Alicia's Healthy Lifestyle - Is Good... Good Enough?
Posted by Alicia Leeds on Mon, May 21, 2012 @ 11:04 AM
Many of you have know me as a proponent of a healthy lifestyle. I promote managing a healthy weight, eating lots of fruits and veggies, doing yoga, and daily physical activity. Most of the basic behaviors I recommend haven't changed much over the years, but an evolution has been taking place.
The more I learn about eating a whole foods plant based diet, the more I believe it to be the healthiest choice for me. I am about to celebrate the one year anniversary of my new dietary choice.
What has that meant for me? A deep exploration into the world of fruits and veggies. Learning to cook and prepare more of my own foods. A new appreciation for herbs and spices. Facing the constant challenge of finding appropriate choices outside of my usual environments. Ongoing refinement as my body adapts to new flavors and pure foods. Moving away from added sugars and going gluten free.
Has it been difficult? Not really.
Once I was introduced to the compelling data in Forks Over Knives, read The China Study and other books, and did my own research my own research on PCRM (Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine) and other whole foods sites, meeting new dietary challenges has actually been invigorating.
I feel great. My blood work is terrific. My weight has been stable at 116-118 pounds. I eat whatever I want as long as it's a whole, plant based food. There's a lot to choose from!
Last month I went to the dermatologist for a quick check of a couple spots I was concerned about. One turned out to be a squamous cell carcinoma. No one, especially me, wants to hear that word. The treatment was Mohs Surgery, a common procedure, done on a recent Friday morning. I left with sixteen stitches and a clean slide. All the cancer was removed, and that is that.
But is it?
During the past week I have had a little extra time to think some things through. I cancelled my regular yoga schedule so as to give the wound some time to heal and used that time to reevaluate my own healthy lifestyle. Am I doing everything I can do to be the healthiest that I can be? Where can I make improvements?
I could work on my sleeping habits. I could work on my records. But the biggest gap is in my fitness routine. I have been satisfied with long daily walks and yoga - but the truth is, I haven't pushed myself out of my comfort zone in this area for quite a while.
Most would say that my skin cancer has nothing to do with the fact that I have been in a comfortable fitness rut for a while - but it did present an opportunity for me to take another look and ask myself - Is Good - Good Enough?
When I took the time to really look, the answer was no.
So I've decided to hire Full Life's own TriHard Personal Trainer, Leslie Meyers, to help me train for a half marathon in the fall. The Run Like a Diva Half Marathon on Long Island. I am also going to continue writing so you can follow my progress from start (Wednesday May 16) to finish - October 7, 2012.
This is a fabulous women only event and I invite anyone interested to join me in training and running! Just send me an email fulllife@earthlink.net and we'll get you in the training loop.
I am excited and nervous, but ready to take on a new challenge. I am ready to see where this journey leads. I believe that everything we encounter in life, good and bad, is a gift we can use for our personal evolution. Accepting my cancer as a gift means I will allow it to open new possibilities for my life. Who knows how far I might run...