One day at a time.......

2014.10.19

SUNDAY

It is a warm day here today. I am enjoying it while I can.

On some days I have more energy than others. When I sit still too long it hurts in my joints and bones to get up. When I walk too much it hurts in my joints and bones to move. When will this subside?

My healthy eating is going fantastic. I make all the food fresh each day, so this takes 95% more time than before. I go to the butcher every 2 to 3 days for the fresh meat. It is only me on this way of eating right now. When I am where I want to be it will be easier to get the rest of the family to join in.

So now that I am not small snacking in between meals I have time on my hands and I spend this time thinking about the next meal in regards to preparation.

This is a complete turnaround for me in terms of eating style. Before it was processed foods almost exclusively and a lot of sweet stuff. Now, it is breakfast every morning, natural food and eating a carb., fat and a protein at each meal. No processed foods.

The first few days I ate a lot of these good foods because I thought that I was going to be hungry. Imagine my surprise when I ate an egg omelet and a large amount of asparagus for breakfast and I was not hungry until after 1 pm. It was a strange sensation.

After one week, I went back to meet Ben, my PT. He said I was a star student. In 7 days, I had lost 2 pounds of body fat. (He measured it)  I am committed to this. I am committed to ending the year 2014 on a high note.

This is a battle not unlike the battle against cancer to improve my health. A lower body fat percentage helps in all areas of life.

Yes, my food choices are safe and boring but to have done it now for more than 12 days and still able to eat these healthy foods is a huge step for me.  I AM FOCUSED.

In time I will add to the menu with new recipes. It will come naturally. Right now I am thriving and surviving on eggs, broccoli, asparagus, mushrooms, salad, carrots, spinach, chicken, steak and fish along with all sorts of nuts and seeds.

Workouts start next week......

It seems like I have so much time but I don't get anything done- or at least it doesn't look that way. I am doing the bare minimum to keep the household working and the kids clothed and fed. Doing anything takes so much energy so I am definitely not up to speed like I was before and need to rest and not plan more than one thing a day.

It is frustrating but my main focus now is eating right and getting my body healthy. Then I will be able to focus on all the other stuff. (which is piling up and starting to stress me just a little bit....)

I do enjoy going for walks and being observant to my surroundings- there is so much to see if you just look....

LOVING LIFE. LIVING LIFE. HEALTHY EATING. IN REMISSION. KICKING BUTT.

A healthy lifestyle

2014.10.08

Wednesday

I made it through the whole day just eating good foods. I can't believe it.

My personal trainer, Ben gets an email from me with a picture each time I have a meal. I am getting positive feedback and I am focused. (Just for today I am going to share them because I am so proud of myself.)


6:30 am -Breakfast was a 3 egg omelette with peppers and mushroom and a handful of nuts.

I was not hungry again until after 12 noon. I resisted those urges to have a snack just because.

Lunch was chicken with asparagus stir fry, rocket salad and some almonds.

Trying to make Ben laugh with my notes.

No snacks again - not feeling the hunger.

Dinner was lemon and lime sprinkled over chicken, fresh peppers, carrots on a bed of salad.

I just got home from Pilates and I am ready for bed.

Today was a good day but now I am exhausted. Took the kids to school, went to a parent coffee to meet the other parents, home to have car picked up, walk the dog, read the letter from the doctor confirming menopause, make lunch, head to school and stop on the way to get a rake. Get home, relax for 15 minutes and then make dinner for me and the kids before I headed off to Pilates.

We had a new teacher at Pilates today. She asked does anyone have any issues? I said that I have poor balance and motor skills. Now everyone in the class knows that. I am improving but still get pissed off that I can't do everything because it hurts. It just makes me more determined.

Am I defined by my cancer? I am a little sad that all these people that I am meeting, only know me as the one recovering from cancer. Its got good and bad sides but nothing I can change. I am who I am.

Every time I tell the story I am amazed myself at all that I have gone through. The body and mind are amazing things!

My aim is to end this year on a positive note and embrace this new lifestyle of healthy eating, lose all my excess body fat and become a lean and healthy person. I have the focus and now I just have to put in the hard work. It will be so worth it and I am in control of my own destiny!

LIVING LIFE. 
LOVING LIFE. 
BEING BRAVE.

LOVING LIFE - BEING BRAVE

2014.10.07

TUESDAY

Each day is a gift. I have been busy (albeit in a slow manner) and it feels good.

A few days after the positive results and the stress has been released with the positive results. I need to get back on track of living life according to the new normal for me. Aches and pains are now a part of life at the moment. So, my way forward is to do everything I can just like before but in a slower manner.

I spent a half day out with two personal shoppers, Claudia and Michele. It was fantastic. I met them at the store, went into the dressing room and they brought loads of clothes for me to try on that were fashionable, smart and within my price range. This continued in two other stores. I would not have had the energy to do this by myself. It was nice to add real clothes to my wardrobe and also build up my confidence to wear these nicer clothes. It was a great day and left me filled with energy mentally but physically tired. (It was a day of rest the day after)

We are getting into a routine with the kids. School is going well. They are making new friends. I am making new friends. The dog is making new friends.

NFL game at Wembley

OK, so feeling better day by day but still need to take things slow. My body is very good at letting me know when to slow down.

Next on my list is to get a personal trainer and get on track with eating healthy and losing all this extra fat I am dragging around. My motivation is high. I think it will make a difference in my recovery. Lucky me, I have found a place that will combine the healthy eating and the exercise component so I am on my way. Today, I start healthy eating.  (OK, all of my close friends that have just read that sentence and fallen off their chairs, please pick up the chair and sit back down. I have decided that now is the time to make this change -----life is too short)

I am learning many new things, I am experiencing many new things and enjoying everything that life has to offer.

Yesterday we were at the live taping of the TV show "Live at the Apollo". It was one of the things that was one our list and now we can cross it off. It was really fun and the best of all was that the tickets were free.

One of my new outfits.

I think there is a "glow" or "attitude" emanating from me because many more people are noticing me and I am not used to it. The owner of the crepe restaurant waves like crazy every time I walk by the restaurant. One of the bus drivers kids around with me (maybe its flirting) the last two times I got on his bus. Maybe it's me being more outgoing or maybe that's how they are to all women here or maybe it is my "sexy" hairstyle as it grows in.  I don't know but it is fun to be appreciated.

New Friends. Old Friends. I am so blessed to have so many. I miss the ones I don't see every day.

OK, I will try to update more often because my chemo brain doesn't remember many days after anything happens.

LOVED. GRATEFUL. FRIENDS. LOVING LIFE. BEING BRAVE