Exercise and well being during chemo and radiation

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  • KBeee
    KBeee Member Posts: 5,109
    edited July 2015

    I agree that this is the place to express honestly how we feel and I appreciate everyone that does that so when we have bad moments or bad days we don't feel like we're the only ones that do!


    I walked 3 miles this morning before my appointment. Thunderstorms now; hoping I can get out for something else later.

    Tomorrow is appointment with the orthopedic. I will find out how long I have to wear this stupid thing on my foot.

  • littleblueflowers
    littleblueflowers Member Posts: 2,000
    edited July 2015

    Kbee, your strength of will is positively terrifying. I want to be you when I grow up. Just sayin :

  • pboi
    pboi Member Posts: 663
    edited July 2015

    Katy...so glad to see you were out walking today! Sounds like you did great!

    I agree with KBee, we need to share the good and the bad. So we can be proud of all the good, and support each other during those bad days. I'm trying to develop a routine of exercise, and now at the beginning, I have more of those days where I just want to blow it off, or where I struggle. I don't wish others to struggle, but it helps to know I'm not the only one.

    I've said it before, but this forum is helping me so much, in staying accountable and of course all the support

    Exercise today:

    45 min T @ 2.4 mph = 1.85 mi

    20 min T @ 2.4 mph = 0.8 mi

    2.65 mi total

    PB


  • Lovemylab
    Lovemylab Member Posts: 80
    edited July 2015

    Since we are sharing the good w the bad, went for three mile walk yesterday w DD and had sudden onset on vomiting and D about 1/4 mile from home. Miserable. I never want to walk again. Feeling better today but #8 taxol is tomorrow. Thinking I will ask if eight is enough. This is worse than AC for me. Hardly able to eat except Popsicles. Just took DD to the airport. I'm Sure she thinks this stuff is killing me. Anyone else stop early? So scared of mets but not sure I can take more! Thanks

    Maureen

  • rainnyc
    rainnyc Member Posts: 1,289
    edited July 2015

    I think it's important to share honestly. Lovemylab, I've had experiences like that--not the vomiting but D--while out walking. Truly miserable. I did find that the symptoms eased up the longer I was on Taxol; it was easier in the end than in the beginning.

    As for me, a day of errands and chores and a work crisis that meant that for several hours this morning, the only real exercise I got was my finger on the cell phone. Did some walking in the afternoon, but of the bank to drugstore variety with no time to smell the roses.

    We're leaving town tomorrow early for a few days of camping and sightseeing. Should be interesting to see how this all works. I'll bring a book, and if I get too tired I will simply plop down and read 'til DH and DS are back from wherever. But I hope to have the stamina to do at least some of what we have planned.

    Happy exercising, everyone--hope all the side effects stay far, far away!

  • Jackbirdie
    Jackbirdie Member Posts: 4,693
    edited July 2015

    Maureen- so very sorry. I am with you whatever you decide. I'm glad to hear it got easier for Rainny.

    Rainny have a wonderful trip. Keep within your limits and enjoy your family and your book. I have a feeling it will be a great weekend for you!

  • Jackbirdie
    Jackbirdie Member Posts: 4,693
    edited July 2015

    the results are in. Strangely, after the worst day so far, I followed with my best day. Guess I need to listen to my body better.

    5567 steps vs goal 5000

    59 minutes active

    2.1 miles

    = 4 chocolate covered almonds. Yay!

  • KBeee
    KBeee Member Posts: 5,109
    edited July 2015

    yahoooo Katy!!! So happy for you.

    It rained all day and cleared up tonight and was nice and cool. So I walked 2 more miles. Walking is my mind clearer and sanity saver...... It's my me time. I had a frustrating visit to RO today, so I needed me time to sort out my thoughts. Taxol 10 tomorrow

  • Italychick
    Italychick Member Posts: 2,343
    edited July 2015

    Lovemylab, we have all fallen victim to the D monster, you are not alone! I could tell you story after story, but suffice to say I have shit myself many times throughout this stupid process, and sometimes very unexpectedly, like just standing up. Just tell yourself "I never want to do this again." That's what I kept telling myself. I had to quit after round 5 because of neuropathy. So I guess what I am saying is whatever your decision is, I am totally behind whatever you do. A lot of us have been there, and totally get it.

    24.5 miles today on my road bike, 1560 feet of climbing, and can feel my legs coming back and getting stronger! Now if I can lost the additional 10 pounds left from chemo! Five down, 10 to go!

  • littleblueflowers
    littleblueflowers Member Posts: 2,000
    edited July 2015

    It was raining buckets today..not that that's any excuse for eating my weight in elk stew as soon as I got home, and being too fat to do more than waddle 4 miles after. Protein to rebuild, right😕

  • slothabouttown
    slothabouttown Member Posts: 449
    edited July 2015

    I walked three miles today. Half in the morning and half tonight. I've been using a walking app on my phone to log the distance and listening to pod casts while I walk which makes the time fly. I think ill make three miles a day my first distance goal and see how that goes for a week or so. Is anyone using a fit bit? I ordered one over the weekend. I hope it's easy to operate, because im challenged technologically.

  • SueH58
    SueH58 Member Posts: 632
    edited July 2015

    Katy - you are unreal! You are miraculously increasing your distance and speed by the hour!!!! So proud and happy for you.

    I stay busy and run around doing errands. I think that helps with SEs, but it really doesn't count as exercise. I will need to get with the program. If you guys can do it, I can too. Even if it's only in little bits.

  • ksusan
    ksusan Member Posts: 4,505
    edited July 2015

    I like the tone and style around here!

    My friend* was here over the weekend. Fortunately, she enjoys walking. Also fortunately, she doesn't care if I wear a shirt in the house or not**, which was very helpful.

    7/27: .5 hr T (2.6 MPH avg) + stretches + .25 hr rowing (1.25 miles) + .5 hr walk + .5 hr T (2.5 MPH avg)


    *an ex-girlfriend

    **because she's seen it all before, though there used to be a different topography

  • Jackbirdie
    Jackbirdie Member Posts: 4,693
    edited July 2015

    Sue- I'm glad you posted. I've been thinking about you and wondering how you're doing. Getting near the end of chemo right? When is the last one?

    I actually respectfully disagree that the errand running doesn't count. It all counts in my mind, because without it we get stiff, unlimber, etc. if you park at the far end of the parking lot and use the stairs when you're up to it, that is excellent work during chemo. Keep up the good work. It will help you that much more for the GREAT COMEBACK after the bell ringing

  • Jackbirdie
    Jackbirdie Member Posts: 4,693
    edited July 2015

    Frau Doktor- glad you have a walking partner. That helps s lot. It's also nice to be carefree in one's own home and have a relationship secure enough to withstand exes under the roof. Brava to your wife! I love the variety in your workouts. No muscle unturned.

    Sloth- I have heard nothing but good things about the Fitbit. Big since I'm going to sign this mortgage any day now I decided to download a free iPhone app and see if I like keeping track etc. And I do think it's very helpful, provided I don't let the arbitrary target setting get in the driver's seat. My oldest friend told me today to be careful not to overdo. She said "you have 2 speeds. 0 and Mach 1." Guilty as charged.

    Little- yes the protein is good! I heard your snarky tone missy. But you walked in the dark after a day of fly fishing the night before. The body needs lots of things. Protein, movement, rest (as I found out the hard way) and a variety of movement, such as you normally do.

    T- great ride today. I'm so excited for you that you feel your legs coming back, have lost 1/3 of the weight, and life feels like it's returning to normal.

    Everybody is doing great. I am so happy that the honesty and authenticity is not just tolerated, but appreciated here. I feel this is a healthy place to be.

    Kbee- in your pocket tomorrow for Taxol 10. Almost there!

  • KBeee
    KBeee Member Posts: 5,109
    edited July 2015

    Walked 3.5 miles this morning. Went to ortho this morning. If x ray looks good in 2 weeks, she will clear me to walk in regular shoes and return to work. Another 2-3 weeks before I can run. She wanted to put me in a tall boot that went halfway up my calf, my I assured her the little shoe one supported me just fine. Thankfully she agreed.

  • octogirl
    octogirl Member Posts: 2,804
    edited July 2015

    walked just under a mile today, woohoo! Progress!

    Cheers and best wishes to all

    Octo

  • Jackbirdie
    Jackbirdie Member Posts: 4,693
    edited July 2015

    Good news Kbee!

    October-well done

  • ksusan
    ksusan Member Posts: 4,505
    edited July 2015

    There's research to show that how we think about our activity in turn affects how it registers in our bodies. Specifically, if we think of movement as exercise, we lose more weight. These studies were done with hotel cleaners and nurses. If they were told that their work counted as exercise, they lost more weight than if they weren't. There may be some physical explanations for this--for example, they may have added additional behaviors because they were in an exercise state of mind (like swinging arms, taking stairs, not eating a candy bar), but the effect was better weight loss. So think of those errands as exercise!

    I'm pretty wiped out this morning so I skipped my treadmill and will walk instead of rowing if I don't feel up to the row. It's hard to sort radiation fatigue from melatonin hangover.

  • Jackbirdie
    Jackbirdie Member Posts: 4,693
    edited July 2015

    7/28

    6033 steps vs 6000 goal

    1 hr 6 min

    2.3 miles

    And a partridge in a tree of chocolate covered pears

    And a peaceful shady Japanese garden:

    image

    image

  • wpmoon
    wpmoon Member Posts: 270
    edited July 2015

    Finally have something to add. Went to the gym this morning and did the following:

    10 min on stair master at 4 resistance.

    4 sets of 12 lat pull downs at 50 pounds.

    3 sets of 12 tricep pull downs at 20 pounds.

    3 sets of 12 bicep curls at 20 pounds.

    3 sets of 12 shoulder raises at 20 pounds.

    3 sets of 12 tricep dips at 65 pounds.

    3 sets of 12 tricep extensions at 10 pounds (each side).

    4 sets of 12 deltoid pull backs at 10 pounds (each side).

    4 sets of chest press with the cables at 10 pounds.

    Attempted to bench press only the bar for 3 sets of 5. Made it through the first set, then almost dropped the bar on myself on the 3rd rep of the second set. Decided I'm not strong enough to do that yet without a spotter.

    Now home eating my lunch of brown rice, broccoli, and chicken sausage. Radiation was cancelled today cuz the machine is down, so I have to find something to do for the day.

  • Jackbirdie
    Jackbirdie Member Posts: 4,693
    edited July 2015

    Wow! Whitney! Just wow!

  • pboi
    pboi Member Posts: 663
    edited July 2015

    Yes, wow Whitney!

    Sorry your machine was down today. I would have been so bummed! Interestingly my machine had problems this morning because of a power outage last night, so there was a 45 minute delay. Hoping everything's all fixed for tomorrow.

    45 min T @ 2.4 mph = 1.8 mi. Thought about going a little faster/longer, but the radiation fatigue is really getting to me.

    PB

  • KBeee
    KBeee Member Posts: 5,109
    edited July 2015

    Great work Whitney!

    Katy, Nice job on the step goal!!!

  • ksusan
    ksusan Member Posts: 4,505
    edited July 2015

    Nice to read!

    Pretty tired today.

    7/28: (radiation #13) 1.0 hr T (2.4 MPH avg) + stretches + .5 hr T (2.4 MPH avg) + stretches

  • KBeee
    KBeee Member Posts: 5,109
    edited July 2015

    We have had thunderstorm after thunderstorm after thunderstorm today. I am glad I gto in 3.5 miles this morning, but I wanted another walk this afternoon. Instead, I am walkign laps around the inside of mu house trying to get my fit bit to 10,000. I literally paced around the room with every single piece of laundry as I was folding it!

  • Leighrh
    Leighrh Member Posts: 317
    edited July 2015

    Karen you are such a rockstar!! 10000 steps!!!!!

    Made it to the gym today. Rowed instead of run for part of workout and scaled back pull ups and push jerks but I moved around and lifted kinda heavy stuff...... :) trying to be positive!!

  • Italychick
    Italychick Member Posts: 2,343
    edited July 2015

    I didn't do anything today, unless you count chasing around three kids, 1, 2 and 4 years old and doing play doh, coloring, swimming pools, and art. We do four little pools because typically the 1 year old pukes in one, the 2 year old may poop in another. But it was a fun day! Love my grandkids!

  • littleblueflowers
    littleblueflowers Member Posts: 2,000
    edited July 2015

    1 mile in 12 minutes, plus some random wandering around out in the woods. Plus half a chicken. Heart disease will get me long befor cancer does lol...at least that's the plan!

  • SueH58
    SueH58 Member Posts: 632
    edited July 2015

    Katy - OMG -- you go girl! Aren't you proud of yourself? I can't even believe your progress!!!

    My final chemo is August 12. Can't wait to be through. Thanks for your comments that errands count. I left home today at 9:30 and returned at 3:00, in and out of stores, etc I know the moving around is good, and the steps are good, but I realize it's not aerobic.

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