Stage IV MBC Fitness
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Mara - great job on all the walking and Heidi, beautiful picture! You live in such an amazing country....
I did get my planner - Commit 30 and I am so excited about it I feel like I am in high school. It came with all these inspirational stickers- like hundreds- and I spent an hour planning out January and putting stickers all over the place. I am hoping it keeps me on track. It seems like a great way to track all goals - fitness, financial, home, etc... and helps you to break things down into measurable activities to reach your goals. I chose 3 three things to commit to in January - 30 days of NO alcohol (that might be hard), 30 days of drinking a gallon of water a day and 30 days of green protein smoothies, which I definitely need. I am also going to plan out every week and make sure I can fit in work outs. I ran last Saturday, did yoga on Sunday, a Body Pump class last night and then nothing today - rest day - but hoping to run 5 miles tomorrow.
We'll see! I am all into it right now, but the novelty might wear off... I'll keep you all posted.
We are off to dinner with some friends, and then hopefully an early night and in bed before the ball drops on the East Coast!
Happy New Year! Hope we can all make 2020 the best movement year yet!
XO
Andi
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Same to you Andi. I have a scan for Jan 10 from neck down. Hoping is stable too.
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Did 30 minutes on the Peleton today! I want to get back to working out more consistently. Makes me feel more like myself. Had thorastic surgery for lung and chest wall mets on 6th December and it has been a challenge to recover. I had thorencesis done for some pleural effusion yesterday! I want to feel like my old self as much as possible so I can enjoy what I have now! Started the Falsodex shots on the 26th Dec. No side effects yet. I am suppose to start Ibrance tomorrow and I am nervous about it, I've heard that one can have scary side effects. Oh well Just grateful that the meds exist to help keep this at bay! Happy New Year
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great job Imagine
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Great efforts Imagine and Mara. That's a whole lot of steps, Mara! My most daily steps in December were only about 12,000. I realized that I have not been meeting my step goals very consistently, so I'm really going to try to "step up" that effort in the new year to try to get 8000 in each day. I did get out for a walk today in the sunshine, so I'm at about 10,500 steps today. Starting out the right way, anyhow.
Andi, I love the idea of the planner as well. I find I do need external motivation sometimes, so maybe I should try it. Oh, and sun salutations are a series of 12 poses. This image shows one full sun salutation, so, 108 is an awful lot. To do them fully takes about 2 hours. 54 was way more than enough for me!
Scans were last Friday and I get results tomorrow when I go in for infusion. I feel A-OK, but hoping the scans show the same.
Happy New Year!
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Good luck on your scans. Hope they were stable.
I actually did a full body workout from youtube. It incorporated some weights. I have decided I need to focus on strength training as I am fine for cardio exercise. The workout also had a lot of good core work. Hoping that makes the lower back stronger as well. If I start using my dumbells more often, I would certainly invest in an adjustable dumbells as it would cost more to have individual weights. For now, I will stick with my 2 and four pound weights as well as walk with weight in the knapsack on the treadmill as well. If I start using them regularly 2 to 3 times a week, I would then make the investment. Would be helpful to do. Not interested in the gym as it is too expensive if I don't go. I tend to use my home equipment more.
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hello fitness friends,
I had been feeling really weak and tired lately and received a much needed blood transfusion right before leaving on my vacation in Hawaii and must have received the donation from a marathon runner because we accidentally hiked up a mountain in Maui (it was called an intermediate hike but by 1500 ft up, I realized Hawaiians must classify hikes differently, lol). I also kayaked and zip lined for the first time in Kauai and slopped through the mud on a waterfall trek. We had great weather, probably thanks to DG's sun salutations! I start a new chemo combo when I get back but for now, I feel pretty awesome. Hope everyone had a great holiday. Andi - I love paper planners, too! My kids and husband always check mine to see what's going on and I stash their school and activity reminders and forms in there. Great job to Imagine and Mara's fitness routines!
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I got in about 10000 steps today with some treadmill work and going out to lunch and shopping with DB and SIL.
I am looking into getting an adjustable dumbell as well. They are pricey but would be worth it. Just one, not looking to exercise both arms at the same time. Just have to maintain strength training at least twice to 3 times per week before I will invest. I also put weights in my knapsack and walk on the treadmill too. Helps get me used to the times I go get things at the store. Figure it can't hurt to challenge myself a bit.
I also had a really weird combo for supper tonight. I was told at my cancer clinic I am slightly anemic. I won't take an iron supplement due to constipation so am trying to find things to eat. I decided to cook up some beef liver and ground it up with a cooked hamburger together to offset the strong taste of the liver. I also ground up spinach and black beans, mixed it all together. Put in some queso cheese sauce and tortilla chips. Heated it all for 30 seconds in the microwave. Delicious. Could not taste the liver or beans ( I don't like beans but recognize they are very good nutritionally). I will make this again. I may have to get a better food processor in the future. I feel like meals like this would be easy for me to make as I am on my own and should fuel my fitness. My SE have been less bad this time as well after infusion due to the higher activity levels.
Beautiful picture Momchichi
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Momchichi - loved the picture, descriptions of your hikes, and your reference to getting the blood transfusion from a marathon runner cracked me up! So glad you had a good time... and what a great place to be in the middle of the winter!
Mara - your dinner sounds really yummy, minus the liver. I have never cooked liver and I am not sure I could handle it, but everything else sounded great. I have been trying to get a lot more protein in me, but I've done it by committing (in my Commit 30 Day planner!) to 30 days of green protein shakes, which I have managed to stick to! I have also managed to stick to the gallon of water a day.... but I made it to Jan 7th and slipped up on the no alcohol.
However, I have recovered and am back on the no drinking of any kind bandwagon. I did run 7 miles on Sunday, and just did 3 on the treadmill (ugh) and plan to go to yoga tomorrow. Speaking of yoga, DGHoff - I cant' believe after all these years I didnt' realize what a Sun Salutation was! Thank you for sharing. I recognize some of the poses, including the downward dog. Don't you find that to be incredibly hard? I swear I cannot do that for more than about 10 seconds.... and in Hot Power Fusion we go from that into a runners lunge. Maybe because of the curvature of my spine (due to all the mets) I cannot get from downward dog to runners lunge.... I am just not bendable enough. And Mara - good for you on the strength training. I need to focus on that too. I have dumbells of all sizes at home and I keep thinking if I could just do even 15 minutes before bed, it would be helpful. Maybe next month I will include 30 days of weights in my planner. It is definitely helping me to have all my intended workouts and other health related activities right in front of me.
Imagine - you are so lucky to have a Pelaton!
Hope everyone else is having a great week!
XO
Andi
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Andi, the strength training is slow going. I am more reliable at my cardio but I will keep trying different things, studying youtube for proper form etc. I also don't feel the need for everyday exercise. I like to make sure I take enough rest that my body can move the next day. I was surprised that after the days of almost 20000 steps, most of which were outdoors, I was not super sore.
Today is going to consist of putting weights in my knapsack and walking on the treadmill. This will make it easier to bring home groceries in my knapsack which is thermal. I don't like dragging along the little grocery carts. I am also saving up for one of those adjustable dumbells as I don't have the room or budget to work my way up a bit at a time. Gotta pay down some other bills first. Also keeping up with my chair workout as well as I enjoy the fellow. My mom was the one who started me with him and I still do him at least once a week. The only other exercise is housework which weirdly I like. I love washing clothes and blankets in my apartment. That kind of thing is sort of exciting to me. Vacuuming is right up there too. I know those count as activity as well.
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Mara, we're just in week 2 of 2020 and already doing 20,000. Very auspicious.
Andi I must have subconsciously absorbed your commit30 plans because I am also doing some 30-day challenges. I have an app for a 30 day plank workout challenge and then there's this 30 day yoga challenge at Yoga with Adrienne...
I like that the app reminds me to do the plank workout and has fireworks when I get it done. I'm doing a beginner challenge and can graduate to intermediate and then advanced if I ever get that far. I did buy a planner but it has daily recipes and food pics so is not much help for motivating me to workout.
Imagine, hope the start of Ibrance went smoothly.
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I am a little shocked that I walked halfway to the hospital in rain for an echo. Have to go back for CT this afternoon. Will get some steps to and from the buses and through hospital
Why do I have more energy on less sleep?
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Wow, Mara! That's commitment to walk in the rain just to get an echo. I guess your heart should be in good shape if you can do that. :-)
Momchichi - Your Hawaii pics look beautiful, and I'm glad the sun salutations did the trick for sunny weather. It doesn't seem to have helped much here in Minnesota, but at least the sun is somewhere!
Andi - I actually do a lot of downward facing dog because I love the stretch I get in my calves and it's a good inversion to get blood flowing to the scalp, but I don't ever offer the pose in my classes that I do at Gilda's Club because it is a very hard pose for most people to do. We all do what works for our own bodies.
Heidihill - I like the idea of signing up for a 30 day challenge as well. I kind of need external motivation to keep me going.
My latest CT scan showed mostly stable. There is suspicion that one of the liver lesions might be 1mm larger, but they said it could just be the way the scans were done too. So, we aren't making any rushes to judgement, and I'm staying just on Herceptin/Perjeta.
I've been really trying to ramp up the strength training as well by using some small hand weights and also doing more body weight exercises. I've been going once a week to a fitness class that focuses on using body-weight training, so we do a lot of mini-push ups, lots of core work, lots of lunge type activities. Keeps me doing things that i would never do left to my own devices - or I might do three reps of something where she makes us do 15 reps. It's good to be part of a group too. Gets me more motivated.
I've also been doing lots of special breath work including combos of Wim Hof breathing (30 rounds of deep inhale and passive exhale) and Kapalabhati (yoga breathwork using short powerful exhales and passive inhales). It's amazing how much core muscle work is used in some of these breathing exercises. Good for energy building as well, and it helps to keep the digestive system in good shape.
Haven't done as much walking as I'd like as its been cold and icy, but I did run in place for a mile the other day and I also danced around the living room for a bit.
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DGHoff - I am fairly sure I am doing the downward dog wrong. IT is very difficult for me, even though I can hold a plank forever. I do have some significant scoliosis in my spine from all of the mets, so I think that is part of it - difficult to bend. I keep trying because I know it's good for building strength.
We skied for the first time yesterday and I am happy to report that I could Totally tell the difference in my leg strength this year; all that corepower yoga over the last year must really have helped. My husbands legs were shot at the end of the day and I really was just fine. Yay! So happy.. I LOVE to ski. I also ran 5 miles on Saturday, but it took me over an hour. My short term running goal is to run 5 miles in an hour or less.
I like the idea of that breathing. I am assuming there are videos' online that can teach me what to do?
Today is a rest day. Trying to run 3 miles tomorrow and 6 on Wednesday.... but we will see what really happens.
Hope everyone else is having a great week! Mara, I don't know how you do more on less sleep. I am exhausted tonight and couldn't have done anything today. I am on the couch and about to go to bed!
XO
Andi
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hello my friends! I’ve been MIA for a while on this thread but I have been reading!
I’ve been seeing all the gorgeous photos people have shared and sharing in the celebrations of the ups and sympathy/empathy with the downs that MBC can bring us.
I also was rather inactive (gym-wise) over the holidays. I was swamped with work and gatherings and was simply kind to myself that I wasn’t doing a whole heck of a lot a movement.
I have this week gotten to two yoga classes and a zumba class, and took a nice 4 mile walk with my bff today in the woods.
On Sunday I went to a Yoga for Puppies class that just made my day!!! I’ll try and upload some pics...
me with puppie behind me!!0 -
The yoga/workout with dogs looks so sweet and you look happy. Glad it is working for you.
I have mostly been walking. I often forget about strength training. When on the treadmill, I am practicing balance by not holding on to the treadmill. I walk slower, but feel better using my arms from time to time. When I want to go fast, I hold on because I feel like I would step wrong and hurt myself. I do have and always have had poor balance so I feel like it is important to force myself to walk without holding on. I know as I get older and with brain issues anyway, balance will become a possible problem, so keep myself moving is good. I don't walk long on my treadmill, 2 to 5 minutes since I find it boring BUT I do it the equivalent of probably 90 mins when it is all added up. I also stopped tracking steps as I was too obsessive about it and it made me not want to move. I also walk to the hospital and back since I am maybe 30 mins away. I even walked home after my last chemotherapy appointment. I think this cycle went better because of it. Just took a slower pace and stopped for a few seconds if needed.
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Hello everyone!
I finally got out and did some winter hiking last week and got back into the pool today. Always glad when I do. Hiking in the cold and snow is surprisingly fun!
Mara and Andi and DG - You ladies are amazing and inspiring. Philly - I'd like to borrow a puppy for one of those yoga classes!!
Lots of aches and pains lately and a general feeling of fuzziness. Scans March 2nd so I'm staying in denial and out on the trail till then.
Enjoying my new kitchen way too much: Baking and cooking -. Coconut flan, toffee, pies...gaining weight is what's happening most of the time.
Here are a few hiking pix! I've been using a pole and some cleats attached to my hiking boots to keep from slipping on the trails. DH and I are visiting Colorado in February...my happy place!
Mae - So glad surgery is behind you and you can start looking forward to feeling good and enjoying life!
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Beautiful pictures lwrite. It looks so pretty out there. It's nice get out into nature.
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Iwrite - love the pictures! Wasn't today beautiful here in Colorado? We skied yesterday and I tried to do a 5 mile run today, but I was worn out from skiing and ended up walking most of the way... still nice since it was sunny and warm. If you are here for long enough I'd love to do a hike with you. I could meet you in Castle Rock...? And - all that baking sounds yummy. I have also gained weight, and I am not sure how. I am going to blame Herceptin...I swear when I take my "breaks" from it I lose weight and when I am diligent and get them I gain weight. I wish I had the excuse of toffee pies!
Philly - loved your pictures. You look like a movie star and I can't figure out who.
Mara - my balance on the treadmill is terrible too. Whenever I run or walk fast I have to hold on with at least one hand. Very impressed that you walked to and from chemo.
I am off to Atlanta tomorrow for work - missing the snow that is going to hit Colorado, which I am happy about but it's always hard to get exercise in when you are traveling for work. Maybe the hotel treadmill and that is about all.
Hope everyone has a great week!
XO
Andi
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Andi, you have a good week too. Enjoy your trip.
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Well, had a good day today. Managed to walk to and back from the hospital for chemo today. Takes about 40 mins each way. I am proud of myself because I tend to feel less than energetic after chemo but managed well today. It was cold but no snow so it was good.
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Mara, that walk is beyond impressive! Nice job 😁
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Thanks Mae. I enjoy walking and slept well last night.
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Only went to the grocery store which is about 20 mins each way. More of a workout than yesterday was since we had snow. I actually still enjoyed the extra workout though. Puts me in a good mood though. Now have to stay housebound to wait for a nurse so may do the treadmill while I am waiting.
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I finally decided to join a gym this month. I realized that, with the cold weather and icy streets, I just was not at all motivated to get outside and walk. I was tired of having to put on a bunch of clothes every time I wanted some exercise and the cold makes my drippy Herceptin nose drip even more. The cold also makes my eyes water and I was just done with it.
So, yesterday I signed up and got in two miles on the treadmill, alternating between jogging and walking. Averaged about a 4 mile/hour pace, and then did some pushups and situps.
This morning I went to a Zumba class and then used the Sauna for about 10 minutes. The class was fun, and the sauna felt great. I could feel myself sweating out toxins! It turns out to not even be expensive. It was $34.99 per month, but so long as I go 12 times a month my health insurance will reimburse me $20.00 so it only costs $14.99. That is less than paying for one fitness class. Win! Win!
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Great job DGHoff and an excellent price with the coverage. Good for you. I always love to save or make a buck too,
Today is the first day I have not walked outside. Still somehow got up to 7000 steps within my apartment, though I was pacing while thinking about my finanacial budget. Did another half hour on the treadmill after lunch. I have not minded the snow, and I have the same Herceptin nose as you. I use paper towel to dab it but the drips usually come out first. The outdoor walking has really improved my mood even with snow and ice underneath. Just wear vibram soled boots and would add a cleat if needed. Still walking to and from hospital on chemo days. Makes the first few days post infusion, which made me very tired, less fatigued. Have also added liver and black beans here and there so I am not anemic anymore. That all adds up to more activity for me. Walking is my preferred method. Strength training is usually lifting heavy wet blankets from the portable washer over to the spin dryer as the washer itself does not spin. Blankets are quite heavy, even when wrung out. Have to take a break as my arms got quite sore. Cardio is it for me..
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DGHoff - that is amazing that your insurance pays for part of your Gym membership! I also broke down a few months ago and joined the YMCA near my house and it's good to have that for an option. I still tend to focus more on yoga and running outside; just did my hot yoga class and it felt amazing. I did nothing while on my trip to Atlanta, even though I took my workout clothes and had good intentions. It snowed here in Denver - a ton - so no outside running for a while.
Mara - so great that your walking is boosting your mood and your energy! I fully believe household chores count towards cardio and movement.
Interesting that both you and DGhoff notice nose drippiness form Herceptin. I don't seem to have that, but I do have the muscle spasms in my abdomen, especially when I am dehydrated.
Hope everyone is having a great weekend. We are off to see that movie The Gentleman... has any one seen that?
XO
Andi
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Andi, have not seen that movie. Enjoy the show!
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1st day back at the gym today after brain surgery. It felt good, didn’t realize how much I missed the activity and routine. I haven’t been cleared to lift weights yet but the walking and cycling was nice.
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Mae so glad you are back out there again. Cardio itself is so beneficial too for healing stress and depression.
I have done some indoor walking since it is gray and really rainy here. Did an hour all at once before breakfast and another 30 mins after breakfast. Not sure if doing any more walking today. We will see what I feel like.
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