Stage 4 Fitness 2016

Shetland - Great goals! I know you can get to a daily routine. But remember that you are ALREADY doing awesome with the Dance and Yoga. Good job getting it done at home.

Lulubee - My favorite exercise book is The First Twenty Minutes. The basic point is that people that can get 20 minutes of any exercise 4-5 times a week get something like 80% of the benefits of exercise. Of course I like to exercise more and the American Cancer Society, supported by a lot of studies, recommends more, but there are days and weeks when its not going to happen. And for those just starting the recommended 150 minutes of aerobics per week is not going to happen. The book reminds me that even when I can only get a small amount of exercise done, I am getting a huge benefit.

Yesterday I biked 5 miles and did a a 90 minute yoga class. Monday I walked for 75 minutes and I did a 25 minute strength training routine with DD. Today I hope to do a run while my daughter is in orchestra, but my feet hurt from the letrozol.

Wish I could run. There are so many other options like swimming and biking. Even an aerobics class with jumping jacks and stuff is okay, but I miss jogging on the trails around my house. The bone pain from letrozol has been going on for 2 months. It didn't start until like 6 months into treatment. I've acupunctured it and massaged it into submission so it's not debilitating, but I still can't run. Grrrrr.

>Z<

I used to run marathons before I started treatment in September 2013 now I am happy if I can just run/walk a 5k (which I have only done once this year) In my opinion it is much more difficult for all of us that want to exercise but the tx just make it so much harder to will yourself to do it. I have had the exact same thing happen but it was a friend who dropped by my office and told me wow you have gained weight. I wanted to get up and shake him but I just said yes sir I have. Sometimes I wonder what is wrong with people, but I think some people don't think of anyone but themselves and I am sad for them. Anybody else feel guilty when your friends offer to exercise with you but you know that you are just holding them back?

I agree with you Shetland. Even 5 minutes makes a difference.

Sissy, let your friends exercise with you. This will allow them to feel they are helping you, having fun spending time with you too. If they were to feel shortchanged, they would simply workout themselves later. Anything we are willing to do physically is good to do. Moving our bodies are enough to make a positive difference. I am going to take a walk after I get off the computer as well. My mother does not think I am fat. She does worry about my sense of well being, but as she explains, she is my mother and that is her job she says. That is what she does but she does not push me to be more positive. She did tell her friend some of the info I told her regarding weight gain, steroids and challenges of being in non stop treatment for so long. I told her not to stress too much about the friend, that I just don't need to hear about it. I told her she can put a stop to it if it becomes bothersome to her as well. I feel better having a place to vent as well. Keeps it from becoming a sore spot or adding more stress to my mother.

Z, am so sorry you can't run either. I know there are other things that can be done, but it does not lessen the loss that is felt when you can't do what you want. I felt that way when I could not walk due to the sprain then the swelling I had after my surgery in August. I could bike, but it was not the same. Hoping your pain can improve enough to allow it at some point. Hugs to you.

Welcome Stefajoy. We're all about showing up, compromising and doing our best. You definitely belong here. I tried to run for the first time in a while today and, of course, I decided I would head off down a rocky trail. I miss trail running very much. I tripped and fell hard within 100 feet of the start of the trail. Limped back to the street. I don't have the balance and I don't naturally lift my feet like I used to. But I have to smash my leg on a rock to remember this. I guess I'll blame the drugs.

Wasn't doing badly, however. Feet getting better. Will try again Friday. On the street.

Mara - I can't imagine having brain mets and having a more positive attitude then you without some kind of mental illness.

Talking with friends can be like calling home from Mars. I have told almost no one. With those who know I tell them I am FANTASTIC! That is what they want to hear. Shuts down the discussion of my health and we move on to other things. They don't get it. One of the many things we lose is some piece of our relationship with family and old friends.

And with all the effort I am put into watching my diet and exercise I too am gaining weight. Hormone suppression does that. Grrrrrr. I am tired of this already.

>Z<

I recently decided to open up to someone about how cancer has so negatively affected my body. Not even mentioning the whole stage 4 thing, ShE ends up crying and I''m comforting HER. This is why I'm reluctant to say anything except "I'm doing great. Thank you for asking". 🙄

These are not my words.. I stole them off of a FB post, but wow, if this doesn't say US.

"The more I workout, the more I love my body. Not because it's perfect. But because with every step, it proves I am capable of more than I ever thought possible.

Go, Mara, go!!! I think that person has some kind of mental illness.

Stefajoy and Sissy, jump or run/walk right in. I love an active fitness thread (pun intended).

Sorry for the fall, Z. My legs are full of dark spots from all the falls I've taken, some bloody some not. They're like battle scars, a testament to our will to move.

Moving is the best thing we can do for ourselves (after taking meds, that is) so in that respect we are all doing great! Sort of along the lines of Stefajoy's quote.

Thanks for the updates ladies. This is my favorite thread.

I ate a brownie with some green tea today. Hope that balances out somehow. Otherwise resting.

>Z<

The brownie sounds good. Enjoy it I say. Hope the rest was helpful for you today after your fall.

I treated myself to pizza and cheesy garlic bread. I had to get a Dr. note which normally would cost 20 dollars but was not charged anything so used that to pay for the pizza. A guy also gave me a free parking stub so did not pay for that either. Nice day that way.

Pedaling away on a mini peddler and watching Tv. Will probably do a couple of hours (is a tiny peddlar you can use from your chair). It is not too hard to do, but feels good to keep moving anyway.

Stefajoy, love the quote and it is very true.

lwrite, glad to hear from you. Fatigue fog can sometimes only be lifted through exercise. Good job. Haven't experience Ibrance myself but given to understand it can hit hard in the fatigue department.

Great to hear from you Heidi. I love an active thread too.

Great job remz. Housework is as much exercising as walking or other things. Great job, keep moving as you can. Rest when you need to as well. Love hearing about everyone moving. It inspires me as well.

That's a great idea Sherri. I have to employ that myself since we are having both brothers and their families over for Sunday dinner at our place. I have been less than the best with the housework, mostly just clean bathrooms and laundry myself. I do tackle a bigger chunk once a day myself, ie vacuuming, mopping myself so I don't feel overhwelmed. Will be nice to have the company at my house this time since has been a while.

Love all the activities here! What an inspiring group!

And as I am reading posts, I'm thinking, "Yep, I know exactly what they are talking about." Though I exercise and work out regularly, I am slower than I've ever been-walk slower, bike slower, swim slower-just move slower all the way around. And it frustrates me. But on the positive side, my family is great, always encouraging me and having fun together. I also have certain friends that I am very comfortable with, walking and biking, but I am definitely selective about who I work out with. No room for negativity.

Earlier this week I got in several bike rides and some treadmill walking. Very rainy this morning so it was an early trip to the gym for time on the treadmill and spin bike.

Welcome to all the new posters. So glad you're here and moving with us. Have a great weekend everyone.

Nice to see you here, Stefanie. Hey, someone recently posted about a study that suggested massage has some of the benefits of exercise, so I am prescribing a home massage for you. Make a call.

Yes remz, a friend pointed out to me that if people are afraid to move for fear of getting injured, they get out of shape and even more prone to injury. Of course when you are dealing with cancer, you really have to work smart and listen to your body. Zarovka, have you seen those T-shirts that reveal that the wearer "Runs with Scissors"? I'm thinking we need to make you some version of that.

I want a brownie now.

Welcome roosarider, I hope the Ibrance kicks back those nodules too for you so you can get back on your bike. Glad to hear the getting lost was a good adventure for you and your DH. Flatter surfaces count too so great job. I see you are recently diagnosed as well but glad you found us. This is a pretty active thread and is extremely supportive if you are ever feeling down.

I am envious of places with good weather/trails to walk or bike on. I pretty much go around my neighbourhood. Last couple of days are rainy and cold but I will get a jacket and venture out now that it has stopped raining.

Stationary bike for the rest of the day for me, will aim for at least an hour. I usually break up into 20 mins at a time. Will aim for at least 20 mins of walking as long as it is not raining. Once my disability kicks in, I plan to join a gym of some sort as well since winter is coming. I don't walk in the winter since I am good at falling.

Stefajoy, you are right. Now that I am moving more, I do feel less dark about my situation. I don't realistically expect to fully put it aside, but I don't need to think 24/7 about all the possible ways my brain met could come back or side effects of radiation etc. The exercise does push the fatigue back some and makes errands easier to do as well. Small victories. I agree with Shetland, if you can't move, maybe massage can be helpful. I had a cold recently myself which was not fun. It kept blocking up my ears more than anything else. That made me feel so foggy, similar to the fog I had pre dx of the brain met and during brain radiation. Not fun. Glad it went away. Hope yours improves soon.

Hope everyone has a good day, Z hope you are doing better after the fall.

Walked to a "prenatal" yoga class today and did yoga for an hour with 5 ladies in their third trimester. Didn't injure myself. Walked home safely. Victory. I intended to jog to the class and back, but today my feet and calves were hurting a lot. Brisk walk instead. I am a long way from the days I ran half marathons, but with little adjustments I can keep moving.

Tonight I take my daughter and her three friends to a huge art installation/haunted house in the next town over. Spending the night in a doubletree with three 10 year olds. Please keep me in your thoughts and prayers.

Glad you found us here roosarider. Only after my diagnosis did I discover mountain biking. I have bruises all over from falls. Glad to have someone on this thread who understands. The rest of the ladies think I am crazy. But I can get a real workout on a bike that I just can't get running anymore. Somehow it doesn't trigger the joint pain in the same way.

>Z<