What’s the difference?
I thought that the other day when I saw a fairly obese woman who was struggling trying to walk to get to a motorized wheelchair at Toys-R-Us.
What’s the difference between letting myself look like that and living with the scars I have. And believe me I’m scarred. You don’t go thru major surgery and reconstruction on your chest and not have scars externally but also internally. Many was the time after my cancer diagnosis that i said "what’s the difference"
My body betrayed me, cells mutated and were planning on clogging off vital areas in my body if I hadn’t caught them in time and I at the time of diagnosis was eating 80 to 90% clean, doing cardio out the ying yang and lifting some, albeit light, but still weights. And yet all that hard work didn’t prevent me from getting cancer.
While going thru chemo, praying my then 3 year old son wouldn’t find it weird that MOmmy had a military haircut and ask questions, I’d sit on my rbike and think "why bother" All my previous hard work did nothing to stave off cancer?? Yes I was a big old pity party inside. I never let it out, not once. I have very vivid memories of my mother being ill with brain issues when I was 4 years old and I was damned if my son would have any memories of me that way.
Inside I think a piece of my soul died though, and some of my ego. The part that protected me from a very sadistic cruel MOther, and to be honest I need that part of my ego to come back, but alas she hasn’t yet.
But I realized Friday what the difference was as I watched that woman struggle and heard her talk about knee issues, hip issues, she was wearing oxygen too. I imagined she had hypertension and diabetes too. The difference between how she looked and how I looked after my battle with cancer is, one of us chose to look that way by putting bad food choices in their mouths, by choosing to not get out and walk and stay inside, while the other had free radicals do her cells in.
The difference between not exercising and exercising can be as much as 10 to 20 more years of active living. Of being able to walk upright when you’re in your seventies, to not relying on pills to regulate all your hormones. By taking care of yourself, your body thanks you, your mind thanks you and your family thanks you.
And to anyone who is going thru cancer treatment, just went thru cancer treatment or has a family member going thru it, let them know that there is a difference, and that they have to fight and continue to take care of themselves.
March 22, 2009 at 6:32 pm
You are amazing. I loved this post.
I have a friend who was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and given little time to live. She had a baby and a daughter and was an American living in France with her French husband. Instead of falling apart and feeling sorry for herself, she started on a macrobiotic diet, exercised and now 15 years later she has been cancer free. She feels that the diet really helped her be able to fight through the chemo and whatever else she had to go through.
Fight the good fight!
March 22, 2009 at 6:39 pm
That’s awesome! I think the power of your mind also helps alot when battling something life threatening.
March 22, 2009 at 7:28 pm
Great blog, i really enjoyed it. People ask me this question all the time. "Why do all this hard work and sacrifice when you can be striken with a fatal disease". For me it’s very rewarding and satifing living healthy. I’ve been doing it so long that it has become my lifestyle. Also by being healthier it increases my chances of survival. Overall I can say i’m happy and I know my healthy lifestyle is a big part of that. Everytime I out lift, out run, out climb someone 10 yrs younger than me i know i’m doing something right. The fact that you did not succumb to the cancer should be a reinforcement. Again great blog! - Take care
March 22, 2009 at 7:59 pm
Thanks. I really feel like the fact I was taking care of myself, helped me recover quicker than if I’d never exercised or eaten healthy.
March 22, 2009 at 9:51 pm
Simply amazing. Glad to hear that you stuck with the lifestyle and still rockin a great life.
Yeah, anything could spring out of no where, just a fact of life. One could either roll over and let it consume them, or fight it anyway possible.
Your an inspiration, Kermane. Awesome post.
March 23, 2009 at 7:58 am
thanks Mike
March 23, 2009 at 8:09 am
Damn, Kermane, you just made me cry at work!! Your story is so amazing! And that ego that you are still waiting to recapture… it will come when you need it! You just have to KNOW that it will!
Great post by a truly amazing woman!
March 23, 2009 at 8:20 am
Wondeful story! I sorry about your bout with cancer. But your stronger today than you ever thoguth you would be. Itas a shame how some people dont realize the long term effects of unhealthy living and obesity (sp?)
My grandmother right now is in a convelecent home. The ONLY reason she is there… is because she is too heavy for my grandfather and mother to help to the bathroom anymore. Its a shame that she cannot be at home simply because of her size. People need to look at there lives in the long haul. Bless you all. Keep working hard!
March 23, 2009 at 8:59 am
Great post. You have made your choices and have the lifestyle you have and life for another day due to them and being responsible for your own health. Others have written, keep working
March 23, 2009 at 3:04 pm
Wow!
Life is about choice. And its about consistently making the right choice. You certainly have and that’s inspiring.
March 23, 2009 at 5:22 pm
Thanks everyone. Yes life is choices, we don’t always make the right ones but enough of the right ones goes along way.