Changing Me. 19/2019
Changing me is I now realise ON-GOING!
It has been many years as I have mentioned in previous posts of living overweight and obese that has given me a skewed view of my image. My most recent post is here.
I am doing what I can now, to approach my thinking with:
- kindness
- self-care
- words of encouragement
and seeing that thoughts are not always true.
I already use the Calm app for meditation each day, and often in taking a time-out will be mindful in whichever are my circumstances as I learn to be present and here….in the now.
Eating mindfully (and planning to eat) is helping me in these ways:
- I do not follow those rules of ‘only concentrating on one food and mouthful at a time’ mindfully in eating.
- I do now examine and observe my inner feelings (physical and emotionally) about the why and when of eating.
- I am getting so much better at this!
- I am also recording what I eat via a free app and it is Australian foods-based and gives me an idea of how well I am doing.
- As a no-diet person, this feels good to have some control but also to eat within the generous range I have allowed myself.
- I am using my fitbit to slowly up my steps each week by 500 steps from a base of 6000.
On Tuesday 19 February 2019 I had my 3 month cancer check, and my Professor Jonathan Clark was delighted to see no reason for further surgery (yay for now) and when I mentioned my weight gain since ‘teeth’ he said “that’s good.” Oh, he means that is healthy and I am doing well! Of course now I get it…but as I chatted with his clinical nurse consultant who is just the best for me, she and I agreed that moving more is a good idea!!
- With Prof Jonathan Clark
- With Sr Cate Froggatt
On 23 February 2019 I posted this image and the words on Instagram.
One Year On.
As a person who was overweight to obese for decades, losing weight pre-cancer diagnosis & post cancer surgeries has been a mental issue.
I realise to others I look well, healthier and ok now.
I acknowledge I was 5kg+ lighter a year ago & pretty darned miserable at times because of eating restrictions due to 4 cancer surgeries & reconstruction inside my mouth.
I do think I did the best I could at the time to nourish myself but acknowledge how much I missed:
*chewing
*crunching
*biting
*savouring
FOOD from a variety of offerings! My shopping for over 14 months took me away from foods I missed biting, chewing, crunching & savouring.
From 21 Aug 2018 this changed. My upper prosthesis was fitted. It was novel to try the foods I’d missed: cheese on a cracker took minutes to eat. Then over time as my mouth & my brain handled the different foods better it was/is great.
- It took me ages to eat these in my first days with teeth!
- A ‘normal’ sandwich (no crusts) is possible…It take a while to eat but all good.
- Crumbed Cutlets and some vege & salad.
Then, about a month or so ago the creeping up of my weight on the scales (once a month weigh in- years of measuring my worth via the scales is a horrid memory) was noted & I “have” to admit I knew what to do IF I still wanted to:
*like wearing my new clothes
*feel comfortable in my body
*enjoy all aspects & variations of foods I could now choose from
It was time to choose a better balance between foods that nourish & are enjoyable & to increase my movement each day.
This mindful eating plan I’ve made up is working for me.
I am now understanding the WHY of how I used food to deal with emotions & that it does not work like that MAKES so much sense!
Keeping myself active by changing my approach to movement. Upping the steps weekly by 500 a day, starting at 6000 a day.
Most of all I want to add is how grateful I am to be well after nearly 2 years of oral cancer & that I can continue to learn best how to care for myself emotionally & physically!
Changing the voice in my head…. the inner critic…to low volume or mute whenever she begins to shout!
So have you ever taken steps to change you?
Denyse.
- Every 7th week
Joining with Min for Zen Tips Tuesday here.
Finding a place with Sue and Leanne here in MidLife Share The Love on Wednesday
and, of course, Lovin’ Life with Leanne here each Thursday.
Your Comments Are Appreciated & Read by Denyse Who Always Replies!