Who Forgot The Anniversary?!?!?

Most of you know that 2011 marks 10 years of not dying of breast cancer for me (yea me!). And I've been celebrating. My big celebration/goal was running the North Face Bear Mountain 50-Mile Endurance Race. If you are new to this blog, you can read about my adventures and misadventures in becoming an ultra runner in my series "Run, Julie, Run".

And the celebration continues with some other big, fun races...and maybe a big trip - something exotic. More about that once decisions are made.

But the actual anniversary (or birthday, as I like to think of it) blew right past me. No nice dinner, no flowers, no special bottle of wine. Not because I didn't want to mark the actual date, but because I can't remember the date. I figure my surgery date is the date that counts most to me - when cancer was removed rather than when it was discovered. I know it's toward the end of July, mainly because I know that when I climbed Mt. Rainier a year after finishing treatment, summit day was the 2-year anniversary of my surgery. I know I climbed Rainier in late July.

This strikes me as a good thing. People often ask when life gets back to normal, when they will stop thinking about cancer all the time. I tell them it's not quite like that. Normal is different now. I don't know when we stop thinking about cancer. I still think something about cancer every single day. Now, in part, that's because I started a business offering fitness training for other cancer survivors: www.Life-Cise.com.

But I also tell them that over time the way I think about cancer changes. Yes, there are still very scary moments. Yes, I still get angry. I still get depressed. But it's no longer this big, looming cloud darkening all my thoughts.

Forgetting my anniversary/birthday seems like a good example. I'm celebrating 10 years of life that I wasn't sure I would get. Woo-hoo! But the actual day is insignificant to me now.

The fact that I forgot it seems more significant.

So, to all you newbies, to any of you in the midst of treatment, or struggling to move on: it does change; it does get better. It will always be with you, but in new and different ways.

Let's toast to all those details that seem so indelibly etched in our memories becoming so much less significant - for us all!

Julie

Surviving The Heat

Much of the U.S. is in the midst of a major heatwave.... I write that as though any of us in it need a reminder. Today my town hit 99degrees; New York City hit somewhere around 104, which was not a record; but Newark, NJ did beat their past record with 108. That's just my environs. Plenty of folks around the country have it just as bad and worse. And we're not finished.

So this is just a friendly little reminder to be safe. Extreme heat is not just uncomfortable; it can be dangerous.

First thing - stay hydrated! Drink early and often. Thirst is a lagging indicator; by the time you feel thirsty, your body is already in need of fluid. And don't drink sugary sodas. They don't quench your thirst and they are seriously not good for you. Drink water.

Try to stay in a cool place. If you have to go out in the heat, move a bit more slowly - and stay hydrated. Stay in the shade as much as possible.

Your best bet for exercise is the pool. If that isn't an option, work out at the gym (assuming it's air-conditioned). If you do exercise outdoors, do it early in the morning or in the evening when temperatures are at least somewhat cooler. Take it easy. Do less and do it more slowly. This is not a good time to get in your long run or do hill repeats!

And, of course, stay hydrated. Carry a hand held bottle or a hydration pack. Sip often. Don't wait until you're parched and then drink half the bottle.

Most of this is simple common sense. Taking it easy when it's like this is pretty easy - none of us really want to do a whole lot out in the heat. But sometimes we don't have a choice, and sometimes we can get obsessed with sticking with our exercise plan no matter what.

If you have to be out in the heat, pay attention to how you're feeling. Dizziness, severe headache, nausea, excessive sweating, rapid heartbeat, or cool clammy skin can be signs of serious heat conditions like heat exhaustion or stroke. These are serious conditions - pay attention! If you experience these, get out of the sun or into a cool place, drink water, lie down and elevate your legs slightly, sprinkle cool water on yourself. If the symptoms persist or get worse (like you run a high fever, suffer confusion, or faint), get medical help.

At some point the weather will break. Until then, take it a little easy. I, for example, am taking a day off from running. I may do a little strength work tonight after it cools off - but not a lot.

And drink water.

Julie

Honesty

Improvement begins with an honest assessment of your current condition.

If you don't know where you are, how can you figure out how to get where you want? - today's Life-Cise Tip.

That idea applies to many things. It certainly applies to how I chose to face my cancer, and it applies to just about any goal - including fitness.

I've written before about how I don't believe in relying on positive thinking. I don't believe that "having a good attitude" will keep me alive. I chose to make a completely honest assessment of my situation, no matter how scary. It was only in that way that I could make the best choices about my treatment.

I'm not the only one to think and write about this. A couple of recent posts on the subject come from my friend Nancy, from Nancy's Point; and Beth, from Calling the Shots. Beth writes about the possible perils of relying on attitude. Both are well worth reading.

We know that people are well-meaning when they encourage us to keep a good attitude. There may be emotional benefits to keeping a good attitude, but thinking positively does not save our lives. Facing our disease head on, honestly; and making a good plan with our doctors and families just might, though.

This same level of honesty is also the best way to make real progress in fitness, whatever your goal. It's the same principal: you have to know your current situation in order to make a reasonable, well-thought-out plan. That will give you the best chance for real success.

Over the years, I've heard people say I'm being negative or too hard on myself when I make an assessment of my current strengths and weaknesses. I disagree. Whether it's learning a piece of music or the skills to climb a mountain, I must know what I need to improve if I want to progress.

I'm not talking about beating myself up or belittling my skills. I'm talking about honesty. If I think that in certain music, my rhythm could be better, that takes nothing away from my good intonation or beautiful sound. But if I don't recognize that, how will I know to work on rhythm and improve? If I say I'm not a fast runner, that takes nothing away from the tremendous endurance I have to run a 50-mile race. But if I don't recognize that I could be faster, how will I improve?

And once I know what I want to improve, I can figure out the best way to do it.

What do you want to improve? Be specific. Your overall health? What specifically? - Your energy levels (especially if you're in treatment or recently finished)? Do you want to lose a few pounds? Or a lot? Do you want to be strong enough to play basketball with your son? Do you want to run a marathon?

With regard to that goal, where are you right now? What needs improvement?....honestly.

You've made the first step toward that goal. Now you can make the best plan to get there.

Julie

Summertime Reminders

For all of my Northern Hemisphere friends, it's time for a quick summer reminder. (for my readers from the lower reaches of the planet, keep these things in mind a few months from now.)

Biggest tip for warm weather activities: Stay Hydrated! This is so important, it bears frequent repeating. Good hydration is important all the time, but in summer heat and sun we need to be even more aware than usual. Don't wait until you feel parched. Thirst is often a lagging indicator of our bodies' need for water. When you're active outdoors, drink early and often.

Next: Wear Sunscreen or Cover Up! A bit of sunshine is good. It can elevate our mood (remember the doldrums of dark, dreary winter?). And we need sun to boost our vitamin D levels, low levels of which are now being linked to a number of diseases. But too much sun is not good... too much sun is a recipe for skin cancer. Wear sunscreen or a hat. Remember the ladies who always wore big hats? They were on to something. But sometimes, staying in the shade or covering up is not practical. Wear sunscreen. Take special care to put it on sensitive areas that are easy to forget about, like ears, neck, or bottom of your chin (especially if you're out on the water where sun rays reflect up). And be particularly careful of any areas which have been radiated!

Keep an eye out for signs of edema. Many people have more trouble with swelling when it's hot and humid. Staying hydrated can help with this. You may find you have no more trouble during hot weather than any other time, but pay attention so you know how your body reacts. - I know that when I hike in hot/humid weather, I tend to puff up quite a bit in my hands and arms. I've always done this, but now it can be harder for my body to process the fluid. I usually wear my compression sleeve and glove when hiking now. It may not be the most comfortable thing I've ever worn hiking, but from experience, I've learned it's better to be cautious. And it really isn't that uncomfortable compared to a swollen hand.

And finally, a reminder that if you are getting out into nature, be respectful. Do nothing to harm the place you've gone to enjoy yourself. Carry out your litter! If you carry it in, carry it out! Do not leave toilet paper - bury it or carry it out in a plastic bag. You think that's gross, don't want to do it? Imagine just how gross it is for the rest of us when we come across your waste. Imagine how you would feel if you walked into someone's home and saw piles of human waste in the corner. (sorry to be so blunt, but really, it's nasty and I'm so tired of walking through someone else's latrine.) If the trail is muddy, walk through it - that's what boots are for. If you and every other person walks around, you end up eroding the surrounding terrain, creating an ever-widening mud pool and destroying more plants. And never harass the flora and fauna. Just let them be. Don't pick every pretty flower. Don't rip limbs off of trees to build a fire. Don't poke or try to kill animals and reptiles. Just go around them; let them be. Do get out and enjoy nature, just do it respectfully.

Julie