Ohm-my-God!

So the radiation oncologist told me this week that exercise seems to play a large factor in preventing the fatigue normally associated with radiation treatments.  I do sit on my butt for several hours while I'm at work during the week, glued to my computer overseeing all manner of problems that my workplace seems to have a never-ending supply of.  When I arrive home to our six member dog pack (sometimes called the Pac-6), it's then a non-stop series of training small or big things we're working on, feeding, exercising, walking, chasing toys, grooming, medicating, cleaning up and so on.  After that my husband and whichever kids are around get more of my attention.  I usually am the one to make dinner because I'm picky about making sure we eat healthy.  Let's see, then it's eat, clean-up, dishes, straighten up, maybe throw in a load of laundry.  Somewhere after that I might look at the mail that came, or what's new on Facebook or e-mail while listening to American Idol or DIY Channel, simlutaneously trying to figure out agility sequences I need to work on with the peros.  By bed time I'm usually exhausted and crash.  But I usually don't sit at home, ever.  I hate it after sitting all day at work! 

I really do try to maintain a regular exercise program too, which up until recently typically included the dogs in either a hike, romp at the park or leash walk.  In October after Win got his MACH (agility championship) I decided I had gotten a little too hefty so joined Weight Watchers, where I've lost 12 pounds so far.  Now just so you know, I'm thinkin' that running a dog around an agility course 12 pounds heavier would be pretty much the same as trying to do it now with either Win or Li'l wrapped around my stomach!  Thinking about it that way, 12 pounds is quite a bit!  I really only need to lose 2-5 more, but I digress. 

I started playing around with Yoga last summer but got more serious when I went on WW.  Namaste Yoga on FitTV came on at just the right time every morning before work.  I thought I had gotten pretty good at Warrior, Cat Bow, Upward Dog, Triangle Pose and especially the returning to center part.  But this breast cancer deal got me thinking maybe I should add even more Yoga to my routine so I maybe won't be so tired when I go through radiation.  I downloaded Firestarter Yoga for Abs and thought maybe I could start working on that in the evening.  Uh....when I tried to follow the yogini who was swinging her legs all around like a break dancer while on her back, whatever poses those were, I could only fall into a mangled heap, hopelessly unable to keep up only able to lie there laughing.  I thought it might be a little easier to try stationary poses so tried the Eagle, one that is supposed to be good for breast surgery recuperation.  I was just standing there facing the instructions on the computer when my daughter and husband just snickered as they passed by seeing my arms twisted up into the air like two pretzels.  "Mom's gone off the deep end", I heard.  But I couldn't twist them enough so will keep working on that one.  Your legs are supposed to twist too, but I've gotta get the arm part right first.      

This morning I tried Kundalini Yoga from FitTV.  Ohm-my-God!  These poses are done in repeats of 20 at a time or while holding static for 1-3 minutes.  The first one seemed so easy.  Raise arms parallel to sides and twirl around 20 times like a little kid.  Piece of cake!  But they got much harder.  There was one where you had to lay on your back and swing your legs up to a 90 degee angle raising head at the same time, then lower head and legs, repeat 20 reps.  After 10 I broke out into a hard sweat, after 15 I could barely move any more.  My belly is mush!  I did not make it to 20.

At least I have plenty of fitness directions to go during recuperation.  I hope I make it!