Stage 4 Fitness 2016

Nice workout, PhotoGirl! Lovely flowers! Where do you live?

I did a 25 minute interval training session on the treadmill. I jogged at a 12 minute mile pace for 12 minutes and then I did 1 minute intervals alternating between a 12 minute mile pace and a 8-10 minute mile pace 5 times, and then a 5 minute cool down jog. I was surprised at how well I did. My best run in a very long time.

I followed that with an hour of yoga and bodyweight exercises and then 30 minutes in an IR Sauna. Tuesdays and Thursday morning are my designated exercise and pamper myself times. The goal is to reduce fatige and malaise. I put a little bit more in this morning because I am experiencing depression symptoms: crying for no reason, lack of confidence.

I have seasonal affective disorder, so am wary of how December January is going to go on all these drugs. This is my first year and I am going to be a little extra vigilant.

That said, I got a good endorphin hit this morning. I am on week one of the three week ibrance cycle. I generally feel my best this week and it's showing up in what I can do in my workout, if not in my state of mind.

>Z<

MSL - thank you for you kind words.

short walks and restorative yoga are in order when we are recovering. maybe some range of movement exercises in the local therapy pool and a massage? there are body functions which simply stop working when we don't move. hope you feel better soon.

>Z<

I grew up in Westchester and spent my summers in Roxbury, NY. Beautiful country. A hundred reasons to walk.

The shock is terrible. Everything you do to get your life back is a win for you and a lose for the disease.

Try some High Intensity Interval Training for the mood swings. Takes as little as 12 minutes. Dial it in to what works for you. May be just jogging 100 feet a few times during your walk. Nothing like endorphins to cure the blues.

>Z<

HI ladies-it's great to see and hear all that you are doing. Keep up the good work.

I managed a 13 mile bike ride on Monday. It was very slow going, but I was still pretty tired when I finished. The rest of the week was walking outside and gym time on the treadmill and bike. I did some entry-level HIIt on the spin bike, and so far haven't irritated my hip or leg. Will keep working on it at a very slow pace. Today was chemo day so all I've done are some strength training exercises that I've just recently added into the mix. Planning on either walking outside tomorrow, or back to the gym if the weather doesn't cooperate.

Best to everyone. Let us know what you're doing.

I managed a 20min slow walk, which I couldn't have contemplated yesterday so recovery from ooph on track.

Felt better just being out and about.

Best to all xx

Kept my two-year-old granddaughter all day. Enough said. LOL

I haven't been posting but have had a great week of exercising including a couple runs, a long bike ride and two snowy hikes. Brought the snowshoes but not quite enough snow for that. My husband had a long weekend for thanksgiving so was great to have a lot of time together outside.


I'm committed to run a race in February. It's one my husband and I do with my sister and mom each year. I haven't quite decided on distance or my goal since a pr is pretty unlikely.

I'm not a runner, but I've had some great workouts this past week.... lots of squats and ab work. I can't do much upper body because of my lymphedema. But I feel really good and strong. Oh, also doing quite a bit of power walking. Yay me

Shazza, congratulations on your half marathon walk! Photogirl, you win this week's prize for most unusual exercise, with your 600 pointsettias. Z, I like your idea of short walks and restorative yoga even when we don't feel great. BionicBunny, it's great you are exercising during chemo. Lulubee, my favorite line from a child care book, in the toddler development section, reads, "Runs. Tries to escape from caregiver." Ab work, oh yeah, I need to remember that, Stefajoy. And a big "Well-done!" to everyone here.

I have managed to achieve my goal of one fitness thing per day this past week. I had one day with nothing, but I did double on another day. That's dancing, yoga, and walking. I'm most pleased about getting out to walk because that takes the most mental effort since it is not a class. Thinking of coming here and reporting success to you guys helped keep me motivated.

I felt like I was overdoing it a bit in yoga with some new poses, my muscles staying too sore. So I tried backing off a little and holding the poses for a shorter time, and it again feels like I am doing something good for myself.

Ok, DGHoff, here we go into week 2!

feeling exhausted. Did a 2 hour adventure paddle board with my cancer rehab paddle boarding group. Absolutely perfect early summer weather and it was loads of fun. Such a restful river setting.

I am glad you all got some exercise. Today, I just sat around figuring out how to use my Fitbit.

Do any of you have a Fitbit or want to get one? They are cheap on ebay.

I invite you to join me in a private Fitbit group called StageFive. This group is for ladies who vaguely recall being diagnosed with stage IV breast cancer or something like that (I take these meds that destroy my memory!?!) but decided to go for a hike rather than worry too much about it.

A Fitbit is a thing you wear on your wrist that tracks your activity: all models monitor your heart rate, your steps and your location (so if you go for a bike ride, it monitors your distance). The more expensive models track your location without being tethered to a phone. The Fitbit communicates the information to your phone or your computer and tracks it online. I find these fitness trackers motivating for a period of time.

I am hoping this thing will keep me moving through winter ... My daughters are into it and they have way to share the activity to (private) groups which can be either motivating or annoying, depending on where your head is.

If you are interested, PM me and I will send you an invitation.

I had a pretty good week but I was really sore today. That is a new thing. I used to do a serious workout every day. Now I need a day or two to recover if I really push myself, as I did on Thursday and Friday. Not sure I mind. It's good to sit around for a day.

Bionic - Yes. The accomplishments of the ladies on this thread are incredible and invisible at the same time. Nobody is going to understand what it takes to push through through pain and fatigue and the black cloud to get out and take a walk or paddleboard or dance ... unless the have faced the challenge themselves.

Amazing work ... keep moving ladies!

And let us know what you are doing.

>Z<

Well done DGHoff! Sleep well

I did 6 miles today, 2 of them at a jog. Feel pretty good.

Happy exercising all.

Z, great idea on the fitbit

Good job on the weights teacher911. Keep building slow and steady on the cardio and you'll be amazed how much you'll achieve. Go well!

Mara - so glad to hear from you. Great workout. Sorry the Taxol was terrible. I would be highly suspect of a treatment that prevented me from doing even mild exercise and eating properly. It goes beyond QOL. We can't heal if the drugs are making us that sick. Sounds to me like you are NED. Congratulations!

MSL, DGHoff, Everyone - PM me with a private email address if you want you want to join the Fitbit Group.

>Z<