Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Let's Start Again...

This blog really hasn't worked out the way I had planned. It's now April 19, 2011, and no one has posted anything for a very LONG time. Lots of things have happened since this blog started:

I've finished with all Cancer treatments and surgeries. Still dealing with side effects, though.

I've helped start a Breast Cancer support group. Worked hard helping others.

I've been working for one year. Loved my job, but just lost it.

I've had a surgery on my left heel to correct a heel spur. Didn't work.

I've had a tummy tuck! Very happy with my MUCH flatter stomach - no more dangerous belly fat. But still need some lipo to get the best results.

I've gone 16 months without soda. I never crave soda. Ever.


So, I've been busy. But, I'm still not feeling well. I really do need to start exercising, and work on getting more healthy. Yesterday, as I researched information to post on my cancer support group blog, I found an article that said:

"In one year, women who needed chemotherapy for their breast cancer can see a swapping of muscle for fat that's equivalent to 10 years of normal aging, says Dr. Wendy Demark-Wahnefried of the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

In other words, a 45-year-old may find herself with the fatter, weaker body type of a 55-year-old."

This it totally me! Chemo destroyed almost all of my muscle mass, and, thanks to steroids, added FAT. I realized this when I attended a support meeting about strength training, and the trainer told us what chemo does to our bodies. This really made sense, because my weight did not go up or down during chemo, but after I finished chemo, I couldn't fit into my clothes. The fact that I didn't lose weight during chemo was confusing - I hardly ate anything, because I felt so sick. In the first week after each chemo treatment, I would lose 12 to 15 pounds! But, by the time another chemo was scheduled, I had slowly gained all of that back. It just made no sense.

I've had such crappy luck with my heel spurs in the last year, and this makes it very difficult to walk. Yesterday, I read several stories from cancer survivors, and many of them are suffering from post chemo side effects like arthritis, and fibromyalgia. I am very lucky that I don't have to deal with these kinds of things. My biggest problems include fatigue, and heel pain. I think I can overcome these with work.

I'm going to set a few goals here, and I really am going to work hard on these. I'm tired of feeling older than I am. I want to feel good again...

1. Each day I will do some form of exercise. I need to find a different form of aerobic exercise than walking, because of my heel pain. Perhaps biking, or using an elliptical machine?

2. Eat good food. I really need to stay away from sweet things. This is my biggest problem.

3. Watch my serving sizes.

4. Drink lots of water.

In the past, I've found that if I make too many goals, I never meet any of them. I think the goals I've made work well together, and I'll try to keep each of these.

I'm going to track my progress here on this blog. Maybe I'll have company?


Posted by at
Labels:

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)

Weight Watchers - The ABCs of Weight Loss

I read this in the Weight Watcher magazine July/August 2008, and thought there were some great suggestions here. These were all contributed by successful WW members)...

A - Ask questions (when dining out, don't be afraid to ask your server how a dish is prepared - and request it without sauce or oil).

B - Budget for snacks - you don't have to give up all of your favorite treats, just plan ahead.

C - Cancel the pity party - when you're down about your weight, remind yourself that everyone struggles.

D - Distract yourself - If you're hungry, call a friend, go for a walk, write a letter or email, etc. You'll notice that the hunger usually passes in a matter of minutes.

E - Eat slowly - put the fork down between bites, be more aware of how much you're putting in your mouth.

F - Focus on the presentation - arrange your food creatively, use a larger plate and spread your portions more artfully, it will help you feel more satisfied.

G - Give the new habits time - make a commitment to stick to your new regimen for at least 6 months, it often takes that long for revamped eating or exercise habits to feel natural.

H - Hang out with optimists - The can-do spirit is contagious.

I - Inspire yourself - brainstorm a list of activities you've been putting off because of your weight - it will provide a built-in incentive to slim down.

J - Join up - exercise with others - this often provides a sense of accountibility.

K - Keep your focus - as you lose weight, notice what you're gaining - a healthier diet, slimmer profile, or a new love of exercise.

L - Lighten up your favorite - Use cookbooks that can show you low-fat, healthier versions of your favorite dishes.

M - Make over your kitchen - get rid of trigger foods (those you often overeat) and restock your kitchen with healthy items.

N - Navigate out of your comfort zone - try a new exercise once a week.

O - Opt for the 10-minute rule - Even if you don't feel like it, get moving for at least 10 minutes.

P - Push yourself to try at least one new fruit or vegetable each week - expand your culinary repertoire in a healthy, low-calorie way.

Q - Quit the clean-plate club - stop eating once you're satisfied, and you won't eat tons of extra calories.

R - Reward yourself - if you are looking for a snack after dinner, give yourself a manicure or pedicure instead!

S - Stand up to food pushers - if a host pressures you to eat something you'd rather avoid, tell her you'll try something else on the table - compliment her, and she'll be distracted.

T - Treat your body like a temple - exercise and take care of yourself as if you were an athlete.

U - Use your lunch break wisely - spend half of your lunch break walking.

V - View sweet treats wisely - if you want to shed pounds, you can't eat sweets whenever you like. Find a low - calorie substitute that you can have every day, or limit rich desserts to once a week.

W - Write a gratitude list - each day, jot down 3 to 5 things in your life that you're grateful for.

X - Xerox your exercise moves - find exercise routines you'd like to try in books and magazines, and make copies, then refer to these when you need new moves.

Y - Yearn to accept where you are now - when you fell discouraged by your rate of progress, try to accept and appreciate yourself at your current weight. This might help you hang in there until you start losing weight again.

Z - Zero in on your body - Don't wear big baggy clothes - wearing clothes that fit well to remind yourself of your diet and fitness goals - and the slimmer body your are striving for.

GOOD LUCK!