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NapQueen posted an update in the group
Also Working On It 8 years, 2 months ago Hello! As of Thursday I finish my treatment for lymphoma (which involved chemo and radiotherapy). I used to be so fit and strong, but cancer and the treatment have definitely changed that!
My cancer centre has an exercise physiologist, and I’m going to a rehab gym. So far it’s going really well – I do two 45 minute resistance sessions a week, and I’ve been going for 5km walks without getting totally wiped out. I just have to remember to take things really slowly and be gentle on myself – I’m used to going being gung ho!
My goals for the next month are to go for 1 hour walks every day (and start adding in bursts of running if I can), try to do 3 x resistance training a week, and go for a few short cycles (I used to ride a lot).
Congratulations on getting through treatment! That’s major. It must have been so hard.
Thankyou :) It was pretty tough but I’m so glad to be alive and (almost) well now!
Congratulations!! My friend just got through two sets of chemo and a double mastectomy and has been chewing at the bit to finally get working out again!
Just some advice:
Rest and nutrition are just as important factors as the actual exercising.
Your body has been running a full Ironman Triathlon plus a World Championship Cross Fit Competition with the CHOP, or derivative thereof.
My advice would be to give your body two, three weeks to let the chemo wash out, ease back into a regular, normal, healthy eating pattern, see how your intestines find their groove back and take it very easy.
If you exercise at 80%capacity, you can exercise every day. More than that and you need at least 36 hours for regeneration.
Therefore my advice would be: 30 Minute walks every other day, with an occasional 45 minute gig in between, up your resistance training the next week, hold that pattern for two, check in with yourself, and then make sure you get your ass on a bike, but off it in ten minutes.
I didn’t have a chemo but started from zero for other reasons, and as someone who managed a lot of her emotional weight through exercise and was used to giving a 110% during workouts and good at pushing past my limits, I had to learn to respect them. Also humility and patience.
The first weeks I kept wiping out for the silliest reasons, like 15 minutes on the rowing machine? Come on! But it took me almost a week to regenerate. Commuting 20 minutes on the bike? Not an option the next day. It’s also an age thing. It just takes longer now to build up some basic stamina, and one isn’t as invincible as with 17.
So, do take it easy, because wiping out and having to bench yourself all the time is just super depressing after a while, take ist from me.
And: What’s four or six or eight weeks more in your work out schedule? You will get fit again and it will be such a joy!
I wish you so much happiness!
ami
Thankyou! Yeah, I keep telling myself not to be too hard on myself, but it’s difficult not to be constantly comparing my current state to what it used to be.
So far the trick has been exercising with friends – especially friends who are less intense/fit than I used to be, but more fit than I am now. Like, this morning I went for a bike ride with a friend who is just getting into cycling. It was really good because we just kept a pretty slow pace and didn’t go too far, but I could also help her with road confidence and stuff, while she really helped me feel joyful and happy about just being back on my bike (without stressing about speed and distance!). Babysteps!