Exercise and well being during chemo and radiation

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  • ksusan
    ksusan Member Posts: 4,505
    edited February 2016

    Yeah!

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  • ksusan
    ksusan Member Posts: 4,505
    edited February 2016

    2/9: 9.0 miles Zumba Zumba

    2/10: 5.5 miles Zumba

    2/11: 5.43 miles treadmill

    2/12: 6.1 miles treadmil

    2/13: 5.5 miles

    2/14: 6.0 miles, weight up 2# from last week

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  • Jackbirdie
    Jackbirdie Member Posts: 4,693
    edited February 2016

    Awesome, T!

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  • octogirl
    octogirl Member Posts: 2,804
    edited February 2016

    Definitely awesome, T!

    I am running into a roadblock to my exercise goals: my knees have gotten decidedly stiffer the past few weeks, and today, after walking about 2.5 miles yesterday, the right one is swollen. I can and do swim, but based on past experience, walking is more helpful to me for weight loss...plus I hope to do a lot of hiking in the Sierras this summer and need to get back in walking shape. I joined a yoga class at work and had to drop out because that particular class involved a lot of getting up and down off the floor...I just couldn't do it. :-(

    Mentioned it to MO on last visit last week. Definitely likely to be an Arimidex SE. He suggested I wait a month, see if it is any better, and if it isn't, stop the pills for a month. At that point (I see him again in two months) he will put me on another estrogen blocker if they are better (implying it is indeed the Arimidex and not just normal aging/whatever). Sigh. I like the idea that he thinks QOL and exercise are important enough to warrant the experimentation, but am not crazy about the casual experimentation itself or the idea of starting another medicine when it could also have SEs..

    Oh well, one foot in front of the other. If this keeps up I will need to adjust my goals, but I am not going to stop walking!

    Octogirl

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  • littleblueflowers
    littleblueflowers Member Posts: 2,000
    edited February 2016

    Sorry you are feeling stiff, Octo. Would tai chi be of any benefit? Its much less up and down than yoga, but you are constantly in motion.

    Nice work T and K Susan!

    I only allow myself to get on BCO when I am on the stairmaster lol. It was eating my brain. So, I'm stair mastering! Started a yoga flow class which is amazing, I think it will help balance my left and right sides now, hopefully. Still climbing once a week and noticed I finally have some bicep definition! Really need to step up my core work though. Getting ready for a half marathon on the 27th, so that should be fun. We are experiencing a Feb thaw and mud season, so exercise outside is unpleasant. Hope everyone is doing well!

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  • littleblueflowers
    littleblueflowers Member Posts: 2,000
    edited February 2016

    Oh yeah, did you guys know Dede Jonrowe is a breast cancer survivor? And triathlete. And getting set to run the Iditarod again. Awesome!

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  • octogirl
    octogirl Member Posts: 2,804
    edited February 2016

    Littleblue...the same day I signed up for yoga, DH signed up for Tai Chi. I am sorry I didn't join him; he is getting a lot out of it, and yes, I do think it would suit me better. Now the class is completely sold out and I can't find another one within 50 miles of here....I've told him he better learn well enough to teach. :-) (will definitely sign up next time it is offered.)

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  • ksusan
    ksusan Member Posts: 4,505
    edited February 2016
    I posted this as part of a topic elsewhere on the board, but thought I'd cross-post it here:

    I'm compiling a "benefits of Zumba" study abstract and article list for a talk. When I have a bibliography, I'll post it here and in the Exercise forum.

    The summary version is that most studies use 2-3 classes a week as their study target. A class works better than a DVD or partner salsa dancing for exercise benefit. Blood pressure, heart rate, blood sugar decreased. Stamina and perceptions of strength and empowerment increased. Depression decreased. Weight loss seemed to be modest at around a kilo in 12-24 weeks, but I'm here to say that with chemopause and Tamoxifen, I'll take any weight loss I can get. I started Tamoxifen and Zumba at the same time and have not gained any weight, which my PCP points out as an exercise benefit. My PT said that regular exercise decreases the risk of blood clots. Obviously, stretching and warm-up is important.

    Zumba is more amenable to modifying the moves than some other aerobics or dance classes. For example, I don't do a lot of the jumping moves because I'm protecting my joints and Tamoxifen makes me that much more likely to have stress incontinence if I leap around. I've been going for almost 6 months and I feel good (plus my partner says I'm dancing more confidently, which is hot).

    Plus, when I shimmy to "All About That Bass" with a bilateral with no recon, it's hilarious.



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  • bluedog
    bluedog Member Posts: 212
    edited February 2016
    Hah!!!
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  • azrescue
    azrescue Member Posts: 116
    edited February 2016

    It is sooooo encouraging to me to read through these posts. I will most likely be starting chemo in March 2016. Carboplatin & Taxotere. I had these images in my head of just being bed ridden throughout it all. Which is SO not what I want. I am active now and eat very healthy. I was hoping to be able to still get out and walk, ride bikes, etc. So all of you are an inspiration.


    Thanks!

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  • littleblueflowers
    littleblueflowers Member Posts: 2,000
    edited February 2016

    ksusan, that sounds like a cool talk! Now, if only I didn't have 2 left feet and a stripper booty shake I'd give Zumba a try for sure. Welcome, AZrescue! Glad you have found us! I'm sure our glorious leader will be in soon to welcome you to our merry band, but in the meantime....pleaseD to meetcha! YMMV, of course, but most of the ladies who did TC seemed to do pretty well. There's this one chick named Italy who actually increased her road biking miles during chemo. You won't be bed ridden. I did ACT, and I still ran almost every day. You will feel like you have a 4 alarm hangover sometimes, but it passes. 😊

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  • ksusan
    ksusan Member Posts: 4,505
    edited February 2016

    Littleblue, multiple left feet and the capacity to gyrate are welcome in Zumba!

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  • Italychick
    Italychick Member Posts: 2,343
    edited February 2016

    Back on the bike today after a week of funeral and trauma. And it was painful, but awesome at the same time. And sad, knowing my ex will never ride his bike again

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  • Moondust
    Moondust Member Posts: 510
    edited February 2016

    I haven't posted in here before but it's right up my alley! All of you ladies rock!! I will post my weekly totals as reported by my Fitbit. My goal is 15K steps a day and longer hike on the weekend. This Friday will mark week 6 since surgery and I'll begin doing some strength training again, too, but slowly.

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  • eheinrich
    eheinrich Member Posts: 792
    edited February 2016

    T ~ I'm glad you are back riding. Must be therapeutic even if sad.

    I haven't reported in in forever. My goal is minimum 10k fitbit steps per day. Shooting for 3.7 million steps by the end of the year. Since I have short legs I count steps not miles. I've been meeting & exceeding that so far.

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  • littleblueflowers
    littleblueflowers Member Posts: 2,000
    edited February 2016

    This thread is aliiiiiiiive again! I'm tapering for my half marathon on Saturday, so focusing on upper body. I DESPISE weights. :(

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  • ksusan
    ksusan Member Posts: 4,505
    edited February 2016

    Welcome, Moondust!

    2/15: 6.1 miles Zumba

    2/16: 8.5 miles Zumba Zumba

    2/17: 9.5 miles Zumba

    2/18: 8.26 miles Zumba Zumba

    2/19: 5.6 miles

    2/20: 6.5 miles

    2/21: 6.0 miles

    2/22: 7.85 miles Zumba

    2/23: 9.0 miles Zumba Zumba

    2/24: 6.15 miles Zumba

    At this moment last year I was in pre-op for my BMX.

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  • littleblueflowers
    littleblueflowers Member Posts: 2,000
    edited February 2016

    ksusan, I suggest you listen to Highway to Hell by Ac/DC as a commemoration LOL...then go be awesome!

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  • Italychick
    Italychick Member Posts: 2,343
    edited February 2016

    Ksusan, I want to be you when I grow up! But I'm home, and back on the bike, planning to go full steam ahead. Bet you are getting quads and abs of steel.

    Littleblue, you are amazing! Kick ass and take names!

    Final Herceptin tomorrow and brain scan. Then a PET scan once I get over the creeping crud my grandkids infected me with. And then hopefully just on to live life


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  • azrescue
    azrescue Member Posts: 116
    edited February 2016

    I know I said this before but I must say it again .... You all are so inspiring. You give me the strength to know that I can do this too.

    I start chemo on Wednesday (terrified).

    I work out today and tomorrow with my trainer. We have switched up to more muscle building (gain some weight) then cardio & endurance. He is committed to sticking with me through this

    journey. I got up this morning and went for my walk.

    My family and I do quite a bit of biking together too. And I am looking forward to maintaining that as spring nears.

    My goals: My family & I want to bike a portion of the Katy Trail in MO., I also want to compete in a fitness competition.

    Thanks!!!!

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  • ksusan
    ksusan Member Posts: 4,505
    edited February 2016

    Azrescue, it's highly likely that you'll be okay. The first one is scary.

    LB and T, I admire your rock wall-scampering and biking. I saw a prototype bike/washing machine that absolutely enchants me. I hope eventually to get a bike that can charge a back-up battery.

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  • littleblueflowers
    littleblueflowers Member Posts: 2,000
    edited February 2016

    Hey, T- saw you have been going through a lot. Just want you to know im thinking of you and your family. Why the brain scan? Yay last herceptin!

    Hey AZ- it sounds like you have a solid foundation to go from. Chemo is doable- try not to get too scared. You probably wont make any great fitness gains, but probably no huge losses either. Good luck!

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  • Italychick
    Italychick Member Posts: 2,343
    edited February 2016

    azrescue, just take each chemo as it comes, and try to live life as normally as possible. You have totally got this! Stay as active as you can, and don't worry about any performance degradations, it comes back. I rode all throu chemo, and it got hard, but after chemo I continued to improve. I viewed it like altitude training lol. Because blood levels can get compromised and then it becomes a little more difficult to oxygenate during training, mentally I thought of it as going to Colorado and training in the mountains.

    Littleblue, I just want to stay on top of things as Her2 supposedly likes to attack the brain. My breast Doctor is in the camp that believes the earlier something is found, the more efficiently it can be dealt with. No problems that I am aware of, but with my ex husband just dying unexpectedly my husband and I are all my kids and grandkids have left, so I want every chance to be here

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  • littleblueflowers
    littleblueflowers Member Posts: 2,000
    edited February 2016

    Ah gotcha. Theresa, I really have been holding you and your family in my thoughts, and I'll continue to do so. I'm so very sorry for your loss.

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  • pboi
    pboi Member Posts: 663
    edited February 2016

    Good work everyone...I'm still here. Wish I was doing as well as you all. Had a Zometa infusion a week ago and the side effects really set me back physically and emotionally. Been popping in and out of the rabbit hole, seems like I'm more in than out. But through it all am managing at least a 30 minute walk a day...not as good as I was doing before but trying to be committed to keep going...but it's such a struggle.

    PB

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  • ksusan
    ksusan Member Posts: 4,505
    edited February 2016

    Even a little exercise helps with mood!

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  • pboi
    pboi Member Posts: 663
    edited February 2016

    Yes it does! Many times I don't want to exercise but find once I get going I do feel better physically and mentally.

    PB

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  • octogirl
    octogirl Member Posts: 2,804
    edited February 2016

    I am swimming again, in addition to walking...the swimming helps my mood like nothing else!

    xox

    Octogirl

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  • ksusan
    ksusan Member Posts: 4,505
    edited February 2016

    That's great, Octogirl!

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  • octogirl
    octogirl Member Posts: 2,804
    edited February 2016

    now, if only I could figure out how to convert the swimming into steps, and take the iPhone with me... :-)

    It just occurred to me: do they make a waterproof fitbit? If yes, I might have to break down and buy one (instead of relying on the phone)

    Octogirl

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