Fitness tips for cancer patients

Fitness Tips for Cancer Patients

It is essential to stay active when dealing with cancer. It may also be one of the most difficult tasks to accomplish on a regular basis due to the side effects of treatment or the limiting aspects of the disease itself.

There are a few things to consider when approaching exercise as a cancer patient.

• Be aware of your limits, accept that you may not be able to run a mile like you previously were able to.
• Fatigue is a large part of having and treating the disease.
• There are going to be days that you simply do not want to exercise.
The key is to plan around these issues and create built in methods of encouragement to keep participating in daily activity.

You may find that there is a certain time of day that you seem to have more energy. Keep this in mind and plan to go for a walk, work in the garden, or go shopping. Exercise does not mean that you are required to go to a gym.

Provide multiple methods of activity to indulge in. On days that are good, and energy is high, participate in more rigorous activity like a good jog or lifting weights. The days that are difficult to get out of bed, plan for easier activities, consider stretching, yoga, or Tai Chi.

Start with small goals, then extend if still feeling well enough to continue. For example, set the goal of 15 minutes of planned activity a day. If it is a good day and the 15 minutes is completed, continue exercising if able to.

Plan to participate in something that brings enjoyment or interest, this will encourage participation.

• Walk on trails rather than on the neighborhood streets
• Go to a park or a dog park
• Volunteer with a school
• Participate in arts and crafts or gardening
• Take a class to learn yoga or tai chi
• Visit a museum, art gallery, or mall

Invite friends or family members to participate in the exercise. This is a great bonding experience and makes the time pass more rapidly. It also offers encouragement to continue the effort.

Physical activity is important for people suffering from all types of cancer, including breast cancer, bladder cancer and even rare types like papillary mesothelioma. Discuss with your physician the right activity level for your current health. While regular exercise is an excellent method to manage stress and boost the immune system, too much can cause unwanted complications.

Liz Davies is a recent college graduate and aspiring writer especially interested in health and wellness. She wants to make a difference in people’s lives because she sees how cancer has devastated so many people in this world. Liz also likes running, playing lacrosse, reading and playing with her dog, April.

Day 84-90 Umm...I didn't fall off the wagon at the end here...

I just got too busy to come in and update my blog. I finished strong and put together a video that has been getting some really good reviews from my peers. I had a lot of fun making the video and I really enjoyed the P90X program. I will absolutely do another cycle, but first...I'm going to do Insanity. In fact...I'll be starting it this Monday so I'll be starting this blog over again on Day 1!

If you'd like to watch my results video you can do so here...

http://www.youtube.com/getfitreedman

Day 83 - Kenpo X (But I did Legs and Back + Ab Ripper X)

Legs and Back...OOF!...this workout is always a killer. The wall squats are such a killer! I also did cross legged situps for the first time tonight...mostly because a buddy of mine gave me a hard time for not doing it that way by now. It certainly was harder!

I did the workout tonight with my buddy Jay and we took a few pictures here and there...you can see them on my Facebook page.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2152352&id=18311604&l=2fdb210b92

Day 82 - Legs and Back + Ab Ripper X (But I did Yoga with Jay)

Jay and I came up to TCU and did Yoga X in one of the lecture halls...it was a decent enough workout, but I've decided that Yoga is one of those workouts that I really do need a partner with me to do it "right".

Day 81 - Yoga X (I played some soccer instead)

I was planning to do Yoga X before I went and kicked the ball around, but I ran out of time and after I finished kicking the ball around my legs were worn out and I was really sore...I'll push everything back a day this week and finish up on my "off day".

Day 80 - Back and Biceps + Ab Ripper X

Great work out - I'm a little sad that I won't be doing this one again for a while. Last time I'll be doing this work out for a while...I've got some pictures from it on my Facebook page and some video uploaded to my youtube account - http://www.youtube.com/getfitreedman.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2152072&id=18311604&l=eb2f06a42b

Day 79 - Plyometrics

Once again I was up at TCU doing the Plyometrics...I don't have any pictures from it, but posting this reminds me that I did take pictures of it last time so I'm going to go back and edit last weeks blog entry about Plyo. I was on the phone with a friend of mine for the first half of the workout. It was pretty hard to talk and breathe at the same time! No knee problems still...my hamstrings are hanging in there too! I'm nearly done! TEN MORE DAYS!

Day 78 - Chest, Shoulders, Triceps + Ab Ripper X

I did Ab Ripper X first tonight...I think I like doing it that way...It doesn't happen very often, but there has been a time or two where I just didn't have it in me to do Ab Ripper at the end of my work out...this way...I already had it done and I'm not about to quit the "main" workout early. Chest, Shoulders, and Triceps is such a great work out...I took a bunch of pictures of it tonight with the camera on a timer/tripod. I'm not going to upload them here...I'll link the gallery on Facebook.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2151781&id=18311604&l=80e2d86cfe

Day 77 - X Stretch or Rest (or Soccer!)

Well I had a couple or options today...I could have made up for at least one of the workouts I missed this week or I could just focus on the game and try to work as hard as possible during it. I opted to go the game route. I should have done Legs and Back or Kenpo X too, but I didn't. In any event, we lost the game...badly...I'm so sick of people not coming to our games (to play). We need more reliable players. I also slightly pulled my left hamstring about 3/4 of the way through the game. So irritating...

Day 76 - Kenpo X (Or Moving Day!)

I had a couple of errands to run today and I slept in (too late). When I finally got around to taking care of my errands it was also time to help my friend move. We ended up moving till after 11pm...in other words...no Kenpo X. ARGH!

Day 75 - Legs and Back + Ab Ripper X (skipped due to party)

My darling wife had a celebration dinner that lasted all evening...we were busy with that and I was completely stuffed afterwards. There wasn't any way in the world I was going to be able to do Legs and Back...or Ab Ripper X. So yeah...skipped it....bummer.

Day 74 - Yoga X

I did Yoga X tonight...it was broken into little bits here and there as I snapped some pictures of the poses. It made the routine a lot easier than it normally was so that was good and bad...for the most part I really need someone else to be taking the pictures during Yoga. It's not good to break up the routine like that...I took a bunch of pictures...you can view them here...

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2151274&id=18311604&l=ad2bede67a

Day 73 - Back and Biceps + Ab Ripper X (Skipped Ab Ripper due to time/soccer match)

Well I got off work about the usual time today, but instead of getting right to my work out like I had intended I decided I'd take a little nap for a while. My darling wife joined me about the time I was going to get up and she asked me to lay there with her a while longer...so of course...I stayed. I woke back up a short time later and started cooking dinner for myself. I also got on board the Redline express! I put my dinner in the fridge and cranked out Back and Biceps....such a great work out....I still wish I had a pull up bar though. After my work out I had a light dinner and headed out for my soccer game. The game was great - we won 7 to 2 and I got a hat trick. I'm not sure if it was the Redline or what, but I was cramping a little during the game....and in the strangest of places...my thumbs! I'd kick the ball and my thumb would curl up on itself...I'd have to use the other hand to straighten it. The good news is that I don't have anymore soccer games during the week so I shoudln't be on the Redline for any more of the games.

No pics...

Day 72 - Plyometrics

I made quite a production out of today's Plyometrics work out...I hooked up my camera to the tripod and shot a bunch of different videos and stills. I drank my NO SHOTGUN too late again though...I think I drank it around 10pm....so I was riding the Redline until 3am this morning...I'm a wee bit tired right now. It was interesting to do the work out with the camera going...I had slightly longer breaks between the moves because I'd need to reset the camera. It allowed for me to increase my depth and intensity a little, but at the cost of overall speed. Who knows whats best...

Some of these pictures are pretty humorous...

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2151006&id=18311604&l=382d772379

Day 71 - Chest, Shoulders, Triceps + Ab Ripper X

A buddy from work came by and did this work out with me. It was his first time to ever do a P90X routine, but he'd seen some of them before. He's in good shape already...I believe he's training to run a marathon. He did well...got through the entire work out...even Ab Ripper X. We each had some studder steps along the way of course, but overall it was a great work out. I felt bad that he had to use the bands one a few of the moves...I've only got the one set of dumbbells.

Day 70 - X Stretch (but I did Legs and Back + Ab Ripper X)

I was dragging all day today, but I knew I needed to get this work out in...so I made up my mind...drank down my NO SHOTGUN and VROOOM! away I went! That drink certaily gives you a kick in the pants and gets you motivated to work out...I need to stop drinking it so late though! I didn't get to bed until 4am! It was a brutal work out and Ab Ripper X wasn't any easier...I think I can tell now during Ab Ripper X that I've missed a few of the work outs with it. It's back to being rather difficult...either that or my form has been improving lately and I'm just working that much harder during. I like the latter...better...

Day 69 - Kenpo X (I did Insanity instead)

My buddy Jay and I went up to my work and found us a spot to do Insanity...it's not that it requires that much room, it's just that I prefer to jump up and down on a solid surface and not on my pier and beam floor. The work out was just as hard, if not harder, than the last time I did it...I still die off doing the up and down, jump around push up thing...It was a brutal work out and I was glad to have done it. It makes up for skipping Yoga...thats for sure! I'll edit this post and add the pictures when I upload them...

Day 68 - Legs and Back + Ab Ripper X (I chickened out)

I'm a few days behind on my posts, but I remember well enough to know that I didn't work out on Friday...I know...I'm a slacker!

Day 67 - Yoga X (But I did Shoudlers and Arms + Ab Ripper X)

If you've been following along you'd know that I skipped the work out yesterday due to my soccer game and so I'm a day behind this week. I'll just move everything ahead a day and skip the rest day so I will be doing Kenpo this Sunday. Tonight was the 2nd night for me to use my NO SHOTGUN pre-workout drink. My incredibly sexy wife was teasing me because I was pretty much hopped up on goof balls as a result of the energy that this drink had given me. I was all over the place...and extremely pumped to get my work out started. It's funny too because before I took the drink I was kinda dragging a little and wasn't sure about the work out for tonight. That all changed a few minutes after drinking down that cocktail! I had a terrific work out and enjoyed some hard work during Ab Ripper X. I will admit to skipping the wide leg situps though. I didn't skip them because they're hard though...I skipped them because I hate them with a passion. I think they're boring as hell and take forever to do. I know I shouldn't have skipped them, but I was just not patient enough. I also need to get better on my diet these last 3 weeks. I've been eating a little too much crap lately...I don't think it's shown up yet on my body, but it's not a good practice to start up...especially not this late in the game! I took a couple of pictures during the work out...but they're not of the routines...just of me being a tool and flexing in front of the mirror...here is one of them.

I didn't bother to crop it or anything...

Day 66 - Shoulders and Arms + Ab Ripper X (or maybe just a soccer game)

I had every intention of doing it all tonight...my soccer game was at 7:30pm and I planned on getting my work out in after that...well it was a hard fought game and we ended up "winning" but the final goal (scored by me) was disallowed due to the rules stating that we can only have a total of 7 guy goals scored. That would have made it 8 for the team and 3 for me personally. So sadly...the game was officially a tie even though everyone knows that we scored more points than they did...oh well. I was pretty banged up after the game though so I elected to skip tonights work out and move it to tomorrow.