Stage IV MBC Fitness
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DG, I am right there with you on that saline taste. The only thing that helps is the taste of bubblegum. If I don't have gum, I try to close the back of my throat to keep most out. But I am with you on the disgusting taste.
Z- I feel the same way. People sometimes want to chat about it, I know they are sympathetic but I don't wish to discuss it all the time. Can't wait for my hair to come back so people don't look at me all sad.
No exercise for me today, took a rest day and it was nice to do. Hope everyone else had a decent enough day and hugs to anyone who didn't.
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I will admit that I don't actually put MBC on medical history forms if I don't think that fact is relevant. I just write Breast Cancer and the year of each diagnosis. Nobody knows what my drugs mean. Then I get to hear the tech, nurse, or doctor tell about their relative who has/had cancer and comfort and/or educate them as best I can. DH was in the room last time and got to hear it all. His eyes opened wide and the look that passed between us was great. Afterwards I laughingly told him that is how it always is. Oh, and the dental tech made sure to give me a pink tooth brush. Gosh, thanks.
Anyway! I am still muddling along, exercising some but not enough. I can't get my family to walk with me anymore because they are busy or tired. But I will go dance right now so I can show my face around here.
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DG & Mara~ what I have learned is don't swallow and don't breathe in until they are done flushing. I mostly do not taste a thing. I hate it so much. I also Rested. XGeva kicks me down for two days with a lot of tiredness and headache is also not thrilling. The hair thing was always an issue with me too. I tried to go out as little as possible and only saw the nearest and dearest, I always hated the glances and certainly didn't want to linger to talk about how I was feeling. Dude I'm sick. Leave me alone. I had a lot of wonderful people suprise me as well and some others not so much. I want to do some running Tomorrow! Gotta reach my weekly goal! Rest well ladies ! ~M~
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Thank you DGHoff. I am in far better condition, physically, than the ultrasound nurse. She is sweet, but I don't need the sympathy and it was really about her fears, not mine. I feel quite positive. Privacy is a wonderful thing.
The thyroid thing, if it is anything, is slow moving. I will deal with it as I get to it.
I tried to get a long, low level cardio today by doing a walk/run for 50 minutes, keeping my heart rate just barely in the caridio range ... in the 120's . Even a slow jog pushes my heart rate to 150. It was a nice, cleansing but still gentle workout.
I had to get up at 5:45 to get my daughter to a choir concert 2 hours away. I can't take even minor perturbations to my sleep. I was in a daze the whole day. I used to be very resilient but I need to protect my sleep carefully to function properly. Looking forward to a good nights sleep. How parents with small kids do this, I do not know.
>Z<
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A 3 mile walk complete and my step goal met, this might be the set up for a new personal best day 😃
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Mae~ yay! 🍸 Way to move! I have a heck of a headache, left over from the monthly XGeva shot three days ago. But I still jogged for 40 mins anyway. I was hoping it would help. It did for a little, but had to take two Aleve. Congrats on a personal best!!! As long as we keep moving I believe each day is a personal best. Tough women here for sure ! Hugs to all
~M~0 -
Go Mae!, Go Micmel!.
Myself, I am hanging there. Tried to jog around the soccer field during my daughters game this morning but it turned into a walk. Got about 5K steps watching the gam. Shopping the mall in the PM should finish off my step goal, but low energy today, conserving resources ...
Have a great weekend. Let us know your plans.
>Z<
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This week I was able to get in 2 strengthening/light aerobics classes, yoga class and a 60 minute swim session. I hit my 8K steps goal 4 days this week, but had a few down days. I definitely feel best on the days I am able to get a workout in and hit my steps goal.
Have a great afternoon everyone.
Ronnie
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Way to go llmae!
Z- good to conserve the energy when you feel the need. We have to keep it all in balance.
Today was busy for me. My 14 year old son actually asked me if I wanted to go for a walk, which was cool. Then my husband and I went to Costco and then walked through the suburban mall parking lots to go to the shoe store and to REI and then did some grocery shopping. I still hadn't gotten in any cardio though so I decided to go for a quick run. I actually had a huge breakthrough during my run today. I really am not an avid runner. I've never liked running, and the only time I have ever run two miles straight was on a treadmill, which is way easier than running outside. Every time I try to run outside, I seem to get maybe half a mile at most before I have to stop, and I feel like I'm pushing myself the whole time.
Today was different. It started out exactly the same as usual, but instead of stopping, I willed myself to keep going. About 2/3 mile into it, I thought, oh I should just stop now because this is hard, but then I had a totally different thought. This morning, I led a yoga and meditation class, and during the meditation, I asked all my students to visualize a ball of golden energy in front of them and to breathe in the energy and send it throughout their body wherever it was needed. I reminded them at the end of the practice that this energy was always available to them. They only needed to be aware and draw it in. So I took a tip from myself (we always teach what we most need to learn ourselves, yes?) and I breathed in the energy. And, by golly, it turns out it really did work. Everything got easier. I was able to run two full miles, and I felt like I could have done more. I was so elated.
I'm pretty tired now though, and I'm just going to appreciate this beautiful spring evening sitting outside by the fire table, sipping my dandelion tea and appreciating all of you beautiful people for keeping me motivated, moving, and grateful for what each day brings.
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Way to go, DGHoff! I would come to your classes if I could. Does anyone have any favorite music for yoga at home?
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Shetland - I usually do yoga to the sound of my cats fighting, but I can't say it helps evoke the golden ball of light. My favorite yoga teacher is Josh Shrei. He is well known for his playlists. He teaches a vigorous asana, so the music is not gurgling brooks. It has some energy.
You need to create a (free) account on spotify.com, and login. Then you can follow this link to Josh's playlists. The playlists he uses for his yoga classes are the ones with "body gospel" in the name.
DGHoff - Amazing. Will try that. I feel that cardio is detoxing and clears my head. Glad you got a good run in.
Today I got 12,000 steps sauntering around malls and watching soccer. But nothing aerobic or particularly hard. Sometimes I manage to practice the moderation I preach on these forums.
>Z<
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Z~ 12k isn't chump change when we are talking steps. To me it sounds like you retail therapied! I was thinking of doing some of that today lol. DH has a week off which is fabulous, if you see a bright light shining from my way this week. It's my smile, I love love when he's home with me, he is my god given live angel is this hellacious place I've ended up. Him and my kids are the reason I get up everyday. Oh and all you ladies too! Battling together. Always. 💜The color of hope. Gonna eat and get out to run. Supposed to be nice outside. Hugs to you warriors. ~M~
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Z- I will have to check out his playlists on Spotify. Thanks for the tiip.
I have put together a ton of playlists myself for my classes but I haven't shared them publicly. Maybe I'll name them something consistent and publicly share. I'll let you know if I do!
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DGHoff - I would be interested in that playlist as a beginning yoga student. I've enjoyed my yoga class and am learning names of poses and working on my downward dog form (as well as the others).
Ran a bunch this week and feel great. Tomorrow I step in front of the bus for my chemo infusion. Mentally gearing up today - glad to have yoga in my back pocket to use now for focus and centering - and to push that chemo out next week. My goal will be to move each day still, but that is - as you all know well - challenging.
Enjoying today and gearing up and telling myself - "step in front of the bus Jill! You can do it!"
Keep it up all! Love to read what you are doing
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LivBig - your workout routine is awesome coming into the chemo and that will help enormously. People do exercise, sometimes extensively, through chemo and see a benefit, but it will be very individual. Looking forward to hearing how you do. Remember that a 20 minute walk is the minimum daily requirement, so if you get that everything else is gravy.
>Z<
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DG, way to go indeed and I would also go to your yoga class if I could. Livebig, I know about stepping in front of that bus, and yes, it is doable* If youßre running even more so for you.
Just got back from a long trip trying to settle my fatherßs affairs. (My keyboard is somehow on the blink after my long absence.)
I did get to go to a gym everyday so I did my first 5K run of the year. But for the most part I just tried to do a mile run a day and lots of mall walking. Today, I got my bike out of its winter sleep and had a great ride with DH.
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Yay, me! I got out for a 30-minute walk today. As I mentioned elsewhere, I take two or three days off dancing each week, so I don't get overuse injuries, and I want to walk on those days, for cardio. But I haven't been doing that consistently. My family hasn't been available to walk with me (tired and busy), so it takes some extra motivation to go do it. I've realized that the earlier in the day I plan to go, the more likely I will feel like I can do it.
Yoga music -- I just want something I can easily get from iTunes, to help me get into the groove for a slow routine. Ladies, if you have had lymph node surgery and/or radiation, build up strength slowly for poses that put weight on the arms, like downward dog. The document linked below has some specific yoga guidelines on page 6. "Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema and Exercise: What You Should Know for a Smart, Safe Workout"
http://www.stepup-speakout.org/Handout%20doc%20for...
Heidi, a bike ride with DH sounds lovely. What kind of place did you go to for your ride?
Livebig, can we maybe re-frame that bus thing? Not to minimize your understandable nervousness, but remember you are throwing the stinkin' tumors in front of the bus.
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you are right Shetland! That is a much better way to say it.
Also, liked your link. I haven't had a surgery - just chemo, but this is so good to tuck away. I appreciate all information shared.
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Hello dear ladies. Today was a very active day for me. I took a 35 min walk with DH and our two dogs. It was lovely outside. We went grocery shopping together for the first time in a year and three months. I was able to run, walk and shop all in one day. Felt great today,. The Xgevea Fog has worn off. I Racked up 11K steps and had a 35 min jog and between it all it was 5 miles! One of those days I'm so very thankful to be alive. Hubby cooked dinner on the grill and it was lovely. Hope everyone's day was a lovely as mine was!Keeping everyone close in prayer. ~M~.
Heidi~ awesome job getting out there and taking time for yourself, I am sorry you're having to settle your fathers affairs. That can't be easy. But it takes strength and presence of mind to make sure you get your time in to keep yourself moving! Sorry about your key board lol
Shetland~ I hope your weather was as lovely where you are as it was here. Nothing like that fresh air to bring you alive. The smells, the sounds. The new flowers and greenery. It is truly beautiful. I saw 25 baby turtles that have just hatched in our neighborhood pond with running track circle In my neighborhood, it made me realize no matter what life cycles on. Glad to hear you enjoyed your walk! A dancer! How wonderful total body work out! You go!!
Livebig~ I have also had chemo but did have surgery and developed lymphedema mild on the left side, they took all of my nodes out 35 all gone, 14 had cancer. I was happy to see all that cancer go. I was lucky they did operate. They don't on most stage four patients as I learned as I went through this journey. Usually they just start you on the oral at stage four. For me I had a liver resection, left mastectomy and nodes removed in left arm. So much pain and Annoyance with this lymphedema 😔 Would never wish it on any one. My stomach and chest look like a road map! But I'm alive! I hope you're feeling better through out your chemo. It is really impressive that you excersise through it. I couldn't, you're a strong woman. You are also always in my prayers.
Have a restful nights rest everyone!
~M~
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I jogged 40 minutes. I walk up the hills so I doubt its much more than 2 miles, but finally got some cardio after a 2 day break.
Knocked out first draft of my taxes as I had some relief from brain fog as well.
Not doing yoga consistently this week, but altogether doing fine.
Sleeping well. I have to say I haven't found anything that beats cannabis for getting a good nights sleep, and I have tried because its a bit pricey.
Dana K and I will start a couple of workweek hustles in the fitbit community again. If you don't receive an invitation and you want one, PM me through either community. There are some technical issues on top of coordination issues. I am afraid we are missing people.
Great work. Keep moving.
>Z<
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UConn study shows that yoga helps older women maintain muscle mass.
Certainly can't find any reason not to do yoga.
>Z<
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Shetland, it was somewhere above Zurich. DH is in the foreground.
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I have not ever done yoga but have checked out the poses that Z has listed and I am going to check out that playlist that she posted and would be interested in any others as a beginner
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Hi Gracie - I've been watching for posts from you. Glad to hear you are pondering your exercise options. I expect that means you are feeling better. How are you?
Classes are great for beginning yogi's. It's good to have an instructor when you are learning the poses.
>Z<
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I'm hanging tough Z😁 I have decided I am not going to let all of this get to me...I am not ready to check out!!! Thanks for asking...big hugs!!!!
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Wow, Heidi. For that view even I would consider getting on a bike. Thanks for that encouraging yoga article, Z. I wonder if the results hold for other schools of yoga.
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lovely day outside today. Ran for 46 mins, visited the baby turtles and listened to my music propel me to run that extra ten mins, I was tired at 36. Lol ugh! I did it though and it felt wonderful. The sky is so blue and spring smells are afoot! Flowers everywhere! Beautiful day here! Hope everyone felt as strong as I have this past week! Prayers always for all! ~M~
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ran 55 minutes. best in a while. 14,000 steps today, another local maximum (for any mathematicians out there).
no yoga happening. need to fix that, but not tonight.
keep moving ladies. how are you doing?
>Z<
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Hi All! Well, after a super duper active weekend, with biking, and about 9 miles overall of running or walking plus yoga both days, I hit the wall and took it easy yesterday. Got back into the swing of things today with a gentle yoga practice and then a bunch of hard core dancing around the room for about 35 minutes. Feeling sooo much better after taking that one day break and then hopping back in.
I think all yoga is helpful, and it is proven to reduce stress response, especially a practice that holds poses for about five breaths or so. We train our brains to stay calm by holding poses and breathing through them.
I led a couple of yoga and meditation workshops this last week, and I had several people ask me if I would do some recordings of some easy beginner practices and some of my guided meditations. If anyone has any interest, I would be glad to post that here when I'm done!
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I'm interested, been reading the posts and considering a beginners yoga class. I think MDA offers one, looking into that stuff soon.
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