I haven't talked a lot about having cancer on this blog here (trust me though, I've talked plenty about it everywhere else in my life). I mentioned it a time or two but I really tried to keep this blog free from my crazy life for two reasons...
1- This was my happy place. This is where I would share cute things I liked or things I had made and it was nice and fresh, not clouded with the reality of my life at the time.
2- I did something that was a little insane. I decided to try and start selling my family trees a month after I started chemotherapy. This was something that I'm so glad I did, because it gave me something fun to focus on other than being sick. It was something I could do even though I was sick. There were times I worried that I wouldn't be able to fill the orders if it was a rough week, but I always managed to do so, and it was a huge blessing in my life. I didn't want to talk about having cancer on this blog because I didn't want people to buy trees from me because they felt sorry for me. I wanted them to buy trees because they loved the trees!!! So that's another main reason why I didn't want to talk about it over here.
Now that the crazy part is over and I'm onto the recovery part, I feel like that deserves a spot in my "happy place". It's so nice to be back on my feet and doing the things that I love and enjoy again!!!
Before I lost my baby and found out I had cancer, I was quite the exercise/nutrition enthusiast. My degree is in Exercise Science and I have big dreams of getting a Masters degree in Nutrition someday. I used to write a little ditty on my family blog every Friday called "Fitness Friday" where I would post exercise and nutrition tips. I want to continue to do that now, but with a little different slant.
I feel like my "credentials" (like I really even had any) have been totally sunk in a lake. I've spent the last year of my life sitting on the couch or in bed, eating to my hearts content. So I think that I'm going to resume my fitness talk every Friday over here called "Baby Steps". I'm really excited about documenting my road back to good health in this way. I think that it will encourage me to keep doing what I need to do to be healthy again.
So here we are!!! I wanted to write a little bit today about starting where you are. The past few weeks that I've been feeling better I've been trying to exercise more and get my energy back. It's been hard. It's hard to think that three years ago I ran an 8 mile race, and today I can't even jog for more than five minutes. I found that I tried to jump right back into running three days a week and weight training like I used to, but I just can't do it. Not only can I not do that, I can't even exercise two days in a row.... it just puts me right back on the couch with a bag of chocolate chips because I just don't have the energy to do that right now. (Do you keep a bag of chocolate chips in your freezer to munch on everyday too? I guess we will talk about that later).
The thought for this week then is to start where you are! Maybe you used to be a jock in high school or swam on the swim team. Maybe it's been a few years since you even laced up a pair of running shoes. That's okay! You start where you are now!
Here is where I am now. I am 26 years old. I haven't consistently exercised in over a year. I have a two year old boy so I have to be creative with how I find time to get my exercise done anyway. I have gained 25 lbs in the last year. I am two months out of chemo and am just starting to get my energy back from that. I also have not told myself no to any sweets or junk food in this last year (might have something to do with the 25 lb weight gain don't you think)? This is where I am right now. This is my starting ground.
I think that it's important to recognize and embrace where you are right now. This way you can make realistic goals for yourself instead of being too hard on yourself right off the bat. As I am writing this out I realize how ridiculous it is that I even assumed I would be able to jump right back into exercise. So instead I am going to take a deep breath, and set some goals I can actually accomplish instead of feeling like a failure.
My goal for the next few weeks is to walk for 20 minutes/ 3 times a week. If I feel like jogging a little and walking a little, that's great. But that is my starting ground. No weight training, no pressure to do more than this. Just get started.
What are your "realistic" goals for the next week? Where are you starting from?
And a little food for thought:
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
- Confucius
Thanks for this post Megan... I'm been trying to decide where to start!!! I am going to start as you are.... walk/ride my bike 3 days a week for atleast 20 minutes. Thanks for the help to get me going!!! Love ya!
ReplyDeleteget my boys outdoors at least once a day moving our bodies! if i can fit in my own jog here and there - great! if not, at least we got out and got busy!
ReplyDeleteI will do my Pilates 3-4 times a week and walk my son to school if the weather cooperates :)
ReplyDeleteI'm excited for Baby Steps! I've missed Fitness Fridays. The Meg I picture is very fit and healthy (from our BYUH days in Joke's classes) so I know you can do it!! It'll come back quickly- fitness and nutrition is part of who you are. And I'll be running lots this week training for the Ragnar Relay Wasatch Back in 3 weeks!
ReplyDeleteI'll be playing along with you. Maybe we can inspire each other!
ReplyDeleteMeg,
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting this blog post. I haven't gone through the trial of cancer. But I do struggle with "chronic fatigue" which takes over my life sometimes. I find it so encouraging to read your post and know that I just need to be realistic about my goals too. I struggle being able to exercise two days in a row too. So I am going to set a realistic goal this week to running and walking 20-30 minutes three times this week. Thanks for the encouragement. If you can do it after just having had chemo then i can do it "chronic fatigue" or not. Thanks for your positive out look.
I'm on an exercise break for a little while but I want to participate too, so my goal for the next week is to keep my house clean and take my kid to the park.
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forward to reading Fitness Fridays each week. After having my first baby, I have 10 lbs to lose. And if I'm being honest, I could have lost 10 lbs before I got pregnant. :) But I figure focusing on the first 10 is better than thinking about losing 20. My goal for this week is to get on the treadmill at least three times and run/walk for 20 minutes. I've been running a bit the last few weeks, but it's discouraging since I'm nowhere near the fitness level I'd like to be. Thanks for the reminder that I should take baby steps and just focus on doing something and being active
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ReplyDeleteBaby Steps. Great thoughts. I know it's not the same, but after my back surgery when I had to re-learn how to walk, keep food down, lift, and basically do anything; it was really difficult for me. I had gone from doing yoga bi-weekly and running up to 5 miles almost everyday to being a very weak awkward thing. It was really embarressing to use a walker/wheelchair and wear a brace and get question after question. Walking was really the only thing I could do to get stronger. It did open my eyes and made me more grateful about so many things in life. Just being ouside made me emotional I was so happy to be out of a hospital bed. Just keep your head up and keep walking and it can make you stronger inside and out.
ReplyDeleteI feel the same -though I don't have the good reasons like you. I once loved running but got sick and didn't run for a few weeks. Now, I can't run a quarter of a mile. Yikes. My realistic goals this week are to do something active every day. I am excited to follow your baby steps. I think we can do it!
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