Tag: body

I Stopped Counting Calories

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For the entirety of my life I’m pretty sure I’ve been on a diet of some kind. That or denying that the food I was putting in my body was causing turbulence. THAT or I just didn’t care about it all and pretended that none of it mattered.

Then, a year ago I had fainted in a public area with thousands of people at an event. It was just me and my partner and we were in the thick of the moment and I just dropped to the ground as I was trying desperately to get out there. I maintained enough consciousness to get out and get back up after the collapse but it was in that moment I knew I needed to take better care of myself. The first place I started was my plate.

I kept track of macros, calories and the works. And for a long while, it really worked! I could see my clothes getting bigger, my frame getting smaller. I was feeling a little better because I was getting the nutrients I needed. It was good. The trick is that no one tells you how all-consuming calorie tracking can be.

Now, let me say this first: I am not a professional. I am a person. This is just my personal perspective and relationship with calorie counting. For some, calorie tracking can really work and be no additional negative effects. I love those TikTok’s of those fitness girls crushing their protein goals and measuring stuff out for the week. I love getting to see those people rocking that lifestyle!

But I am not one of them. I simply can’t be. My brain gets too obsessive and then everyone goes home cranky because I didn’t feed my brain enough and get snippy. No one is happy, including the body I was trying to take care of.

So why keep doing it? I didn’t. I learned a lot about portion control and listening to my body’s need versus wants in that time so I’ve been able to carry that over to now. I think a more intuitive approach is beneficial for me because it’s less restrictive- I don’t limit food choices. I don’t put limits on types of foods, good or bad. I eat and when I’m done, my body gives me the heads up.

There’s always something that works for everyone. Each body is different and you need to find what works for you. Have you?

Until Next Time,

Dana

Hard Body Days

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Most don’t know, but I’ve been on a health journey. Well, I think I’ve been on some sort of health/weight loss journey my whole life. I’ve always had more fat on my body and as a woman, always been told to suck it in and eat less. As we all know, this is garbage, so my health journey has been about restoring my relationship with food and exercise to be something I enjoy and feel good doing rather than a form of punishment.

But some days are harder than others. Because I spent a lot of my childhood and early 20s trying to lose weight in unsafe ways, I sometimes tend to fall back on that mindset- the deadlines, the calorie cutting, the increase in cardio. I do all that because I look in the mirror and I don’t see progress. I don’t see change or something to be proud of in that moment.

And I have to remind myself that it’s okay. I do not have to be a constant work in progress. I can just exist. I don’t have to fix or adjust or maneuver my body to cater to others eyes despite all the things my brain keeps saying I have to do.

A great tip I picked up on restoring my relationship with my body is that body love sometimes isn’t possible. Sometimes you’ve hated your body and your outward appearance for so long that switching to love isn’t going to happen right away. For some, it may not happen at all, but working toward body neutrality? Now that’s something we can all work towards. Not hating. Not loving. Just finding a peaceful existence with your body.

It’s days like these where I take this tip to heart and find neutrality with my body. I find some clothes that I’m comfortable in and give it what it needs so it can fuel me. I don’t worry about what it looks like in the mirror or the way my body is shaped. I re-establish that neutrality towards my body because love is unattainable that day. And that’s okay. But I don’t hate my body. It’s gotten me through some pretty remarkable things and deserves some respect!

You’ve got this. Take care of you on those hard body days. I definitely am!

Until Next Time,

Dana

Cancer Freedom, Fundraisers and Fun!

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Hi all! How’s it going? Hopefully well because I have lots to tell you so make sure you stick around until the very end. The first bit of news I have is a little old but still really amazing:

I AM CANCER FREE.

You did not misread the last sentence. That’s right, folks! Dana Qualy can no longer be pushed around by cancer and its sidekick, chemotherapy. Mind you, I still have one more cycle of chemo to go, but that’s it! Then I’m done!!

Here’s why I still have more chemo:

Way back in November at the start of this little adventure, my oncologist told me I’d be receiving 4-6 cycles of treatment. After the third cycle, I would go get a PET scan and its results would determine exactly how many cycles of ABVD chemo I’d get.

Three months go by and it is now the beginning of February. Time for the scan. I have never been so nervous for a test in my life because I knew that if I were to “fail” this test (aka large masses were still present in my chest and neck), then the treatment would only get more aggressive. It was also more likely that the cancer would come back within five years and I’d live in the never-ending cycle of treatment and hospitals.

So I do the scan on a Thursday afternoon and wait four agonizing days to hear the news. The cancer was gone. Any large growths that were there three months ago are nowhere to be seen. However, because I had started with so many large growths in my neck and chest, it was decided that I was to continue with all six cycles of chemo and no radiation to make sure the cancer would stay gone. Between you and me, I’d take an extra cycle or two of chemo over radiation any day.

As cheesy as it sounds, that PET scan was the ticket to getting my life back. Before the scan, my family and I stopped any and all long term planning. There were no summer events, no birthdays, and no future. Sure there’s stuff we wanted to do and MAYBE we’d get around to it IF I was feeling okay, but as far we could tell, chemotherapy treatments and hospitals were the main source of our future. Possibly for life. But it wasn’t.

That PET scan proved that cancer wasn’t going to be my family’s future. My family got to start planning again. I got to start planning again.

I’m going back to school.

I’m going to get a job.

I’m going to celebrate every event and holiday.

I’m going to celebrate the people I love even more.

I’m going to celebrate my birthday.

Which leads me to my second topic: birthdays. I have one coming up in May and for once, I’m very excited about it. I decided to donate my birthday to the American Cancer Society and do a fundraiser. It’s called $2100 for 21 Years. You can read more about it in the link, but basically I want there to be more birthdays in the world and I want to do my part to make it happen. And in celebration of my birthday, I want to help more people.

Over the next month or so I’ll be sharing more about the fundraiser on My Bright Corner. If you can, please consider donating or sharing this fundraiser with anyone and everyone because everyone needs more birthdays with loved ones!

Thanks!

Until next time,

Dana