Time2BWell Journey

Assessment Day Complete! Scans, blood draws, measurements, and physical assessments complete. Fitness Center membership starts September 1.Two personal training sessions/week, unlimited gym access, unlimited classes (yoga included). I did lose 5 pounds in the past month since the initial intake assessment. Want to try the physical assessments?? Here they are: Range of motion (most breast cancer survivors lose range of motion. This is one area I really worked on after surgery). Stand with hands at your sides, take your arms straight up in a touch down signal. Arms out to the side, left over your head and touch your fingers. Reach behind yourself (over shoulder with one had, behind the back with the other), can you touch fingers? Stand-up/sit-downs - how many times can you stand-up/sit-down in 30 seconds? Start seated, stand all the way up, sit all the back down (that's one). Forearm plank - how long can you hold it using your toes? 6-minute walk as fast as you can walk - how far? On...

 I realized I should probably explain the premise of the study. It is a follow-up study to initial research showing that intermittent fasting can contribute to an increase in T-cell (cancer fighting cells) production. So, the study will focus on intermittent fasting, healthy eating on the non-fasting days and an exercise program. The medical center has a well-known fitness program and trainers focused on cancer survivors.

 Completed a survey focused on self-image after breast cancer treatment. I have to be honest, I don't often think about it. Huge shout out to my daughter and her amazing external breast prosthetic. It allows me to do my job that I love without people being distracted by my appearance. It allows me to walk around golf courses without people being distracted. I am ok with missing a body part. It's more about the extra skin that should NEVER have been left since I specifically said not to leave it. It's also about the lack of upper body strength and the affect on my balance. I'm hoping to address those last 2 things during the study. My self-image may not be the best right now, but I have hope it will be better at the end of the study,

Completed 4 hours of surveys that proved to be very insightful. One of the surveys was about what I eat. There were many categories, including a whole series of vegetable categories. Things like beans, tomatoes, greens, etc. There was an entire category for French fries, tater tots, hashbrowns, etc. Clearly I'm not the only person who sometimes struggles to make healthy choices related to this category!! Curse you air fryer! Insights gained include things we all already know.  Being aware of eating and exercise choices leads to being more intentional about those choices.  Habits are important - they keep you on track and motivated, especially when life gets crazy. As James Clear writes in Atomic Habits, " Be the designer of your world and not merely the consumer of it." Stress and other emotions contribute to unhealthy eating. When it comes to exercise, people tend to do what they enjoy. It all goes to hell when you're tired! There was an entire survey on support, pro...

 Welcome to my blog! This is where I'll post about my journey as part of the Time2BWell study for breast cancer survivors. I am incredibly grateful to be given this opportunity from a team that (in their words) seeks to treat the person in addition to treating the disease. I appreciate your support through this journey.