Motivation

Harley- your FB post inspired me to go to the gym. Thank you !

I took a body sculpting class (weights and cardio mixed in). It was a lot of fun but hard and I sweated buckets. Riding my bike back home was not fun after class. I am sore all over. I will try to do aquatics tomorrow.

Joy- Thank you for your comment. I am having a tough time in my marriage b/c I have no family here in the US to go to and to ask for help. After cancer treatment I have no money either. So it is difficult to pack up and leave. After 14 years of marriage it is very hard to untangle our lives. But I know that one day I will leave this disfunctioning marriage. It may not happen tomorrow, but it will happen.  Thank you for your solidarity.

Hi all you exercising cuties!

We were out of town over the weekend. Met a really neat couple on Saturday night from Chicago, what a kick those 2 were.  We are now FB friends and hope to keep in touch.  Last night I walked to and from yoga class, walked before work and my derrier is sore today!  WOOHOO!!  haha

Deanna, I am so glad that candle didn't do more damage (sorry I'm a little behind in the posts) and that power outage was a nightmare.  Our retail group was in San Diego for an ICSC (International Conference of Shopping Centers) and the outage really did a number on them - oh the stories of them all trying to get out of there too, ugh),  But not having power when the temps are 113 - holy cow!!

I needed a kick in the pants too, really bad eating last week into part of the weekend, felt crappy for it too.  Getting back on track or at least trying to.

Sounds like everyone is kicking into gear now, getting back on track and cheering each other on...just the way we like it.

Survivor, I went through a divorce with young girls...I can empathize with your feelings, we are here for you.  Sending you strength and focus.

9/11 - breaks my heart.  Hugs to all. 

Survivor:

WOW!!  You bike to work every day?!   How far is it?   

Harley

We had some major weather here yesterday -- monsoons, literally hundreds of lightning strikes (including a transformer about 6 houses away, so no power most of the day -- again!), and some flooding, so I never did get out and walk.  But I did today.  9534 steps (4.75 miles).

That's interesting about your nose running after eating dairy, Spring.  I've noticed similar negative things (like more achy joints) when I eat wheat, which is something I'm trying to give up entirely.  Which milk substitute are you using?  I've tried a number of them (soy, almond, rice, coconut), but they end of spoiling b'cuz I don't really care for them.  

How's your derriere (great word!) today, Kari?  

Sorry to hear about your marital problems, survivor.  To tell you the truth, I was surprised to learn you're married.  I don't think you've ever mentioned a DH (or just "H," I guess, if he's not "D") either here or on FB, which I suppose speaks for itself.  I wish you the best in figuring it out.  Let us know if we can do anything to help.

Have a great day, ladies!     Deanna 

Okay, Kari, seems like you need to give up eating entirely!! ha!

Deana, I use organic unsweetened soy milk from Trader Joes and I am totally used to it and love it. At first I was confused about Soy, and tried to avoid it, but Dr. Weil and several nutrapaths suggest soy as almost a natural Tamoxifen. So I generally try to get one serving a day of a whole soy food. Like a cup of soy  milk or I make a mean corn bread with organic tofu in it, etc. I try anyway! I think it's important to get organic soy stuff. I am concerned about the GMOs and pesticides...

Deanna, I too am going to try and give up gluten next. Is that what you mean by wheat? I am going to try gluten free breads and then, moslty the only gluten will be in my morning cereal. I'll figure that out next! It takes a long time for some things. I think i am finally over cheese! That was the last dairy that was hard for me. I'm getting there anyway!

Yoga was good tonight. Tomorrow I think is a bike ride! I bet DH will be in the mood after work. 

Grrrrrrr... just wrote a long post and, poof, it went away!  Arrrghhhhhh.....

Thanks for the recommendation on soy milk, Spring.  I'm going to try it again.  And, Kari, as far as avoiding wheat goes, from what I've read, many people are discovering that they just feel a lot better when they don't eat wheat or other high gluten foods.  Of course, if you're gluten-intolerant, eating wheat can cause severe problems.  But even if you're not, it seems to be linked to a host of other conditions and problems.  And yes, the new naturopathic doctor I went to last month tested me for that and also did a very sensitive estrogen test; but the last time I checked they still didn't have my results back, which has been very disappointing.  

And UCLA teaches what your onc told you about soy, Kari -- it's fine in moderation -- with the exception of soy protein isolate, which is modified, concentrated soy.

9700 steps (4.85 miles) for me this a.m.  Hoping to get it up to 10,000 soon.  But I was able to run just a bit this morning, so that's a little improvement.        Deanna

Deanna and Kari, yes whole soy foods (I try hard for organic). The nutriionist at the cancer center told me one serving a day was okay. But anyway, others tout that lots of this is better. I didn't grow up with soy so I am still striving for one serving a day!!

About the gluten thing. My osteopath did do testing on me. She told me to give up dairy and cut back on gluten, or she felt I would end up being alergic to both. (She deals with a lot of food alergies). Anyway. I wanted to give up dairy after I read Jane Plants, "Your Life in Your Hands". I am still working on this. The gluten thing, I am finally getting my head around trying to experiment with some gluten free products. Gluten is everywhere though. It's like dairy!  Oatmeal even! ugh.

Ok, so today, no exercise because I wanted to save up my energy for a good ride tomorrow. I think I did this last week and it turned out well. So hoping for a good bike ride after work tomorrow! 

Joy

Yes, we are supposed to be cooler here tomorrow, too...     YAY! to you, going to ONC appts. every 6 months!!

Harley

September must be onc app't. month for a lot of us!  I'm also going on Monday, although I put myself on an annual schedule after last September   I'm just anxious to have a CA27-29, as it's the one piece of testing my PCP didn't do this year.  (Anxious to have them take blood?  How weird is that?!)

I'm also seeing my naturopath @ 11:00 today and really excited about getting those long-awaited test results!  (I called again yesterday and found out my file actually had slipped through the cracks due to their office being in the process of changing over to a paperless system.  They were extremely apologetic and scheduled me for today.)

Last night was wonderfully cool for a change, so I'm going to try to walk later for a change.   

Happy Friday, everyone!    Deanna 

Spring and Deanna,

I also have decided to go to annual onc. appts....  to my onc's chagrin.  I will see him again on 11/11/11, at 11:00!!   After that, I think I will not have to go back til November 2012!!!    But, my diagnosis date was 3/15/2007, so it has been 4 1/2 years, and I think it's time to move on...

Harley

Deanna,

I am so glad you found a naturopathic doctor you like!  I would go see one, but I don't know where to start looking for one.  oh, and my insurance won't pay for alternative medicine!

My neighbor told me about a naturopathic doctor in Myrtle Beach, and I thought about maybe going to see her when I finish the Tamoxifen, but she charges $100!!  

Also, I am not sure if she is licensed or certified.... how do I make sure that she is a good doctor??

Maybe I should send you a pm...

Harley

Thanks for all the great info ladies!  Appreciate it, you know it can all get so confusing, I don't know what to believe sometimes - it can get frustrating sometimes.

I remember asking my onc a year ago at my 2 year mark about changing my visits from 3 mos to 6 mos and she said she would go from 3 mos to 4 mos, so I took it!

I was pretty burned out yesterday so went to bed early only to toss and turn half the night, only stretched for 10 min this a.m. and no walk at lunch.  Cooler here too!  79 right now at 2:15 pm.  YIPPEE! 

Hi Crazy! Welcome to our thread!

So today it was ccccold here. After work just 60 (it was in te 80's yesterday!) DH and I rode bikes for an hour. Brrrr!!  Tomorrow AM I am walking in an Ovarian cancer walk for a lovely lady at church. So sad.

Deanna, I see an osteopath and she does help me with supplements, and does a lot of testing, but she is not a cancer specialist. Sounds like yours is great. Can you tell us what you learned that made you so happy you cried??  I would love to know if you can share.

Hi Everyone!

Sorry for not keeping up with the thread. I was busy at work and afterwards, I run to the gym. By the time I ride my bike home it is so late that I am exhausted. But I read your sweet comments and I appreciate your friendships. Thank you for cheering me up.

Deanna and Joy --you both guessed it, I don't like talking about my H. He is not DH anymore, but there is nothing I can do at the moment about my situation. I will find a way out of my marriage. I am working on it. He is not going to change. I'll keep you posted if something happens. I deserve better. And I know it.

Otherwise, I signed up to meet with a trainer at the gym today who could explain how to use some of the machines there, as I tend to use the elliptical only. I had a great work-out on it for 35 minutes today. Afterwards, I used the steam room and I love that one too. I saw a woman do yoga stretches there. I wonder if that is safe to do. I also have to watch my weight. I put on some since I finished chemo in February. I was a size 2 then and now... well...between a 6-8.  I guess that is healthy and I have to cut back on the amount of food I eat. Or do even more exercises.

Crazy- welcome to our group. You will get motivated and inspired here to work out. I sure did. I am very grateful to the ladies here. You will love it here.

Wow, Survivorwoman, I think I was born larger than a size 2!!!