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Kicking LEs butt!! Exercise & Self Care Log

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Comments

  • Jeannie57
    Jeannie57 Member Posts: 1,314
    edited May 2014

    Mary, have you checked out the www.speakup-step out.org website? Lots of good info there and I believe it was founded by women here.

  • hugz4u
    hugz4u Member Posts: 1,818
    edited May 2014

    Did some lebed too. Hey anyone moving out there! Come on we got to get legs of steel for those summer shorts that my sister banned me from wearing!

  • hugz4u
    hugz4u Member Posts: 1,818
    edited May 2014

    45 minutes in the glorious sunshine. Walking that is...not tanning.

  • carol57
    carol57 Member Posts: 1,550
    edited May 2014

    I went to the gym today and worked out with the trainer. For months it's been upper body only, since I developed knee issues. But yesterday I finally got an answer about my knee, after an MRI I should have had a long time ago.  No torn meniscus, which the orthopedic surgeon suspected--just good ol' arthritis, which set me up for a huge bout of inflammatory swelling when I overstressed things with a one-legged squat a few months ago.  So...good news = no surgery, but there's no great promise of getting back to normal, either.  I opted for fluid removal + steroid injection yesterday (ouch...that seriously hurt!) but the knee feels almost normal today.  So, back to the gym session--we did some very light lower body work and will be building slowly, slowly, slowly in the months to come.  Meanwhile, upper body strength training is as normal as possible with LE, but I'm pleased to be making continued progress.  Now, if I can just find cardio that I like to do now that jogging is out!  

    Hugz, I'm not sure I'll ever get legs of steel, but I'm impressed that YOU will!  Good for you to get the 45 minutes in!

  • Jeannie57
    Jeannie57 Member Posts: 1,314
    edited May 2014

    My Livestrong class ended on Wednesday. We were tested at the beginning of the twelve weeks and retested today. I actually made some improvements even though I haven't lost a pound.  Afterwards, four us met up in the pool and walked, ran, hopped and chatted. It's a pleasurable way to exercise and a good workout.

  • glennie19
    glennie19 Member Posts: 4,833
    edited May 2014

    Thanks, Purple. I've order the DVD and waiting for it to arrive. In the meantime,,, I'm doing the Youtube vids everyday. Riding my stationary bike,,, up to 15 mins now, and doing my self-massage.

  • glennie19
    glennie19 Member Posts: 4,833
    edited May 2014

    Kicks:  bunny agility!  How cool is that??? I think that's awesome!

  • glennie19
    glennie19 Member Posts: 4,833
    edited May 2014

    Binney!!  Thank you soooo much!!! This bra looks like it has enough sizes to find one to fit me, and I checked for local stores. According to the list, there is a place 40 miles south of me. I'll call them and see if they still carry them and can fit me.  It will be my 4th fitter,,, LOL!,,, but if they have them in stock, that would be better than buying online, and getting the wrong size.  

    Thank you sooooo much!!  

  • glennie19
    glennie19 Member Posts: 4,833
    edited May 2014

    Mary and Jeannie,, I also heard that downward dogs and planks were problems, yet my CLT says I can do them but for a very short time and then work up to tolerance. And of course, stop if swelling develops.  It's a bummer cuz I always found downward dog to be very relaxing.

  • Jeannie57
    Jeannie57 Member Posts: 1,314
    edited May 2014

    glennie19, my LE is stable and there are a lot of things I can do without doing so-called risky things like planks and downward dogs, so I just avoid them. I can see how it would be hard to give up something you enjoyed so much.

    Carol57, so glad you are able to get back to the gym and progress!

  • purple32
    purple32 Member Posts: 1,767
    edited May 2014

    No torn meniscus, which the orthopedic surgeon suspected--just good ol' arthritis,



    YAAAAAY, Carol!  Good news.

    I really urge to get the " STRONG KNEES" DVD by gaiam.  I know you want to stay very active and even all the airport walking you do is togh on the knees..  This dvd has helped me far more than PT. Trust me ...you do not want to impair your ability to speedwalk etc ... take it as an ounce of prevention.  I HIGHLY recommend it!

    http://www.amazon.com/Strong-Knees-Chantal-Donnell...

  • purple32
    purple32 Member Posts: 1,767
    edited May 2014

    RASHES, FLUSHING ETC....


    Have any of you exercisers ever gotten any of this post exertional ?  Mine has flared again since going into  a chilly pool and though I believe it is from my low  BP and poor  circulation, cold pool etc .. it did seem to get worse with activity , and I suspect the impaired lymphatics 'broke the camel's back "

    anyone ?

  • carol57
    carol57 Member Posts: 1,550
    edited May 2014

    purple, funny but I was planning to PM you today to ask for that link, which you posted earlier but I wasn't sure where.  Thanks!!!

  • purple32
    purple32 Member Posts: 1,767
    edited May 2014

    YW, Carol! 

     So glad you remembered.  I promise you won;' be sorry ... it has a very neat feature where you can customize the moves you need thereby creating short workouts for yourself. It's a little tricky to figure that part out,  but I'm sure you'll get it. If you have any trouble with that piece, feel free to PM me.


    Congrats on the news on your meniscus  - nobody wants surgery!

  • Laural
    Laural Member Posts: 212
    edited May 2014

    Just got done customizing my swimsuits for the summer with the bath pouf falsies, They work so much better for me than forms as water goes right through them and you don't end up with a "floating chest". This time I did buy a mastectomy swimsuit, but with a little spandex pocket and needle and thread, I also added them to an off the shelf swimsuit with a high neckline quite successfully. Looking forward to swimming with my campers this summer in their indoor pool, as well as Lake Superior if the ice ever fully melts Happy

  • Jeannie57
    Jeannie57 Member Posts: 1,314
    edited May 2014

    16 mile bike ride. Ouch. Tried not to lean on arms--my bike is upright. Beautiful day on a mostly flat path along a river.

    Happy Mother's Day!!!

  • carol57
    carol57 Member Posts: 1,550
    edited May 2014

    If cleaning and scrubbing count as exercise, I got plenty today, getting outside furniture and related items ready for summer. A funny way to spend Mother's day, but it was great to be outside and focused on preparing for the wonderful months to come!

  • purple32
    purple32 Member Posts: 1,767
    edited May 2014

    Laural

    You sound quite talented...we could use your help designing  tops for truncal LE!

    Jeanine

    Hooray!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • hugz4u
    hugz4u Member Posts: 1,818
    edited May 2014

    3 hours gardening.....pooped!  Yes....I am counting it a exercise.

    Jeanine. Did you recover from bike riding?

  • Jeannie57
    Jeannie57 Member Posts: 1,314
    edited May 2014

    Yes, thanks! Sit bones are a little sore, nothing major. At my Onc checkup, the PA asked the usual, "Any falls?" I asked if falling from a bike counts. She said, "I know! Why do bike falls happen so often after we stop??"  In my case, my legs were just exhausted and gave out on me for a minute. I got back on and finished the ride. Had a good Onc checkup today, by the way. I go back in six months.

  • purple32
    purple32 Member Posts: 1,767
    edited May 2014

    Hi Ladies,

    For those who might want to ' sample' some great Qigong, tai chi, yoga ( OR even  J Michaels aerobics)  or if you'd rather walk, search LESLIE SANSONE  She's there too. Gaiam TV has a free trial for  10 days.

    I  highly recommend RODNEY YEE for ' anything yoga" and IMHO there is none better than Garripoli for qigong or taichi.  I warn you ..these may become addictive so if you want more than 10 days, be aware it is $10 mo after that and may require an add'l device ( explained on the gaiam website)  Due to my knee issues, I am soooo jealous of the simplest poses I cannot do ( like wonderful child pose.) but I modify and 'skip'.

    REMEMBER..if you have LE, avoid things like ' plank' that puts all the weight on your arm. That's my disclaimer  :>)

    Hope you enjoy!
    SEE : gaiamtv.com

    Laurie

    ADD-ON:  There are also some great  films  regarding cancer care, BC, alternatives or complementary care and much more.

    OK, sorry to ramble on, but for  EZ calm RESTORATIVE YOGA, this cannot be beat.  Be ready with 2 throw blankets and a folding chair: http://www.gaiamtv.com/tv/yoga-now-upper-body-vide...  you can access after you REG.  for free trial

     Very very relaxing after a  big workout or tough day or ...just plain 'ole life!

  • glennie19
    glennie19 Member Posts: 4,833
    edited May 2014

    Looks interesting. I'll have to check this out.  My friend has been bugging me to try Qi Gong.

  • hugz4u
    hugz4u Member Posts: 1,818
    edited May 2014

    Got my buns in gear and did 45 min walk and tai chi breathers today.

    Qigong is the best and so gentle.

    Thanks purple. I will look into the site your provided.

  • binney4
    binney4 Member Posts: 1,466
    edited May 2014

    I took a Qigong intro course, and they started out by having us pound one arm with the opposite fist. Not at all a gentle LE exercise… Maybe I had a rogue instructor?

    Loopy

    Binney, still corking

  • Jeannie57
    Jeannie57 Member Posts: 1,314
    edited May 2014

    Binney, could be. I am sure I had a rogue Feldenkrais instructor....

  • purple32
    purple32 Member Posts: 1,767
    edited May 2014

    LOL, Binney!

    I sure wouldnt suggest anything like that!  I've gone to qigong with two instructors ....one very old and 'authentic'.  She claimed to have had cancer in her 40's and she started Qigong  and other  alt. things and it was cured ( OK, who knows ?  NOT saying there was a grain of truth in that- just her hx)  In any case, she was in her 90s and I found out recently that she died.  She was very good, but her sessions lasted a very lONG time.

    Another was an American. I was underwhelmed. Both did light tapping up and down meridians which did not bother me, at the END of the session.,  Could easily have been skipped.

    In any case, I personally recommend the (Daisy) Garripoli  (sp ?) DVDS. They are great.

  • carol57
    carol57 Member Posts: 1,550
    edited May 2014

    No butt-kicking here! Work has me held prisoner, and home/garden projects have incarcerated me on the weekend.  I hope everyone else is moving!

  • glennie19
    glennie19 Member Posts: 4,833
    edited May 2014

    Look what I found on YouTube:   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INvUysWoZ64

  • purple32
    purple32 Member Posts: 1,767
    edited May 2014

    Nice glennie!
    Garripolis are the best (IMHO) for Qigong.

    I have their qigong for stress relief dvd from gaiam , and they do a little soemthing like opening the terminus. It intrigues me.

  • hugz4u
    hugz4u Member Posts: 1,818
    edited May 2014

    I found it interesting on our takes for the gentleness of qigong. There must be different forms of it because mine was taught by a chinese med cancer doc and it was so gentle.  Pounding of the chest just sounds painful! Just heading over to the qigong link for a peek.  

    I did a half a walk and copped out because it was so muggy. Came inside and did some gentle stretches also lebed opening today. 

    Getting in plenty of gardening in and the yard is really starting to take shape. Lots blooming. Love this time of the year but HATE my hot black sleeve and glove in the heat. I really just wanted to strip it off and wrap it around a telephone pole and post a sign that said FREE but my grown up side said to stop being a sissy and forget about it.

    Carol. How is your knee issues? Did you find a suitable cardio.

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