Exercise

A huge appreciation post to White Cliffs Crossfit. This place is more than just a gym, it's a real community of support.

It has been SO important for me throughout all of the chaos of Cancer to keep as much routine as possible, and exercising regularly has always been a priority. Both for my physical and even more so, mental wellbeing. This place has let that happen. The kindness and support shown throughout has been meant more than they will ever know.

Continuing classes up until my 3rd round of chemo, I had to make the hard decision of putting it all on pause and focusing on protecting my immune system.

Returning just 13 days after finishing 8 rounds of chemo over 4 months. During that time I had sadly lost all of my hair and eyelashes, gained the steroid weight and really put my body through it. I no longer recognised myself. Welcomed back with such open arms I can't imagine anywhere else I would be able to do this. The nerves and emotions ran high but the benefits of being back both mentally and physically outweighed everything else. With the coaches going above and beyond making it possible for me to start regaining my strength.

I can't stress enough to anyone going through treatment to continue to exercise as much as possible. However small, even a daily walk or some gentle yoga keep moving. It will help with fatigue, bone ache from chemo, menopause symptoms and most of all mentally.

After my second surgery of a full nodes clearance I wasn't given any instructions to exercise and my breast care team advised not to return to the gym for a long time - they couldn't be more wrong! After not moving enough I soon developed cording - a painful common side effect of lymph nodes removal resulting in physio. This could have easily been avoided if I had kept moving gently, listening to my body.

(Photo taken 30/12/2022 - 13 days after finishing 8 rounds of Chemo)

Trying to be kinder to myself when the frustration kicks in when I can't lift as much weight as before or complete a workout as quick as I used to. Learning that I ned to be patient with my body, and appreciate how much it's endured over the last year of treatments.