As I count down the days to surgery (nineteen!!!), I have been thinking about a lot things but mostly...food. I have been reading that prior to the surgery I won't be able to eat for a day or two as part of the prep. During surgery, I had requested an i.v. of chocolate but this was unfortunately denied. Post surgery, I won't be able to eat solid foods until my doctor can hear bowel sounds (hopefully my stomach and small intestine are shouting "Feed me!!!") and I can tolerate liquids. It's really not going to be that long, but I get antsy if I even skip breakfast.
So for the past month my stomach and I have gone into panic mode. I have been savoring each meal as though it's my last and have developed this mentality that only time will tell before I'm tolerating my usual favorites once I'm recovering: sushi, veggie omelets, turkey sandwiches, pizza and of course anything chocolate.
During the week I have been "trying" really hard to be healthy, drink my V8, and get in as much fruit as possible, but there are some moments where I feel like I've become "Girl vs. Food". Seriously, I could totally dominate Adam Richman right now! What makes it even more difficult to not obsess about food? I work for one of the biggest food companies in the world.
The key for me to not transform into a contender for The Biggest Loser is some form of exercise and finding other ways to cope with emotions of anxiety (besides food). Although I haven't had much energy to really go full force at the gym, I am learning to do what I can. This includes Denise Austin's 12 minute workout DVD, flexing my abs during the commute to work, walking to a friend's house, or dancing around my apartment with my iPod. In terms of dealing with emotions, I have found that talking to friends and family and blogging have really helped me (so thanks to all who have been listening and reading).
There's nothing like a good slice of pizza, a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup (or five), or a tasty spicy tuna roll from your favorite Japanese restaurant, but at the end of the day (or a good meal) I must remind myself that it's about feeding your soul in addition to feeding your stomach.
I hope Katie that you continue these blogs for a long time because I find myself going to my "Bookmarks" everyday looking for Loop de Loop. My heart tells me it because it is giving me an insight into my niece who I haven't had the pleasure to see a lot of over the years but have been blessed to come to know more in recent times.
ReplyDeleteAs often happens (or I should say as always happens) we have our own answers to our problems, two things that you wrote stuck out to me, both of which were great reminders for me. Being a foodaholic I need all the help I can get. The first one was "I have been savoring each meal as though it's my last". I read once in a book called "Awareness" that the more we enjoy something, the less we need of it. That tells me that if I'm enjoying what I'm eating to the fullest, I won't have to keep eating when I'm not hungry to satisfy a void, because there won't be one. Eating consciously is key. The other thing you said was "I must remind myself that it's about feeding your soul in addition to feeding your stomach". This goes hand in hand with what I just said about eating consciously. Anything we do consciously is soulful.
So...like I said at the beginning of this run-on sentence.....lol.....I hope you continue this blog for a long time...it fills my soul!
those tuna rolls are VERY good...
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