Patients who work out fare better!

ERomanO

That's what I was told by my docs/nurses, so I have embarked on a fitness quest and am on the hook for at least 16 sessions with a fitness class progam called "Orange Theory".  Oh my!  What did I get myself into!  So I partook in a free 1-hour session last Wed and lived to tell about it.  I was in a small class where most of the participants were young, athletic women sporting their fashionable leggings.  I, on the other hand, was the "detective Columbo" of the bunch - an old man with a disheveled look.  I didn't care... and neither did anyone else.  Don't think I spent the class time oggling over the young girls.  No, I was more worried about surviving!  Anyway, I made it through an intense one hour workout that seemed like it would be my demise, but was back to normal heart rate very quickly after finishing.  Of course, I took a nap as soon as I got back home, but it was much shorter than normal.

Who knows, maybe this will be my new "thing".

debbiel0

You are a brave man!   Good

You are a brave man!   Good for you!

ERomanO

Thanks!  I hope it's more

Thanks!  I hope it's more "motivation" than "bravery", but I'll take either.  My other hope is that this will give me incentive to eat healthy and sensibly so that I can lose a few pounds while keeping up my energy.  I guess this is also proof that radiation fatigue doesn't have to be a lifelong side effect.

debbiel0

ERomanO said:

Thanks!  I hope it's more

Thanks!  I hope it's more "motivation" than "bravery", but I'll take either.  My other hope is that this will give me incentive to eat healthy and sensibly so that I can lose a few pounds while keeping up my energy.  I guess this is also proof that radiation fatigue doesn't have to be a lifelong side effect.

I know trying to lose a few

I know trying to lose a few pounds is hard. Been there done that, now I have to fight to keep weight on.Both are difficult.  I lost 70 lbs and now 2 yrs later,  it's a daily challenge to not drop anymore and not give in to the  fatigue. Some days you have to dig deeper than others, but it is worth it in the end.  One of the few times being a stubborn old lady is beneficial!  Keep us posted on your progress. I am cheering for you!

ERomanO

debbiel0 said:

I know trying to lose a few

I know trying to lose a few pounds is hard. Been there done that, now I have to fight to keep weight on.Both are difficult.  I lost 70 lbs and now 2 yrs later,  it's a daily challenge to not drop anymore and not give in to the  fatigue. Some days you have to dig deeper than others, but it is worth it in the end.  One of the few times being a stubborn old lady is beneficial!  Keep us posted on your progress. I am cheering for you!

I've been on the "trying to

I've been on the "trying to gain" end as well, but that was just during treatments and for a few weeks afterwards.  Once I got enough of my taste back the pounds all came back, and that's certainly not what I had hoped for.  I had only lost 30 lbs, but losing them that way (basically being on an unintentional Adkins/Keto diet) wasn't the way to do it.  I need to find a good compromise and I think including a couple intense workouts each week will help a lot.

[Deleted User]

You make me laugh

This is neat because I’ve been thinking about doing something like that to meet people other than coworkers also.  I had fatigue after radiation treatment and kept working my up to get back my stamina.  Currently I walk 3+ miles a day and stick to a healthy regimen with some ice cream and a few pops mixed in.  I don’t know what your workout involves but if it puts a smile on your face, that’s good.  I’m going to pick up the sticks again and pound some dimple balls.  Keep up the good work EromanO!

ERomanO

Seige said:

You make me laugh

This is neat because I’ve been thinking about doing something like that to meet people other than coworkers also.  I had fatigue after radiation treatment and kept working my up to get back my stamina.  Currently I walk 3+ miles a day and stick to a healthy regimen with some ice cream and a few pops mixed in.  I don’t know what your workout involves but if it puts a smile on your face, that’s good.  I’m going to pick up the sticks again and pound some dimple balls.  Keep up the good work EromanO!

Thanks, Seige!

These classes are a one-hour endurance workout involving 20 minutes of rowing machine, 20 minutes of treadmill, and 20 minutes of weights/bench/floor/cables/etc.  Everyone has a heart rate monitor and there are tv screens in the room so you can see your heartrate level, which is based on your age and weight (my max heart rate might be 145 bpm whereas someone in their 20s might go up to 200).  My average heart rate for the session is around 130-135.  Some of the exercises are very difficult for me (i.e. floor exercises), but each routine has options for people at all levels.

Two years ago I was riding my bike for 20-40 miles at a time.  Last year the big "C" came along and pretty much shut me down.  i did end up going for three 15 mile rides in Sept, but that was it.  I'm not exactly new to the whole fitness thing, but I knew that I wasn't getting it done doing it on my own.  I walk my dog a mile+ almost everyday, but I just could get myslef to go down the basement, by myself, to walk on my treadmill and to use my weight machine and dumbbells.  So I needed something to get me motivated, and I think I found it.  Onlyt two classes in and I can see muscle definition in my legs that I haven't seen in a long time!  My upper body muscles are coming along as well.

I hesitated to get a membership at the YMCA because I've heard all too much about how it's a bunch of people that do a routine, then strut their stuff afterwards, and fashionistas showing off their latest workout fashions - like a room full of narcissists.  Not for me!  At OrangeTheory there is none of that, or, at least, very little.  There are people of all ages and all levels of fitness and they show up a few minutes before class and most probably have to prepare themselves mwentally for what they know if about to take place, so there is no strutting.

I realized many years ago that I stink badly at golf and that it was a waste of my time. Lol. May your handicap be low and sand traps avoided.