Wed - /10 Min Solution & OT about my mammogram today

[Guest guest]

Hi Everyone,

I'll get to the workout shortly but I need to write about my nerve wracking ordeal! I had my annual mammo scheduled for today - previously, I had only had the 'screening' one that they do at age 35 (or so, I was 37 b/c I was pregnant/breastfeeding when I was 35/36). Apparently, I have dense tissue b/c back then they had me come in after 6 months for a second mammo (I also read the report from my previous films). Well, today - I had my standard views, then had to have another four views, then an ultrasound - I was a basket case sitting topless in the tiny ice cold waiting cubicle! The good news is - everything is okay but I didn't breathe a sigh of relief until the technician who did the ultrasound said "I'm going to tell the radiologist that I didn't find anything, and hopefully he'll say 'that's what I was expecting'"! That must have been how it went down b/c she came in and said everything was okay

and they let me go w/out further referral for follow-ups or other tests! The technician told me that b/c of the density of my tissue they can't really see anything on the mammo (as she described it "the area is completely white") I'm soooo relieved that everything looks okay! WHEW! The wait and uncertainty took about 5 years off my life - but WHEW! I'm going to follow up with my dr to see if I should just have ultrasounds in the future (why not cut to the chase?) and to check to see if I should have screenings more frequently than every year. Did I say "whew" enough?? WHEW!

Okay, this morning's workout was Sansone's 4 Big Miles. Kathy mentioned that this is a good one and it is (I picked it up at WalMart for a good price - around $10)! 4 miles paced differently - the first mile is the slowest at a 15 min mile pace, second mile is a 12 min mile pace, third is 10 min mile(this one has jogging intervals as in her Walk Slim workouts), 4th is 15 min mile pace but intensified by the use of a resitance band for upper body exercises. 's workouts have really improved in terms of intensity and even variety - she still has her standard 4 moves, but she has thrown in some others (like a grapevine and some higher impact exercises, too) as well for a change! I enjoyed the variety and got a decent cardio workout in as well. Now, I'm interested in taking a look at more of her recent offerings - I also hear that she is going to have a 5 mile workout in December that is all done at

the 12 min mile pace. seems to agree with my back - so it is nice to have another option for cardio that is not the TM or Bike. 's walk-aerobics also work me differently than the TM, so I imagine it is good for cross training purposes. I still have the hope that I will be able to do step, kickboxing, and hi/lo again soon - (or at least at some point), but I have come to realize that the Bike, TM, and also will need to make regular appearances. I would also like to get my hands on an elliptical at some point - I know just the one I want - it is a Nordic track model and doesn't need to be plugged in - I saw it in Shape Magazine. It is pricey ($1200-$1300), but maybe someday....

After I did the 10 Min Solution workout w/ Bands - I did the sections I didn't do on Monday -upper body (quite a good routine for the upper body using bands in Pilates-inspired exercises) and total body (again, some good stuff here using standing and floor work -and the band to intensify). I did the stretch from this workout as well.

Oh - I forgot that last night I did Quick Fix Stability Ball for upper body and another Quick Fix workout (w/ Minna Lessig) for arms. Glad I got that in.

I also did Primary Back Stretch (T-Tapp) today to warm-up before and my back felt good with it.

Hope everyone has a great day - I'm having a relieved and thankful day after my mammo experience!

Take care,

Donna