Exercise. What works for you?

[mnc]

Hi

WII fit stopped the cording in my arm after my mx and full lymph node removal. I was playing a game with family trying not to let my condition hold me back when I suddenly noticed that I could stetch my arm without any problem. The cording and pain with it was gone and has not come back. That was three months ago.

Now I walk and go on my exercise bike for 30 minutes.

Xxxx

[heth47]

Thanks for all the ideas and inspiration. I had been talking to my Mum about my posting and wanting to get more active, but being a bit afraid to walk too far or join an exercise class where I might not cope. Today she bought me a treadmill for my conservatory so I can look out into the garden and start slowly at my own pace. She had an MX 17 years ago and had nothing like the support we have now. She, like you ladies is a great inspiration. Kind regards.
Heather x

[Guest user]

Heather
Thanks so much for your sponsorship, This site never ceases to amaze me just how supportive everyone is to one another. Good luck everyone
xxx

[Guest user]

Hi

I started a Body Balance session today. It was only 45 minutes and I thought it would 'break me in gently'. I was wrong! Having said that I was amazed at what I could actually manage. To start with I was probably twice the age of anyone else there, and I had a quiet word with the instructor beforehand who tailored the class to me. She was brilliant. I still looked as though as I was swimming when trying to balance on one leg, but I felt so much better after I'd done it.

Going again next week. I've got to get fit!

Mal x

[heth47]

I bet taekwon do is good for releasing tension too. I often feel like hitting something!Well done cmw in the competition too. I think it is important to have something to aim for. Kind regards Heather

[Guest user]

I have continued my taekwon do training throughout chemo. Whilst I haavn't done any sparring I have still managed the fitness side of it, thugh very gently. I even entered a competition and came second. That gave me a great boost.
I won't start sparring again until I have had the picc line out at the end of the herceptin, then I plan to do my black belt. I like to have something to aim for.

[Guest user]

Thanks Heather for your support. I have sent you the link to my fundraising page by PM as I don't think I'm allowed to post it here and anyway it has my personal details on it. If anyone else would like to sponsor me I would be so grateful. I'm trying to raise £10,000. I've been inspired by my fantastic BCN and her team and absolutely horrified that some people go through this without such support and therefore I want the opportunity to give something back.
In the meantime Good luck ladies with your own exercise regimens.

[heth47]

Hello All
What an active lot you are! You have inspired me to get more active with your ideas. The Wii fit sounds popular and I'll see if there is a walking for health group near me as I had thought I should start doing some power walking before jogging but wandering the streets alone makes me feel like a bag lady!

eal69eal Good luck with the London Marathon. Do you have an on line sponsor page if so post the link I'd like to sponsor you-such a good cause!

Regards Heather

[Guest user]

Oh, and I forgot - if you have some room to store it, a Swiss ball is brilliant for retaining balance and building core strength etc. X

[Guest user]

Hi Heth. I tried to belt around a tennis court again about 4 months after finishing 8 chemos, max and rads! Sensible - not! Of course I couldn't manage and still can't to a degree and I'm sporty but I've had to accept that it's going to take a little longer (it's now a year later!) So - try and do what your body can manage at the time and build up. Walking a little further each week (in the park now it's spring and you can take your mind off things looking at the flowers) and swimming is good as well as gentle yoga, pilates and Tai Chi to build core strength. Then you can gradually get back to the things you used to do but lots of friends have told me it can take two years. Phew! One to go! X

[Guest user]

dont laugh but ive been roller skating!!! i love it. ive now been told i can go swimming. as i get dla i can get a pass from the local council which means every class/swimming/gym is £1.00. i dont know if other boroughs are running this scheme or if its a government thing but its worh asking ours is called a Trafford Active pass.
sue

[Guest user]

Hi Heather
I had mx and Diep reconstruction 2 years ago and am a keen runner and climber. I started back with my activities slowly 9 weeks after my recon and managed to run through most of my chemo when I had good days. I'm running the London Marathon in 5 weeks for BCC. My sugeons have never advised me against the running but they both agreed with my attention to wearing quality sports bra's.
I agree with Lola if you listen to your body, you will be fine.
Good luck xx

[Guest user]

Hiall, I have one of those vibration plates that you stand on and it does all the work.. Dont know if i can use that or not because when you see what it does to a glass of water!! Dont want to "rumble" anything thing up.. Anyone any ideas about this?

Anne x

[ajaytee]

Hi
I finished all my treatment in Oct 09 and as I am triple negative felt I had to work on my lifestyle as there was nothing else on offer. I was not doing much exercise before BC - too busy working- so have been really pleased to discover a Walking for Health NHS scheme in my area. There is a regular programme so I could walk almost everyday if I wanted. The walks are for about 1 hour and I am gradually increasing my speed. There are usually about 20 of us going round so it is social as well. I think a lot of places have something similar.
I have gone back to swimming as well and feel that is helping my top half as I still have pain in my arm and chest (from surgery/chemo).
Joss

[Lola]

Hi Heather,
I would have thought jogging should be OK. I know a girl who had LD and chemo and rads like you and then managed to run the London marathon last year for Christie's! I think that was a couple of years down the line, but nevertheless a marvellous and encouraging story. I had my LD in November and whilst I had to slow even my pace of walking for quite some weeks I have found myself running a couple of times just recently to catch up with friends in the street etc and it felt totally comfortable. I suppose your body will tell you if it doesn't like it and you can just start slowly and see how it goes. xxx

[fairyem]

Hi,

Yup def rate the wii. Get at lest 2 remotes though as it has also been good having friends over to dinner and to then play games whilst I can't go out so much.

Em x

[cherub]

Interested to hear what you say about the Wii fit Em - my OH has been thinking about getting one since Christmas as his siter's kids have one, but we weren't sure if it was worth it.

[fairyem]

Hi,

I haven't had my recon yet but had an mx in November. I spoke to a physio who said I could do any sport I was as long as I build up to it slowly, however obviously there are ones you can't do during chemo/rads etc. I've got one chemo left but through out my chemo (on the good days only of course) I have been able to do the following exercise- Ballet, Street dance, cycling, walking, longboarding, cycling and prob some others but my memory is crap! Additionally the best investment I made was a wii fit and some other wii exercise games. I like it because I can do it whenever I want, still in my PJ's if I'm feeling lazy. Plus my energy just zonks sometimes so I can just sit down.

I've wanted to do a bit of jogging but wasn't too keen on heading out somewhere then running out of energy. I've have done jogging on the wii though!

Hope you find something you enjoy.

Em x

[cherub]

I find yoga is very good for my affected arm because of the stretching into position. I also walk a lot as I'm lucky to live by the sea, so when the weather is fine I do up to 10 miles on the coastal path. On Fridays I do voluntary work assisting to teach cookery in a local church hall - I saw a poster advertising Tai Chi twice a week, so I'm thinking about giving that a go as well as I've always wanted to try it. I have a side to side stepper at home that I try to use when the weather is too bad for walking.

Realistically, I need to ramp things up a bit as I'm trying to lose weight. I'm on an NHS monitored scheme at the moment where I'm on 1700 cals a day, but I've gone from losing to maintaining. They don't want to adjust the calories and have told me to do more exercise before I get weighed again in May.

[heth47]

Hello All

I had a LD reconstuction in December and I am half way through my chemo with rads to follow. I'd like to get more active but not sure what to attempt.I used to jog and swim before. Physio said swimming would be ok but thats a no no at the moment until the treatments over and I read that the chlorine in the pool is not good with radiotherapy. I am not sure how the reconstruction will react to running. Any advice or stories of what works for you very welcome. Thanks Heather.