Exercise and ADT

While I no longer lift I mountain biked at our local state park during ADT and always felt better afterwards for a few hours. The struggle was real after going anemic on Lupron and got better after switching to Orgovyx.

my husband is at the ymca 5 days a week and does mostly weight training.
He does feel weaker and lesser of a man after being on ADT for a year now but he doesn't look it at all, he looks like any other dude at the Y.

@chippydoo Good for you - mountain biking and using your powerful leg muscles certainly qualifies as resistance training in my mind.
And it’s better than doing presses on a leg machine or squats since you’re out in nature breathing fresh air…that is, if you really were in the mountains and not on the bike path next to the freeway😂
Phil

Turned 74 a few days ago. On Firmagon since last October. But I had back surgery in September and was weight restricted for 3 months so I was “
Late to the Weight Training Party”. But I am on it now. 3 days a week. 90 minutes total in a fitness center. I am better for it, and I have net some of the most interesting people.

@heavyphil Ha! the Blue Ridge Mountains are a 2 hour drive away. We are blessed with an 8800 acre 3240 Hectare state forest 30 minutes from downtown, 20 minutes from me. Whether riding or hiking the park has been a significant part of my cancer journey.

@beaquilter This was really helpful to me. My testosterone didn't properly return and I'm 18 months after doing just six months of ADT. I've been going to the Y and lifting weights religiously: 6 days a week in winter, 4 days a week the rest of the year because of outdoor exercise. I'm constantly comparing myself to other guys there in terms of how much weight I can lift, how much stamina I have, etc. I see someone lifting more than me and get upset and blame ADT when the reality is some guys my age lift more, some less and your phrasing made me realize I look "like any other dude at the Y." I'm not judging anyone else's workout other than thinking "good for them for showing up" yet am consistently unwilling to give myself the same grace. Am going to try!

@scottbeammeup
Totally how my husband is too!
I think everyone is, can't help but compare yourself to others.
I'm telling him to stop compared to a 35yo guy!
He's just trying to not lose what he has!

It's an oxymoron when you're feeling the fatigue and muscle and joint stiffness associated with systemic therapy that exercise can actually make things "better...!"

And yet, we intuitively know that (in moderation) diet, exercise, lifestyle - staying social, managing stress along with seeing our medical team for routine health assessments, vaccinations, diagnostic tests as appropriate may contribute to healthy longevity - CV health, weight management...

Then again, some idiot may T-Bone you on your way to the grocery store because they were texting and didn't see the red light...
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12618170/
While not sure that the cold water basis is what I would do as a researcher, the theory and concept of resilience is something I believe in.

"Resilience is the ability to resist the damage from a health challenge and recover quickly. "

Those with poor resilience do not always fully recover - resulting in a loss of physical and/or cognitive abilities.

Throughout my times on systemic treatment I've gone to the gym most days, rode the indoor bike, lifted weights, swam.

I've done events like the Garmin Unbound, a 50+ mile gravel bike ride through the Flint Hills of Kansas, the Bataan Memorial March in White Sands, NM, skiing with friends in Steamboat, CO...

I am not saying one has to do things to the level I do, but, find what you like to do, start slow, reach moderate levels and consistently do something. Whatever you choose to do it should include cardiovascular and resistance activities.

Study of one...

Kevin

I’ve worked out in the gym, on and off for 45 years so I am very familiar with how my body responds to resistance exercise. Two years ago before starting yet again on ADT, I was able to build muscle within a few months. After a year on ADT despite doing the same workouts there have not only been zero gains, but a plateau at a lower level. However, I dare say I would be worse off doing nothing.

@beaquilter Exercise is the best solution to the bone loss, muscle loss, fatigue and depression caused by ADT and low or absent testosterone. I do resistance training (weights) three days a week, intense yoga three days a week and walk three to five miles daily.