For much of my life I followed the commonly held belief that a low fat diet is both good for you and supports a healthy BMI. Regularly consumed 'foods' included diet coke, skim milk, egg white omlette's, low fat dressings, diet yoghurt, cheese, sugar free gum and more. If you are still consuming these less healthy (yes less healthy) staples listen up. Stop right now. I guess you are wondering why?
Soul Food week two challenge
Firstly quick update on week one. Did you manage to go to turn your electronics of 30 minutes before bed time? I did....just not every night. While I believe in this concept to promote good sleep, seems for me at least the cancer fighting medication I take has other ideas. Sure I was able to fall to sleep quickly, but my wide awake night sweat 10 minutes later meant overall no improvement. I believe in a mere 6 months time when I am finally off said drugs my sleep will go back to normal.
How to see obstacles as opportunities
There are a lot of parallels when I think about training for a marathon (or any distance) and the journey of life. You start out with a dream or vision of what you want to achieve (be that just finishing, enjoying the event or a specific time). You set a course of action to get you there that is not just physical but emotional, strategic and that requires continual course correction along the way. And then you move forward, sideways, sometimes backwards, gaining experience and growing along the way.
Soul Food, week one challenge
Somehow I seem to have decided to start a weekly challenge and commence the Whole30 on the same day. I mean as if the Whole30 isn't a big enough challenge on its own? That being said, I've decided that the key was to choose a non food task this week that ultimately is true to Whole30 but possibly something I wouldn't stick to otherwise.
As you have probably guessed by now, I'm going to focus on getting quality sleep. I'm honestly not the best sleeper. I'm on hormone blocking medication with the lovely side effect of hot flushes, which tend to run amok when I first get into bed each night. I often lay awake for over an hour before dozing off. But I will confess to regularly getting into bed not long after eating and directly from TV viewing.
The official challenge is: All electronics off by 30 minutes before bed time (yes even the phone). This is causing me angst just to think about. So that means it's a good challenge. Play along and let me know how you go.
How to get your happy on
We all have those days, weeks and sometimes even months. Whether you’ve recently been through something traumatic, it’s a hormone issue or you are just in a funk. I’m talking about times in your life when bounding out of bed with a smile on your face feels as achievable as walking on the moon. (Note - if you are possibly clinically depressed don’t read this, go to the Doctor).
To Whole30 or not?!
Earlier this year I bought the book 'It Starts with Food' amongst others while I was working my way through health coaching studies. Most of these books are actually still sitting on my book shelf unread. It turned out that between working full time and studying, adding load to related content was more than I could manage. Then there was the fact that I was not eating meat or chicken given the this approach to food is quite paleo like (meat, chicken, eggs, fish, vegetables, fruit, nuts and seeds).
On vegetarianism and my decision to eat meat again
Eleven months ago, after researching desmoid tumors and what they have in common with breast cancer I decided to become a vegan. Primarily due to the fact that both share estrogen receptivity and avoiding the hormones in produce seemed to make a lot of sense to me. Plus Kris Carr is one of my guru's and she is very passionate about her vegan lifestyle and it's cancer fighting properties. So it was very worth trying.
I'm doing a happy dance, want to know why?
This morning I headed off to see my Oncologist, dragging my feet but fully accepting of my fate. With summer over, it's time to start treatment on my desmoid tumor. Treatment being a year or so taking a drug called Nexavar, which is a chemotherapy drug. Whilst it is used for liver and lung cancers, there has been success using it at a low dose to kill off desmoids.
I have resisted starting the drug for the past year since I was first diagnosed. I dramatically changed my diet and adopted many more holistic practices hoping to heal it naturally. But at my last scan in June the Doctor confirmed it had indeed grown and he would recommend me starting treatment. Back then I asked if I could take the summer off and commence in September. He agreed and we also decided I would have a level set scan after Labor Day and then get on with treatment.
