What do you do for exercise?

Hi, Sunnyone--

I love your username! An attitude like that should help you breeze through treatment and beyond! (Do you happen to live in Sunnyvale, CA, too?)

First of all, "moderate" is a judgment call to some extent, since for each person it depends on factors like general health, fitness level, weight, etc. That said, though, the standard definition I have seen is that "moderate walking" means going at a 3.5-mile-per-hour rate, rather than the distance covered.

As for what I do for exercise, I go to the fitness center at our YMCA three days a week and each day I do 45 minutes of resistance training, 6 to 10 minutes of crunches, and 35 or 40 minutes of cardio (treadmill or elliptical) each day. On the days when we're not at the gym, my husband and I walk or do hiking trails in Valley Forge National Park or just do a variety of circuits in our neighborhood. Our Y fitness center offers ActivTrax, which is a program that includes a strength assessment by a trainer at the beginning of the program and subsequent intermittent strength tests, as well as a custom-designed set of reps and weights for each day (the variety keeps workout from being boring, changes the focus area of the body each day--shoulder focus one day, back another, legs another--and also sets different cardio goals for each workout). I also try to attend the yoga sessions offered at our church by a fellow parishioner (who is not just a certified yoga instructor but also certified as a nurse yoga instructor, but sometimes her sessions conflict with other activities I'm involved in.

I started doing these workouts when I retired, about 4 years before breast cancer reared its head, and I kept up with it all through treatment, including rads (except for omitting arm and chest work until the surgeon gave me the go-ahead, and then I worked back up to earlier weights slowly). Being active throughout rads really made a great difference--experienced no fatigue at all the whole time, much to my rad onc's delight, I should add.

So go for it, doing as much as you are comfortable doing beyond the "150 minutes/week" minimum. And remember that scrubbing floors and weeding a garden are also exercise! Have fun! T.

I do the "You on a Diet" Dr Oz intermediate workout - it is great for stretching out all parts of the body and only 18 mins or so, then I do a mile on the treadmill at 3 mph. I do those five times a week. Other that that I work at the farm 10 - 20 hours a week. I don't really get my heart rate up much but oh well.

I also worked out throughout treatment and bounced back much more quickly than I would have otherwise. I don't think I shortened the entire cycle, and this meant that I dragged through summer cycling events and needed more energy gels to do them. I did everything anyway, having a major boost in energy about 6 months post treatment, just in time for ski season that year.

I do at least 2 miles of walking every day, plus a routine of weights and crunches on weekdays. I do more on the weekends, but at least a 5k run each weekend day and sneak in a 5k during the week too when I get a chance as can do this from my front door.

I am taking Easter weekend to go x-country skiing which should make up for my slothful winter ways glued to my office chair. I just did not have time to get in the longer rides. I am now done with the endless projects, so just down to my nonprofit work. That will give me time to train.

I signed up for the entire Cascade Bicycle Club summer series of events. This includes two 2-day rides of 100 miles each day. A host of smaller events. I did one 3 weeks ago to start getting it in gear.

So yes, you can do more. I am in my mid 60s and NOT retired. - Claire

My favorite description of moderate exercise comes from the CDC, about 1:55 into this video, it says you should be able you should be "able to talk but not sing"!

http://streaming.cdc.gov/vod.php?id=e6e0389dc5b6ce...

Am having trouble with the video link, you can go to http://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/basics/adults/index.htm and look for this video about half-way down the page on the right hand side.

Sunyone,

Checkout your local YMCA. Many have a Livestrong program for cancer patients. 12 weeks, twice a week for free. The trainers (at least the ones I worked with) were knowlegable about cancer of many types, what would be best and what to avoid. I have read others here who have done the program as well and all positive. It got me back and moving again and a connection with others who had similar issues.

Be well

Nel