Lets Post our Daily Exercise

Cdevl66: Oh that is interesting, about thinning the blood, I did not know that. 

My plastic surgeon banned me from all caffeine for 6 months for my BMX - he said this was to aid in quicker recovery and better healing. I healed fast, was driving in a week, and doing housework on day 4 (unapproved housework, please check with your team before attempting).   However I would like to mention that I also slept for 8 weeks on the couch, sitting up (but leaning against a stack of pillows). This was to stay elevated and keep the swelling down.  I had little swelling and almost 0 bruising from the BMX, than I had with the biopsy, which I was bruised and green for over 2 weeks! My plastic surgeon also recommends starting Arnica a few days before the BMX to aid in healing.  Arnica is a natural remedy to prevent bruising and swelling from trauma.  I did not know about it at the time and so I had not done it.

Reporting in:  Yesterday did the 4 mile mountain hike in reverse order!  The incline was rockier getting to the top, so more leg muscle required.  I loved this new path and will do it again today!

Booooo!  I should just stop looking this stuff up

Surgery: Arnica might cause extra bleeding during and after surgery. Stop using it at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.

CDelv66:  It's called Arnica Montana, and comes in pellets or creams.  When I researched it prior, I remember reading that many surgeons in Beverly Hills often recommend it for their patients pre and post surgery. Maybe there is a period of time before and after surgery of when it is not advisable.  In my case, since my plastic surgeon recommended it, I assumed he took into account my medical history, and for me must not have been concerned of a side effect of bleeding because they said I could start taking it a few days before surgery.  But I did not read about it or research it until after I was already well into my recovery.  I did buy some eventually when a friend of mine says she takes it for pain and inflammation.  I thought with all my workouts it might help reduce inflammation.

As I always mention to anyone, please consult your medical team before starting, stopping or changing anything in your normal protocols. )

Exercise today was walking and lots of it. Walked around for hours at a pet show (cuz my dogs aren't spoiled enough...lol)

I took Saturday off to rest up for a race today.  This is me with my son-in-law at the start of the Leprechaun 5 Miler in Madison, CT this morning.   It was cool, overcast and windy but we still had a great run. The scenery was awesome! He finished at 50:09 and I finished at 50:56. I have my 33rd rads tx on 4/3 and I am still on pace to run my half marathon on 4/27. I did take an hour long nap as soon as I got home, but I am not complaining! My awesome husband has been very supportive through this all and I am grateful I have him by my side for this journey

I hope everyone enjoyed their weekend!

Yes, I too have read numerous sources that say coffee can be beneficial, and some articles even say it is protective against cancer!  Ruth, your article above is a great reference, because it says other factors of those coffee drinkers were not taken into consideration.  I often think of that when we look at overall statistics on many things, including breast cancer survival.  When they say that my risk of survival is x% based on x data, the first thing I think of is that number is "only a starting point for me", because I don't know the overall health and lifestyle of someone else who was dx'd with the same type of breast cancer for that study and I know what I'm doing to increase my survival statistics from that starting point.  Exercise being one of them!

Coffee was added to the Prop 65 list due to the acrylamide formation.  I've dramatically reduced all acrylamide consumption, and coffee just happens to be on my list of things that I could give up fairly easily.  Acrylamide is a chemical that is formed when things are cooked, baked or processed at a high heat. I've read the darker the roast of a coffee, the higher the concentration of acrylamide. 

Acrylamide is difficult to know when it is in products because since it is a chemical that is formed during the cooking process, it is not listed on the ingredients label. They think acrylamide forms on food cooked at 248 degrees - not all foods are at risk for this, but foods that are mainly starches. Other foods are listed to have it, canned pumpkin, roasted nuts, coffee and some others.

Here is an article posted in Forbes, from Nov. 13 on what products contain acrylamide.  I used to have a Top 20 list that I handed out, but can't find it now.  If I find it again, I will share!

Prop 65 Acrylamide Page

Forbes Magazine Article - Nov 2013 - "FDA Says To Avoid Yet Another Food Chemical: Acrylamide"

Happy Birthday to Cheryl on Monday!!!!!

I think that living where it is cold most of the time has saved me from a few wrinkles anyway....severely limited the amount of time I could spend outside tanning when I was young!

Hooped at the beach for an hour and a half, and at least a mile walk to and from parking.

Cheryl - Happy Birthday!  Claire - love the corset picture.  Odie - I'm so sorry about your co-workers husband.  What a terrible shock.  On Arnica gel - DH got started using Arnica when he had a rib resection when he developed thoracic outlet syndrome a few years ago - the Chief of Surgery at Hopkins did his surgery, and recommended the arnica gel to help with healing and rehab, so I figured that was a pretty good recommendation!  We used to have to get it at GNC, but a year or so ago it started showing up at Safeway. 

Got up to the cabin this weekend.  We put up a bluebird trail in the meadow outside the front window on Saturday - I've been wanted to do that for years, and finally ordered 4 bluebird houses over the winter.  Got a start on hacking back the berry brambles.  I always wear heavy pants, shirts and gloves when doing that, but still somehow I end up with scratches all over.   Did a good 3 mile mountain hike on Sunday.  

They're calling for more snow tomorrow!!! 

Dulci....even though it's cool outside..are you "overdressed" and getting too warm? That could trigger yawning. The other factor might be you are holding your chest and shoulders too "tightly", so not moving enough air in and out. Try focussing on keeping your shoulders, chest and arms and hands more relaxed. Especially when doing run/walk intervals, it's easy to notice the difference between how tense you hold yourself when your run, vs when you're walking. 

Happy Birthday Cheryl! 

So this arnica....is it a pain reliever or an anti-inflammatory???

LOL Dulcigirl, I swear I wasn't even trying to inspire envy.  It's so hard to imagine that it's icy and snowy in much of the country as we've had even milder winter than normal here.  If it helps it's cloudy and almost rainy looking today.  In fact it's so chilly I almost wore long pants instead of shorts.

Laps in the pool..indoors of course! I can tell my shoulders are getting better!!!! WooHOo!!!!!!

Just got off the treadmill & will go to Zumba in a few minutes. A very sad thing has happened here; one of my neighbors, a really nice lady of about 50 years old, with whom I sometimes walk in the summer, had a spinal fusion surgery a few weeks ago and seemed to be on the road to recovery (in fact, I talked to her Monday when she was out for a walk with her mother & her two little dogs), but died in her bed yesterday. They suspect a blood clot, but of course, an autopsy will be done. Wow, and wow. Hard to comprehend.

Happy Birthday Cheryl!

Ruthbru - OMG that is so sad .  One more reason for us to appreciate and make the most of every moment we have.  Did she have a husband and/or children?  My heart goes out to her family, friends and neighbors (((((hugs))))).

dulci - way to go on the training!!!

I did get up this morning to do my 6am class so that's a big YAY!!! But on the other hand...OH NO!!!!.......I think my heel pain may be plantar faciitis!  I pretty much limp at least a little bit all day long now (left is worse than right) and occasionally almost fall down when I stand up after sitting or laying because putting weight on it is temporarily excruciating .  Called my PCP today and they couldn't get me in until the 1st of May...grrrr.  I mean, seriously??  I should tell them I've had the flu for three weeks or something like that, bet they'd get me right in.  I think I'll call back tomorrow and ask to speak directly to his nurse rather than the normal scheduling people.  That has worked for me in the past.  I did find some good stretching recommendations online today.  More than one of the sites I checked said that stretching and strengthening can work wonders so I'm all in for that.