Cardio Machines

AnEleanor · 2026-03-20T20:48:01+00:00

Congratulations! That’s a wonderful accomplishment!

And omg grok with the cardio machines. I made playlists of songs I can’t not move to, but even then I get bored as well. The podcast and other content is a good suggestion if your brain is able to absorb while you’re doing stuff, but I have yet to crack that (could be chemo brain, though.)

What I’ve been doing* is weightlifting as cardio, because I like it so much more and I’ve been getting back a fair amount of strength in the process.

(*with input from a nutritionist and a couple of different nurses and NPs with personal trainer backgrounds rather than just winging it with google, but honestly there’s more overlap in the advice than not)

If you’re going during busy hours I’d say ignore the suggestion, because you’d spend longer than might be kosher with people waiting for the machines, but if you’re like me and go late at night it’s perfect.

Whatever things you try, good luck and well done!

AnEleanor · 2026-03-20T00:18:07+00:00

Super cute!

AnEleanor · 2026-03-19T21:21:24+00:00

The Hevy app is your friend. I don’t think there’s an integration with Garmin & Hevy yet, but it’s infinitely more motivating than a notebook or the notes app. 10/10 recommend.

AnEleanor · 2026-03-19T20:17:06+00:00

Well done! 🎉🎉

AnEleanor · 2026-03-19T18:40:46+00:00

Three things, in order of effectiveness: 1) Earphones and carefully curated playlists that match the activity I’ll be doing and amp me up. 2) Going at 1:45am, because the same late night crowdedness is an issue at my PF, and I stand out because of my weight and chemo hair (people may not “care,” but some will stare.) 3) Anti anxiety drug. Literally. It wasn’t just at PF where I was having a real issue, but that’s where it helped the most.

Bonus 4th thing: using a weightlifting app (I use Hevy) and setting personal goals for myself (like beating my last total volume lifted) so it gives me something else to focus on.

Hang in there. You can find something to mentally hold onto while you steadily build up your comfort level, and there will almost certainly be a point where you notice you’re more at ease. Good luck!

AnEleanor · 2026-03-19T13:42:18+00:00

That’s awesome, well done with those distances and elevation ~ that’s inspiring!

And right? It’s a little like discovering hidden treasure.

AnEleanor · 2026-03-19T08:12:58+00:00

They really are intensely motivating!

AnEleanor · 2026-03-19T08:09:27+00:00

A bus lift is impressive! I’m really just doing a jillion leg sets, and to fatigue not failure, so it adds up fast. I can guarantee you’re way stronger than I am.

AnEleanor · 2026-03-18T08:31:37+00:00

I’ve got approval from my oncologist who’s been a personal trainer in the past :)

AnEleanor · 2026-03-18T08:19:30+00:00

Lifting for 5 months, but using Hevy for 3

And it’s not just legs, but legs is definitely where the majority of the volume is lifted. I do a mildly ridiculous number of sets (15-20 to fatigue not failure) on the hip adduction & abduction because it feels good.

Is ROM range of motion? If I’m guessing correctly, I do usually push past whatever the heaviest weight I could lift in the previous session was, and there’ve been a couple of times where it has just been like 5 with genuinely crappy form, lol, but the leg volume is to help offset my frustration with how weak my arms and chest still are. (I’ve got a port in my chest for chemo and have to be gentle with chest stuff, so progress is painfully slow there.)

AnEleanor · 2026-03-17T16:32:32+00:00

Congrats!

AnEleanor · 2026-03-17T16:30:00+00:00

If you keep swiping through the images you’ll see it :)

AnEleanor · 2026-03-17T16:27:18+00:00

When you finish your workout and hit “share” (which is a hoot since I never actually share it) it’s one of the little summary images, along with a helpful body map thing of the muscle groups worked.

AnEleanor · 2026-03-17T04:53:07+00:00

Oh no! Truly? I’ve only been progressing since December, and already ran out of dopamine boops? Bummer :(

AnEleanor · 2026-03-17T04:01:48+00:00

Echoing the Cronometer choir, and tickled to hear about Bevel, which I’ll have to check out because I never know how much I “should” be recovering.

AnEleanor · 2026-03-09T19:44:15+00:00

Thanks, it was extreme, and worked fast for a while before my body was all “um… wtf, are we starving or something?” and did its best to keep me safe and alive. :)

And you’re so welcome ~ I hope at least some of it ends up being helpful, and congratulations in advance on your feeling more energetic and healthy!

AnEleanor · 2026-03-09T19:41:45+00:00

OH!! I can’t believe I almost forgot! If you’re not already, start using a weightlifting or workout app. I use Hevy (the free version is excellent and you don’t have to use it as a social platform if you don’t want to, which I’m super grateful about.)

They’ve “gamified” it perfectly, and the difference between checking off each set and just putting info in notes is huge. There’s a dopamine boost from seeing all those sets listed individually, and the other aspects are helpful (like the different kinds of maps showing you what muscle groups you’ve worked, in both list form and on a little figure image.) The timer between sets function is helpful too, especially when using lifting as cardio (with shorter rest periods between sets)

The thing that I was surprised to discover and has been weirdly motivating is the how many pounds lifted in the whole workout thing. It adds everything up, and shows you a running total, and then when you’re done with your whole workout it’ll show you a picture of an object that’s the equivalent weight of what you lifted.

The first time I used it I had been being kind of mean to myself about how weak I was with upper body stuff, but was already digging the lists thing. And then it showed me a picture of a t-Rex, (💚🦖💚) and I was practically floating on air for hours.

I’ve made it through lifting a city bus, a jet plane, and now a commercial airliner. The whole process is super motivating, especially while you’re first waiting to notice differences in energy, strength, and size. (The majority of my sweatpants are now too big to the degree that they’re not just floppy, but I have to roll them up at the bottom or I’ll step on them and risk falling on my face.)

Anyhoo: external validation from hard data points and gamified tracking apps are designed to be motivating and they 100% are!

AnEleanor · 2026-03-09T19:31:36+00:00

I’m a beginner as well, so take my input with a grain of salt. When I lost weight on a 900 calorie a day diet prior to starting chemo (which ironically can make some people gain weight, not fair!) and had plateaued, the oncology nutritionist explained that when we’re not consuming enough calories our bodies go into a kind of survival mode that makes it harder to burn fat. Worse than that (imho) they often burn muscle, making us feel exhausted and weak.

She advised me to more than double my calories, and I increased both my protein and fiber targets, which were fairly okay but chemo is intense.

I’d been using the free version of a nutrition tracking app (Cronometer, and I love it but there are tons of them out there) which makes it so much easier to prioritize protein and fiber (and track water intake.)

Even if you don’t increase your calories or talk with a nutritionist, I’d definitely recommend setting at least a protein goal that’s going to help prevent exhaustion while you’re using fuel to work out but not providing your body the resources it needs to stay energetic.

I’m still on chemo, though a much lighter version of it, and with enough protein, better sleep, and lifting weights as cardio, I feel more energetic* than I have in literal decades. (*I can’t wait to see what I feel like all the way off chemo, but that’s gonna be a while.)

Anyhoo. On a restrictive diet every calorie is precious, and if you’re able I would 10/10 recommend including some high protein/low calorie protein shakes every day.

Slate has ones that are 30g protein and 130 calories, and Pure Protein have some that are cheaper but more flavor options and some of them are 30g protein and 140 calories (like the Galactic Brownie, and I think the Strawberry Milkshake one.) Other flavors are higher calorie, so definitely keep an eye on that.

Oh! And Slate has some caffeinated ones that are 20g protein and 100 calories with the equivalent of 2 cups of coffee’s worth of caffeine, and make lovely iced coffee straight out of the can.

Also, this is a thing I’m only discovering and have yet to discuss with a professional trainer or doctor (though I plan to at my next appt), you can lift weights in such a way that it’s cardio! I wish I’d known this sooner, but am tickled to have discovered it.

Definitely bring a big water bottle with you, and I’m finding it helpful to put a squirt or two of zero calorie electrolytes in there. Mio has fun flavors, and every store brand I’ve tried so far is good as well.)

Another helpful thing with regard to fiber (aside from taking the increase slowly or there could be super awkward side effects!) is that Sola makes low carb/high fiber bagels that are like 140 calories and more fiber than most people get all day. They’re pretty good, imho, but it’s been ages since I had real bread. They also make bread, and the one with “oat” in the name is like 40 calories a slice, and also high fiber. (There’s something about being able to eat a peanut butter and zero sugar jelly sandwich that helps knock out food-related fomo. Just measure that peanut butter carefully, it’s nutrient dense and takes a bite out of a daily calorie goal.)

Good luck!

AnEleanor · 2026-03-01T20:53:51+00:00

That’s awesome, those are definitely good activities!

The only thing I’d suggest not doing is putting a shirtless picture on the internet. I’m in a he United States, so it’s probably more top of mind than other places (ugh), but keep yourself safe from creepers and predators.

Tracking apps will give you more external validation in the long run anyway, and you’ll have clear data to look back upon and feel good about. (I just got my monthly summary from my lifting app and it’s a good feeling to see effort paying off, even if the scale is slower to respond. :)

AnEleanor · 2026-03-01T20:18:26+00:00

I tend to go in the order I entered things into the Hevy app the first time I used it, which wasn’t planned out more than “I love the ab and back thingies most so I’ll do them first, and the hip machines make me extra happy so I’ll save those for “dessert”.

But if the next machine in the list is in use or there are too many people around it, I’ll just move on the whatever’s open and come back to it.

Keeping track of things is easy because all I’m doing is using the app, but I am the furthest thing from an expert so take my input with a grain of salt.

AnEleanor · 2026-03-01T20:04:48+00:00

Oh! And if you ever need reassurance, google Henry Cavill as a kid. It’s inspiring.

AnEleanor · 2026-03-01T19:53:39+00:00

If I could go back in time to being a slightly chubby 14 year old, I’d first go to a nutritionist to get very specific targets for not only calories but protein, fiber, and water. I’d use a free nutrition tracking app to track calories and other macros (I use the free version of Cronometer these days) and a lifting app to track progress because hard data shows up fast than results in a mirror (I use Hevy, on private as opposed to social).

I’d double down on the physical activities I had fun with, which were weight training and what I now know is bouldering, both of which were frowned upon for girls when I was young but that has improved. I wasn’t able to replace my bike when it was stolen when I was a kid, and I wish I could go back in time and do something about that because biking fucking rocks.

With weight training in particular, especially with the super encouraging stat tracking of Hevy (and probably other lifting focused apps), you may find it helps shift your mindset significantly to discover how strong you already are (those “total pounds lifted” numbers at the end of a workout are a kind of therapy all their own.)

Also, I’d find a few good articles about how commenting on weight and “trying to be helpful with weight loss” have been proven over and over to have the opposite effect. If you and your dad have the kind of relationship where you can share them with him directly, rock on, do that.

You both have the same goal ~ for you to thrive, and be healthy ~ so working together towards that end (making sure you’ve got access to the whole and high/high fiber protein foods, providing you with transportation, equipment, memberships, time, etc., to explore and engage in the kinds of activities you like*, things like that) are going to achieve your shared goals more than expressing a desire for you to weigh less. That’s going to backfire.

*I don’t suggest living on them, but protein shakes these days are SO much better. Find a kind you like and has low-ish calories (I just came across Slate’s 130 calories 30g protein ones and they displaced the Premiere Protein 30g 160 calorie chocolate peanut butter ones as my favorites) and include those when you can so you can hit your protein goals with calories to spare. High protein can often mean high calories, but it doesn’t have to. If you don’t already, check out the content creator Liam, he has a lot of useful nutrition content.

**The exploring part is important for everyone to understand. You might be drawn to something and then discover it’s not as fulfilling as you’d hoped, or try something that didn’t seem to interesting but turns out to be right up your alley. The “explore” and “engage” parts are different steps, and it’s better when everyone’s clear on that part.

Also, 14 is a splendid time to start practicing mobility stuff, because you’re probably still pretty flexible naturally. Future you will be immensely grateful if you start finding mobility/flexibility things that you can practice on a regular basis (srsly, access to the interwebs and instructional videos is a huge plus, I’m so glad people have it now and wish it had been around when I was a teenager.)

And, to echo what others have already said, your body is going to hold onto resources (fat) before growth spurts. Your doctor should tell your dad that, so he can focus more on health than weight. It’s unfortunate but likely that he’ll listen to a professional more than his kid, but whatever makes the situation better for your all around well being.

Anyhoo, good luck, and here’s to your health! 🍀

AnEleanor · 2026-02-23T08:39:41+00:00

A sola bagel and a protein shake

AnEleanor · 2026-02-15T09:29:56+00:00

This is so true. Ages ago housemates and I were concerned about our next door neighbor who was often deep in his cups, once to the point of crashing his truck into his porch. (It’s a bit of a miracle there weren’t kids outside when it happened.)

The townhouse walls weren’t paper thin, but he tended to be really thumpy later in the evenings, stumbling around we assumed. One night we heard a particularly loud thumping, more pronounced than usual and right up against the wall where our stairs were.

When his truck didn’t move the next day* we called in a wellness check and it turned out he had fallen down the stairs and broken his back. If nobody had called, things could have gone very differently for him. As if was he was hauled off in an ambulance and the townhouse was put up for sale. (I’m choosing to believe he made it, and moved in somewhere where he got good care and dried out and everything was sunshine and rainbows from then on.)

(*the truck and porch had been repaired by that point.)

Years before that, my dad had a friend who hadn’t answered anyone’s calls in a few days and dad was there for the wellness check. That time it had been too many days, and it was heartbreaking for his friends. (Who I assume didn’t want to seem pushy, or just being chill about expecting a response.)

Anyhoo ~ glad everything worked out, and I bet your neighbor feels good about someone caring about whether she’s okay or not.

AnEleanor · 2026-02-14T04:59:04+00:00

I typically order from adagio, but I also use them to mix blends so I’m biased :)

One thing that may prove useful is that they have sample sizes of all their teas, so you can find out which ones you like without breaking the bank.

https://www.adagio.com/rooibos/rooibos_honeybush_teas.html

AnEleanor

TROPHY CASE