Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Guest Blogger David Haas! Exercise Suggestions for Cancer Survivors.

Choose Your Exercise Carefully
Science Daily reports cancer patients, who were once told to rest and to avoid straining themselves during and after treatment, are now being instructed to become more energetic through exercise. If you are in the process of recovering from mesothelioma, or even if treatment is fairly far in your past, you may feel a little nervous about the idea of exercise. Recovering from cancer takes a lot of energy and if you have never really exercised before, you may not know where to begin. If you’ve never been the sort to go to the gym, consider these alternatives for getting fit.
Mall Walking
Mall walking allows you to walk in a sheltered environment while having plenty to see and do. Conveniently enough, many malls are even set up a lot like a track, with an open area in the middle. Walk a few rounds at the mall early in the morning and you’ll find that walking in general seems a lot less daunting. Hook a pedometer to your leg to figure out how far you are going. If you want to add a fun motivational aspect to it, match your distance to a map; try walking across the state, or even the country!
Martial Arts
Martial arts help you get fit while also teaching you to defend yourself. They are a great way to instill more confidence in yourself and they also help you trust your body when you might have trouble doing so. Find a martial art that matches your philosophy. For example, tae kwon do is a Korean martial art that tends to have a slightly militaristic bent, while aikido is a Japanese martial art that emphasizes self-defense and slower, flowing movements. Look into the martial arts centers near you to guide your search.
Dance
While most people associate dancing with clubs, the truth of the matter is that dancing can also be phenomenally good exercise. Belly dance, for example, can be enjoyed by both men and women who are looking to become more graceful and more flexible, while partnered dances like the waltz, the tango and the foxtrot are classic dances that allow you to work incorporating your own style into the movements. Partnered dances are also a great way to reconnect with your significant other while you are recovering from medical issues. Dancing has something to appeal to everyone; if you are feeling a little nervous, why not try private lessons, where it is just you and the teacher?
Getting fit after cancer is not easy. There are going to be bumps in the road, and you’ll discover that there are just going to be some days where you don’t feel like it. Be gentle with yourself, but get the exercise you need!

1 comment:

  1. Thank you David for the write up, well done! I agree with the new findings and suggestions for being more energetic when a cancer survivor feels up to it, there really is no limit and every individual should try finding the correct amount of exercise in order to get the maximum health benefits from exercise, while being aware of not over stressing the body which can lead to overtraining, oxidative stress and disease. The general guideline is if you feel fine and can recover from a workout in a couple days that is perfect, but if you are getting rundown or it takes a few days longer to recover from a workout then it is too strenous. Thanks again!

    ReplyDelete