My post surgery / treatment ‘tush’ has finally found itself right back to the gym after 13 months and after gym induction, the other day, I now have myself a steady exercise plan that will not only keep those extra Tamoxifen pounds at bay, strengthen, tone but satisfy Dr Varmas orders against loosing weight!
My mind boggling with Dr Varmas’ advice; ‘don’t lose weight’, when in fact my BMI indicates I should probably be losing weight, Dr Knighton’s warning to watch for the Tamoxifen pounds and research telling me that a healthy weight and exercising regularly reduces chance of breast cancer reoccurrence..... I had been keen to sort my fitness routine out for a while, but balancing that has been tough with my house move and return to work. Pleased that those affairs are largely on track, I had no excuse but to take action!
As a returning member of Balance Gym the familiarity helped me make my way through that door, after a self imposed impasse about my way back to fitness!
I suspect that I could have been more active than I was this last year. I have read about some women that have been very active during treatment, but from a position of reflection, I have decided that everyone’s story is different and see that I did my best with the distractions of my 'cancer' year...there's no time in my life for 'should haves' anymore ...' Today is what counts, the most empowering day of our lives!
So, Chris, the very personable, Personal Trainer duly took me though a health check and my goals.... I wasn’t quite sure how to tell him that I didn’t want to lose tummy fat as I was harvesting my new boob on my belly.....so I didn’t, and spared the young man the embarrassment of such details, never the less when I explained my needs, that I wanted to improve movement in my left arm,strengthen and improve tone, without losing fat on my tummy...he understood and promptly came up with a plan for me.
The irony was not lost on Chris, when he advised me to increase my food intake as I increase my activity levels;‘healthy carb’s’ he said! It wasn’t quite the advice he usually gave, but he seemed to understand exactly what I wanted to achieve and made sure that the plan took into account some post treatment fatigue and my recent return to work.
I have been given a mixture of cardio and strength exercises and all in all a great job from Chris... With a review due in the new year, my fitness plan will evolve with me....so I’m on my merry way to achieving some 'semblance’ of my pre diagnosis condition, but steady I go as per Dr Knighton’s orders!
Apart from the traditional benefits of regular exercise, it has a critical role to play in the prevention of breast cancer and it’s reoccurrence and as such it HAS to be a long term lifestyle choice for me!
Check out the #Breakthrough Breast cancer site for research and more importantly lots of info and ideas to ‘Raise your pulse, reduce your risk’
I’m hoping to feel the benefit of my exercise program by the time I hit the ski slopes in January, I suspect I’ve left it too late this year to be fit enough to storm the slopes like the maniac l used to be..but hey, I’m glad to be back in action after breast cancer interrupted my ski season last year!
Make today the most empowering day of your life x
No comments:
Post a Comment