Stage IV MBC Fitness

Mara, I like Leslie Sansone too. I have a lot of her DVDs and on of her CDs. I'm so old school I still have my CD fanny pack that I used for walking. I came across it a few weeks ago and will make use of it once again! I didn't get my bagels made this weekend. We had last minute guests on Friday night. My original plans had to get modified and it just didn't happen.

Hey everyone! So.... before my initial dx I was super in shape and powerlifting. After treatment I started getting back into fitness and "running" races (a mix of walk/run haha!). My DH and I worked up to half-marathons and completed 4 before COVID got in our way. We did a bunch of virtual 5k/10ks and the Army Ten Miler over COVID, which was fun. But then I was dx'd last August with MBC and my fitness kind of took a dive. I was still doing OrangeTheory Fitness, though not at previous levels, but my walk/runs basically disappeared. My DH and I were supposed to run the Rock N' Roll Half Marathon in Las Vegas originally back in Nov 2020 but it was postponed due to COVID. Despite not really training up as much as I wanted to, he and I were able to complete the half marathon last Sunday in Las Vegas! It was brutal for me, especially after mile 8 but I just kept Dory from Finding Nemo in my head "Just keep swimming, just keep swimming!". We also used several of the remarkable phrases from the Ukrainians over this last 2 weeks to help us through. While I'm not advocating for anyone to run a half marathon or even a 5k, I just wanted you ladies to know that we are still capable people and can keep moving. Doesn't have to be on our feet, we can swim or bike or even dance a bit. But I thought I'd spread a little of my happiness and success!

Katyblu, that is amazing, good for you.

When trying to motivate myself, I tend to listen to I believe I can fly. I love and relate to the lyrics. RKelly is a bad dude but I love how the song inspires me.

Kikomoon, I do still walk. Walked to and from my chemo app't. Wore cleats this morning as it was still cold and was unsure of ice since we had some freezing rain. We could not have got much of anything as the sidewalks were mostly dry. Took off the cleats before entering the cancer centre. I mostly walk inside but should increase the outdoor stuff too since it takes a lot out of me to do.

As far as your bike goes, anything to take pressure off sore feet is good and no need for anything too fancy. Hopefully you guys got it assembled by now. I would love a bike but my apartment is far too small for one.

I feel like I'm swimming against a strong current and losing ground. There's just not enough recovery time between my chemos to get back to where I was so I feel each cycle I'm falling further behind (my chemo is Day 1, Day 8 then one week off). In the time off, I'm not feeling well the entire time and even though I make an effort to move, it really feels like I'm moving backwards. I read that in healthy people muscle can take 12-16 weeks to grow. But in cancer, on top of the chemo fatigue, the tumors themselves put out weird hormones that disrupt cell signalling making building muscle hard. Each week I think I'm just getting a tiny bit weaker. Cardio has same issue. My lung met feels like it's not responding to current treatment & cardio also takes time to build up and disappears quickly.

I've now been on IV chemo for 24 months

Moth, this really sucks and I'm so sorry this treatment has been so hard on you. It sucks that you're feeling weaker, it sucks that your hormones are doing whack-a-doodle things, and it sucks to have to deal with the fatigue and all the other "gifts" that chemo gives you. It sucks that you've been on IV chemo for TWO YEARS! I wish I had the perfect answer or response to your post. I hope it helps just the tiniest bit to know that friends are thinking of you and care.

(((hugs)))

Carol

I did forget to mention Monday's exercise. Walked to the hospital for my echo, that was fine. Was going to go home when I decided I needed mayo so I walked from the hospital to the grocery store and back home. Total distance in miles was 6.5 miles. Took me a couple of hours to achieve this. I walked slower, and I do take short strides to have less risk of tripping. I was also really tired once I got home. Honestly was just surprised I did all that but there was no really good bus option. I was unwilling to wait an hour either. It was also a wet day so was soaked as of course I did not bring an umbrella. I have not done a longer distance walk in a long time. Only problem that day was sore feet until I took advil, rested feet next day to avoid stressing them out too much.

Well, still being active to maintain but not doing super long walks all the time. I sit and do a lot of surveys and mobile games to earn a bit of extra money so now I am going to add a 10 min workout at least after meals. This one is more of a marching workout and I don't do it seated though it can be done seated as well. Lots of fun. My mom and I did this together when she was still around. Doing it standing made me have to balance more which is good and with the arm movement, it felt like a real effort.

Posting the video from youtube in case anyone wants to try it out for some extra movement. I am also trying a video that shows putting weights into a bucket and sliding it foot to foot for inner thigh strength training and pushing it from the center out for outer thigh strength training. It does not require weights, put anything heavier. An easy way to build leg strength whilst seated. Link to that listed below.

I am still doing the Paul Eugene workout, standing for the most part as I like the arm and leg movements. Realized that a good option to up the workout power is simply to throw some weights in my knapsack, simulating groceries and burn more calories. Though weight loss would be nice, it is not my immediate concern. Keep muscle through the marching which is a little like how I walk outdoors to minimize tripping.

I am looking for household things for strength training as I do not want or need a gym. There is a channel on youtube Adrian Bryant. He uses household items for building muscle. One video has him putting some weights in a bucket and while sitting, you slide the bucket back and forth to your feet for inner thigh and push the bucket with your feel as well.

My feet are sore today but to break up the sitting during surveys and mobile games for cash, I am getting up to sort of dance, moving my hips, knees and arms. Feet stay on the ground but I still get some calorie burn and keep my feet in good shape. Need to use my emjoi callous remover to work on my feet. Though I have done it consistently, there is enough walking that still builds callouses on my feet.

I also thought about when I have appointments at the hospital for Herceptin or scans, I could show up early and walk the hospital halls a bit. There is a ton of hallway to walk through as well. Looking for stuff to replace the outdoor stuff as I am not interested in it so much. Not sure if the fear of falling is behind that but flat surfaces are my jam. Might see if there is one thing to pick up at the grocery store and just do a couple laps throughout the aisles to add some steps. I will have to some outdoor walking to the bus stop but that could be an option when bored.

Good for you Mara! I have started doing some exercises to help with my back pain from a book "Pain Free" by Peter Egoscue. I am not able to do all of the exercises due to some physical limitations but hopefully, I can get some relief. I also bought a new exercise ball that is larger than what is recommended for my height but the one for my height I think is too low and hurts my artificial knees plus, I am going to use the ball for mimicking horseback riding. Back when I was healthy, I used to use a balance ball to help with riding exercises and I thought it was more fun than a lot of other exercises.

So, hope everyone enjoying summer. Not too busy here but will post this anyway.

I am trying to lose weight, scared to become an obese person so decided the way to do it for me is eating snack size meals 200 to no more than 300 four to six times a day. Easy enough to do, even including pasta and then do a Paul Eugene workout after each meal for 10 minutes. I figure that eating and then exercising more often will rev up my metabolism plus this should make me feel more energetic, we will see. Posting the workout in case it is pages and pages back on the thread. This is quick and can be done sitting or standing. Only workout that does not bore me to tears. There is another workout I do that terrifies the cats that I can only do 5 mins. I will post it below as well.

Sunshine, I have heard of intermittent fasting but I feel too hungry when doing it. If you are having success, it shows it definitely works for some people. I kind of like the idea of the tiny meals and the exercise for me, just keeps it more consistent. I do the beating of the chair with the broom and then other exercise in between, still only able to do 5 mins but it is good, love me Paul Eugene because he reminds me of when Mom and I would do it together as she hated walking but wanted to do something.

Oh, mara, I'm sorry. I hate the fear that overcomes us after we've had a fall! Be safe (as I know you are.)

Well, my body decided to throw a wrench into the walking plans so changes will be made. I cannot handle ANY heat, even if it is not humid. On Thurs, I struggled to the hospital and then tripped and fell in front of cars in the parking garage, 3 people helped me, two to get me up, one to put me in a wheelchair.

I confess that most days I simply sit and don't do much but obviously, I need to change that. My thought is to march for 10000 steps at home, can do 500 or so throughout the day and use my step bench and take a couple of steps up on each leg. Found a new video called Stair Step Exercise for Balance on youtube. I will also do some outdoor walking but only far enough that will take me to my bus stops. Mall walking etc is fine but no more really long walks unless it is in my house. We will see how the 10000 steps helps my legs.