Three tips for staying active while undergoing treatment
If you’re battling cancer, physical activity can enhance your quality of life. Exercise can help you sleep, stimulate your appetite, improve your mood, reduce stress and boost your energy. Here are three tips for staying active when you’re undergoing treatment for cancer. 1. Adjust your workout Always choose safe exercises suited to your current level of health. One option is to implement activities that gently improve your strength and flexibility such as dance, tai chi and yoga. No matter what, be sure to respect your limits. It’s far better to play a less demanding sport than it is to undergo a tough program that leaves you feeling drained and inept. 2. Adjust your intensity Start out at an easy pace and gradually increase the level of intensity as your become more accustomed to the activity. For instance, if walking is your exercise of choice, start by covering short distances at a leisurely pace. Over time, you can work your way up to longer jaunts and/or a brisker pace. Avoid pushing too hard, too fast, as you may get discouraged. 3. Adjust your schedule Do you feel better in the mornings than you do in the evenings? Then reserve that time of the day to exercise. If necessary, split your workout into one or more shorter segments, or change your routine in some other way that makes sense to you. Always listen to your body and be sure to rest whenever you need to. Careful! If you have cancer, before beginning any type of exercise program, you MUST talk to your doctor. Depending on your level of health and the treatments you’re undergoing, some types of physical activity may not be recommended. Your oncologist can suggest activities that are safe, efficient and tailored to your specific case.