help me find a gym

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NatureGrrl
NatureGrrl Member Posts: 1,367
edited June 2014 in Working on Your Fitness

I haven't belonged to a gym for several years but now I'm seriously thinking of joining one, mainly for the use of stationary equipment like the elliptical, maybe classes.

I only have 3 choices in my community (that I've found so far, anyway).

I don't have LE and don't want to get it -- I'll check with my LE therapist on details of things I should avoid, but if you have advice on that, let me know.  I love, love, love weight machines but am guessing some of them would be a poor idea?  Anything else I need to look out for?  I know no hot tub.  What about sauna -- avoid that also?

What should I look for in a gym besides the obvious of equipment and classes I like?  I'm thinking of, as gym use relates to BC and LE, but any suggestions are helpful.

Thanks!!

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  • jan508
    jan508 Member Posts: 1,330
    edited December 2010

    Nature girl: I don't know what type of surgery you had but I have TE's and no lymphedema and my PS says I have no restrictions at the gym. Right now I'm just using the treadmill and elliptical but I would check with the dr. first but use common sense also.

    Jan

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  • NatureGrrl
    NatureGrrl Member Posts: 1,367
    edited December 2010

    Thanks, Jan!  I did just talk with my LE therapist and I'm to avoid (for now) anything that involves lifting over my head and the sauna -- she said otherwise just go slow and use common sense and gave me some specific guidelines on what areas to focus on and what things would be good.  My drs. cleared me to do whatever I felt like doing but also refered me to the LE therapist for specifics so she's been very helpful. 

    I had a lumpectomy a year ago with removal of 17 lymph nodes so that's a non-issue right now except for the  LE possibility.

    Just in the gathering-information stage!  Thanks again!

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  • lindaa
    lindaa Member Posts: 119
    edited December 2010

    Why avoid the sauna?  I have not heard that one before and thought sauna was good for detox.  I have not had my surgeries yet but do get tingles occassoinaly from the cancer in my lymph.

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  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 17,186
    edited December 2010

    Yes I too have heard avoid sauna and any extremes in temperature. I was also told to go very slowly when it came to strength training on my arms and maybe limit on my chest (I have TE's now but in the future will have implants). I suggest you talk with your PS regarding what are the precautions and limits. There might also be a weight limit since you had so many nodes removed. I was under the impression that the side I had 10 removed should be limited to no more than 10lbs… granted I wasn't doing more than that before surgery.

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  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 17,186
    edited December 2010

    BTW this article just came up on the Chicago Tribune:

    In study, lifting weights does not raise risk of lymphedema for breast cancer survivors
    http://www.chicagotribune.com/health/la-heb-lymphedema-20101208,0,2008488.story 

    or

    http://alturl.com/jsff6

    Just remember this is only one study. They need to repeat it a few times to be sure.

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  • NatureGrrl
    NatureGrrl Member Posts: 1,367
    edited December 2010

    lago, I was told 30# was my top limit for lifting but the 30# is for picking up boxes, etc.  For weight lifting I'll start out probably at a couple of pounds and slowly build up.  My drs. didn't have many specific recommendations but referred me to the LE PT, who has been a huge help.

    I've been told my risk for LE should be pretty low in spite of all the lymph nodes removed, because I didn't have my underarm radiated. Still, I'm being cautious. 

    There is apparantly a solid body of research that shows that resistance training may help prevent LE, as long as common sense and slowly building up weights/reps is followed.

    lindaa, the sauna is bad because it causes arteries to open up, increases the amount of fluid that moves into cells and therefore can cause swelling -- and LE.  It also causes pores to open up, making your skin more susceptible to infection, which again, can lead to LE.  And since gyms are public places and probably full of germs, I'm erring on the side of caution.  Short periods of time are supposedly OK but I figure I can do without. My LE therapist really doesn't want me to use it at all.  It sounds like you're early in treatment and haven't had surgery or rads so you should be able to do whatever you feel up to, including the sauna.

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  • Eloise
    Eloise Member Posts: 137
    edited December 2010

    Instead of looking for a gym per se, you might start out looking for physical therapists or chiropractors who have a rehab facility.  I go to a very small gym that's part of a chiropractic office, primarily for patients and former patients who are rehabbing from injuries (I was in an auto accident a few months before my DCIS diagnosis).  It's an atmosphere of gentle, sensible progress and realization that every body is different...instead of pulsating music and someone yelling "one, two, three, four! pick up those feet, ladies! feel the burn!".  My gym also doesn't require any commitment, just month-to-month and it's pretty cheap, so I don't have to feel like I have to go for an hour every day in order to justify the price.  Six months ago I would never have imagined myself lifting weights or using a treadmill, but I really rather like it now, and I have much more energy. 

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  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 17,186
    edited December 2010

    Personally I prefer to lift at  home. I have a few weights (3lb, 5lb, 8lb, 10lb). at home. I don't want to touch all those machines at the gym. No one wipes them off so the work out will take longer because I have to wipe off other peoples germs. I go to the gym strictly to use the treadmill, elliptical and at times the bicycle.

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  • NatureGrrl
    NatureGrrl Member Posts: 1,367
    edited August 2013

    Good point about germs, lago.  I really want the aerobic machines and classes the most but if I do join and do other things, I may earn a quick repuation as the nut with the wipes! :)

    Where I live isn't large enough to have a lot of choices in places to exercise. I love the idea of the small gym geared to those in some kind of rehab but I've inquired with several people/drs. and there isn't anything (there are PT places but I don't qualify for rehab).  It's been one of the frustrations of my treatment and recovery.  They tell you to exercise and how important it is but none of the gyms/trainers know much about specialized needs. 

    I will check into the THRIVE program but so far I haven't found anything (googled it) and again, I'm guessing my community isn't large enough.   A graduate student tried to start an exercise program at the local Y for people with cancer/NED but only got 3 of us to sign up (out of a county of 170,000!) so they haven't been able to launch it yet.  Very frustrating, especially since there's a big 10 college here (but the public can't use their exercise facilities unless you're a student, on staff, or a retiree -- understandable, but stilll) and a huge cancer research program at the university.  ARGH!

    Right now I'm doing my DVD's and still debating the gym issue.

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