Exercise and breast cancer
There’s been quite a bit of discussion online the last few weeks
regarding the benefits of exercise and whether what we are reading on Google is
to be believed. We therefore thought it might be helpf...
Forum Discussion
@Eastmum It's never too early to start!
Definitely begin with walking. First sure you've got good shoes, proper sneakers. Go to one of those places that film/measure your gait. Athlete's Foot do it. That way you can get the right support. It makes a big difference. There's actually a thread somewhere here about it!
Start small, no bull in a china shop all or nothing stuff! How much time per day can you devote to it? Minimum 30 mins, and build up from there if you can spare the time.
Download an exercise app onto your phone. I use Runkeeper, it tracks your pace and logs each walk so you can see your improvement.
Are you good to exercise alone or better with a friend? Enlist support if it's the latter.
Increasingly exercise intensity is identified as the key. Start slow and steady but as you get fitter, walk faster. Include some slopes in your walks if you live in a hilly area. I do and I know when my fitness is improving when I get to the top of those hills and am panting less!
Variety is key so mix up your routes.
Like most things in life, once the habit is formed, the activity is easier. If your schedule permits, try to exercise at the same time each day. You'll soon find that if you skip a day you'll get antsy.
Exercise has been shown to help reduce side effects of chemo. I walked almost everyday. In the first week it was a short slow stagger, but climbed up for the rest of each cycle. And quite apart from anything else, it's brilliant for your mental health. If you do nothing else on those days, at least you did your walk.
And when you're feeling better about your fitness and your doctors approve, you can ask about doing an oncology exercise programme. Or ask now and do both at the same time. Some of these programmes are water based if that floats your boat (he he, see what I did there?! #sorrynotsorry), while others are gym based. I'm starting mine in June.
I've just lost 20kg, 5kgs before diagnosis and the rest since, through two operations and chemo. I've done it with walking and being sensible with my diet. I did give up alcohol, except for high days and holidays, and I see a dietician who advised a protein rich diet through chemo. You can get a care plan through your GP to help with that.
Carpe diem and all that. Go for a walk today, right now! Best of luck. K xox
Definitely begin with walking. First sure you've got good shoes, proper sneakers. Go to one of those places that film/measure your gait. Athlete's Foot do it. That way you can get the right support. It makes a big difference. There's actually a thread somewhere here about it!
Start small, no bull in a china shop all or nothing stuff! How much time per day can you devote to it? Minimum 30 mins, and build up from there if you can spare the time.
Download an exercise app onto your phone. I use Runkeeper, it tracks your pace and logs each walk so you can see your improvement.
Are you good to exercise alone or better with a friend? Enlist support if it's the latter.
Increasingly exercise intensity is identified as the key. Start slow and steady but as you get fitter, walk faster. Include some slopes in your walks if you live in a hilly area. I do and I know when my fitness is improving when I get to the top of those hills and am panting less!
Variety is key so mix up your routes.
Like most things in life, once the habit is formed, the activity is easier. If your schedule permits, try to exercise at the same time each day. You'll soon find that if you skip a day you'll get antsy.
Exercise has been shown to help reduce side effects of chemo. I walked almost everyday. In the first week it was a short slow stagger, but climbed up for the rest of each cycle. And quite apart from anything else, it's brilliant for your mental health. If you do nothing else on those days, at least you did your walk.
And when you're feeling better about your fitness and your doctors approve, you can ask about doing an oncology exercise programme. Or ask now and do both at the same time. Some of these programmes are water based if that floats your boat (he he, see what I did there?! #sorrynotsorry), while others are gym based. I'm starting mine in June.
I've just lost 20kg, 5kgs before diagnosis and the rest since, through two operations and chemo. I've done it with walking and being sensible with my diet. I did give up alcohol, except for high days and holidays, and I see a dietician who advised a protein rich diet through chemo. You can get a care plan through your GP to help with that.
Carpe diem and all that. Go for a walk today, right now! Best of luck. K xox