Stage 4 Fitness 2016
Comments
-
Hey all
Well done you Z for punching through. Sorry it was a battle and hope you can drop some of the drugs. You are an inspiration to us all, hope you know that, and we've got your back too when you feel a bit down.
I did another 5 mile jog then further 5 miles walking today. Like you Z, it was a bit hard and I haven't even started taking any drugs! I have had the ooph though and think it's playing a bit of havoc with my emotions.
Good work DG - sounds like an awesome workout! And go mara - housework is often very physical so well done.
Good to hear the words of encouragement from your naturopath DG.
Best, MSL
-
Hello ladies!
Swam this morning. Did ab workout yesterday and swam 2/3 mile on Saturday. Beefing up for surgery and recovery for the next two weeks. (Wide incision melanoma surgery.) I'll try pilates and yoga until I can get back in the pool.
Z - I've been off Ibrance for almost three weeks (low counts and waiting to restart to improve healing). I'm surprised that I don't feel better, plus it's nerve-wracking to be not taking something that has been working. As you said...many days it's a total head game.
As a note of encouragement... the exercise makes a big difference in how I feel. It also gave me back some sense of control when I saw even small results.
After 13 months with stage IV, six months of exercise and cleaner eating, I took a fitness assessment last week at my gym and was declared "fit" according to BMI, strength and flexibility metrics for my age (64). I wore a formal size 10 dress to a dinner last night with no spanx or bulges...and didn't fall asleep during the main course at 7:30 pm!
Let's keep moving! Maybe we can outrun this thing :-)
-
Headed to the gym for interval training and weights, or so I hope. Gotta get some steps in to stay ahead of nana and DGHoff, not to mention my own dear daughters who are chasing me as well. Winter is hard for me. The glass is half empty until March or April. Thanks for the support.
Great workouts Kathryn, MSL.
>Z<
-
Z, I also struggle with SAD during the winter months. I find my best supports are daily use of my happy light (I turn it on next to my makeup mirror while I'm getting ready in the morning), prayer, and an adrenal support supplement-- Adrenal Health by Gaia. Been faithfully taking them ever since my mets diagnosis six years ago, to lift me over the gloomies. Go to Amazon and read the reviews. Little capsules of fairy dust, I'm telling you.
Sending even more happy vibes to you from now till March!
-
Way too cold to snowshoe or walk outside today! Only about ten degrees! So I just had a dance party in my living room and then did a few push ups, and some hand weights. My step count isn't going to be super high today, but I did some Flashdance super stepping to try to make up for it.
Z- hope you can quit the hard drugs. Good luck with the scans! I have scans in a week, so I'm hoping all this exercise is still keeping everything nice and stable.
-
I have been a group fitness instructor and personal trainer since 1978. Diagnosed June/15 mets to bones. Felt good first year but pain had gotten worse. Gave up teaching my zumba classes but sub when I can. Was so excited to teach the class this morning. I felt good and did not over do. 20 min after class my whole body went into a spasm. Back, legs. Arms, etc. I am miserable and so sad I wont be able to do what I love.
-
Suefit- yikes. For your health, you need to keep your exercise routine going. Ideally we're supposed to get 3-5 hours of cardio a week. Sounds absurd when the side effects of these drugs kick in, but those are the guidelines. You need to figure out what is wrong and fix it so you can stay healthy.
I had a terrible late August/Early September where I could hardly walk from pain in my joints and muscles. I tried everything from energy work to acupuncture to magnesium to changing my brand of letrozol to diet changes. I tried so many things can't tell you why I am better, but I have been able to get to the point where I can run again.
My point is: don't accept the spasms as a new normal. You may have to dial it back a bit while you figure out what is going on. However, you are going to fix this ... What could be going on? Here is a place to start, from Dr. Google:
Muscle spasms that occur after exercise can be caused is dehydration from lost sweat during your exercise session. Along with water, your sweat contains sodium, a mineral needed to keep your muscles functioning properly. If you lose too much water and salts through sweat during your exercise session, you may experience pain.
The treatment may be changing how well you can tolerate dehydration from exercise ... ? I am wondering if potassium is an issue here? Whenever I have symptoms like that everyone tells me to have a banana. It's never helped me but maybe there is something there. The treatments and cancer may be a piece of this, but I don't think it's the whole problem. Try a sports medicine doctor? Definitely ask your MO, but they can be really clueless about general wellness.
The silver lining here is that you will become a more aware and informed exercise instructor for people with chronic illness. I am sure you aren't the only one dealing with this. Once you figure this out, there are many people you can help ...
Keep moving. Maybe just a walk with a bottle of gatorade tomorrow. Let us know how it goes.
>Z<
-
Dehydration has been an issue for me too. I routinely use Nuun tablets (first heard about them from dear Nancyh), and for harder, more intense workouts, I use a product called the Right Stuff. I've also gotten so that I keep salted pretzel rods in my bike bag to munch while I pedal.
Saturday night our family participated in a 5k run/walk. DH and DD walked with me. Very fun time. Then Sunday morning DH and I got out on our snowshoes for the first time this season. Today was a trip to the gym and some HIIT on the bike. It will be back to the gym first thing tomorrow morning with my friend for time on the treadmill and bike, before heading to the doctor's office for an appointment.
Keep up the good work ladies. Best to everyone.
-
I did do approx 20 mins on my air stepper today. Was busy with my nursing appointment and social worker. Then I went and shampooed the rug downstairs in preparation for new kitties. We are going to start the hunt tomorrow. We will look for 2, hopefully that are from same house or family. It would be easier for them if they already know each other. Excited to look. Will post pictures and names once we know.
Everybody else is of course amazing. Suefit, sorry about the spasms. I agree with Z to see if you can check with a sports medicine doc about what the issue may be. The other suggestions from Z and Bionic Bunny with dehydration and snacking. Think about magnesium as well. I know that when I was having a lot of cramps and muscle spasms during my chemo in 2015, my MO did suggest making sure I was eating food with magnesium in it. Things like leafy greens, nuts, avocado etc. There are others as well. She would not let me supplement at that time with vitamin.
-
Suefit and all, I have seen other ladies on these boards mention that they feel like they need a little more salt on some of these meds, and if they skimp on it they do not feel quite right. For my part, I have found that I need to take trace minerals every few days in addition to my usual cal/mag supplement. If I skip minerals for too long, I get charley horses and tight muscles.
For many years my son has played baseball in horrendous Texas heat wearing full catcher's gear. He and his teammates have found that coconut water rehydrates more quickly than regular water. Maybe you could try that.
-
LuluBee made me think of this test for micro nutrient deficiencies. The Spectra-Cell Micronutrient test.
Something to consider.
>Z<
-
I'm behind...
Mara - so sorry about the kitty, but happy that you are on the hunt for a new one! (or two.)
MSL - I know EXACTLY how you feel about not being able to get out of bed on some days. I wrote last week to say that I was in a "slump"... and that's where I was when I wrote it - in bed. And then I read all your inspirational posts and I got out of bed ( I think it was about 1pm) and I went for a long run on the beach. It was beautiful - nobody there except me and millions of birds. So invigorating and I felt great the rest of the day. It's almost like I need to get up right when I wake up because if I lag too long, I'm doomed. I'm also in a weird spot in my life - going back and forth between Colorado where I have kids and a routine, and California where I have a husband that works and no friends/routine. Z is right - pets ( I have two huge dogs) and kids and routine are key.
Suefit - you are a fitness instructor so I am sure we aren't telling you anything you don't know but I agree with the dehydration and the potassium. I also get horrible muscle spasms if I exercise a ton and don't drink enough water. My entire body goes into one big charley horse. It's terrible. Even the muscles in my stomach (which I usually feel like I don't have) spasm. It's painful and scary. Sometimes they hit before I've even left the gym, or sometimes it's the middle of the night.
Lulubee - I am definitely going to check out the Gaia mood booster... sounds like something I can use.
And thanks for all the encouragement on the marathon! We'll see if it happens. I need to pick one and commit. Heidi - wish you lived closer - I'd do a half with you. I cannot even IMAGINE sprinting. you must have long legs. I am short, so sprinting is out of the question.
Hi to everyone else! Love all the updates.... Z, so jealous that you have already been skiing!
XO
Andi
-
Mara - awesome workout between the air stepper and the cleaning. Gotta have a clean house before you get kittens so they don't get inspired to pee on the rugs ..
I have two cats who are brother and sister from the same litter. We put it out there that we were looking for two kittens who had bonded. One lady called us and said she had two kittens who were inseparable. They had been lined up for adoption by someone else, but she would not separate them and we got them. They are inseparable still. They are very different personalities and it is amazing to watch them interact.
Dogs are great for getting you out for exercise, but cats are awesome for demonstrating the art of lying around and doing nothing. The later is harder for me. My cats teach me how to chill.
>Z<
-
Thank you for the post. I probably was dehydrated. Well its 2am and I am awakened by back spasms still. I dont want to give up on teaching exercise. I will have to find a way to keep the joy and help people without suffering for days after. There is a certification I went through callled Cancer exercise specialist so that I could help people like me.
-
So got some stepper in today, only approx 10 mins. My mom was out and found the kittens, one is light orange, almost beige. The other has longer fur with gray and beige-white markings. They are both cute, 3 months, both have extra toes which is what sold my mom. No names yet. Have to see their personalities first.
-
Welcome little kitties. It's your job to show Mara how to a nap after exercising.
>Z<
-
Z, they are good at napping. I agree, I should nap myself but was too excited with the company. Maybe tomorrow.
-
Andi, I have short legs and thought short distances would be more appropriate. Might be easier on the knees, too, which is my biggest worry.
I write, congrats on staying fit! It's good to know the numbers.
My sister once gave me a baseball cap with a SAD lamp but I found taking a walk by the lake and looking at the light reflected from the water gave me a battery-free boost.
Suefit, those spasms are scary. I feel like I can't breathe when I get them. My onc has recommended a Magnesium complex in the past. I usually just eat bananas or drink coconut water, as others have suggested.
Welcome to the little nappers.
Yesterday was Latino Day for me with tango around lunch, Spanish class in the afternoon and salsa in the evening. Today I will try to get my butt to Body Jam and to do weights.
-
Suefit- Those spasms sound painful...I've heard about magnesium helping this as well. There is a good answer out there for you. BTW - Zumba is hard on healthy people :-)
Heidi - Happy Spanish Day!!! Have you ever attended the Tango Festival in Albuquerque? It sounds like fun and lots closer than Buenas Aires :-) Hmmm...some manchego cheese and Serrano ham with olives before dinner tonight. I'll just dream about the wine.
Mara - Enjoy those new friends. You may need to name one kitty Hemingway. All his cats in Key West have six toes.
You guys are the best!
-
I've been getting 2-3 miles of running or hiking in every day this week to make sure I keep up with my FitBit buddies. Thank you guys for the support. If anyone would like to joint our Stage V fitbit group and help me keep moving through the winter, pm me.
I have been doing an hour of yoga or weights or body weight on top of that. So far so good. Pet Scan is tomorrow. 7:45 in the morning and at the nearest Pet Scan machine which is 2 hours away. Off all supplements, only on the essential meds (ibrance/letrozol) until Saturday to give my kidney a break while I process the iodine from the contrast.
Planning ski trip on saturday with 1 teen and 2 tweens, hope I feel okay. There is a virus going around and the PET/CT contrast has given me flu like symptoms in the past. Oddly I haven't gotten the virus that is going around yet despite my the depleted WBC count from Ibrance and my general malaise. Something is working.
No one can understand how hard it is to workout through the mental and physical challenges unless you've been there. Just getting out of bed and to face this nonsense is definitely a challenge some days.
But it seems we all got out of bed and somehow made it to the gym. Great workouts everyone.
Keep moving. And let us know about it.
>Z<
-
Z that is true about the getting out of bed. It's funny, a family member asked me this past Sunday when I would be doing housework. I laughed and said thanks. He looked at me. I didn't bother saying that I was happy to look healthy enough to do it instad of on my sickbed.
15 mins so far on stepper. Have a great day.
Kitties are Tigger, orange one and Oliver is the grey one.
-
Mara - I am glad you look well. Pity is pretty draining, if the truth be told. I'd rather people think I am fine.
Now we need to get you feeling well ...
Good job on the stepper.
>Z<
-
Mara-enjoy Tigger and Oliver. They look awfully cute.
Yep, people that aren't here definitely don't get how hard it is to keep moving and pushing everyday. I try to ignore how I feel first thing in the morning and just get myself vertical! Then I wander through the kitchen, turning on water for tea, and step outside in my bare feet-regardless of the weather. When I step into fresh snow, like this morning, it wakes me up in a hurry! I call this my daily "polar bear walk" and is just something I like to do to feel stronger. I know, sounds crazy, but it works for me. So, how do you other ladies get going in the morning and beat back the voices that say you're too tired, too sick, too whatever to face the day?
Decided to use the snow for a workout later in the morning too, and went snowshoeing. The sun on the snow was beautiful, but the wind was cold! Ended up freezing while bathed in sweat-go figure!
Z-hope all goes well with the scan and that your body handles the contrast dye with no ill effects.
Hope everyone has a good day. Thanks for posting and sharing.
-
I hate my computer. I just had this nice big long post addressing everybody, and I accidentally hit some key and it all disappeared. Oh well! I will just keep it short, I guess. Maybe the computer was telling me I was too verbose!
Love the kitties Mara! They look so sweet! Enjoy!
Suefit - for sure dehydration and the depletion of trace minerals from the effects of treatment can cause those spasms. I experience them a lot more than I used to and it is always after exercise and when I may have been lax in taking all my supplements. Hope you can sort it out.
I haven't been showshoeing any more due to the extreme cold here, but I taught a one hour yoga class yesterday at my local Gilda's Club cancer support center, and today I did another dance session in the living room as my 13 year old son looked on with amusement.
Z- good luck with scans. We are right there with you! And you are right about the Fitbit community. I find I am more likely to make time to get my exercise in now that I know I am being held accountable!
-
Z, I'll be praying for you in your scan tomorrow morning as I sit in the salon with highlight foils sticking up off my head every which way. My goal is to radiate so much light off my foils that there's none left to light you up anywhere in that PET tube. LOL
Seriously, though-- wishing you peace and fabulous outcomes.
-
Great work everyone - by way of quick recap of us all from this last week there's been dancing in the lounge room, weights, stepping, housework, hiking, snowshoeing, gym classes, yoga, runs on the beach, tango and salsa, Zumba, fun runs, table tennis, bike work, high intensity training and...... gorgeous kitties to boot! Proud of all of us forgrabbing life by the scruff of the neck and, literally, running with it!
I've plugged through the last few days, running and walking a lot. Finally took my own advice (well had to because DH had to go to work early) and got straight out of bed today and did 5miles jogging at a good pace. I feel so much better than the previous days when I've wrestled with the dark thoughts for hours before heading out the door. Andi67 we must establish it as the new routine!!!!
Z - best of the best of the best for your test.
Lots of love and warm thoughts to all you tough women.
MSL
-
Z- Hope the scans go well for you tomorrow
-
Z good luck on your scans tomorrow.
-
Got up at 5am to get to my 7:45am pet/ct scan in Albuquerque, NM this morning. It was a 14 hour day that started with 200 miles of driving. Used to be a normal day but I feel like I've been gutted.
I am sitting in bed drinking ginger and lemon infusion trying to clear the radioactive glucose and iodine from my kidneys.
No exercise. Thank you all for thinking about me. Lulubee thank you for holding me in the light of your cosmic hair energy phenomenon as I wait for the results. Powerful stuff.
>Z<
-
Iwrite, would love to go to Albuquerque, and not just for tango, but the tango festival looks like fun! Interesting class offerings and it's huge. I may try to convince my SIL to go with me.
Z, hope you have recovered from scan day. Keeping fingers crossed for the best results possible!!
May finally get to go skiing tomorrow.
Categories
- All Categories
- 679 Advocacy and Fund-Raising
- 289 Advocacy
- 68 I've Donated to Breastcancer.org in honor of....
- Test
- 322 Walks, Runs and Fundraising Events for Breastcancer.org
- 5.6K Community Connections
- 282 Middle Age 40-60(ish) Years Old With Breast Cancer
- 53 Australians and New Zealanders Affected by Breast Cancer
- 208 Black Women or Men With Breast Cancer
- 684 Canadians Affected by Breast Cancer
- 1.5K Caring for Someone with Breast cancer
- 455 Caring for Someone with Stage IV or Mets
- 260 High Risk of Recurrence or Second Breast Cancer
- 22 International, Non-English Speakers With Breast Cancer
- 16 Latinas/Hispanics With Breast Cancer
- 189 LGBTQA+ With Breast Cancer
- 152 May Their Memory Live On
- 85 Member Matchup & Virtual Support Meetups
- 375 Members by Location
- 291 Older Than 60 Years Old With Breast Cancer
- 177 Singles With Breast Cancer
- 869 Young With Breast Cancer
- 50.4K Connecting With Others Who Have a Similar Diagnosis
- 204 Breast Cancer with Another Diagnosis or Comorbidity
- 4K DCIS (Ductal Carcinoma In Situ)
- 79 DCIS plus HER2-positive Microinvasion
- 529 Genetic Testing
- 2.2K HER2+ (Positive) Breast Cancer
- 1.5K IBC (Inflammatory Breast Cancer)
- 3.4K IDC (Invasive Ductal Carcinoma)
- 1.5K ILC (Invasive Lobular Carcinoma)
- 999 Just Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastasis
- 652 LCIS (Lobular Carcinoma In Situ)
- 193 Less Common Types of Breast Cancer
- 252 Male Breast Cancer
- 86 Mixed Type Breast Cancer
- 3.1K Not Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastases but Concerned
- 189 Palliative Therapy/Hospice Care
- 488 Second or Third Breast Cancer
- 1.2K Stage I Breast Cancer
- 313 Stage II Breast Cancer
- 3.8K Stage III Breast Cancer
- 2.5K Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
- 13.1K Day-to-Day Matters
- 132 All things COVID-19 or coronavirus
- 87 BCO Free-Cycle: Give or Trade Items Related to Breast Cancer
- 5.9K Clinical Trials, Research News, Podcasts, and Study Results
- 86 Coping with Holidays, Special Days and Anniversaries
- 828 Employment, Insurance, and Other Financial Issues
- 101 Family and Family Planning Matters
- Family Issues for Those Who Have Breast Cancer
- 26 Furry friends
- 1.8K Humor and Games
- 1.6K Mental Health: Because Cancer Doesn't Just Affect Your Breasts
- 706 Recipe Swap for Healthy Living
- 704 Recommend Your Resources
- 171 Sex & Relationship Matters
- 9 The Political Corner
- 874 Working on Your Fitness
- 4.5K Moving On & Finding Inspiration After Breast Cancer
- 394 Bonded by Breast Cancer
- 3.1K Life After Breast Cancer
- 806 Prayers and Spiritual Support
- 285 Who or What Inspires You?
- 28.7K Not Diagnosed But Concerned
- 1K Benign Breast Conditions
- 2.3K High Risk for Breast Cancer
- 18K Not Diagnosed But Worried
- 7.4K Waiting for Test Results
- 603 Site News and Announcements
- 560 Comments, Suggestions, Feature Requests
- 39 Mod Announcements, Breastcancer.org News, Blog Entries, Podcasts
- 4 Survey, Interview and Participant Requests: Need your Help!
- 61.9K Tests, Treatments & Side Effects
- 586 Alternative Medicine
- 255 Bone Health and Bone Loss
- 11.4K Breast Reconstruction
- 7.9K Chemotherapy - Before, During, and After
- 2.7K Complementary and Holistic Medicine and Treatment
- 775 Diagnosed and Waiting for Test Results
- 7.8K Hormonal Therapy - Before, During, and After
- 50 Immunotherapy - Before, During, and After
- 7.4K Just Diagnosed
- 1.4K Living Without Reconstruction After a Mastectomy
- 5.2K Lymphedema
- 3.6K Managing Side Effects of Breast Cancer and Its Treatment
- 591 Pain
- 3.9K Radiation Therapy - Before, During, and After
- 8.4K Surgery - Before, During, and After
- 109 Welcome to Breastcancer.org
- 98 Acknowledging and honoring our Community
- 11 Info & Resources for New Patients & Members From the Team