekend!!

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  • kfinnigan
    kfinnigan Member Posts: 1,729
    edited January 2010

    Brenda, good job!!  I got up again at dark thirty (5:30) and dragged my butt back on the treadmill, only had time for 20 minutes so I told DH I have to do my walk when I get home, then we can relax!  It was hard this a.m. as I felt like I could barely continue.  I think cause I was starving, and after I ate breakfast, I felt wonderful!

    gotta run kiddies, everyone is so motivating to me.  I visualize all of you moving it and I smile!!  Have a terrific Friday and our office is closed Monday, YAY!!!  

    love and big hugs! 

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  • sobx
    sobx Member Posts: 435
    edited January 2010

    I went to the center 3 times this week and walked on the treadmill for 1/2 hour and then did some light weights and arm exercises, yoga on Wed and walked the Dd twice a day. I did good. I go back on days for 3 and then on nights for 2. I also won a massage and treated myself to that this morning. I really enjoyed it!!  Harley you missed a beautiful day out. Everyone have a great weekend while I work.

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  • Springtime
    Springtime Member Posts: 5,355
    edited January 2010

    kari, don't ware yourself out girl! 

    Go joy!!! Nice weather lately, huh? :)

    Anim, the fire sounds nice.........ahhhhh.

    Walked 2 miles today but skipped the Yoga. Just pooped pooped pooped. Full work weeks are hard right now!!!  I know in another month or two it will be better.... 

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  • Harley44
    Harley44 Member Posts: 5,446
    edited January 2010

    Val, and all,

    I laugh whenever I think about that 'pole' story...   the way they were flailing those poles, I was honestly pretty scared that they were going to hit me with them!   LOL

    work was ok, I guess... but I just didn't have time to go out and exercise...  the elliptical is in our bedroom, and I don't have a television in there, so for now, I just use my new iPod I got for Christmas, so I can at least listen to some tunes...

    Joy,

    I know... today was the BEST day of the week!  It was warm...   I even went outside at work, and cleaned the windows, and took a broom, and wiped off the cobwebs from the overhang in front of the store... so,... that counts as exercise, doesn't it?  ;-)

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  • Brendatrue
    Brendatrue Member Posts: 1,830
    edited January 2010

    Hi, all--I worked out for an hour this morning--warm up, then bone loading, then stretching. And, in case any of you are wondering (Kari?), I did drag my butt out of bed again yesterday morning at 5:45 to work out for about 35 minutes before going to work. I may have mentioned this already, but I find that when I don't have energy/motivation for a more rigorous workout, I will at least stretch (not the lazy kind, the therapeutic kind) for 20-30 minutes, and I feel better mentally and physically. I think it also helps me sleep after a long day.

    Val--I'm glad the visualization worked for you. I do different kinds of creative visualization when I am anxious or dealing with insomnia, and it often works well. Allie--It's good to hear from you, but I hate to hear that you are draggy. I was sick when the new year rolled in, and I am still lagging. It sounds like your body is trying to fight off something nasty. Maybe you can rest when you need and move as you need, without pressuring yourself to do more. Ainm--Hey, movement counts! I remembering feeling like a wimp when I was comparing my workouts to others' and Meg's great advice about not comparing and giving myself credit for the work that I was doing. Kari--Ah, my partner in the dark morning world; kudos for doing whatever time on the treadmill and then planning to walk later. Most of the time when I miss my morning workout I will tell my husband that I will immediately workout when I get home, and this encourages me to do so. I hope you have a great 3 day weekend. Joy--It sounds like you are really trying hard to balance self care through movement and massage with work demands; kudos to you, too. Spring remarked on the challenge of managing work and remaining active otherwise; it is hard. And kmmd and I have shared some similar experiences involving working/ setting limits there and focusing more on personal care. How are you doing these days, kmmd? Harley, I actually have a hard time watching tv while exercising (I tend not to pay enough attention to what I am doing), but I do well when I listen to music. Most of the time, I tend to work out in silence (other than the dvd trainer's instructions), which seems to add to my peace of mind.

    How are some of you new folks doing? Are you still showing up from time to time? Have a great weekend to all of you.

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  • ktym
    ktym Member Posts: 2,637
    edited January 2010

     I'm hanging in there.  I got some interesting advice from one of my internists.  He said they've looked at athletes who over train and start hitting a plateau.  He said you can over load and burn out the mitochondria in your muscles, and he thinks the chemo likely did something similar to me.  He said over training is the worse thing you can do, that I need to keep gentle walking as my main exercise and give those muscles time to repair or I'll keep hitting the wall or back tracking.  Have to admit when I went to walking fast on an increasing incline, running, or power yoga is when I ran into trouble.  Very frustrating.  Pushing it feels so good, get that good exercise endorphine rush that gets addictive.  Then I get frustrated when I back track.  My Onc keeps begging me to be patient with my body.  I can keep chugging the tamoxifen (which I hate), but not sure I'll be terribly compliant with advice to be patient with myself.

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  • ktym
    ktym Member Posts: 2,637
    edited January 2010

    Brendatrue, just sent you a PM

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  • Harley44
    Harley44 Member Posts: 5,446
    edited January 2010

    Brenda,

    I do ok with the music, but sometimes, I sing LOUD and my dh has been laughing at me...  oh well... at least I'm exercising...


    Harley

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  • Valjean
    Valjean Member Posts: 1,898
    edited January 2010

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