Fitness for Cancer Survivors
For those recovering from cancer, the list of side effects is long and uncomfortable. It is challenging enough to make healthy decisions while battling treatment and recovery. The American Cancer Society (ACS) has recently turned an eye to post survivor habits. ACS has linked proper physical activity and nutrition with easing symptoms such as: cardiopulmonary weakness, depressed mood, fatigue, and imbalances due to muscle weakness, nausea, loss of appetite, loss of bone density and sarcopenic obesity (increases in adipose/fatty tissue.)
While what follows is NOT an all-or-nothing set of rules, you should try to break these guidelines down into smaller goals and work up to them.
The ACS guidelines for physical activity and nutrition are as follows:
-Engage in at least 30 minutes—preferably 45-60 minutes—of moderate to vigorous activity 5 or more days a week. (Start with 5 minutes/day of activity of that is all you can do.)
-Balance caloric intake with physical activity.
-Achieve and/or maintain a healthy weight.
-Eat 5 or more servings of vegetables and fruits each day.
-Choose whole grains over processed grains.
-Limit consumption of processed food and red meat.
-Limit alcohol to one drink per day for women or two per day for men.
Enjoy Your Exercise. Enjoy Your Day.
