Maybe this time.

[dotty53]

January 1, 2011 was the start of my newest foray into the world of Southbeach. I know it works. I know it is good for me and suits my particular life. My DH was diagnosed with metastatic cancer and had to go thru chemo and radiation for the past year and a half. Needless to say I put myself on the back burner but if I dont get and stay healthy I wont be able to be there for him when he needs me. I have done great for the past four days and reading journals, especially Chris55 has helped me keep on track and get a good start. (thanks Chris). I love the support of this site and am looking forward to the journey. .

[Chris55]

Wow, thanks - glad my experience can help someone else. I've been slipping a lot lately so I need to get on track now, too. The holiday food is gone, DD is going back to college, and my schedule should stabilize soon. I just need to start practicing what I preach again. It's just hard to put yourself first when you're bogged down with the stress of taking care of everyone else. Glad you're here with us, dotty!

[lakegran72]

Hi Dotty ...... This is a wonderful place to be.......The support is amazing. My Heart goes out to you and your dh. and...yes.. you must take care of yourself in order to be support for him during these terribly trying times. We will be here if you need us.
Isn't Chris great? There are lots of wise and helpful posters here.
Coming here each morning makes my day!

[dotty53]

Thanks for the welcome! Living on a small island of the coast of Maine makes one feel a little isolated so it is great to network with people. Today is my fifth day on the beach and I feel so much better already. No heartburn for starters. Exercise is gong to be a challenge for me because I am a real couch potato! I am giving myself the first week to get the eating under control and then will start a realistic (for me) exercise plan. I think I will put it on my calendar for a specific time like an appointment. I hope it will help me get with it!!

[Chris55]

Winter on an island - you are a hardy lady, my dear! I think I'm isolated and I live in town. Exercise is a challenge in this frigid state. Get yourself some videos for those freezing cold days when you can't get outside. I'm a real baby when it comes to walking out in the cold, so I do my walk dvd's and add weights when I need to increase my intensity. I find that I do best if I exercise in the morning before I shower, but it doesn't always happen because of my schedule, and the fact that I spend too much time drinking coffee and playing online when I get up. One thing I've been doing is putting on my exercise dvd with the volume on low (since I just need the beat and not the directions) and listening to the news on the radio. Multi-tasking!!

Dragging to chemo and radiation must have been even worse because of where you're living. Did you stay on the mainland or did they let him stay in the hospital through all this? You must be so happy to be home and not dragging around so much - I don't know if I'd want to get off the couch, either!

[Bubble Yum]

I just wanted to pop in and say Hi and good luck. This is my first time posting in a journal and yours just inspired me to leave a little comment. Good luck with implementing exercise, just start slow and work your way up to a comfortable level.

I am sorry to hear about your husband's cancer. My father was diagnosed in January 2009 with AML leukemia and had a stem cell transplant in May 2009. Unfortunately he passed away in April 2010 at 56 years old. Cancer is such a tough thing to deal with so I wish you both lots of strength in the year to come.

[dotty53]

Thanks for your post Bubble Yum! I am so sorry to hear about your dad. That is a hard loss especially in one so young. My DH is lucky that his is slow growing and hopefully they can manage it but being systemic there is no way to get rid of it totally. I am sure going to try to get the exercise going and build up some stamina!

Oh Chris I dont know how hardy I am!! It is not as bad as it sounds as we are connected to the mainland by a causeway and a bridge. It is still an hour and a half drive one way to the oncologist and the Cancer Center so 3 hours a day travel time was no picnic for all those weeks. No wonder I really packed on the pounds. We also had one day of chemo that took 8 hours to administer and with the travel time it was a long day. Thank goodness we are on a break until March. That will give me time to get myself situated into a comfortable eating and exercising pattern I hope. Thanks for the tips on the exercise. I do have a few dvds for those really cold days and snow shoes for the warmer ones.

[lakegran72]

Snow shoes? .... you sound pretty hardy to me girl!

[dotty53]

I have had those snowshoes for a long long time Lakegran and have only used them twice! We shall see what happens this time

[Chris55]

I was out in my snow shoes last weekend - it was slushy, but I didn't care. Most years I only get to go out once or twice. It's lots of fun, but for some reason I can't get my couch potato family to go with me.

Well, dotty, now I don't think you're such a hermit since you don't have to take a ferry out to your house - I was picturing Matinicus or something! It doesn't count if there's a bridge I think I'm living in East Cupcake myself sometimes, and I'm right off Route 1, but it's a haul to get most places anyway. We consolidate trips because of the gas prices, so when we go to Portland we have a long list of places that everyone wants to go.

Lakegran, enjoy your latest round of snow. I think we may be getting some tomorrow or Saturday. Not too much, I hope!

[dotty53]

It seems like no matter where we live in Maine it is a long haul to get anywhere. Our closest shopping of any size is an hour away so we try to consolidate as much as we can into the time we are there like haircuts, groceries, doctor appts, and the like.

[dotty53]

End of week one today. I feel so good about many things that have happened this past week. Last night I battled the snack monster all evening and I won Tomorrow will start the exercise. I am all ready for it as much as I dont like it

[dotty53]

This morning I dragged myself out of bed and dutifully went for my first week weigh in. I hate scales but I got weighed twice because I could not believe my eyes. 8 lbs gone!!! I know some was fluid I am sure but at least it isnt on me! This gives me hope for the coming weeks. Exercise started today and was a brisk walk down to the beach and back. It was very cold but I did it anyway.

Todays food:
B- black beans, mushroom, peppers, and onions topped with a poached egg, fruit
L- veg soup with salad, 6 taco chips
D- will be roasted veggies, meatloaf made with ww crumbs, braised cabbage
S- 1/2 c yogurt

[Chris55]

Congratulations on your lovely loss! Celebrating with a walk on the beach is just great, even if it was freezing. I guess if I lived closer to the beach, I might walk there even when it's cold. I can get to the river, but it's just not the same. Plus that means walking through town, which I can't really do at a decent pace. If I walk in the other direction, it's over a very windy hill, so I do most of my winter walking in front of my TV.

[CAC]

All the best to you and your DH, Dotty - it's good to have you here. I am in southern New England but my father was from Maine - beautiful but cold!!!!