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When Happiness Rules

Writer's picture: Susan PrydeSusan Pryde

Some days I really don’t have profound thoughts to fill a blog. I’m trying not to be redundant because right now life is about building up the blocks that I’ve been gathering into a really strong foundation.

I don’t want to suddenly wake up one day and say screw this, I don’t want to work this hard for my health anymore, pass me the bacon or anything that can set me back and undo the healing and I’m gonna sit in this chair the rest of my life…which would be much shorter.

I am in several support groups online and we share progress. I do get a lot of pointed questions on how the heck I’ve progressed so fast in weight loss. That is the biggest question because anyone who has tried has at some point struggled with this. What the heck am I eating? Am I starving myself? Am I exercising? Am I crazy? (Don’t answer that 😂)


Here is my answer last night to a very wonderful and curious person trying to find her way through weight loss and a scary illness like me albeit my response has been somewhat refined here because I tend to write from the heart and my heart doesn’t spell well nor out things in order so here we go. 😂😂😂


I attempt to eat clean. My definition of clean is zero alcohol, zero soda pop, no refined sugar, limited sodium, no fast food, nothing out of a box. So what I do eat (besides ice cubes lol!) is lean proteins, tons of veggies, prepared many ways, fresh or frozen without sauces included if frozen, lots of fresh or frozen fruit, same rule as veggies. To bulk up meals I will add raw nuts, mainly walnuts, just cuz I love them but I change it up, and I add flaxseed and chia seeds or others to recipes or toss me in somewhere. I make my own dressings to keep sodium and unpronounceable things at bay…I love salmon for omega 3. I will eat some cheeses but not like before and I go for the good stuff. I will eat high cocoa content dark chocolate. I switched to unsweetened almond or oat milk in my coffee and use stevia as my doctor approved that for my coffee.


I do adjust somewhat my calories if I’m super active. But not tons. I’m not generally hungry the way I’m eating. I’m very satisfied. I don’t snack anymore and I used to need a feed bag 😂.


Oh my, how to keep the focus…that’s a huge one. Well I was terrified. I thought I was living in borrowed time. It took me several months to get to my specialist who while it broke my heart when he said I had cirrhosis even though by then I had read enough to know it was coming, he was so damn compassionate and proud of me for my progress already that I am grateful to him. Every morning since March when I knew something was really wrong I have been researching and then in April when I joined NOOM It added that final little layer I needed. The self care piece. I had never ever given myself the grace to dig down and find out who I am and what I need to be healthy. And I mean body heart and soul. So besides NOOM I have bought books on living without alcohol because while not an alcoholic per se I was social and I needed to face that along with how to be social while eating so different from everyone too. It was lonely. I also have gotten into poetry and taking time to do things that light my fire like art. The terror alone carried me through August. Now the proof that in beating the odds and getting better is fueling the flame.


Mainly, the gods honest truth is I’m happy. For some reason, this terrible diagnosis has put me in tune with how I’m supposed to be living. I’m not mad at myself or disappointed I didn’t get it until after illness struck. I’m grateful it appeared on time for me to rise. And I really really hope that even one person gets the fire to help themselves because they heard something in me that clicks for them. So I wish you all a wealth of inspiration and health.


And I’ll leave you with me in my Zebra PJ’s watching the sun come up by the window eating my curds and whey.


Love, Sue



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