Stage 4 Fitness 2016

Great idea Nancy

Been struggling with low reds from weekly gemzar. Still out walking but too weak for road bike.

Decided " can't wait" on the reds (they may just stay low since on weekly chemo) so ordered indoor trainer for my roadbike. Can spin inside and not worry about crash or cars. Add to the walking. Onc started me on iron supplement as iron was low. Maybe that will help.

Toasting to another year of mets. Sounds crazy but I'm glad to be alive. Exercise is one key to help us manage SE I think. Stay strong people. 👊🏻👊🏻

Best to all.

Diana.

Nice to see the 2016 thread up and running:) Thank you, Nancy! I'm plugging along with my walking and exercise dvd's. I truly admire those of you currently on chemo who are pushing through and exercising. I slowed down quite a bit on chemo, but I'm now on Ibrance/Aromasin so no excuses.

Keep moving everyone! It helps our minds as much as our bodies.

thanks nancyh for starting a new thread! I'm excited and apprehensive at the same time. Like you, Nancyh, I would try to exercise but instead of giving me more energy it sucked it out of me. Took several days to recover. I finally gave up and said it's not worth it. I need to preserve my energy for family. But you all have stuck to it. You gave me the motivation to start asking for Ritalin. And after 6 months or more of going round and round with drs...I finally let them have it! I took my first dose this morning!!!!! And I worked all day like a mad woman cleaning (the inside of the dishwasher? Who knew?)! It was great! I did have to take several little breaks. And I guess time will tell if this drug is going to help or will I still need several days to recover. I hope you all continue to do well and keep kicking ass

I have been using an XL glider daily over the past year for exercise plus stretching exercises. I got an exercycle for Christmas and have been using it daily since I got it, I love it! I am on it from 40 minutes to an hour depending on my fatigue level. What I want to start is using dumbbells for my arms and doing some other exercises at home as well. Exercising at home works out best for me, I can do it when I want and not worry about the weather especially since living in NE Ohio, the winters here are usually bad.

Great idea to start a 2016 thread! I love reading about what people are doing.

The latest with me is that I have worked my way up to running 14 miles a week. I run three days a week (4 miles, 4 miles and 6 miles). I had planned to do a race in the fall but realized that it is quite a logistical challenge with a baby - waking him up super early, his feeding time would be during the race, running with him, etc. If I can figure out a way to do a race and leave him at home, maybe I will do one. Otherwise, I am okay just running on my own for now. What a difference a year makes. My bone mets were very advanced when I was diagnosed a year ago - they have been healing steadily since then but are still kicking around everywhere. I appreciate being able to run right now. It really helps manage my stress levels, not to mention my bone pain and stiffness. I have missed some runs the last few weeks due to work and child care issues. I notice an increase in my bone pain and stiffness when I miss more than one run.

I read that exercise - for those who can safely engage in it - actually helps arrest the cancer's process in the bones. Good to know!

glad to see the new year's thread! THANK YOU for posting here ---- it's so helpful!!

anyone tried the charity miles app? basically, corporations donate cents for miles we walk/bike/run/skip, etc. haven't used it yet, but heard great things. think I'll set it up tonight and report back. charity miles faq's

slacking w/ walking & it shows - joints/stress level/waistline & energy! trying for min. 2 days/wk of total 5 mi. way down from last year, but better than nothing. I'm still a pilates nut & in great shape muscle/balance/toning-wise (stamina's another story). pilates is especially helpful since brain zapping, hello proprioception & coordination. found a jump-board class, so can finally get cardio again - we'll see. been nearly a year since I've been on tennis court -- I miss it. fingers crossed this year I'm back out there! thank you for this thread!!!

nancyh - if it sounds possible, pilates can be extremely gentle & is often used for rehab.... I even found a few pilates-based physical therapy places that insurance covers. pilates pink ribbon prgm has instructor locator - but searches for pt & pilates + city name may be better.

kjones - eeeaaasssy does it there, speedy. should I feel guilty I've never cleaned the inside of the dishwasher? I LOVE how ritalin helps, but overdo it (dose or activities) & I do pay for it - usually totally worth it tho!! a doc helps w/ creative dosing (this is KEY - hunt 'till you find someone super knowledgeable - palliative docs often best). it doesn't keep me up nights, makes getting going in the morning so much less traumatic, & feels like I put in fresh batteries physically & cognitively. I'm careful w/ activity level/meds so I don't feel lousy - took a bit to find best dose/frequency, but now it's pretty smooth. for those w/ SE issues - many formulations & everyone's different, so if at first you don't succeed, try a different one! ritalin has made a HUGE improvement in my QOL. congrats kjones - hope it's as helpful to you!

hello, I missed you. I had a rough start to the new year. Bronchitis, turned to pneumonia hours after happy dances of being kicked off Xeloda and Tykerb. Hate oral chemotherapy. I love my infusion girls and dearly missed them. My latest exercise plan involved raising our bed 5" for a 5' 1'' it a big of a challenge.

Nancy, maybe some gentle yoga or tai chi? Those small cycle gadgets Diana mentioned also sound like a good idea. You can put them on top of a table for an upper body workout. I'm thinking of getting a Wonder Core Smart as I need something for when I'm too lazy or tired to go out or to the gym. Maybe something also for you? Anybody here tried it? Jcfree, could this help as far as "other exercises" at home? I admit I am a sucker for "as seen on TV" exercise stuff. I want those six-pack abs.

Teakie, great job on the walking...3 times a day!! I agree on exercise being a factor in managing disease, cancer included. JFL, love to hear about the healing bones. Although as my onc used to say healing bones hurt. Exercise can be your analgesic. Wish they could come up with an exercise pill. Diana, glad you are getting some cycling indoors now. Rose-no-more-excuses, great to hear the new combo is treating you better. Artistatheart, hope you are getting to use the new snow shoes. Kjones, yes, I've stuck with it for more than 8 years. I did a lot of napping in the beginning, and dexamethasone helped a lot then. I built up my stamina and strength v-e-r-y slowly. You can do it, too. Now I feel like age is catching up with me and I better turn the intensity up.

Spiceypetunia, thanks for the tip on the Charity Miles. I wonder if it'll work in Europe. I guess I'll download it and see. I hope to get to the tennis courts more often, too. Last year my daughter was more into badminton and squash, and it was great to play with her, but I do prefer to be outside. Brandall, belated happy birthday! Hope you are having the time of your life!! Can't wait to hear all about it.

Fujimama, hope you are fully recovered from the pnuemonia. That must have been rough. Are you back on Herceptin or are you on a new chemo? Badatusernames, we'll be cheering you on for the marathon open water swim.

Oh my, I am exhausted just reading what you all are doing! Its been frustrating for me to have gone from very active job, kids, activity and exercise to almost nothing. Try to get movement in when possible (stairs, housework etc) but doesn't seem to take much to put in bed for a few days. Seems like the more I try to do, or to do regularly to get back into shape, the worse I feel. I have had success with restorative yoga/gentle yoga but wish I could find something else in addition. Running (which I loved) is out because of mets to spine but wondering if an elip. trainer would be gentler on joints than treadmill?

Hi Linda, I am glad to see this thread still active. It is always hard to come out of winter. I live in Central New York, cold gray and wet!! I've been going to our local Y, taking classes and doing a couple days on the strength training machines. It is a balancing act because somedays I use up all my energy on the Workout and then I'm exhausted the rest of the day. Still trying to find the balance. Looking forward to opening the windows and getting outside more. Michele

Hi

I am new to these boards. i was diagnosed with stage 4 TNBC last month and had my 2nd chemo 7 days ago. i am 29 and struggling with the side effects of carbo/taxol and Zometa. i had stage 2A TNBC in 2013 that has recurred in my liver, lungs and bones. i was asymptomatic at the time of diagnosis but now every part of my body aches like hell. i am scared that i will gain weight gain because i stay in bed most of the time due to worst body pain that i get second day after chemo and its still killing me. you ladies are so inspiring i want your help regarding issues i have; weight gain and body pains. how did you handle this and maintained a good weight at the same time? i mean i could hardly walk due to intense pain in my hips and knees.
Much Love

Thank You!

i am having good diet mostly fruits veggies and lean meat. but, particularly after my second chemo, i am unable to eat anything as it gives me abdominal cramps. pain after taxol is a HORROR and no pain meds, nothing works for 6 days and i spend most of my time in bed crying in pain. today is ninth day and i am still having aches. I tried to walk for sometime but ended in bed again. In this scenario, i am sure i will gain weight and become a potato.

Hey‼ Sisters starting to feel much better. Thinking about starting another water aerobics.
hey 🙋

Fujiimama, your attitude is always so great. I love being in the pool… feels so good and it's easy on our bodies. Enjoy your class!

Hi Nancy! I'm doing some walking and some yoga on my good days. I've got a lot of nerve damage from surgery/radiation to spine and now neuropathy in my feet from chemo which makes things challenging. But I feel very lucky to be able to move at all! I hope your chemo is effective and that you'll be able to get outside and walk in the warmer, drier weather. I think of you often.