Then and Now

(Note: written last Saturday & finally putting the final touches on it today)

I haven't posted in awhile. Been crazy busy. The good kind of busy. I am Happy. I am glad to be moving forward. I am grateful that I am healthy. I, more than anything right now in this moment, am grateful that my dad listened to his doctor, got surgery, battled cancer, fought hard, and faithfully and without complaint completed his chemo treatments. We celebrated these great moments today by running the Whiskey Row. My parents and kids did the 2 mile fun run and I did the 10k.

 

The day I found out my dad had cancer was also the day I started Body for Life (my very first time to do the 12 week program). The night before the start of the challenge I was skimming through chapters I had already read. One of the chapters hit me really hard that night. Bill Phillips talked about how there would be trials and hard things that would come into our lives. And that when, NOT IF, but when the trials come it all depended on how we decided to handle the trial. The book talked about making the choice to continue forth in making healthy choices and being fit even if life got hard. After reading this I thought to myself, "What hard thing is going to come into my life?" And then I brushed it aside; I sure didn't need to give myself anxiety thinking that maybe some hard thing was coming down the road; there was surely nothing I could do but worry. So I stopped and thought, "Life will bring hard things, I've seen it in the past, and I know it will come. But I will decide now to go forth with the challenge even WHEN hard things come my way." The very next day I started my BFL eating, journaling, and fitness routine. Right after finishing my 45 minute arm workout with my sister-in-law Joy I got a phone call from my mom. I was sitting on the couch relaxing and recovering after a hard and awkward first work out. I received devastating news about my dad; cancer was discovered during a routine colonoscopy. I couldn't believe it. I broke down in tears. My dad was going to have emergency surgery the very next day and I HAD to be there, I desperately wanted to be there for him and my mom. Cancer has taken several loved ones from my family and so fear, heartache and the unknown set in. When the kids came home from school I told them about grandpa and his cancer. We sat on the couch and we cried and we held each other and I told them everything was alright. My nine year old said' "It's not fair!"  and sobbed into my chest. And I cried and agreed with her. Mike was so supportive and got the next day off work to drive me there. Family stepped in to take care of the little ones. We visited my dad at the hospital for the 3 days he was there. I carried protein bars and shakes with me. I ate salad at the cafeteria. I felt like the only thing I had control of was my diet. My fitness routine included walking Claire around the hospital floors and walking to and from Wendy's across the street. Thankfully the cancer was removed. Dad had to start chemo 4 weeks later. He did chemo for 6 months and experienced nasty side effects:bleeding gums, nauseau, vomiting, extra cold sensation, metallic taste, etc. But all the while he worked full time, shoveled snow from the driveway for my mom and went on with life. We know many people prayed and fasted for him and for us. We are so grateful for others' love, faith, and prayers in our behalf. My dad completed his chemo just a few short weeks ago and to celebrate we did the Whiskey Row run together. We did it in honor of my dad and his battle with cancer.

 

I am happy for my dad. I continue to pray that his cancer will not come back. I thank Heavenly Father for answered prayers and blessings. I am proud of him for taking care of himself, eating right, and exercising.

 

It was a HARD thing for me to find out my dad had cancer. It was devastating and depressing. I was hopeful but I have seen too many lives taken. But I continued forth with my goals and eating right and exercising. I had made the choice before the trial came that I would carry forth no matter what hard thing came.

The night before I found out my dad had cancer these are words I read from Bill Phillips, "We must all accept that ill fortune is an inevitable part of life, and it is because of, not in spite of, misfortune that we grow. You see, our character will never be fully tested until things are not going our way. Those who have the courage to succced in spite of adversity become an inspiration. They contribute value to the lives of others. They make a difference...whenever you encounter adversity-whenever something comes up that you believe might prevent you from finishing your Program and successfully transforming your body and life-immediately ask yourself, 'What can  I do to turn this negative into a positive? How can I make this work for me rather than against me?'"

 

I hope that each of you that are doing the Transformation with us can take this little nugget of inspiration and know that when hard things come your way you will have already decided that you will carry forth and make it work for you instead of against you. You will find inner strength that you didn't know you had. You will do great things! I am grateful that this challenge came into my life during what could've been a very depressing and hard time in my life. I was able to focus on my health-physical and mental-and focus on the postive in life. When we make goals and try our best to follow them-even the smallest and most simple of goals-we will see our lives slowly transform. We are routing for you!!!!!

 

 

 

 

This is a picture of me on my 2nd day of Body for Life.

This is a picture of me today at our race that we did in honor of my dad. I am continuing to set goals and trying to take care of my body. I've kept off the 25 pounds I lost since the day I found out my dad had cancer.