Exercise is helpful before during and after cancer.
This is not new information for any of you I’m sure.
You may not be aware of the abundance of research to support the benefits of exercise during
cancer but nonetheless on some level you know that keeping moving is good for you.
With the caveat from my last email around mixed messages you get while having treatment
-Do more,
-Don’t exercise
-Keep moving
-Rest
-Don’t lose muscle mass during treatment
How could you not be confused….
So all that aside, we know we need to do something to move our bodies, so what’s the problem
then?
Just tell people to exercise and do more
Easy peasy.
Simple
Is it that simple though?
When your skin is literally burning after radiation?
When you are crippled with fatigue you cannot lift your head from the pillow?
When you are going through chemo and you are laying on your bathroom floor taking a break from
the constant nausea and vomiting?
When you have just got a cancer diagnosis and are in a complete state of shock..
Just keep moving though
150 MINUTES PER WEEK….
RUN UP A HILL….
GET YOUR HEART RATE UP…..
Why do the majority of the people who do not have cancer struggle to meet the national guidelines?
Because we are complex creatures.
Creating change is hard
Creating new habits is hard.
Just getting moving without any understanding of your nervous system is often more detrimental
than helpful.
Lets break that down.
So you’ve just got a diagnosis of cancer. You are in shock
Your body (nervous system) goes into a state of fight flight or freeze.
Your muscles tense.
Your breathing pattern changes.
You have surgery. Scar tissue develops. Joints get stiff.
You have to stay completely still for radiation treatment every day for weeks.
You are exhausted from chemotherapy and end up most of the following week or 2 in bed.
Your losing muscle mass.
So just move more? That will help?
Not exactly…
Jumping from 0-100 without calming your body, addressing changes in breathing patterns and
tension in the body can cause other musculoskeletal injuries down the line.
This is the missing piece when it comes to exercise and cancer.
Breathwork, stretching, gentle pacing.
Sounds simple but if you are used to all go it can be hard to slow down.
Simple doesn’t mean easy.
Reach out for support.
It is possible to get back to what you want.
Im always here if you have any questions.
Catherine
Xx
