Stage 4 Fitness 2015

oh boy, Fuji, you really made me laugh when I read your post. I've chased enough critters over the years that I could sure identify with you.

Sunday's temps were in the twenties so I talked DH into doing a bike ride with me at the park (Both DDs were off the hook because they had to go play hockey). It was chilly but fun to be outside. My friend and I went to the gym yesterday and today to swim and ride the inside bikes. I was tired when I got home but this afternoon when DD#2 suggested we go out on our snowshoes, it sounded good. The sun was shining, fresh snow was sparkling. Only thing was the temperature-just above zero. It was still good to get out in the sun, even if it was freezing. I should sleep well tonight!

Brendatrue-hope you are doing better. Have you been able to do your sitting exercises?

Hope everyone is having a good week.

rises, oh no. My mom let me have veto power over my dads annual letter this year.

I loved my old fitbit and have to get my butt in gear and set the new one up or just start using it and add to computer later.

nred, lol, dreadmill. If I had a treadmill I would call it that!!

Hoping to ski tomorrow and Mondsy for a few hours, will see if I have the energy since I haven't even started walking again.

nancyh - Thanks for creating this thread! I've been saying that I have to get back to the fit person that I was before and that is really my goal for this year. I have a trip in May to France & Italy that will involve LOTS of walking, and I want to be able to do it all effortlessly. So far this week, I've done some kind of activity every day, which is a jump up since I was only exercising 3-4 times a week at the most. For me so far, it has been the elliptical, walking, indoor biking, and light weight exercises.

brandall - good luck with your 1/2 marathon. I'm so impressed that you are doing that!

ok...I typed routing....ROOTING.

Good luck on your half and let us know how it went. I've signed up for one in Columbia, SC in early March, really hoping I can do it.

Thanks to Nancy for starting this new thread, hello to Ronnie Kay, Bionic, Brendatrue, HeidiHill and everyone else, and most importantly, HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Brandall and good luck tomorrow in your half marathon! I'll be thinking about you!

I have several new fitness trends in my life... I got a Fitbit for Christmas, which I'd originally heard about on this thread, although as I look around now it seems that everyone has one! I started going to a water yoga class on Tuesday's with a girlfriend that has also been through cancer treatment... (we are by far the youngest ones in that class!) and afterwards we walk against the current in the lazy river. (which actually isn't that lazy, so it turns out to be good exercise.)  If you all remember, I have an aversion to swimming, but I am determined to add doing a few laps to my Tuesday water routine. I joined a hiking group; group of women that goes on a local hike every Friday morning. I did my first one yesterday... almost 6 miles in a little over two hours. (I brought up the rear, but still had a great time) I am committing myself to joining them every Friday. And, I'm also making a half marathon my goal this year and like Nancy, I don't care how long it takes me to finish.... whatever my time is will be a new "personal best".  I need to throw some yoga (real yoga, as opposed to water yoga) into the mix...in spite of the Herceptin "vacation:" that I have been on since the fall, my muscles and joints remain stiff.

Loved catching up on what everyone else has been doing! Miche - the skiing sounds amazing, and Nancy and Bionic - so does the snowshoeing!  So happy to hear about your tumor markers, too! Ronnie Kay, unfortunately I will be cheering for the Packers tomorrow.... I am a huge GB Packer fan, in spite of living in Denver. Maybe it's because I love cheese. Glad you enjoyed the Reiki...l have done it a couple of times and always end up feeling totally relaxed.

Thanks to each of you for being part of what motivates me!

Andi

Ronniekay- I'm so torn on tomorrow's game. I'm a huge packers fan, but I love my Seahawks too. I grew up in Wisconsin and Washington.

amazonmich--I don't know of any that specifically give to research, but there is a non-profit called Inheritance of Hope and they help families directly (it's actually for parents with a life threatening illness, so lots of different cancers, als, etc.) you might check out their website. Races are their main fundraisers.

First, on Friday I made a call to the y about the live strong program. Had to leave message so...second, my husband and I took the kids to a place called sky zone. It's a huge indoor trampoline place. I stayed with my daughter (3yrs old) so she wouldn't get knocked down in the big area and jumped for almost an hour straight! Let's just say I slept well last night! My husband and son played dodge ball the whole time. It's a cool place for the entire family to play!

Brandall--how did it go?!?

Hi ladies. I haven't completely read through the whole thread but it is interesting to see the varying levels of activity. When I was first going through chemo my naturalist would tell me to do something every day. If I could only go for a 50 yard walk, then do it. I rember struggling through it.. Emotionally he said it helps and it really would give me more energy although some days it felt certainly like it was going to kill me, after chemo he wanted me to exercise to a full sweat three times a week. I tried many different activities but finally found a combat fitness class about 4 years ago. It starts at 5 am before work and is extreme but I really fell in love with it. I moved last year and my trainer has let me do it via Skype (I have a heavy bag in my basement). Just before Christmas I found another group locally and it is sort of a Crossfit workout and also does some kickboxing. As I type this my whole body hurts from Saturdays workout. The older I get and the more time I spend with cancer, it is harder to keep up in these classes but I really feel so good afterward. I have been NED now for about 6 1/2 years. Not sure how much this crazy exercise has played into it or just the grace of God. The naturalist says exercising to a sweat keeps your lymphatic system moving which filters the cancer. To me, it is a great stress relief, provides energy and I need help with the battle of the menapause bulge. Whatever activity you are able to do provides some benefit even if it is only short walks. Great to see this thread.

Jen

Partyoffive--where is Skyzone--I want to trampoline myself to health! That sounds like too much fun!

NancyH Im in awe that you can walk 4 miles a day during Taxotere! and hooray for the Tumor markers plummeting.

Jen, your workout sounds really hard and fun, I'd love to get to the point of doing that sort of activity again. I wonder though about the exercise and cancer--I ate right, sweated a lot and lived in environmentally clean places and didn't use household chemicals and still

RonnieKay--Seahawks were absolutely amazing--I'm not much of a sports fan but even I love a game like that!

It's hard to sort out aging and cancer treatment SEs. A year into this and 8 months after chemo I wonder if I'll ever be strong again. I wonder if the stiffness will go away. Should I be getting other drugs to decrease the side effects? My MO seems to not want me to take other drugs--or at least anything that might be hard on my liver. I used to be like superwoman and when I touch my arms and legs they don't feel like mine! I've begun to wonder if I can build muscle again at the age of 57 and while on Herceptin and Perjeta. While I take care of 3 horses and ski and hike it seems very slow. I think my arms are stronger but not much, still can't do pushups. It's hard to hike up hills. Mostly though after extra exertion I get very sore and get muscle cramps then don't do much for a day or two. Thank goodness the horses need me twice a day.

Brenda, don't give up hope on your heart making some recovery. My heart had some damage after chemo, and I was even on heart medication for a while. When I felt that my heart was a little more normal (not as much racing, etc), I walked and eventually started running some. Over time I definitely felt my heart getting stronger, and I wasn't so winded every time I did stuff. It was great to see the progress. I eventually and gradually got off my heart medication, but continued exercising, and my heart feels a lot stronger now. Not as good as before treatment, but pretty darn good. I hope you will be able to experience some improvement too, but it does take time. Be diligent in your "sitting routine" for awhile, and take baby steps from there!

I ran a half marathon last weekend. It was a hillier course than I expected, but it was still so great to run in the sun (it was a nice day). My time was decent, and I ran the whole way, which made me feel good.

My younger brother wants me to do a full marathon with him in April, and I honestly don't know if that will be possible, because my bones don't let me run more than 2 or 3 times a week without pain. I want to try though, so I will try a 15-miler in a couple of weeks and let you know how it goes. Right now running is such a huge blessing in my life, and I am grateful I can still do it at all. It makes me feel happy and normal, and I will do it forever if I can!!

good job ladies!!

For anyone interested in sky zone, just google it. They are all over the U.S. There is another place called gravitopia near the sky zone in Greenville sc...so there may be other local companies who offer something similar in your area.

Partyoffive--you aren't kidding!!! I seriously had to stop for a minute because I peed...just a little...how embarrassing!

I did it! My first and last half marathon LOL. I actually did really well until about mile 10 and then my body started falling apart a bit. I have a foot injury that was giving me some trouble at the end of training and it was hurting like crazy by mile 10. But my breathing was SOOOO much better at sea level! I think everyone should do their training at altitude and then do the actual race at sea level. I could even talk with my husband while we were running. That never happens here, I need every gasp of air I can get LOL. I won't ever do another one, but I am so proud to be able to say I finished one. Only 5 and 10K's for me in the future. I am not a natural runner. I'm wondering what challenge to set for myself next. I know I need to start eating better. I have the exercise piece down, but I've been packing on the pounds like crazy. Some of it is the drugs for sure (it is a weird new fat, I've been gaining in places I've never held weight before) but there is also a lot of emotional eating in there too. We used to eat really great, so I'm hoping to get back to that. Off to the grocery store now actually!

You all are doing such a great job!

Thanks for the birthday wishes too Yay for another birthday!!