Any crossfitters or weightlifters out there?

Sounds like you had a great exercise program before dx and there's no reason you can't start to work back to it.  However, if you've had any nodes removed at all, even just a SNB, you're at an increased risk for lymphedema (LE).  That's not to say that you can't eventually get back to your old workout routine, but you're going to have to start small with ridiculously light weights and work up SLOWLY!  

The Step Up Speak Out website about lymphedema has some excellent brochures on developing a safe exercise program after breast cancer.  

This first link goes to handout is for patients - it gives you excellent information about LE, how to develop a safe workout program, and what to look for: 

http://www.stepup-speakout.org/Handout%20doc%20for...

This second link below if for a brochure you can dowload and give to your CrossFit trainer, your weight lifting trainer, or any other fitness trainer or instructor.  It gives them essential information about breast cancer, lymphedema, and exercise and will help them develop a save program for you: 

http://www.stepup-speakout.org/Trainer%20doc%20for...

Also, if you're still in active treatment, do whatever exercise you can, but listen to your body.  You may have gotten in the habit of pushing through pain and fatigue, but while you're in active treatment, you need to listen to your body and do less if you have to.  

Finally, check out the Let's Post Our Daily Exercise thread.  There are women who are in all different phases of treatment - some are still in active treatment, and some are years out.  Some run, some walk, some do yoga, some do weights, etc. - everyone does something different, but we all do our best to maintain a regular exercise program and give each other support and encouragement. C'mon over for fun and support! 

Great - sounds like you're aware of precautions to take.  Working out is definitely something that we don't have to give up after b/c, but I always try to alert people about LE just to make sure they're aware.  Unfortunately no one on my medical team ever gave me any education or information about LE.  After my surgeries I was so determined not to let b/c change my life that I jumped right back into my exercise program, including weights, and didn't take the time to ramp up slowly. (Just regular fitness weights - nothing like your level!)   I now have arm and truncal LE and will have it the rest of my life. Maybe I would have gotten it anyway, but maybe if I'd been given proper info about LE I might have taken things more slowly and avoided getting it.  I just wish I'd been given that opportunity.  I still work out (including weights) but I've had to take it much more slowly when increasing reps and weight so as not to trigger a LE flare.  I always try to do everything I can to educate others to avoid my mistakes!  

I do a lot of yoga, and lately have gotten into yin yoga - it's a slow joint support yoga where you hold the poses for 3-5 minutes each to really open up the joints.  I do a lot of running, so I find it's a perfect complement to that.

Good luck and congrats on being a 2 time survivor.  Hopefully some Cross Fit people or others who have done weights at your advanced level will chime in and share their experiences.   

I love weights but have backed down a lot since DX.  I did lift 2-3 x a week and mixed in running/swimming/biking on other days too.  I did lots of different free weights as well as some machines. I love weights for keeping trim. Never did any competitions. That's awesome!   Since DX I worked with PT and got some great exercises to ease back into my prior routine. I won't ever get back to my prior level but I'm ok with that.   I can't manage kettle balls anymore as PT said not to be swinging the weights but moving slowly and controlled is ok.   I don't do heavy hand weights anymore but can manage light hand weights (5-20 lbs) and  bars (20-30 lbs).       PT actually said not to lift up over my head any more -- so i haven't pushed that either.   Said this is to watch out for LE.

Join us on the thread called:

Let's Post Our Daily Exercise

There are lots of women who are lifting and doing other things as well.

Isn't it crazy how awful the medical advice can be towards exercise and weight training specifically?   My PCP told me not to do anything after surgery especially not weights and to plan to take up walking.   He is a big athlete himself and survived major emergency heart surgery and is now back to his old routine but with my SNB he was scared about LE and said the nerve pain may last 6 mos to a year.   I couldn't believe what he was telling me.  It sounded so stupid.   I immediately asked for PT and as soon as BS said ok jumped back into my workouts but with modifications per the PT.      I really couldn't believe what I was hearing ---- studies show weight training after BS and SNB is beneficial.  Nerve pain was pretty bad for few weeks but PT helped a lot.  I'll bet the nerve pain would have lasted 6 mos to a year if all I was doing was walking.   Haven't done any massage therapy aside from what PT did and that was great.    Obviously we have to use common sense so we don't injure ourselves when we are healing.  After 6 weeks of PT,  I made sure to call my PCP and tell him how great I'm feeling and how helpful the PT was in resuming my weight training so his other patients don't get the same stupid advice to do nothing except walk.  If I wasn't an athlete before DX ok then walking would be a good idea.  But I was in good shape, accustomed to weight training 2-3x a week, running, biking, swimming on other days.  My BS, RO and Onco all said weights were fine but I had to take baby steps after SNB.   They both said to do PT, start moves with no weights and add in weight in tiny increments and listen to my body.   RO was very supportive of lots of varied exercise and urged me to continue with weights and not to worry about LE so much as I was fit.  RO said don't worry about what PCP said  about not doing weights as women who do weights fair better with Rads and AIs and have less pain overall -- in his experience.  Since I haven't had chemo got no advice on it.  Totally agree that we know our bodies best.   I miss doing KBs -- was doing swings and side lifts.  Arms don't feel strong enough to resume this just yet.  I've taken up exercise bands, yoga and pilates too and do this in the evening (do weights and cardio during the day) and find I sleep beautifully afterwards.  Nerve pain is gone,   range of motion is almost 100% but still going really easy  with over head weights.    Medical advice is just that advice and I figure some of it applies to me but I know best what I need.   

Good for you for resuming your routine so quickly.   A mini lumpectomy - sounds like you are well into your recovery!   Sounds like you are on the right track with your training.  Hoping it does provide you with inner reserve of strength to preserve thru what is to come.

Love your attitude Basia.  You inspired me to add the Kettle Balls back into my circuit training!   Just did 2 reps of 30 two-handed swings with 4kgs for now.  Felt great!    Don't know if I'll regain my prior strength but going to try by consistently working and adding weight in very small increments.   I was afraid to try KBs after the PT said no more but I"m glad you suggested I try again that because I missed doing KB swings!

You guys are amazing! I was going to suggest to do KBS with 1 Kilo free weights just for starters to get the range of motion without so much weight. The studies do show progressive weight training to be beneficial in preventing LE. It's when your muscles have to do something they're not conditioned for that problems arise. But obviously your muscles are in better condition than mine were. I did ask my onc while I was on chemo if I could lift weights and he said I could do anything. It was just a theoretical question on my part as I had never lifted weights in my life but I thought his answer was interesting. I researched on my own and found some protocols for weight training after breast cancer surgery.

Since I'm on here I might as well do some upper body work which gets neglected after Zumba and other dance routines (as well as hiking and biking)....So to be truly cross-fit I just did 2 sets of 30 two-handed swings with 2.5 kgs in each hand, 30 bicep curls, 30 round the world swings with 5 kgs and 30 halos with 5 kgs. I guess some of these don't involve the hips so I can see where one might have to be cautious.

Best of luck to you both!

Basia - You are awesome! "Karen" stinks - can't believe you did 75 @10lbs - way to kick butt! I am a 12-yr survivor who has had an exchange surgery, a hysterectomy, and random other surgeries in the past 2 years while still doing CF (taking breaks as necessary). My favorite thing about CF is the community. During Barbells for Boobs in October, I met Kim, who was going through treatment and still participated. The resilience of some women never ceases to amaze me. Again, way to go!!

hello ladies you all are so inspirational!  I need help on where to start!  

My implants are just three months old (I blew a hole in my TE from speed walking!!! So had to have my implant surgery moved up a month...then I had frozen shoulder (now thawing went to PT for two months) it's still not great- I'm at about 85% with my left shoulder.   I still don't have much feeling in the back if my left arm (triceps) area either-  you can see a difference between my two arms.  Left really flabby right not too bad.  I'm dying to hit the weights but Im so afraid I'm going to blow a hole in my FOOBS!  I realize I will need to start out slowly but would any if you have some suggestions?   I've looked for books out there for post recon exercises/ weight lifting and there isn't much. 

Do you guys do chest and back muscle work outs too? I can make my FOOBS dance one at a time by flexing- is that normal?  It feels so weird doing different things- (like circular motion things) do you all get over that feeling?  I'm so worried I'm gonna mess up my implants like I did with my TEs (they are pretty big.  I'm a 32 DD bra size -ps I was going for my original size.  I didn't go up, stayed the same.  Just took a lot of fills!!!). Thanks for your input.  I'm getting bored of walking 5 miles a day.  And I'm getting flabbier by the day and I hate it!