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October 21, 2011 ·

Moments

Self Care

Three years ago, I dreaded this date, October 21st.  It was the official start of my breast cancer treatment, a forever physically, mentally and emotionally changing experience.  It was the day I had a double mastectomy and my breast surgeon removed the deadly cancer that was growing inside my body.

Now, three years later, I celebrate this day.  I am a 3-year breast cancer survivor….today….3 years since I became cancer-free.  Even though it was only 3 years ago, it feels like it was a long 3 years ago.  Things that I knew like the back of my hand, like the various chemo drugs, the breast cancer lingo, the reconstruction process….today sometimes I struggle to remember things from that time.  I guess it’s my way of forgetting that time in my life.

Don’t get me wrong, the whole experience was easier than I thought it was going to be.  Once I started my treatment path, I just kept chugging along until it was done.  I didn’t look back, I didn’t mourn, I didn’t regret….I just did what I needed to do.

Now that it’s behind me, I get a chance to look back and reflect.  And when I reflect, there are definitely moments I remember much more than others.   Moments that sometimes take me back emotionally to what I went through.  Moments like October 21, 2008.  I hugged my mom and dad before leaving for the hospital and my voice broke as I said, “I’m scared.” 

2008 10 - welcome home sign

Moments like the first time my parents came over after my diagnosis.  My mom’s first words to me were, “I wish it were me instead.”  Such a hard thing for a daughter to hear, but I get it.  I get it because I’m a mom now too.  And I would go through it again ten times over if it guaranteed my own children’s health for the rest of their lives.

Moments like the doctor’s appointment when my oncologist told me she recommended I go through chemotherapy.  This was only days after I got news that I may not have to go through chemo.  But this doctor’s appointment I sobbed.  I’ve never sobbed in public before.  I didn’t even look at the oncologist.  I kept looking at my husband, begging, pleading, “I don’t want to go through chemo.  I don’t want to lose my hair.”

January 1, 2009 – The day I lost all my hair.  Everyone said hair will grow back.  But they didn’t have to lose it first.  Forget the fact that I lost my breasts, forget the fact that I had chemo drugs pumping through my veins that made me tired and weak.   I did not like being bald.  Losing my hair made me look sick.  I didn’t mind feeling sick, but I didn’t want to look sick.  Pictures of me without anything on my head were forbidden during this time.  But there is one, and only one.  No one else remembers it, but you bet I do.  And I can show it now because it’s over.

2009 02 - Adam bday - mommy bald head

Moments like February 17, 2009 – the day of my last chemo treatment.  The day I felt rejoice and fear all at the same time.  Chemotherapy was a safety net, so what happens when that safety net is gone?  What if the cancer comes back? 

Even today, three years later, I have my moments.  I throw myself pity parties every once in a while.  I know it’s silly, I’m a survivor, there should be no pity.  But every once in a while, in the privacy of my own bathroom, I cry silently in anger over what I had to go through and what I am left with.  I didn’t mourn the loss of part of my womanhood 3 years ago, but today sometimes I do.  I am left with scars that remind me every day.  Those same scars on any given day may cause me anger and self-pity, and on another day give me strength and gratitude for having survived. 

But good things did come out of this.  And the greatest thing that could happen is that I could help someone else.  Someone can learn from what I went through.  Someone will take the time to be an advocate for their own health.  This blog was started so we could do just that.  Every time someone tells me they made a healthy change because of something they read on Everyday Road to Healthy, I have a happy moment.  I like those moments.

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everydayroadtohealthy

Good morning! My morning is fueled by: ☀️sunl Good morning! My morning is fueled by:

☀️sunlight
🌳fresh air
☕️coffee

#everydayroadtohealthy #healthylifestyle #goodmorning #pushing50 #healthandwellness #selfcare
Cheers! It’s my first pumpkin spice latte of the Cheers! It’s my first pumpkin spice latte of the season! 🧡 Here’s how I cut down on calories when ordering:

✴️ order a tall instead of a grande (-80 cal)
✴️ hold the whipped cream (-70 cal)
✴️ swap out regular milk for non-fat milk (-50 cal)
✴️ reduce the pumps of syrup…I’m not a sugar-free syrup girl and I don’t think 1 less pump changes the flavor (-30 cal per pump)

I only indulge once, maybe twice a week, but these customizations keep me on track! My tall pumpkin spice latte comes in at 150 calories vs. 300 calories! 🧡

#everydayroadtohealthy #psl #starbucks #healthyish #butfirstcoffee #lowercalorie
I don’t have time to spend on my makeup in the m I don’t have time to spend on my makeup in the morning so here’s my 5 minute clean makeup routine explained in under a minute! 🤗 Featuring:

•Beautycounter Skin Twin Foundation
•Beautycounter Lid Glow Cream Shadow
•Beautycounter Cheeky Clean Cream Blush
•Thrive Causemetics Infinity Waterproof Eyeliner
•Thrive Causemetics Liquid Lash Extensions Mascara

Beautycounter.com/angelafuentes 

#cleanbeauty #beautycounter #thrivecausemetics #grwm #pushing50 #cleanmakeup #easymakeup
Laundry is a perpetual chore in my house. 🧺 Jus Laundry is a perpetual chore in my house. 🧺 Just when I think I'm finished with all the loads, more dirty clothes appear and it's time to start another load. Unfortunately my swap for today doesn't fix that 😆, but it does fix the need for a non-toxic, natural and affordable fabric softener. I'm no where near being 100% chemical-free in our house, but I've made swaps here and there that make me feel pretty good about the everyday changes I'm making to a healthier lifestyle. ⁠
⁠
Go to the link in our bio @everydayroadtohealthy to read more.⁠
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#everydayroadtohealthy #healthylifestyle #cleanliving #nontoxicliving
Still don’t love my wrinkles ☺️, but when I Still don’t love my wrinkles ☺️, but when I saw this quote, I thought it was fitting to share on so many levels. It’s definitely optimistic and happy like how a lot of his music made us feel! 🏝️😄

#jimmybuffett #everydayroadtohealthy
For the month of September, I will be donating pro For the month of September, I will be donating proceeds from all my Beautycounter sales (plus a match by my company Ashburn Accounting) to MIB Agents, a pediatric osteosarcoma nonprofit, in memory of Deena’s son, Owen, who lost his cancer battle in 2012 at the age of 16. 

From 9/5-9/14, I will host a virtual pop-up on our ✨Clean Beauty by Erth✨ Facebook group page where I will do some concentrated posts about Beautycounter, as well as hold a raffle for free products. If you or someone you know has wanted to try clean skincare or learn more about Beautycounter, please join the page before Sep 5th by going to the link in our profile @everydayroadtohealthy or message me about joining. You can also just order directly from me through my personal link from 9/1/23-9/30/23 and any proceeds I make during the whole month of September will be donated.

Thanks for helping me give to something that means a lot to me!

#everydayroadtohealthy #cleanliving #cleanbeauty #cleanskincare #goldforseptember #childhoodcancer @mib.agents #mibagents #osteosarcoma
Hi 👋 I’m Angela. Welcome to my everyday road Hi 👋 I’m Angela. Welcome to my everyday road to a healthy-ish lifestyle! 😆 

I will be the big 5-0 next year 🎉 and I really want to be in better shape by the time I get there. Most days I *think* about exercising, but I’m constantly sabotaging my own efforts. My biggest problem is I don’t prioritize my exercise time. I tried adding it as a meeting on my calendar, but I know it’s a “flexible” meeting so I’m always cutting into that time, to the point where I tell myself I no longer have the time. 🤷🏻‍♀️ And if I sit down at my desk in the morning and start checking work emails, the probability that I’ll fit in a workout goes down exponentially.

Today I chose not to sit down at my desk right away. Instead, I saw my kid off to school then went straight to the gym. Everything else waited until I got home, and the rest of the day I was able to focus without feeling guilty that I had not worked out. 

Today was just one day. I don’t know if it will stick, but I hope it does. I feel better about this plan than any other I have tried. It feels sustainable. 💪🏼

How about you? How do you make sure you fit in time for your health? How do you motivate yourself?

#everydayroadtohealthy #healthyish #pushing50 #healthylifestyle #workingout #selfmotivation #healthandwellness #healthandfitness
I’m not getting any younger, and neither is my s I’m not getting any younger, and neither is my skin. The dry and spotty mature skin struggle is real. But I am convinced this PM routine that I do every other night, along with my daily AM vitamin C serum,  helped me with my melasma. 

Every other night I use:

✅Counter+ Lotus Glow Cleansing Balm
✅Reflect Effect Overnight Resurfacing Peel (the piece de resistance)
✅All Bright Brightening Facial Oil 

And don’t forget daily C Serum and sunscreen, sunscreen, sunscreen. 

Beautycounter.com/angelafuentes

#everydayroadtohealthy #cleanbeauty #cleanskincare #beautycounter #raiseupbeauty #matureskin #pushing50 #grwm #skincareroutine
It’s Veggie Bag delivery day from South Mountain It’s Veggie Bag delivery day from South Mountain Creamery! I don’t usually go online to see what’s coming so it’s almost always a surprise. But I love it because once I see what I have, it really helps with planning for the next week.
@smcdairy #southmountaincreamery #veggiebagdeliveryday #homedelivery #smcreamery #everydayroadtohealthy #healthyfood #eatlocal #farmtotable #healthylifestyle #mealplanning
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