diet and exercise

newboobs

Has anyone changed their diet or exercise/fitness plan since diagnosis or treatment? I struggle with reducing stress and those "drama" focussed folks in my life. It scares me sometimes. Do y'all feel the same or differently?

3cbrca

Absolutely - I made mine more consistent and less aggresive. A lot of swimming. There are published studies that show women who do regular aerobic excercise have better outcomes. I was able to keep it up for most of chemo, then got back in right after bilat mastectomy, but ran out of steam at the end of radiation. I haven't gotten back into it since I finished rt 3 weeks ago, so I am going to a hypnotist this weekend to help me get excercise back into my schedule now that I'm back FT at work. I know its good for warding off fatigue, better sleeping and general well-being.

24242

3cbrca said:

Absolutely - I made mine more consistent and less aggresive. A lot of swimming. There are published studies that show women who do regular aerobic excercise have better outcomes. I was able to keep it up for most of chemo, then got back in right after bilat mastectomy, but ran out of steam at the end of radiation. I haven't gotten back into it since I finished rt 3 weeks ago, so I am going to a hypnotist this weekend to help me get excercise back into my schedule now that I'm back FT at work. I know its good for warding off fatigue, better sleeping and general well-being.

I think one has to, Especially women. It is too bad that we know more about the things we shouldn'be doing as women after such a fight as my own breast cance. Even though an Athlete I knew nothing about hormone and risks for women when it comes to drinking and smoking. One has to find that out after the years of abuse.
I think it is easy to see that there should be many changes since I am sure we can all look back and see that for years we had problems and often were not well. I didn't really realize that till I finally got my health back after years of fighting for the quality in my life. I had watched what I ate and exercised my whole life but that didn't seem to keep the big C at bay. All I knew it tooks years to get like this and it would take many more to finally see my way clear and have a life to live. I am in better shape than I have ever been though I struggle with a few lbs. I try to eat most natural forms of food and get back to the water.
I am incorporating things into my diet that I wouldn't have looked at before feeling moderation is the key.
I have to say that life can be better but it takes good hard work on our parts but life is like that anyways...
It is a struggle and always will be but the rewards are felt more quickly than one can imagine.
Tara

newboobs

24242 said:

I think one has to, Especially women. It is too bad that we know more about the things we shouldn'be doing as women after such a fight as my own breast cance. Even though an Athlete I knew nothing about hormone and risks for women when it comes to drinking and smoking. One has to find that out after the years of abuse.
I think it is easy to see that there should be many changes since I am sure we can all look back and see that for years we had problems and often were not well. I didn't really realize that till I finally got my health back after years of fighting for the quality in my life. I had watched what I ate and exercised my whole life but that didn't seem to keep the big C at bay. All I knew it tooks years to get like this and it would take many more to finally see my way clear and have a life to live. I am in better shape than I have ever been though I struggle with a few lbs. I try to eat most natural forms of food and get back to the water.
I am incorporating things into my diet that I wouldn't have looked at before feeling moderation is the key.
I have to say that life can be better but it takes good hard work on our parts but life is like that anyways...
It is a struggle and always will be but the rewards are felt more quickly than one can imagine.
Tara

242, thanks for the great inspiration! I am currently out of town with 6 of my Relay for Life buddies- and they're all eating so healthy. I didn't realize how much I "eat on the run." I definitely will work to improve how I'm living :-)

Karen

chenheart

Well, New...I am sometimes conflicted about the whole diet/exercise routine! I was always a non-smoker, fruit and veggie eater, exerciser, and yet I wasn't able to prevent BC. Post BC I am still a non-smoker, fruit and veggie eater and an exerciser, but I also rebel and drink alcohol! I don't want a recurrence, and I do take diet and exercise into account in my daily life. By the same token, I am not willing to never have a cocktail just to prolong my life, either! I am not a fatalist, but everything is so "iffy" anyway, that I am doing as much as I am willing to do to stay reasonably healthy! I suppose I could excerise 30 mins a day, forgo carbs, forgo alcohol, and end up "dying of nothing", eventually!
I had the honor of meeting you in person, New~you are physically, spritually, and emotionally beautiful. And any "weight issues" you may have just add to your young Paula Deen look-a like lovliness! :-) Any changes you feel are necessary or beneficial, make them for YOU!

seof

Personally, I feel like the information about what to eat or not to eat or all that stuff is overwhelming in quantity and often contradictory. I am in chemo treatment and the literature I got from the hospital is what I am going by. I have been extremely fortunate that I have not felt sick yet, so have been able to eat what I feel like eating. I have always tried to follow "everything in moderation". I am more concious of what I eat and how it does or does not affect how I feel (reduce the raw veg's when I get diarhea, eat less spicy food if I get nauseated, etc), but I would not say I have made any big changes. As far as other folks "advice", I thank them for their good intentions and let it go in one ear and out the other, unless it seems significant to me, then I ask the Dr. For example, My Sister Died of cancer in 2003. Now that I have it, Mom is forever sending me articles about how something or other is causing cancer according to somebody's study (red wine causes one type of cancer according to so-and-so, but it reduces another type accordint to somebody else...so do you drink or not? My sister was a near-vegeterian who was very physically active and she got cancer. I have been one step up from a couch potato and have struggled with being overweight because of it, though I know better, and I have it...whachagonnado? I definitely think we have enough stress as survivors without adding stressing over diet and excersize. Do what makes you feel healthy and happy! If your friends are saying things that scare you, try something like, "Thanks for your concern. Right now I feel like my Doctor and I have worked out the best plan for me, and I have all the information I need. I will let you know when I want you to look up something else for me. I would really appreciate it if you could spend your time looking for funny cards, or just come take a walk with me.." You will think of the best suggestions for how they can help you in other ways. If they really want to help, and you point out it an gentle way that what they are doing is not help, they should be willing to do as you ask. If not, You may just have to take it with a grain of salt and ignore it...Like I do with Mom.

Do what's right for YOU, seof

ireneingeorgia

Haven't really changed much, trying though.
Walked twice last week, but with this heat find it hard. As for stress, life goes on whether you've been through the beast or not, the stress has not seemed to go anywhere.
Hoep you're well.
Love
Irene