Now, four weeks post surgery, I am ready to get busy with chemo -- clobbering the heck out of the cancer that remains in my body. And while chemo is a part of that -- starts next week -- Cliff and I are using this "stay in motion" shuffle period to refine our work on all the pieces around the nucleus of the medical approach:
- Nutrition: Preparing (together) and consuming (me) five nutritious mini-meals a day. The weight gain thing really hasn't happened -- challenged in part by multiple pre-test fasting experiences and further by cutting out sugars for the most part (includes many carbs on the with a high glycemic index, and (of course) wine).
- Exercise: Staying active by walking (about four miles most days), dancing and this week, getting back on my Peloton (on non-walking days) for hour-long workouts. Physical motion continues to be my place of happiness!!
- Managing stress: When something is niggling at my mind, I have two practices (that anyone can choose at anytime), which I am finding tremendously helpful:
- First (thank you Toni), when stress is looming, I practice directing my observations outward -- to nature and my sensory surroundings. This routinely takes me away from drilling inward and getting spooled in all the emotions that ride side-saddle with stress. Using this approach, I can observe my emotions without judgement. I reminds me I am not my emotions. It breaks the stress cycle. Breathe . . .
- Second, I take action, rather than ruminate. I use my own preference for can, will, do (versus could, should, would) and face down the stressors head on. The longer stress lingers, the more I am allowing it to feed on the energy I prefer to use for this fight. I know I have a choice here -- and I actively am stepping into self-care.
- Calming the mind: I read. I write. I meditate.
- Visualization. Just as I did for many a challenge in years past, I now am visualizing this journey in big and little ways. I use the greater trekking analogy (THE BIG) to summon strength, determination, endurance, commitment and my unquestionable belief in my ability to summit. And every night I deploy highly-detailed visualizations (THE LITTLE, but no less STRONG) of the cancer-fighting potential in my own body (imagine tiny soldiers uniformed and equipped for the fight). In every scenario, these warriors emerge triumphant.
In fact, I feel quite well. And I sometimes wonder: What would be the effect of not knowing at all? Would I still be marathon training? Maybe.
My fabulous (seriously, I have reason to appreciate him more each day) oncologist reviewed some nutrition, activity and energy/mindfulness strategies with Cliff and me last week. And in conclusion he said: Listen to your body. In terms of activity, do what you can, and if that works, do a little more the next day (music to my ears). Eat nutritiously -- taking a smart and measured approach. Align energy to support the fight. Maintain balance.
Progress:
This afternoon, my port will be implanted in preparation for chemo. It will ride right there under my collar bone along with my fabulous Yin and Yang tattoo (a part of me for nearly twenty years now). What better reminder than to see the two reflected back at me in the mirror: recalling Dr. Rixe's "balance" rejoinder, reminding me that my whole is greater than any one part (especially only 2%), and refreshing (again and again) my knowing that light is, because darkness is -- (No Mud, No Lotus ~Thich Nhat Hanh).
Quote of the day:
Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.~Albert Einstein
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| Balance in Motion -- Becoming an IronMan in 2009 |
VIA FRANCIGENA, 2020!
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