Living for Tomorrow AND Today

It is a challenge for all of us to decide how far to take healthy living. How many vegetables should we try to jam pack into our days? How much sugar is okay? Are adult beverages still in the cards? Do meat and dairy have to be cut out completely? And now that I am working hard to prevent cancer from reoccurring, I have pondered these questions more diligently.

For some, an all or nothing mentality works well. But for me, the Queen of Moderation, I like to thoroughly enjoy the foods and drinks that I love here and there while also eating super healthy a lot of the time. That feels like a win win. And with exercise, I am committed to it, but I don’t go crazy with clocking many hours at the gym. There are simply too many things I would rather (and need to) do.

Here’s my healthy living approach currently:

• I eat a lot of fruits and vegetables including a superfood green smoothie in the morning.
• Most days, I fast for about 15 hours from dinner to a late breakfast/early lunch.
• I take antioxidant supplements, a probiotic, D3, B6 and B12.
• I limit refined flours/grains to special meals and thoroughly enjoy them when I do eat them. I have found substitutes that satisfy me much of the time.
• I only have sugar when I really want it. I make muffins with honey or maple sugar. I make vegan chocolate chip cookies that don’t have flour. But sometimes I go for it and have whatever pie/cake/ice cream my friends and family are enjoying. I stop when I feel satisfied.
• I eat meat less than I used to and enjoy many plant-based meals.
• I love dairy and prioritize by focusing on my absolute favorite form of it–cheese! And I do eat cheese less.
• I stay flexible with food and refuse to vilify any of it.
• I love to enjoy beer/wine/margaritas with friends and I allow myself that pleasure a couple times a week.
• I walk almost every day in our hilly neighborhood, I do yoga once a week, and I have started jogging a bit (my oncologist told me sweat is gold!). I plan to introduce some strength training back in after I heal from my final surgery.
• I work on my emotional health by connecting with friends and family, meditating (just for short periods for now, working up to longer), journaling, reading and reflecting upon spiritual books, and most recently I started working with a wonderful shamanic practitioner to do breathe work and more.

You may have major problems with some of the items on my list and you may want to try some of the others, but what is really important is that you come up with your own list. One that you feel really good about. No one has all the answers, especially not me, but we all know deep down what is right for us.

My guiding principle is this–if my time is up before I’m an old lady, I don’t want to say, “What?! I did everything right and it didn’t work! (insert sobs).” I would much rather say, “Damn. Well, at least I had a great time!” A big part of being alive is enjoying our lives. Let’s get to it. Cheers!