Getting Fit and Staying Heathy

This is a follow up to my last blog "Frustration and Suffering".  Last week I was hit by the flu and feeling so lousy.  I was very emotional and had a moment of weakness shedding tears and feeling sorry for myself.  I was so completely angry and frustrated that I was sick.  I think that my trip to the ER was the final straw that made me break.  I was worried that I was going to be hospitalized in Pittsburgh because of my temperature being so high.  One of the biggest concerns, even two years post-transplant, is the threat of infection which a high fever can be a symptom of.  Thankfully, my blood cultures and chest x-ray were normal.  I was given fluids and given some medication and sent on my way.

After this experience and having the worry of a hospitalization brought back my "emergency" trips to Pittsburgh while undergoing chemo treatments and transplant.  I was scared and felt that loss of control.  But after having my weak moment, my usual stubbornness kicked in.  I thought to myself that I can either sit here and wallow in my sickness or I can be more proactive and become more healthier. 

After years of chemo treatments and since my transplant, I have tried a few times to get back on track with exercise and eating healthy.  It seemed like every time I started to do this, something would flare up and would hinder my efforts.  I would give in and back off and tell myself I will try again later.  Well, this is later and this time I'm not going to back off.  I'm going to keep going.  I'm going to lose the weight that I gained when I was on steroids and I'm going to tone up and build up my muscle mass that I lost during my long hospital stays and during the times when I had no energy from the chemo.

Recently, I joined an exercise program that also includes meal planning and weekly coaching from a licensed professional trained by the Cleveland Clinic.  This isn't a New Years resolution, this is the beginning to a lifestyle change.  Eight years ago, I had joined a program and exercised three to four times a week and was the healthiest I ever had been.  It was a lifestyle change.  I continued to do this for a period of time by keeping track of what I ate but began to lessen my exercise regimen.  A few years later, I unfortunately was diagnosed with cancer and focused on surviving and stopped exercising and paying attention to what I ate completely.  Now that I'm surviving, I need to get back into remaining active and eating healthy.

I'm looking forward to getting back on track.  My goals, of eating healthier and maintaining a regular exercise regimen, are not short-term...they are a lifestyle change.  This change is better for me not only physically but mentally.  It will definitely boost my spirits and it will also be another notch on my belt for kicking cancer's ass!!!