You did everything right. You ate well, worked out consistently, never smoked, drank plenty of water and even slept 7-8 hours each night! There you are, facing a cancer diagnosis and now learning how to continue on during and after all the surgeries and treatments finish. Well, that was ME!
I remember searching the internet to find others who worked out during chemo. I was looking for some kind of guidance on how to start exercising again. Could I lift weights again? How long should I wait before I start up? Will I ever do a push-up again? Do I even want to do a push-up again?!!
I found very little information. I stumbled across someone who ran throughout her chemo so I thought, well, I can try and at least keep moving! And so I did. I kept running very slowly for most of my treatments and then when I became much too drained and tired, I walked an hour everyday! I started to lift weights again about 2-3 weeks after my double mastectomy, once I felt I was getting my range of motion back. I started way back at the beginning. Lifting only 2 or 3 lb weights and then slowly working my way back up. Every 4-8 weeks I would increase the weight and eventually I was close to using the same weights I had used prior to my cancer diagnosis.
Someone said, “you will never do a push-up again.” So you know what that meant?! I would do a push-up again! I started with doing them against the wall, then with my hands on a bench, on my knees and eventually on my toes. They are not as pretty as they used to be but I can still do a push-up and that’s all that matters! Woo Hoo!!
Don’t let anyone or anything stop you. Set a goal for yourself and accomplish that goal no matter how long it may take or how difficult it may seem at this moment. I believe in you! Now you must believe in you!
XO
Me in the middle of my chemo and year of Herceptin infusions.