Food Diary - Day 3

Pancake mix was in the fridge. I had made so much batter, yesterday, that I had plenty for pancakes again this morning. I drizzled a little maple syrup on mine and enjoyed it with a long black.

I sent child number one to school with pumpkin soup in their thermo jar, this morning. I hadn't made the pumpkin soup. In fact, I have been told that my version of it is no good (thanks eldest). My mum supplied a rather large glass dish of the orange stuff. It's child number one's favourite. I chopped up some peach and put it in a container. And, purely because I was out of fruit, put some dried fruit in a second container. The mother-in-love provided the treat. It was a

flourless, paleo brownie. It is beautiful. She is being very secretive about the recipe, but it is definitely paleo and, what's more, it's a hit with the kiddies. (I forgot to get a photo...tomorrow?)

As soon as I got to work I found myself reaching for my small

container of almonds and macadamias. Actually, I'm pretty spoilt on Wednesdays because my mother-in-love makes me lunch. I enjoyed ham, eggs and salad.

Ever since Mark Sisson made the claim that dark chocolate (85%) is good for you, about a fortnight ago, we have been munching down the stuff. Previously, we had treated it as a treat. Something that we could eat to

celebrate or to have on our no-so-often cheat

nights. But now, we are enjoying a little everyday. And, what's more, and I'm excited about this, child number one asked for a piece and then some more. See, child number two really doesn't know any other way of eating; so is very compliant with the paleo way. So much so, that this little one loves dark chocolate. We decided that we would ease child number one, who has had a taste of the "good" life, onto the dark stuff by starting with 70%. It didn't take long. That was only a week a

go. And now, we may have two little dark chocolate eaters on our hands. Win! I enjoyed a few (let's be honest, several) pieces of dark chocolate with a cup of rooibos tea.

Because mummy (that's me) gets sick of cooking sometimes, I do tend to do big cook ups that provides meals for a couple of days. Paleo is no easy way out. If you chose to do it, be prepared to give your kitchen a serious workout. Well, I don't mind too much. But, anyway, the children don't complain if we have the same meal for a couple of days. So, it was no surprise that even though child number one had pumpkin soup for lunch, pumpkin soup was also the request for dinner. This made things easy for me. I served up soup for child one and two. And, again, I gave them their dinner early. Now that child one is at school, there is a huge appetite just waiting to be met.

The adults enjoyed chick-veggie heaven with (have a guess) fried eggs. I have to admit, that while we haven't had it for a while, it is a favourite of mine.

That's it. There really is nothing fancy about paleo. There is no magic trick. A lot of cooking that's for sure. But, when the food is good, it's worth all of the fuss in the kitchen.

Recently, I read how fasting has proven to make chemotherapy more effective. I'm sort of glad that I only heard that now. I would have really wanted to have given it a good go. In hindsight I also feel as though it may have just been another thing that I would have to do; and perhaps it would have just all been too much. Anyway. Actually, when one really gets into the paleo way, it is something that should become regular, fasting that is. So, the cancer link and the fact that it's probably the next step for me, got me doing a fast twice a week. I've done this for the past three weeks. For some of those fasts I haven't felt too good. Insulin levels, sleep and nutrition have to be sweet before it can be achieved without the moody behaviour and cloudy (thinking is mostly cloudy these days after having had chemo...) thinking. I didn't do a fast this past Monday, as you would know from my food diary. I will do one tomorrow though. So, I have stopped eating now. I will not eat again until midday. And, just to shake things up (this will give my body the impression that it was a longer fast) I will do a light workout before I eat. I'm looking forward to doing the IF (intermittent fast) tomorrow and I'm keen to see how my body reacts this time.

Wish me luck.

Radiation Therapy 1 of 30

We (the husband is doing it too) decided to kick off the diet with an IF (intermittent fast). That meant, no breakfast this morning. So, with an empty belly, I took child number one to their Spanish lesson.

By the time we came home, I was pretty hungry. We had a salmon and egg salad, and a muffin for dessert. Once lunch was out of the way, both children were ready for their nap. While they slept, I quickly cleaned up the house. Then, before I had a chance to think about it, we were leaving for the hospital. Today was my first radiation therapy appointment.

A friend joined me on this trip. Her role was babysitter as well as moral support. I was so distracted by our conversation, that I really didn't have a chance to panic. Thanks! Our wait was longer than I imagined but, once I was seen to it all went so quick.

While I was in the waiting room, the chair that I was to sit in was set up according to the measurements gained from the planning meeting. Moments later, I was called in and directed to lie in the chair. Three people moved about me, calling out numbers (measurements) and moving the sheet underneath me (putting me in the correct position). Soon it was clear that I was in place; a machine began to move around me. I was reassured that the movement was just to make sure that my body was not going to obstruct it in any way. I wasn't. All three people left the dimly lit room (it was a stark contrast to the blasting white lights in the waiting room) and I tried to relax myself as a familiar track played softly. Talk about attention to detail. Music was playing, just for me! I know the song but can't remember the name. It had the words, "writings on the wall". But that's not the name of it. (I have tried to google it but I can't think of any other words that will direct me to the song.) Anyway, I heard that song in its entirety and the beginning of a second. That was all the time I spent in there. It wouldn't even have been ten minutes. Before long I was getting dressed, fixing up my wig and walking out of there. One down! Twenty-nine to go...

The first three rads will last that "long". That's because I had to have an x-ray first. The x-ray is double checked with the planning appointment scan. It's obviously pretty important for all the measurements to be correct (within five millimetres is acceptable I was told). This way, the therapists can be sure that they are burning the same area. Thereafter, an x-ray will only be done once a week. So, on Thursday and Friday I can look forward to an even shorter appointment.

Between now and the next appointment, I am required to apply aqueous cream three times (but not less than an hour before the next dose). Rads dry out the skin, so this is to counteract that.

Tomorrow, my appointment is in the evening (the ideal for us). On Wednesday, I am scheduled to see a physio. How good is that?

My twelve week chemo treatment is now officially over. The only thing that I can complain about, with regard to that, is my itchy head. I think the little bit of hair that I have is getting tired of being hidden beneath the wigs.

I made it through Day 1 of my Whole30. I didn't have any cravings for anything and was happy that I was able to sustain the IF. Here are my meals:

Breakfast: IF

Lunch: Salmon and Egg Salad, and a muffin

Dinner: Red Curry (Chicken) and sweet potato fries on lettuce

It's hard to believe that I am to head back up to the hospital tomorrow. I have a parking permit this time so I will only be charged $2. I am certainly not worried about tomorrow. The veil has been lifted from the unknown.