Stage IV MBC Fitness
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Snowshoeing, the reading chair, the happy dog. Thanks. What a strong bunch of ladies. There is a strong pull to curl up in a ball and give up, but not this crowd.
Keep moving,
>Z<
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Z and All -
You inspire me so...I complete 50 minutes on the treadmill this morning with wrist weights and intervals with incline and speed changes. Certainly this is not how I trained with real trainers in the past...but this is certainly more than I have been able to do in several years. Wow this feels so good to be able to do some things then push myself to do more. You show me over and over that THIS IS POSSIBLE.
I truly believe I would not be doing any of this if it were not for this amazing group of warriors...
Warmly and Gratefully, V
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I am more of a kitty person but I really love animals. The Happy Dog in the snow picture makes my heart feel light and happy. I am so glad to know you have such a great friend to help you keep moving. What a gift our pets are in this world and in this MBC alternate universe (I call it that since it still seems so surreal to me...).
Warmly, V
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Our newer addition has made my hikes very enjoyable; we also have a 13 yr. old miniature poodle who stays home. He's a Puerto Rican rescue dog-a 'Sato' and about a year old. He seems to love the snow.
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Hello from Disneyland where my iPhone tells me I walked 19,857 steps today. Boy do I feel it. Not sure how much longer I’ll choose to ride the rollercoasters. I’m so sore tonight and have day two tomorrow, although some hours will be spent at the pool just relaxing.
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KPW, snowshoeing is awesome exercise! And everyday at that. Hats off to you. Gumdoctor, that is a nice spot to hang out. Jensgotthis, love those smiles.
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I remember Disneyland as one of the longest hikes I have ever done. Enjoy the pool.
>Z<
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Day two of Disneyland was a mile shorter. We found that the hot spa had jets placed down near the feet and that made an enormous difference in the pain. After about 15 minutes in the spa moaning in pure delight from the jets we made it back and finished the night strong. That was Thursday. Today, I have spent too much of the day in my recliner :-(0
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Good for you Jen! The hot tub sounds amazing.
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I had a mastectomy and sentinel lymph node biopsy 8 weeks ago and returned to gym classes 6 weeks ago, but modified for upper body. I was desperate not to lose the fitness I had, especially since I was to have 25 rads to the chest wall, axilla and supra-clavicular nodes. I’ve been paranoid about lymphoedema from the start, especially since I have inflammatory breast cancer, where cancer cells are in the lymph vessels of the skin. I do my lymphatic drainage massage twice daily. Yesterday I graduated myself to do exercises from the ground again, like push ups (from knees, all I could do beforehand) and mountain climbers etc. It felt so good! But I’m still not lifting more than 4 kg each arm, will go up with those more slowly. I’ve done 7 rads so far and feel ok, skin a bit sore from bra an
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Skin a bit sore from bra and lying in bed but otherwise ok. I expect to do more tai chi and Pilates when I’m fatigued or too sore, determined to keep moving. I used to love walking but my feet hurt so much these days. Each bone scan I have shows active arthritis, and I was having peripheral neuropathy but after a course of Accupuncture I think that is ok for now. I think my main problem is my weight, I’m obese, BMI around 32! I did manage to get it down to 27 last year but then abondoned my low carb and (daily) intermittent fasting regime when my Dad became sick and I was back and forwards to Sydney. Also I was told of my recurrence, which resulted in some depression and feeling sorry for myself about needing a mastectomy and rads when I was Stage 4, thought I’d avoided that! I put 12kg back on!!! Anyway I’m over that now, but my weight is just refusing to budge, although I did loose about 6kg. Don’t know what to do about that ...
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Jen, that is a miracle hot tub!
BellaTassie, looks like you are being very proactive. It took me at least 6 months to return to the gym. I did have PT for frozen shoulder resulting from my mastectomy before 25 zaps to those same places as yours (plus spine) in 2008. I could lift absolutely 0, not even my own handbag, so 4 kg is awesome. The weight will come off eventually but you will always have to be watching the scales. About seven years ago I started daily fasts of 17 hours but cut it down to 13 after I started gaining weight. I still had a net loss of maybe 5 kilos. I lost some more after the switch but have now gained back the second batch. The body just adapts to whatever you're doing and forces you to tweak either the diet or the exercise. I have a normal BMI but my loose boyfriend jeans are getting tighter. I am on the Wednesday Weigh In Thread if you (or others here) care to join. We can do something about it together.
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Hi Heidihill, thanks so much for info on Wed weigh in, I hadn’t seen that. I’ve now posted there.
Gee, u had a rough trot after ur surgery and radiotherapy, I was really fortunate, though I only had 3 nodes removed. Why do u think decreasing ur fasting time broke ur weight loss stall, I would have though u would have to increase it to make a difference
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Gumdoctor, your special reading spot looks so welcoming! I love it. The tulips are beautiful. That is inspiration and I love to bring the outdoors in.
I live in Texas in th US. Spring has definitely sprung and before I know it, like in a couple of weeks, summer will be upon us with 90+ degree weather.. If I don't get outside now, it won't get done due to the heat. I also have to walk my dog first thing in the morning then or it is too hot.
KP, your back yard looks wonderful. So peaceful and serene. A great place to soothe the mind. Does your dog go with you when you go exploring?
Exercise is so good for our minds, as well as our bodies. Next week my goal is to get back playing pickleball.
Therese
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I love everyone's photos and activity! I finally got back on the wagon after a week of too much snow, ice, and cold. Winter does not want to give up here in Minneapolis! I did get out snowshoeing one day when we got our six inches of snow, but that was the only day I made my step goal.
Today I pulled out the kettle bells after a long hiatus and then a nice two mile walk outside in the cold.Someday I'll get to ditch the mittens, but we are not there yet!
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Therese, I do take the dog with me and he is good company. I feel calm after my walks, I really miss not getting out when I have to miss a day. I used to live in Abilene and learned how to play pickleball in college. It was a lot of fun.
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Just saw this article today. Another reason to build strength training into our routines!
Breast cancer patients fare better if they have muscle - ABC News
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Hanging out at the cabin this weekend doing some light hiking and off-road driving. Tomorrow is swimming 🏊 😎🧜
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BellaTassie, I increased my eating window because with just 7 hours I tended to stuff myself more thinking I was going to starve if I didn't. I had learned the fasting part but my eating habits still needed refinement. At this point maybe I will do 5 days of short fasting and 2 days long fasting, eating the same things or same amount of calories every day, and see how that works.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffgAVrANmS4
DG Hoff thanks for the link. Above is another link on exercise. The muscle connection is very interesting. In that intervention, exercise prevented muscle loss in patients on chemo.
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Hi. I start weekly abraxane tomorrow. I've been fasting since Friday. I'll be at 60 hours when I get my infusion Monday at 9am. Then I'll fast for another 24. possibly 22... I'll want breakfast Tuesday morning at 7.
I've been getting very into Dr. Valter Longo of USC. This is a video on fasting depended differential stress resistance and sensitization in cancer. Longo's team has decades of research that shows that fasting protects normal cells and sensitizes cancer to chemo. Normal cells detect the lack of resources and stop growing, cancer cells panic and try to grow faster. And, of course, it's that growth that taxols target and shut down. Cancer cells have evolved to grow rapidly and not die but the problem is that they cannot shut down. They die when they cannot grow. The effect is to increase the impact of the chemo on the cancer and limit the effects on normal cells. Fasting in fact benefits to the normal cells, which evolved in an environment where fasting was a Thing. Almost like they need it periodically.
I am pretty shaky with hypoglycemia these first two days. I'm improving this afternoon. I did my 1hr+ hike both days. That is little more my Minimum Daily Requirement hike. Yesterday I did a 1hr vigorous yoga practice. Hoping to hobble through a 30 minute practice today.
Tomorrow is the infusion. I plan to move a bit before during and after. Should improve blood flow to the tumors. Tumors have dis-regulated blood vessels that impeded the medication from getting to the target. Blood flow in tumors increases disproportionally relative to normal cells during exercise. But I'm talking about the equivalent of a walk. Maybe a brisk walk, maybe not.
I should add that the fact that exercise increases blood flow to tumors should not dissuade anyone from exercise. Tumors like hypoxia (lack of oxygen). The increase in oxygen they get from higher blood flow slows them down a bit. Not a cure, but the increased blood flow does not help tumors grow.
>Z<
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Oh Z, I’m blunt, so I’m just going to say it. I wish you weren’t fasting so long, I think we really need the energy during chemo and after a couple months, it affects your taste buds so much that sometimes you can hardly eat anyway. Of course you know what’s best for you though, so I’ll just send good vibes your way 🤗
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illimae - You make a very important point. The data supporting fasting is so deep and so broad that I am going to give it a try. Nonetheless it is always important to keep in mind the arguments against any approach and constantly observe outcomes, reassess our choices. If anyone had the solution, we wouldn't be here.
And vibes ... I feel it. Thanks!! I know you've got my back.
>Z<
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Z, I am a big fan of Longo. Kudos on being able to hold that fast. That is amazing. Keeping fingers double crossed.
Illimae, good point, fasting is not for everyone and ideally should be medically supervised. Longo himself would agree. Hope you enjoyed your swim.
Here's a video on exercise during chemo and how it prevents muscle loss and improves the immune system in general:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffgAVrANmS4
Got a lot of oxgen on my bike ride through the forest, but also a lot of pollen. DH says I am getting better downhill.
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re: fasting and exercise. I am very used to doing high intensity exercise (HIIT/tabata, stationary bike etc) in the fasted state but I always break my fast after my shower in order to eat protein to repair muscle. One of my trainers reminds us of this every class! I’m concerned that if I don’t I will lose muscle mass instead of gaining it. Otherwise I would do longer fasts more often. Can any of you with more knowledge confirm or reject this? I monitor my protein intake on an app and try to ensure I get at least 90 grams per day (when I’ve exercised). I’ve seen quite a range of protein requirements suggested based on ideal body weight, but they vary widely. A nutritionist made this recommendation for me
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Heidihill, yes I understand. Im not very organised these days and sometimes find that I don't have enough time to consume enough protein, calcium and fibre - the 3 I'm most concerned with - in my restricted eating window. So I may end up eating cheese and nuts later in the evening than I would like just to ensure I make these goals. Annoys me, but oh well 🤪, lol. We can but try.
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Z, I am also concerned about the fasting. 60, hours is a long time. So, are you just drinking water? How do feel during your exercise? I hope the infusion went well for you today. I am sure there is some anxiety with all that you have going on.
I really feel this is a wonderful proactive group. We exercise when we don't feel like it. We do what we think is right for our bodies at the time, monitoring it day in, day out, changing when we need to.
I played pickleball today and it really felt good. KPW3, I am excited that you know about pickleball! Wasn't sure I was going to go, especially since I spent several hours helping my son redo his flower bed yesterday. But I have to refocus, and get back into my routine.
Therese
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Just finished swimming & snorkeling at Balmorea State Park/San Solomon Springs 😀
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Great to read everyone's thoughts on fasting. I've been fasting prior to my herceptin/perjeta infusions for 36 hours. I tried to do more but got too shaky and weak as I don't have much extra fat on me. I have read so much about how fasting can help keep cancer in check and even though I'm not getting chemo, it gives me a good target for incorporating fasting into my routine. I feel pretty good and energetic when fasting. It's funny how much extra time you have when you don't eat!
Z- Hope your infusion went well today and that you are feeling ok!
Llmae- the swim looks delightful!
Celebrate - pickleball sounds fun! I need to try that sometime!
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Illimae- What a pretty place for a swim! Z- Glad that first treatment is done and the fast went well. Four hours of exercise is amazing. You are setting a high standard for us. Hi Bella, Celebrate, DG and Heidi!
Yesterday I worked with kettlebells and yoga and on sunday I walked 2.6 miles on the local paved trail. Also signed up to lead some hikes for local survivors and need to map the distances in advance.
Did you all see the articles that came out this past week about good muscle mass being an indicator of improved survival? So encouraging to see some support for exercise for us!
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Basically when your body switches to metabolizing fat (ketosis), your energy level bumps. My IV (Monday) was at the beginning of day 3. I haven't had that much energy and focus in weeks. I just followed how I felt. I never expected to jog (in place) through the IV, but it felt good. At the moment resting feels good. A hike and yoga is planned for later.
This morning I had breakfast. Steel cut oats, almond milk and walnut oil. Awesome. I need to eat as much as I can, in the form of healthy food. Trying to get a bump in weight by putting good oils in everything. I will fast again starting Saturday. Next infusion Monday.
>Z<
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