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SEAWAVE's Recent Blog Entries
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Monday, January 24, 2011
Well, I’ve learned something today, or come to a conclusion of sorts. While I thought dance/exercise DVDs would be ideal for me – I love music and dancing of all kinds – the set routines are probably one of the worst things for me at this point. Hmmm. The thing that’s happening is I try to do their routine, but can do so much less than I would normally just dancing around on my own. My biggest problem is that the early routine focuses on leg work, and my knees give out on me.
If I’m dancing around on my own, I just wave my arms around at that point and step it out, but if I’m trying to follow a routine... I just can’t. It’s so much more enjoyable, more freeing to do it my way! How did I ever forget this? So it’s away with the DVDs and on with my own music for the next while when it comes to cardio!
The other discovery is a kind of zen of weight training. I really enjoy the focus on form, the repetition of movement that weight training gives me.
So my ‘report’ for yesterday and today (days 93 to 92)
1. Drink 8X8 oz water/day – I’m good here
2. Exercise 10 min/day – ok here, although I think I might have to change up and do more ST before tackling cardio; my muscles just don’t have the stamina!
3. Eat within my recommended calorie range – ok
4. Eat within my recommended low sodium range -- ok
5. Use my slow cooker or rice cooker at least once per day. – none Sunday or today; will be putting something in it tonight, though.
6. 15-min Zone work per day (inspired by flylady.com) – ok, in the bedrooms this week
7. My average weight will decrease weekly -- started week at avg 246.5 lbs. Also, DH has agreed that if my average weight does go down, we'll go out together for a cappucino. It's a real treat for me, and without sugar, etc. in it it's not all that unhealthy.
8. Daily reports to the mini-team!
Sunday, January 23, 2011
This has been such an off week! No energy (literally awake for only about 6 hours a day for most days!), so not getting much done in any area of my life! To top it off, for some reason I had cravings for desserts this week like I haven’t had in a very, very long time. DH went to get some three nights this week (including a dozen Tim Horton’s donuts last night!). Ate lots of donuts last night – maybe four? I’m not even sure - but surprisingly this morning I feel better than I have for some time. More energy, hopefully will stay more awake today(!), and I think my toenails are finally starting to normalize. I’ve been able to wear socks for the past couple of days without them getting worse. I know it doesn’t sound like much, but you know after socks will come shoes! Then boots! Then I can get outside in the snow!!!!!
So my ‘report’ for Tuesday to Saturday (days 98 to 94)
1. Drink 8X8 oz water/day – I’m sure I drank less on a couple of days
2. Exercise 10 min/day – in total denial about exercise Thursday, Friday and Saturday
3. Eat within my recommended calorie range – ok, except Saturday
4. Eat within my recommended low sodium range -- ok
5. Use my slow cooker or rice cooker at least once per day. – missed some days here, but will input one recipe I made – Crockpot Pirate Stew
6. 15-min Zone work per day (inspired by flylady.com) -- ok
7. My average weight will decrease weekly -- yep – down from 248.8 lbs (which was not an average, just last Sunday’s weight) to 246.5 lbs yesterday. Can I get a WooHoo???
8. Daily reports to the mini-team! – um... SeaWave, AKA SLACKER! Sorry team, promise to do better this week!
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
I’m having a really tough time, I realized, giving myself permission to be in recovery. I’m always striving to do more, to get more done, to accomplish, and never satisfied with what I've accomplished (or not, as the case may be). In November, I thought I’d be going back to work at least part time this month, but the doc gave me an abrupt change in reality in December when he said it would be in 6-9 months. But he’s right, of course. There is no way I have the energy or mindset to be back at work. I sometimes have trouble putting two thoughts together, and even when I do I often wonder if I made sense. I won’t begrudge the time I spend napping during the day since I burned my favourite stock pot before Xmas, having fallen asleep while blinking and nearly set the house on fire!
So for me, this 100-Day Countdown I wrote about in my blog is going to benchmark how I'm improving through the chemo brain or tam oxifen adjustment or whatever this is. I checked dates, and by Day 1 (April 25th by my Excel sheet), I should be close to returning to work. It’s making it more real for me, and I get kind of giddy with excitement when I think of it in such concrete terms.
So my ‘report’ for Sunday and Monday (days 100 and 99)
1. Drink 8X8 oz water/day -- ok
2. Exercise 10 min/day -- I can only do 10 minutes of the DVD at this point, but I’m setting aside the full 40 minutes, and trying out the moves as I recover. I’m hoping to be able to increase my time by 5 minutes every week.
3. Eat within my recommended calorie range – ok
4. Eat within my recommended low sodium range -- ok
5. Use my slow cooker or rice cooker at least once per day. -- I’ve made two recipies: a rice pudding, which was good but too sweet; and a curried split pea soup. That one is odd, as it cooked for over 24 hours and the peas were still hard. Hphm! I was counting on that soup for my lunches this week!
6. 15-min Zone work per day (inspired by flylady.com) -- I’m in my washroom zone this week, which is probably my easiest. I swish and swipe on a daily basis, and we renovated last year so everything has its place.
7. My average weight will decrease weekly -- um... went down nearly 5 lbs from yesterday to today, so something’s going on! My average, obviously, will be less than that, but that is the way my weight is going since tamoxifen. That’s why I’m weighing every day and averaging the weight.
8. Daily reports to the mini-team!
I’m especially encouraged by #2, because I’ve always liked music and dance. This will be a great tool for me to get back into an active lifestyle!
Sunday, January 16, 2011
100-Day Countdown Challenge - Day 100
I was going to start my 100-Day Challenge yesterday, but I've come down with some flu thing - yuck. I decided I'd start it today instead, but half my day is gone already. I have a lot of catching up to do! It has reminded me, though, that I shouldn't strive for perfection and then beat myself up when I don't get it. So I'm aiming for 80% success on each of my challenges.
I'm not sure what the best format for reporting back will be, but my plan for today is:
1. Drink 8X8 oz water/day
2. Exercise 10 min/day - trying "Latin Rythms", a DVD from the library
3. Eat within my recommended calorie range
4. Eat within my recommended low sodium range
5. Use my slow cooker or rice cooker at least once per day - I'll be making Curried Split Pea Soup, so it's ready for lunches this week.
6. 15-min Zone work per day (inspired by flylady.com) - I'm in my kitchen zone today, and am sorting herb and spice jars!
7. My average weight will decrease weekly
8. Daily reports to the mini-team!
Thursday, January 13, 2011
January is half-way through, my motivation is back, and all sorts of elements are aligning to support my activities in this next phase.
It began when I joined the Winter 5% Challenge (I’m a Starfish!). Unfortunately, this coincided with starting Tamoxifen, and I will be no where near losing any weight. In fact, I’ll be lucky if I can finish at the same weight I began. Ugh.
However, that’s all just a hiccup in the road. With the New Year, I’m determined to aggressively attack any residual issues following 2010’s chemo/surgery/radiation, and I’ve lined up appointments as required. I’ve been to one appointment already with the chiropodist, and it has helped tremendously with the toes, although I still can’t wear shoes :-(
The basics with regard to nutrition and exercise have been haphazard at best in 2010, so I’m starting with a clean slate, keeping to the basics. I began the year by joining the “Official 10-Minute Daily Exercise Streak Challenge”. I know 10 minutes is minimal, but I am feeling a difference and it encourages me to work harder.
I also said I was going to rediscover my passions, and one thing I’ve rediscovered is the piano. I haven’t played in 25 years, but my husband challenged me to play for 2 minutes (yep, only 2 minutes) one day. Once I started I couldn’t stop. I played for about an hour! Muscle memory is a wonderous thing, and my fingering and the music is just coming back to me.
Two other groups are contributing to this synergy. Justyna7 over in the “People in Ottawa” group has started another 100-Day Countdown Challenge, which we’re starting on January 15th. I’ve made 8 commitments to the team.
1. Drink 8X8 oz water/day
2. Exercise 10 min/day
3. Eat within my recommended calorie range
4. Eat within my recommended low sodium range
5. Use my slow cooker or rice cooker at least once per day
6. 15-min Zone work per day (inspired by flylady.com)
7. My average weight will decrease weekly
8. Daily reports to the mini-team!
These marry well with the two other challenges, and I’m aiming to keep motivated by identifying mini-rewards.
Lastly, I began a “Living Well Beyond Cancer” course last night with the Canadian Cancer Society. It lasts six weeks. They have asked that we establish a goal for the week and that we report back to the group next week. We’ll be doing this on a weekly basis. Well, I’ve already got my goals, so no problem there. But reporting back to that group, face-to-face, will be an accountability I haven’t had before and gives added encouragement.
So, the stars are aligning for me to get on top of my health this year, and return to an active lifestyle. This is going to be MY YEAR!
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Member Comments About This Blog Post:
on getting your Motivation back..making plans and starting to play the piano again..no better Therapy then doing something you love. 2011 will be a great Year for you!!
can't be perfect all the time.Just do it one day at a time
