Exercise and well being during chemo and radiation

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  • CJSharma
    CJSharma Member Posts: 464
    edited May 2016

    I love this group. Y'all push me to do more. I haven't had this kind of encouragement for a while. Thank you!

  • CJSharma
    CJSharma Member Posts: 464
    edited May 2016

    And speaking of that push - I walked a mile with the dogs today. Not much, I know, but this is the first time in 4 treatments that I felt good enough to actually walk the dogs at all (last time was horrible!) let alone a mile. They are happy, too. :)

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

    Yeah! Get it, CJ! Don't worry, you will bounce back pretty quick. The key is to stay moving so the poisons don't all settle in your butt lol.

    Hi Italy! Yeah, I only allow myself to read on here when I'm on the stairmaster, because this site both comforts, obsesses, and terrifys me. How are ya? Are you coming to Glacier this summer?

    Last year was the first time in 18 years I didn't do the arduous pack test. I still wound up doing the light duty and going out on the line a week after my last taxol. It was dumb and I felt shitty, but I got it done. This year is back to normal!

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

    I would love to do Glacier, it's in the back of my mind, but nothing firm yet. If I can figure it out, I will come.

    I've been fairly boring in exercise, averaging about 100-110 miles a week of combined riding, walking and hiking. But consistency is the key! Right now I am at 1,400 miles so far this year. Got sabotaged by rain and some crappy weather earlier this year, so hopefully can ramp it up over the summer and fall months

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

    If you can get to Glacier, that would be fun! My exercise is also boring, around 35-40 miles a week in steps and Zumba, but at least I'm now familiar with a great deal of Justin Timberlake and Nicki Minaj. I'm round about 875 miles for the year, so I should hit my half-year goal of 1008 for June 30 easily.


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

    Ksusan, awesome!

    Cracking up about the music, ain't it the truth

  • pboi
    pboi Member Posts: 663
    edited May 2016

    Hi all...glad to see everyone doing so well. Keep at it CJ!

    My exercise is boring too, but excited to say that I've been very committed 6-7 days a week. Never could have imagined a year ago that I would be like this and stick to it!!! Thanks to you all!

    Had been using a pedometer to track my steps and thinking I'd been getting about 3.5 mi a day. Hubby got me a Fitbit for Mother's Day and was surprised to see it counted over 5 mi a day. I had long suspected my pedometer was off especially when going at faster speeds on the treadmill and it didn't match the treadmill distance. But happy to see the Fitbit steps...and hope it's pretty accurate!

    PB

  • CJSharma
    CJSharma Member Posts: 464
    edited May 2016

    Checking in with some kickboxing today. Probably over did it a bit, but I don't care. It felt good to get some frustration out.

    Pboi - I love my Fitbit. I try to average 10k steps, but it's up and down the week after chemo. Half way done with this roller coaster!

    Ksusan - nice job on the Zumba! I love it. I have some videos, but I don't have the time to go to a live class, which are so much more fun.

  • phoebe58
    phoebe58 Member Posts: 193
    edited May 2016

    Littleblue - I am so impressed :) way to go! And yes Italy consistency is the key, and you do seem to get out a lot and give it your all -- so I'm sure you will catch up your goals. Pboi, nothing boring about steady commitment. Great job sticking to it. Sigh.....that consistency key sometimes sticks on my all too familiar this year buttplant pose :( I was at a conference last week and did walk some, but ate way too much beige food, and less of a glamourous location than yours Octo! Kickboxing CJ - you go girl.... please punch something for me!! I zumba once a week now ksusan - music more Latino inspired thank gawwwwdd - and just have fun flailing about.

    I did have the bright idea to bring my ignored neglected rebounder into the living room instead of tucked into the upstairs office where I rarely used it. Now I bounce merrily [but gently and nothing fancy - don't wanna hit my head] quite regularly, any time I walk by or while watching tv, and am building up more time..... However, I do still walk the dog despite the witheringly unimpressed eye rolling as she lays beside it. I work up a sweat mowing the lawn too. I hope to get my paddle board onto the lake Saturday - it's a long weekend up here. Yay.

  • Moondust
    Moondust Member Posts: 510
    edited May 2016

    Last Saturday I went on a great 13 mile hike to Olancha Pass in the southern Sierras. This Sunday I might try going all the way to Olancha Peak. I will be starting chemo the second week in June, maybe June 6. I want to get in all the hiking I can before that.

    I was wondering - who has a port for chemo, and can you wear a day pack without bothering it? I want to get a port but not if I can't hike with it.


  • CJSharma
    CJSharma Member Posts: 464
    edited May 2016

    Moondust - I have a port and my camelback straps don't bother it. I would take it with you to get your port and show your surgeon where it cannot go. The surgeon should work with you on where it goes. Just make sure you tell him what you want as you are the one who has to live with it.

    Phoebe - paddleboarding sounds amazing! I so want to try it. Hope you get to do it, too. :)

  • phoebe58
    phoebe58 Member Posts: 193
    edited May 2016

    The hiking sounds beautiful Moondust. We cross posted. I only had a pic line, so no help re the port. I took up paddle boarding last summer and find it surprisingly easy and sooo Zen. Loons sometimes let me get very close.

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

    Moondust, i hike for a living and i can tell you my port was horrid under a pack. I got the damn thing out 6 days after chemo. its not just the port itself, but the tail that goes into the vein under your collar bone. Nothing will be happy under a pack. If in were you, I'd ask about getting it in your upper arm or near the middle of your chest. That failing, get one of those oversized fanny packs like firefighters wear. Kelty makes a good one that is daypack size. If all else fails, pad your pack strap with a hanky or something. On a side note, wearing a pack during radiation is not fun, but you can use your pack straps to secure bandages. Good luck!

  • CJSharma
    CJSharma Member Posts: 464
    edited May 2016

    Part of my new life plan is to move away from the rat race of the Silicon Valley, and to a mountain town. I want a paddleboard and the ability to use it That is one criteria. Another is many hiking trails.

  • Moondust
    Moondust Member Posts: 510
    edited May 2016

    Thanks, CJ! I will take my pack with me. I hope I get a helpful surgeon and not a crabby one. I was afraid they'd tell me I could not have a port unless I promised not to wear a pack.Just now I put on my day pack, and the straps are outside of where my bra comes up, so maybe I'll just tell them I don't want my bra to sit on top of the port.

    Phoebe, the paddleboarding sounds awesome! I like sea kayaking for the same reason - you can get very close to the wildlife.

  • Moondust
    Moondust Member Posts: 510
    edited May 2016

    A little mountain town sounds wonderful, CJ. I live in an armpit farming town, but it is only 2 hours to either the mountains or the shore.

  • CJSharma
    CJSharma Member Posts: 464
    edited May 2016

    Moondust - I'm pretty sure its going to be Auburn by Tahoe. It's a small town, but with a lot going on. You'll have to come visit and hike with me. :)

  • Moondust
    Moondust Member Posts: 510
    edited May 2016

    CJ, thanks, I will!! :)

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

    I wore a backpack with my port, no issues, but my port never really gave me any. I even forgot a few times it was there and thought it was another lump. Hiked with my port many times.

    Just did 20 mile bike ride, ah I love endorphins!

  • azrescue
    azrescue Member Posts: 116
    edited May 2016

    Congrats @littleblueflowers! I was a wildland firefighter for 2 seasons in AZ. I am retired now (stay at home mommy) but I was an EMT for over 20 years.

  • CJSharma
    CJSharma Member Posts: 464
    edited May 2016

    Finally feeling good enough to do a real workout, kind of. So I did Pump 89 - which has Squats, chest, back, and shoulders. Went a little lighter than usual, but it felt good. Then I did Zumba Live from the original series. Poor UPS guy showed up during Zumba. I hope he did not look in the window or he'd have seen a fat, bald lady dancing around... Happy Sunday Everyone!

    SillyHeart

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

    The world needs more fat bald ladies dancing!

  • CJSharma
    CJSharma Member Posts: 464
    edited May 2016

    Agreed, Ksusan! Agreed!

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

    or fat dancing women with crazy hair!

  • CJSharma
    CJSharma Member Posts: 464
    edited May 2016

    Even better - ladies of all shapes and sizes and all hair styles dancing with abandon. There is something freeing about a fun dance.

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

    Early on in this thread, the subject of learning to twerk came up! Oh, and grass hula skirts with a coconut bra. I think Ksusan was elected our model

    Nobody can ever say we aren't fun!


  • ksusan
    ksusan Member Posts: 4,505
    edited May 2016
  • CJSharma
    CJSharma Member Posts: 464
    edited May 2016

    I did a run! I'm so excited! It was 2 miles and a walk/run, but I feel good and I'm sooo happy I managed it. The dogs are happy, too. :) I had my first infusion of Taxol yesterday. I took Pepcid AC and a bit of Immodium AD (so I didn't embarrass myself on my run) and that was it. I hope it continues to be better. I plan to do some weights this afternoon - will probably go light, but we'll see. :)

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

    Congrats! Drink lots of water!

  • CJSharma
    CJSharma Member Posts: 464
    edited May 2016

    100 oz every day. I have an app for that. :) (Plant Nanny - you have to drink water to water your plant or it dies.)

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