Gym vs Walking for weight control/stamina to counter ADT side effects

Posted by samidh @samidh, Jul 23, 2023

I am 73+ years old. I have been on Abiraterone 1000g & Prednisolone 5mg daily, Zoladex 8mg every three months since mid-Oct 22, and have had Tomotherapy radiation in Feb 23. I have been walking daily for 5 km in 50 mins. Four months ago I fractured my ankle and I had to stop walking. In these four months, I gained 12 pounds weight, mostly in my stomach, and have lost complete stamina. Started walking again 3 weeks ago and initially could barely walk 500m. Gradually getting better and today I am walking 3.5 km. But I walk on the jogging track in my condo which is concrete and maybe my knees are bearing the brunt of it.

Does anyone go to a gym instead of walking, and if so, what equipment do you use?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Prostate Cancer Support Group.

I am glad to hear that you are recovering from the ankle issue, these drugs are no fun for anyone. I tend to walk outside and when possible I try to walk on grass/dirt. Keep going, I think walking and also getting up/down are the most important activities.

REPLY

I go to the gym. I typically use an indoor bike or elliptical for 45-60 minutes to get my cardio along with swimming, 500-1000 meters.

For bone, joint and muscle, I lift weights.

When the weather is decent, I ride my bike, 25-35 miles, not this week with the humidity and 95+ temperatures here in Kansas City, the gym it is!

Kevin

Kevin

REPLY

I am 73 years old and walk with Nordic poles for balance but also get the benefit of resistance training for arms and upper body. I try to do 10000 steps 5 times a week. I have been on Lupron for 2 years …weight gain has been my biggest issue…keep on moving👍

REPLY

My preference is weight bearing and outside; so I walk also.
I wear Hokas, Bondi 8 currently, which is a very padded shoe. There are other models.
There are soft tracks at some schools and parks.
Inside, treadmills (limited padding), elipticals, bikes, rowing machines (hard-core), steppers...
Good luck with your recovery and keep on truckin'.

REPLY

Try Pilates. It’s weight bearing, provides great flexibility, and has no impact on the bones.

REPLY

or even yoga, I did yoga for a few months post surgery, was very helpful to get me back into the gym.

I'm running 2 miles at a time 4 times a week on a treadmill, plus weight training at the gym. As you seem to be seeing with the walking, if I miss a week like I just did working an out of state conference, it's REALLY hard to get back up to the same endurance. Baby steps, I just try to do a extra 1/4 mile without stopping each day till I get back to the 2 miles uninterrupted. I also do the two miles though, even if it's a run/walk while getting my stamina back.

REPLY

Very helpful, thanks. Thats what I'm trying to do. Last 25 days, I've graduated from 500m to 3.5km.

REPLY

It's not either/or, of course, but both. Walking up and down hills, rather than on the flats, helps retard bone loss as well as improve heart/lung/blood vessel function.

In the gym/weight room, I spend 30-40 minutes twice a week. Mostly upper body work: bench and military press, lat pull downs, tri- and bi-cep curls,, shoulder raises (deltoids). Also, the leg press sled. Lower weights, more reps helps prevent joint and muscle injury.

Don't forget more protein in the diet.

REPLY

ADT weight gain is hard on the body and worse on the mind. I do a combination of walking/weights/swimming/tie-chi and yoga for the body 90 mins a day and practice some combination of mindful nutrition, reading, writing, mediation and intentional sociableness 90 minutes a day.

The weight is still with me but at a much slower pace.

REPLY

My newest activity is starting standing up, getting on the ground, getting up, and repeating. Do it for 60 minutes while watching the news. Try it!

REPLY
Please sign in or register to post a reply.