The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Community: Message List - So what have we all been up to?

Re: So what have we all been up to?

communityreply@lls.org — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 18:10:55 GMT

I've been off the forum for a while and it's been a blast to read the posts today. Great idea, Phil. So is there a video of your dance'?

Best: I am officially retiring June 30. But will be in England again the last two weeks of June for work.

Worst: Two close friends died within a day of each other last week.

Silliest: Staying up late to watch Willie Nelson and Asleep at the Wheel on Austin City Limits last night. It was good, though.

Re: So what have we all been up to?

communityreply@lls.org — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 17:36:21 GMT

My sister has the wii fit and she loves it. She's taken off a few pounds (not that she's all that heavy).

Virtual women must be a guy kind of thing. My husband insists on having the sultry Brit female voice on our gps. He'll take directions from her before he will from me. He calls her Jill.

Marnie

Re: So what have we all been up to?

communityreply@lls.org — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 17:33:23 GMT

Hilarious, I actually laughed out loud (but refuse to use that stupid abbreviation). Thanks Phil!

Re: So what have we all been up to?

communityreply@lls.org — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 16:26:59 GMT

yeah that's what you say Phil -

actually you are right about the wii - I really should get the board out - I also like playing the grand slam tennis game disc. Still it will have to wait off to York tomorrow. Local hospital blood draw and possibly PCR first thing. Then railway musuem for the lads and university for me and daughter. Having a look at one of her back up choices.

Marian

Re: So what have we all been up to?

communityreply@lls.org — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 16:20:09 GMT

Hi Pat

If you've had it a few years you probably only have the original Wii Fit disc rather than the Wii Fit Plus they sell it with now. I have to say I probably wouldn't be using it so much if I only had the original. The two big differences (as I understand it) are:

Extra Games and Exercises

I believe the 15 games in 'Training Plus' are all new, and these are generally much more fun and 'game' like than the original balance games. The flying chicken game is an excellent spectator sport (watching the player rather than the screen), the obstacle course is highly addictive and a good way to burn a lot of energy and the snowball fight is a somewhat more morally acceptable take on the idea of a irst person shooter for anyone who doesn't like the idea of their kids slaughtering hundreds of people with a virtual Uzi. There are also a few new yoga poses and muscle exercises.

My Routine

You can put together a bunch of the yoga and muscle exercises into a personalised routine lasting up to 60 minutes. The downside is you don't get scores or to vary the reps. The upside is you get a much more continuous workout without being told incessantly to practise your yoga every day.

I should also point out (before Trey says anything) that I was referring to the female virtual trainer.

Re: So what have we all been up to?

communityreply@lls.org — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 14:13:36 GMT

Hmm, I have Wii Fit - have had for about 3 years...right now I use my Wii mostly to watch Netflix and play the occasional game - this could be part of the problem. I liked ski jumping, although I tended to resemble Eddie the Eagle, and the slalom. Guess I'll have to get the board back out again. Thanks.

Pat

Re: So what have we all been up to?

communityreply@lls.org — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 13:13:25 GMT

I did indeed recommend the Wii fit. It's never going to turn anyone into an elite athlete, but, judging by the way I sank like a rock when I took the kids to the swimming pool yesterday, it's definitely reduced my body fat percentage since Xmas. They cost a few hundred dollars byt the time you've got the console, board, controllers and software, but compared to a year's gym membership it's a bargain (certainly at UK gym prices)

I like the fact that I can choose what to do depending on how I feel, so on a good day I can work up a real sweat with some of the more aerobic exercises, but if I'm feeling rough I can just do some gentle yoga and maybe a snowball fight or two. The virtual trainer's quite fanciable too!

Re: So what have we all been up to?

communityreply@lls.org — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 23:21:00 GMT

Hi Pat,

Not an elite athlete, though my blood pressure has dropped since I've been on Glivec, it is under the normal 120/80 range. Looked it up to see if it was an issue and apart from feeling light headed every so often, elite athletes have low blood pressure LOL.

I think with exercise, you have to find something you like doing to maintain it. I used to do Latin American dancing, but can't afford it at the moment, and haven't been to a class for about a year. So I've gone back to walking, doing floor exercises (crunches, hand weights etc) and will start yoga in a couple of weeks. Eventually I'd like to go back to dancing as it is something I really enjoy. It was the crunches and leg squats that reminded me I hadn't done anything for a while.

Phil mentioned that he got a Wii Fit and it was lots of fun.

Re: So what have we all been up to?

communityreply@lls.org — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 20:55:12 GMT

What a great idea Phil. I get anxiety attacks every once in a while (like today). I think as a CML patient, I shouldn't feel so happy, active, normal, etc. I guess sometimes I need permission to enjoy life. So I come to the board, read the posts and realize we are all chugging along with life (the good, the bad and the funny). Reading this post especially made my day. Thanks everyone.

Best: As a family, we have been skiing and are about to take our first ski trip. My kids learned this season. My husband and I came back to it after a long, long break.

Worst: A friend of mine "unfriended" me because I haven't been giving her enough attention since I was diagnosed.

Silliest: Trying to dance. Enough said.

Re: So what have we all been up to?

communityreply@lls.org — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 17:23:33 GMT

Here is hoping that the best gets better, the silly gets sillier and the worst goes away for everyone.

BEST: So many I cannot count. Now it is the little things that invoke absolute joy, like being able to take my kids out and breathing freely. But a big thing is that we booked our fight to Japan and we will visit one of my best friends and her family. It has been my dream that our children meet and that I can share my home away from home with my husband. I'll drag the fam to my old haunts when I was a youngin'.

WORST: Hearing about an old friend's death. Lately, I have been feeling sad and mourning. Plan to travel to visit her grave with friends in Japan. My anemia is getting worse again. WBC also taking a dive.

SILLIEST: Well, it is non-stop with two little toddlers. This is a little old, but remembering it always gives me a chuckle. My 3-year-old told me after eating some sweets, "Mama, I think I am a junkie." (as in "junk food junkie", which I sometimes call him).

Teds