Stage 4 Fitness 2015

Love the picture, Springlakegirl! Super impressed with both of you half marathoners, way to go!

nancyh - thanks for beginning this thread.  I have recently gotten back to the gym, after foot surgery in October.   So good to be back, hoping to return to zumba soon, but for now the bike and equipment!  

Going to keep checking in to stay motivated

To the half marathoners   You go!!!

Nel

spent Thursday night through Sunday morning at Newport Beach. I walked 10,000 step or more each day. This was the view the first night. I had to go walk it as soon as I got there. Spent the time with my mother and her two sisters and my three sisters. We had so much fun. Today I've been nothing but a couch potato.

yay! Tarheelmichelle! Way to go! Who knows how you got better...you did awesome by just seizing the moment! Congrats, but don't be too surprised if tomorrow is more difficult. Stupid cancer!

Well I did it. I made it to the first meeting for live strong. Just did introductions, nothing else. I'm just thankful to have my father join me and make me feel accountable for something! Not thankful he has cancer too...I have to drive by the y on the way to take kids to school...so I should really swing by and do something. Maybe a pool class?

I will have to alert the leaders of the group about the use of the word survivor. And I disagreed with one lady, hopefully in a nice way, that she didn't do anything to get cancer. Should be interesting.

I'm still very much a lurker here, but follow daily and am inspired by everyone's individual pursuits and wanted to share a graphic I just came across that made me think of you all.

Springlakegirl, you look fantastic!! You and Brandall are really setting the pace... yikes!

Andrea, I take the Gabapentin before bed only as it makes me drowsy during the day. So when I do my am workout, the Gabapentin is still working for me! And my nerve pain is much, much worse at night. It seems when my body is at rest, it attacks. At first I didn't think the Gabapentin was working, but I increased the dose and it seems to help. At least I'm sleeping now! Nerve damage can be so painful... I hope you find relief.

Nancy, always thinking of you and hoping that your treatments allow you to stay active. Yes, you will finish that half-marathon this year!

Steelrose, that is why I have been afraid to try Gabapentin... because of the drowsiness. My feet/lower legs don't have nerve pain most of the time - they are just 100% numb. Every once in a while I get a shooting pain and I am actually grateful for the feeling....  I think I mentioned I am taking Lyrica. Some days are better than others... it gets worse when I run... usually at about mile 3, which is as far as I can go right now anyway!

Unlike the rest of the country, there has been no snow in Denver and today was a beautiful 72 degrees, so my husband and I went to Red Rocks amphitheater (if you have never heard of it, try to google... it's amazing) and ran (okay, I walked - he ran) up an down the steps for an hour. The sunshine and amazing views of downtown Denver and south to Boulder helped to take my mind off how tired I got. I am starting to get frustrated...I used to be able to go out on a 10 mile run every weekend and it was effortless, and I just feel like I am not making any progress. It's been TWO years since I finished chemo, and I still only have the strength to go 3 miles without stopping. I know I said in an earlier post that I just wanted to finish a half marathon and didn't care what my time was; but more than anything I really want to feel like I have my strength back. DLB - love the picture and hope that is true for me sooner than later! Maybe I need some purple (my favorite color) Nikes too! Mine are PINK.... ugh. I don't know what  was thinking.

Bionic - you've been an inspiration to me since I joined this thread...

And Nancygh - I hope the treatments are going well. I think of you often...maybe we can finish a half marathon together someday!

Hope everyone else enjoys the rest of the weekend...

XO

Andi

Had chemo on Friday and the new port worked well. That was a relief and certainly made it much faster.

Friday afternoon I rode my bike on the trainer for a while, and did my version of some mini-intervals. Then I did a 1 mile Leslie Sansone walking tape. The temperature went up to 40° today so this afternoon DH and I went out for a short snowshoe. He uses the tractor and a large roller to pack the snow around the edges of some of our fields. It makes a nice trail for skiing (his favorite) or for snowshoeing. I thought about putting my skis on but decided to stick with the snowshoes since it was almost icy-didn't want to fall on my "bionic" butt and end up back at the orthopedic oncologist's!

They are calling for bad weather again tonight and tomorrow so it may be back to the walking tape and the bike on the trainer. I am so thankful to have those things available-just have to keep motivated to use them.

Hope everyone is doing well and has a good week.

I thought I'd posted after seeing Spring's flying thru the air & Fujii's CA sunset & was it Andie walking 11 miles around campus & someone walking a Newfie...holy cow! Now Bionic's new port works well-hallelujah-and it comes w/a battery...walking after chemo...not just bionic, girl...A.MAZING! Getting over a stupid cold (either from a long rainy walk or shopping at walmart!)...anyhoo...woohoo Nancy, 25 miles-our Rock Star does it again!

You folks are simply fabulous! Truly! Each day that I have struggled to exercise in some way, I have found inspiration in your photos, wonderful descriptions of your activities, your words of support for each of us trying to do the best that we can. With a couple of exceptions on particularly horrid days, I've been managing to do something--Tai Chi, Gentle Yoga, Strengthening While Sitting Routine, even walking (not so much the last but I'm trying). I now have angina every time I exercise, so I am learning how to determine when I need to stop and rest, or when I need to stop, rest and take nitroglycerine. My cardiologist has now approved my taking nitro before I walk to see if that will help me go a little bit longer. I can walk a mile, but it is a bear of an effort, plus I have to "unlearn" pumping my arms! It's so weird to walk with your arms barely moving!

I should tell you something a bit funny. I've met with my cardiologist three times now, and each time he has told me that I might need to be a little more active while trying to convey that he is not judging me for what he assumed was my sedentary lifestyle in the midst of dealing with so many health problems even before my cardiac problems developed. Each time I have corrected him and briefly advised him that I had been exercising in the past. Last week, when he did it again, I told him that on the day of my "heart event," I had walked two miles and that on most days for years I had exercised 30-45 minutes in the mornings and, in the last year, tried to do15-30 minutes in the evenings, even if the last of the day exercise was "just" stretching. I emphasized that he might have a "typical" cardiac patient who did not exercise very much but that I am not that kind of patient, in spite of my long list of ailments. He seemed to notice that time, and that's when he said I could start taking nitro before walking to see if I can do more! I will let you all know how it goes. In the meantime, keep up your own good enough efforts and pay attention to your heart!

Good for you, Brenda, letting your cardiologist know you aren't sitting around...and never have! I hope the nitro helps you go the distance...safely

Screech...Keep it up! Maybe I'll look for a St Pat's walk & we can train together!

Since Friday, I've done pe w/my grandson's class, played freeze tag at recess, walked 7 miles, did an 8 mile bike ride w/DH and chased Grandaughter around the park. Trying to be busy each day!

Fuji-I don't have any experience with Kadcyla but just wanted to let you know you are in my thoughts and prayers. I get steroids regularly with chemo and they sure are powerful drugs-feel great one day and like something the dog dragged in the next. I understand why you want to avoid them. Hope you will soon be feeling better.

It has been very cold here but have managed to continue swimming and biking at the gym. Snowshoeing has been excellent too. Like so many others, I am definitely looking forward to spring.

RonnieKay, your posts always make me smile. I think you get the award for the MOST FUN ACTIVITIES. I love freeze tag! And recess!

My big activity this past week has been chasing the now 14 week old Newfoundland puppy around the house. (the still not potty trained Newfoundland puppy) No sleeping in with her in the house...I am up at the crack of dawn and still sitting here at my desk at 11pm so we can go outside once more before bedtime. We are headed to the mountains this weekend for a few days of cross country skiing and snowshoeing, so I am really looking forward to that.... our warm weather seems to have temporarily disappeared, and with it went my motivation to run.....I probably need to get inside on the treadmill.

Fuji - hope you are feeling better soon....

Hello to everyone else!

XO

Andi

Puppies and freeze tag with grandchildren! Those both sound like so much fun!

And sending love to those of you on chemo, along with some extra "Way to go!"s for getting it done.

Screech, I've been thinking about running lately, too, I wish I could (ironic, given all all our snow and ice) but I'm no supposed to. So I walk and walk and walk. And I'm sick of walking, but I think that's mostly because it's so bad outside--I know it will feel a lot better come spring

well this week has been a little better. I've been able to run several errands and take my son to a few play dates. It's great to have good friends. Today is pajama day. We're snuggling in bed and watching Daniel Tiger.