Gulik Again

I am determined to continue exercising during my treatment. I know that if my circulation is stoked, my system will deal better with all the toxicity. After working through the Lance Armstrong program, I am totally convinced of the importance of exercise to my ability to deal with cancer. I had asked the doctor to go to bat for me to get a better scholarship than the one they had offered me, but turns out, when I finally connected with their representative and she heard that I had begun chemo again, she offered me an extraordinary deal and I readily accepted.

I have set up a Monday night, Wednesday night, Saturday morning Gulik Gym schedule, and when I feel like the port has properly healed and I can get wet again, I want to add water walking. So this morning, I headed out to do my rounds. Last week, I managed to do once around on level 2. Today I am determined to do the twice around, still level 2.

When I arrived, the room was empty. I snapped on rubber gloves to prevent exposure to germs, and began. Slowly I went through the motions, not pressing, not hurrying, but doing each machine or exercise as directed. Others came and were zipping along, dancing the steps, showing me up, but I didn't care. I guarantee that if they were getting chemo, they wouldn't even be there. So I consider myself a huge triumph!

Once around, seems OK. An elderly woman popped her head in the room, curious. The instructor helped her figure out how to do the machines. Unlike myself when I began the Armstrong program, she didn't have an assigned personal trainer to work with her. We kept encouraging her to hang in there. She finished once around just as I was two stations from being done. I applauded when she finished. Good job! Come back. Try it again sometime.

When I walked out, I was breathing deeper. I could almost imagine my circulation system pumping around stronger, dealing with the dead cancer cells, floating them away, cleaning house better. Maybe I will feel better too. I must insist on keeping these therapy sessions. I know it will help.