Stage 4 Fitness 2015

Fuji glad to hear you are feeling a bit better this week. I'm about to head out the door to Pilates. My 2nd class this week. Yesterday I had my 2nd Stand Up Paddle Boarding class. It was a beautiful summers day and I didn't fall in once so I'm feeling quite good about it. I'm also,the only Stage 4 in the group but am really holding my own which has made me feel a little better about my fitness.

Hope everyone is going well despite the winter weather. I guess I have that too look forward too when you are all basking in sunshine

Finally was able to make it two full miles at 5 mph!! Ronnie-60 miles?? How did your feet hold up? I've done some hikes that were about 15 miles and my feet were wrecked-even with good footwear, etc. maybe because the terrain is rugged?

Fujii...you just made our make-your-own milkshake w/the grandkids last night sound pathetic! Good for you getting some romance in!

Screech...I always wore the same Asics Gel Foundation shoe. I trained for a good 6 mos for the walk...anywhere from 5 mi weekdays to 18 mile walks on weekends, so my feet & body were walking fit! I always had a pair of shoes waiting for me so no break-in required. Wore that style for 12 yrs until they changed fit. None are quite as good now...but still in Asics gels. Seriously, I could walk til the cows come home but wish I liked running. I'm more a sprinter so loved playing soccer. You're doing great speed walking...are you pumping your arms?

I have had no break from tx for past 3 years - and have been one of the "unlucky" ones as side effects from chemo, bone meds and hormone medications have been severe for me all the way along. So, other than the six months of dense dose chemo I have continued to walk with my dog daily - but that is all I have done until recently. I am now taking Xeloda and among other side effects the muscle aches have been almost incapacitating - and you are not allowed to take over the counter pain meds (advil, aspirin) - tylenol is allowed but doesn't even begin to touch the pain - so my choice was to add narcotics or...............

I started senior, gentle yoga 3xweek 2 months ago - I has been close to a miracle! Besides easing the muscle pain to a bearable level, the relaxation and calm I experience are extraordinary. I live in a rural community with precious few services - I have to travel 2 1/2 hours to oncology appointments, each way - but one thing we have is many yoga instructors - mine specializes in gentle yoga and works with seniors, is aware of my limitations and accommodates them - bless her. She is gentle, supportive, loving and the 1 1/2 hour of her care alone would be worth it.

I have always had difficulty sticking with exercise routines (other than dog walks) but even when I hurt, am tired and depressed I manage to go anyway because the results are so profound.

Shazzakelly, I'd love to hear more about the paddleboarding class. Way to go screech. Apackoftwo, that is a wonderful benefit of yoga.

I just had to throw out my winter boots as the tread had disintegrated after 10 years. This might be my new rugged and snowy terrain shoes if I can find it on sale. Having nice gear motivates me to go out and use them.

Deanna, I am a believer in irisin and all the other benefits of exercise.

Sweet boots Heidi-get 'em!

I'm so jealous!! I want Ritalin but my onc said no I'm goin to a pyschiatrist on the 12th....maybe I can sneak it in conversation?!

So I have only been working out for nine days. Mon and wed at the y with live strong program. I love!!!! But my question to you all is--the two times I have pushed myself in cardio workout, I felt good at the time, but crashed later in the day. Like majorly. Couldn't even take care of the kids crash. Has anyone else experienced this? Maybe I'm wanting to do too much too fast? I have literally done no exercise in over 2 1/2 years. But I have always been an athlete. Even though I am weak and slow, it feels SOOOOO good to move. It's like--oh! There I am! I have missed you! So good to have you back!

Keep on ladies! Come on spring!!!!!!

It is so good to read about people starting a fitness program after chemo. I was an avid runner until what I thought was bursitis in my left hip left me in pain & limping after a half marathon in Sept 2014. Turns out the "bursitis" which my physio couldn't help me with was a fist-sized bone mets... Makes me even more proud that I improved my time by 11 minutes at that half marathon!

My onc warned me off strenuous exercise due to the strain on my body by chemo & the state of my skeleton - I lit up like a Christmas tree in my bone scan. I've had three tx of Zomedron & the pain in my hip is gone & my ribs are a lot less sensitive. Expecting taxol to do its job & I'll be chemo-free by June so have already marked the same race as last year's half in my diary for Sept 2015. I've told my onc I'll do the 5km fun run, but really hoping to feel strong enough to do the 10km. Even if it takes me 2 hours.

I try to get out & walk as often as possible, I'm fortunate enough to live on a farm & work on a campus that is a nature reserve as well, so there is plenty of space. But running makes me happy. Can't wait to get back in to it!

Thanks Heidihill! :-)

Karz

Paddle boarding again today. It's a 8 week course no 4 today. So far the weather has been perfect everytime. We do lots of on land exercises and stretches as well as drills on the board aimed at strengthening all those areas that Breast cancer surgery can affect. Today after some exhausting drills we went for a litlle paddle near where the super yachts are parked. Such a calm sunny day it was glorious out on the water. Pilates yesterday and a circuit class tomorrow I will be exhausted by the weekend

Fujimama I can't begin to imagine having a vertebra removed - respect for getting moving again!

Michele thanks for reminding me about spinning - has been a long time since I've been to gym with road running just so much more accessible. I do love a good spinning class though - works up the best kind of sweat! My little one has been nagging to rejoin gym & I planned to so we can swim through winter. I'll make an effort to get some lengths in to instead of just splashing around with he, and get to those spinning classes :-

I think I've finally settled into a bit of a routine (at last!) with exercising. For the last few weeks I've either been walking for 1.5 miles (30 minutes) or doing 30 minutes of step-aerobics from YouTube 5 days per week. It's not a huge amount of time out of my day and doesn't leave me too zonked to get through the rest of the day, but it's enough to make me feel good about myself and what I'm doing for my body. Yay for all of us, for doing what we can and doing what we love!

Roses, I know the feeling, I live in MA and have been hibernating and can't wait till Spring (ripped my back muscles raking my roof for the zillionth time so have been unable to bend or reach), but wow, these people are inspiring! Hope we get some decent weather soon and get rid of the mountains of ice, but I guess I shouldn't use it as an excuse and will try to find a place to walk.

Singing with you, Brendatrue!  Good for you on getting into a routine, Kebab.

Yesterday I had 2 hours of salsa, which is mentally so exhausting as I am learning the man's part. Doing it in high heels makes it harder physically. I wear the high heels so I'm taller than my friend. I am breaking in my new boots, which are fantastic, and change to high heels for the class. 

Had to let you know, Heidi that you win my vote for fitness dedication-learning salsa and wearing high heels is so far above and beyond anything I would ever attempt it just boggles my mind, but I love that you are doing it!

We, like many of you, have still been dealing with rugged winter weather so most of my activity has been at the gym (and some snowshoeing and a little time on my cross country skis). Most days it is swimming slow laps for about 20 minutes, then either indoor biking, or walking on the treadmill. I try to do 45 minutes to an hour all together. Had chemo this morning, then went to lunch with my sister, and stopped at the gym on my way home. I walked 2 miles on the treadmill and rode bike for half an hour. Have to go for a neulasta shot in the morning so DH and I are planning on going early to work out before my appointment. Last time we were going to do this it snowed and he was called in to work so here's to hoping that skies stay clear!

I'm thankful to have good options for exercising, but, oh, my real bike wants to be on the road again....