Speed Bumps

Ugh!

Dealing with health setbacks after 8 months on a macrobiotic regime truly sucks. The overriding message from many macrobiotic foodies is that the diet is a pathway to total health. It does make me feel better with more energy most of the time. However, it takes time, and health problems with a deep root take a while to dissipate. This has been a huge mind adjustment after having six months of rejuvenation. I ran alongside the macrobiotic bandwagon and hoisted myself on it to take the ride. I wanted so much to be healthy, still do. I just had a big reminder that it is not going to be as easy as I would like.

Not to bore you with too many details– in order, but with no particular rhyme or reason:

Bike crash, 911, back brace, ambulance, oxygen, emergency room, x-rays, home, sore, lucky.

Later, related or not, who knows?

Lung pain, shortness of breath, weakness, cat scan, x-rays, right heart catheterization (4th), angiograms, pulmonary stents, hospitalization, fever, heart irregularities, rest, recovery, fabulous repeat performance by a medical team, release.

Potential ongoing immunotherapy to dampen inflammation and avoid a repeat of the above. (Yin yeah?)

Ironically when you are not feeling good, it is very hard to find the energy to cook for yourself. Post surgery, it was so tempting to call the delivery diners of my pre-macro life. When you need the nourishment the most, it’s a cruel catch-22 that this self care regime is the hardest to fulfill.

Along the way I noticed….

The hardest place to find a vegan/macro meal is in the hospital.

Having a hospital within walking distance of a whole foods, to despatch willing visitors to for nori snacks, tea bags, brown rice sushi and other meal makers, helps a lot.

Post Op:

A short walk is better than no walk.

A short nap is better than no nap.

Chores get done when chunked into smaller jobs.

With no energy to make a meal, I managed to trick myself by just chopping veggies and lo and behold the meal just turned up somehow.

Commitment during recovery

As we come up to the holiday season going back to basics and committing to what is the core of the practice is my way forward.  In the spirit of pre-empting the new year resolution craze, I have come up with a simple holiday resolution to take me into the new year with energy and health.

Miso soup every other day.

Greens (lots of them)  every day.

I can do that.

photo credit: TheTruthAbout