Lighting Up Again: New Beginnings in Exercise After Surgery

Well, once upon a time, I worked with Tracy Anderson's Metamorphosis (and my own healthy eating plan) for 30 days and lost about a bazillion inches and maybe twenty pounds. What a boot camp! Then I hurt myself.

So I regrouped, went back to simple, more respectful, light jogging 30 minutes a day mixed with relaxing 3 mile walks 3-5 times a week and two 20 minute Callanetics workouts a week. I continued  with my great healthy food: Yumm and good for you and great for a fit you. I continued to get into great healthy shape.

But then I got diagnosed with cancer. Oh no. Please. No.

I went on the scared-out-of-my-wits diet, i.e., I couldn't eat and I walked like crazy. I lost another ten to fifteen pounds from stress alone. I do not recommend this as a form of losing weight.

Blue Sky Bulb by Pixomar courtesy of http://www.freedigitalphotos.net

 

But knowing I was heading back into/towards needing a strong base of health under me, ahead of my surgery, I resumed my once a week Callanetics workout and will add in the second one as I feel stronger. And on the morning of surgery, I jogged 30 minutes just to de-stress as much as I could ahead of my surgery. Yeah. I really did.

It is now four days since my surgery. I've been too tired to walk even. I tried it the day after surgery and my husband practically had to carry me home. But that was just 24 hours after major surgery. I decided sleep was what my body wanted and needed and I've been giving myself plenty of that. But today is my *Tuesday* for Callanetics (I normally like to work this Tuesdays and Saturdays, but have promised myself Tuesdays for now) and four days after surgery so I decided I could do this because it IS gentle enough for even post-surgery.

Afterwards, I felt good enough that I pulled out my new DVD of the new Callanetics cardio to try it out. I did it gently. It was very calming, very respectful, more of a Ballet workout with soothing piano music. It was *perfect* for me as I begin, again, to re-establish my healthy patterns for post-surgery and for pre-radiation treatment. Exercise and eating well will support me in this too.

I'll let you know how it feels over time, but for now, it is a movement forward for my health and my joie de vivre.

-bbffair

Easter Heart - Renewed Life - Joy

 My Dear and Wonderful Friends and Fellows on the Path of Light,

I had my surgery this morning. I am home. Everything went just great. My relief is immeasurable.

The lump was removed and they went back again for an edge of an area that had not quite enough of a clear margin and got it.

Isn't it so cool that they can tell right then and there how to get the cancer and the clear margin.

The nuclear medicine and photos showed very clearly where my closest nodes were and in the right place. They only took 2 lymph nodes. We still have to wait five days for pathology on those, but my hero doctor told my husband that they look normal and very good.

My pre-surgery panic, anxiety, depression, and fear is all but completely gone as I feel such relief.

I am so grateful that I have the University of Michigan Cancer Center around and supporting me.

If all I have to do is radiation therapy and drug therapy, I can handle that. Maybe even with joy. The joy of my life!

I feel my life unfolding before me like a new road, a healthy, loving, good, and long one.

Your connections to me and mine to you are extraordinary and beautiful and filled with light and profound gratitude. 

I love and appreciate you all.

With love and health,

Bobbi

-bbffair

*Update: The pathology report came in yesterday afternoon. My nodes are clean. I am cancer free! Yeah! Yeah! Like I said, I will be the best radiation patient they ever had.