Taking care of yourself during a cancer diagnosis is a full-time job. You may already have one full-time job, plus a family and wonder where in the world are you going to find time for cancer and for the things necessary to keep you healthy. I get this, truly I do. It’s why so many choose to go through chemotherapy and radiation, but may choose not to make lifestyle changes to support being healthy. Those lifestyle changes take time to learn, to do and to develop as habit.
However, lifestyle changes are necessary to help your body heal and to continue long-term healing. Changes in food choices and schedule to make room for stress management techniques such as meditation, deep breathing and exercise are vital to own’s peace of mind and health within a diagnosis.What is your life worth? Is it worth making some changes. When I was first diagnosed with cancer, I just went through the treatment and got on with life as best as I could (with a few limitations). The second diagnosis and using naturopathic medicine taught me how to make lifestyle changes, but I didn’t stick with them for the long-term. For the third diagnosis, I went through conventional treatment and then moved to Arizona where I began to get back to the lifestyle changes, but found myself undisciplined in my choices. It took 4 times to figure it out! Food choices, stress management, exercise, and working with the power of the mind are incredibly important on a daily basis to get and stay healthy.
Now I am not saying you have to make all the changes in one fell swoop. Slow and steady wins the race. Choose one thing a week to add or change. Here are some quick and easy suggestions to create long-term lifestyle changes:
1. The crockpot is your best friend to make healthy meals while you are off at work. Prepare them the night before and use dark leafy greens as much as possible. Two great web sites for easy recipes are: Chef Rachel Matesz and Emeril Green.
2. Wake up 15 minutes early and put on your IPOD to listen to a morning meditation to start your day right.
3. Perform deep breathing exercises, especially when you are tired. Not only does cancer not like oxygen, deep breathing rejuvenates your cells.
4. Do the “health bounce” on the rebounder (mini-trampoline) while watching your favorite television show.
5. As you wait for the shower to warm up, use a dry brush to wake up your lymphatic system. Be sure to brush toward the heart. Check out http://tinyurl.com/5hqd76 for more information.
6. Be sure to sign up for the Natural Cancer Girl newsletter for more healthy lifestyle tips.
Cancer Superheroes, what is one simple thing you have added or changed in your life that has added to your health? Was it worth it?
Filed under: Alternative medicine and Cancer, Empowerment, Encouragement, Natural Medicine, Nutrition and cancer
