Tiramisu for lunch

I love refined sugar, dessert and chocolate. Since I was diagnosed with cancer and finishing chemotherapy I have gone for it. Tiramisu for lunch...tick!

But I knew this good, sugary, time would have to come to an end - especially post reconstruction surgery when my tummy fat was transplanted to my chest. What I am doing now (and have been doing since I last blogged) is getting into the shape I want to stay in long term. I need to do this for my health and so I am happy with my last perfecting surgery - which will involve fat grafting to increase the fullness of my new boob.

You may know that the four pillars of health are good nutrition, exercise, sleep and stress reduction.

I feel I have mastered exercise, sleep and stress reduction post cancer - all of which are interlinked. Exercise helps with sleep and stress reduction. Stress reduction aids sleep.

I have pretty much given up alcohol since my cancer diagnosis. I love a drink too - especially cocktails - but one of the things that really reduces your risk of cancer reoccurrence is giving up the booze. I have had 2 drinks since diagnosis in 2021 (one per year) - a glass of Sauvignon blanc in Blenheim (it was rude not to) and a Negroni in Wellington (I do believe it to be the perfect drink). Anyway, being teetotal is also good for your sleep.

And it turns out that nutrition is also interlinked. What a revelation eating mainly non processed food has been - it actually helps with sleep and it has almost completely eliminated the night sweats that have plagued me since my cancer treatment threw me into medically induced menopause.

I feel really well and to be honest I feel better than I've felt for years. I am trying hard to get back to where I was physically before my diagnosis in terms of my strength and weight. I've been back in the gym building muscle and slowing increasing the resistance and intensity. I am exercising every day (either walking the dog or in the gym) and I am loving having Stella to explore with, as she is full of joy.

I've lost 6.5kg since I tipped the scales two and a half months ago at an amount that was more than I'd ever been and I have 4.5kg to shift to get back to where I was pre-cancer. I'll have that done by Christmas. Yay!

It has been pretty easy too. I just eat as clean as I can. Vegetables, fruit, whole grains, legumes (love you chickpeas) and lean protein. I still allow myself 4 squares of Whittakers dark chocolate, some cheese and the occasional dessert. I am not an advocate for fad diets, liver cleansing or anything that cannot be sustained long term. I am all for eating whatever you want but in moderation. So if I feel like Tiramisu for lunch, I make it a small serving.