Share your workout regiment

[vickie]

Thanks so much, now I have a little more convidence to try these things I've wanted to for so long, I think with my meditation routine these will be great compliments to my overall health and well being! And if I'm lucky maybe a little toning and physical fitness!
Vickie

[ScrapHeap]

WOW! Tony!! That is remarkable. I THOUGHT I was doing pretty well. But after reading what you are doing after such a short recovery period..... it kinda blows me away... in a good way.

I have to be honest. My workout routine has degraded. No. Dissolved. Some of it was due to dealing with complications and limitations over time. Soon after, complacency set it. It always icy or muddy here in winter. I use to walk a lot. This will return with better weather. But I have no excuse for not pushing it here at home other than lack of dedicated equipment. I use to work hard at home. After reading your post I am motivated to get back on my horse and ride, so to speak. Thanks for that!

I use to do rehab 3x a week and I worked like a mad man......

20 minutes on the stationary bike on medium hard resistance. 3x10 sets of front leg lifts (for the quads) @70 lbs. 3x10 sets of leg presses @70 lbs per and 3x10 set both legs @150 lbs. 2x10 sets of stair steppers forward/backwards and 2x10 sets of the same left/right. 2x10 sets per leg on the hip machine and 2x10 sets fore/aft, all @50 lbs. Wall squats 3x10 and lower leg raises 3x10. I finished by sitting in a rolling chair and pushing it w/my lower legs to run laps around the room, 3 laps forwards and 3 laps backwards. On off days it was stairs at home, stomach crunches, walks outdoors and lots of stretching.

Now it's some band resistance exercises and a lots of stairs. Stairs mostly out of necessity. BOTH bathrooms are up there. But I do a lot of extras for the exercise. I can't do now what I was doing then. Yet I feel I have improved in balance and stability where I've lost my stamina. Kinda weird huh.

Thanks again Tony and everyone for sharing. It's motivational.

[gotgear]

Tony,

I really appreciate hearing from everybody for both inspiration and ideas. I had my surgery 18 months ago and have tackled rehab like a madman. I workout 5-6 days a week and feel both guilt and physical issues if I don't. During the winter I start out w/15-30 min on a stationary bike, then spend another 30-40 min lifting weights, alternating different muscles, but focusing on my legs at least 3 times a week. I also spend 10 mins doing abs and then another 10 mins of stretching. I find focusing on my legs and stretching to be the two most important things I do.

During the summer I like to go on long bike rides as often as possible, keeping a good 15 to 20mph pace for at least an hour. I ride my bike because I can't run at all and can only walk for a couple of blocks before the pain in my feet forces me to sit down.

If there is one piece of advice I can give, it is to tackle rehab like your life depends on it, because it does. Push yourself no matter how down you get. Rehab and exercise can only do two things only, make you feel better and make you healthier.

[Tmasgio]

Everyone,
Thank you so much for sharing like Linda always says there is life after these tumors. I recently purchased a new bike on Friday and took it out for it's first ride. It was great! I only went 15 miles as I have been battling a cold. Yuck!

Keep trying as we will never know the full potential of our bodies ability to heal itself and compensate for whatever we have lost. I have learned that there is other ways to enjoy activities it was just that I had to let go of the past and embrace what is happening today.

Spring is here so lets enjoy it!

Tony

[Think Positive]

Hi everyone. I have a Bowflex machine at home that I love!! I even wrote it off on my taxes last year as physical therapy equipment. I also love to do Pilates. I have various levels of DVD's that I go off of depending on how I'm feeling. There are of course certain "poses/excercises" that I can't do correctly or even at all, but I give it my best! One last thing that I do is ride a recumbent bike.

I can definitely say that when I go awhile without working out I have more pain and it doesn't take me long to get back on track. I encourage everyone to work out AT LEAST 2x/week.

Kim

[aliclement]

Before my surgery, I worked out, but made excuses all the time that resulted in my working out less than I should. Now, post surgery, I work out like my life depends on it (as gotgear said). I don't think I would be healthy enough to keep up with my two young boys if I didn't.

I go to the YMCA 4 times a week, twice for cardio (treadmill and recumbant bike) and twice for strength training. Once a week I go to a stretching class and I try to stretch at home every day.

I have recently started trying out some classes, such as yoga and pilates. I've found that often when I think I CAN'T do something, I'm surprised to find that I CAN.

My advice is: Know your limitations so you don't hurt yourself, but challenge yourself whenever possible. Don't let anyone tell you you can't make any more progress just because you've hit the two year benchmark. I am 2 years and 2 months post surgery and I am still making progress.

Alison