It’s now been nearly three years since my brain injury and over three month since chemo finished and I’ve been experiencing a foggy, foggy, blurry brain for a long, long time (among other things).
I haven’t felt “clear” since 2019.
This week, after months and months of frustration about my body (I know, I just finished cancer treatment…that’s enough to make anybody frustrated about their body, regardless of how many people tell you to be gentle), I decided to bite the bullet and try the Prolon FMD (Fasting Mimicking Diet) to see if I could kickstart my mind, body and soul.
In a nutshell, the program simulates a 5-day fast, but you are allowed to eat ONLY the stuff that they provide in the box. It’s supposed to help with a few things:
- Cell rejuvenation
- Clarity of mind
- Kickstart healthier eating habits
- Weight loss - as a bonus!
Today I’m on Day 5. I had purchased the kit as a Black Friday special deal and I only told a couple of people about it and that I wanted to do it because I was afraid people might question me doing a fast after all of my medical issues.
And honestly, I was a little nervous myself for that very reason. However, I did a lot of reading about how this fast works and how it was created by a medical professor (Valter Longo, you can Google if you want) who studies longevity and also I’d seen studies done on cancer patients who were actually going through active chemotherapy AND doing this fast as well and I decided to try it after the first of the year.
And also. I know I’ve said this before but I haven’t been happy with my excessive weight gain during and after chemotherapy. When the docs told me to “eat EVERYTHING you can!!” I really took it to heart! Now granted, I did lose 10 lbs after surgery and at the beginning of chemo, but when the steroids kicked in and the nausea meds started flowing, that stuff makes you downright voracious and hangry.
I let myself eat whatever I wanted. After all, doctor’s orders, right?
I also didn’t make the greatest choices because, why the fuck not, right? I’d been getting poison pumped into my body for month after month. What harm are some nachos and cupcakes going to do?
Well, let me tell you. I stepped on the scale before I went to my doctor appointment on Monday and gasped. I hadn’t stepped on a scale in over two months because I knew what I had been doing and didn’t want to think about it. But…yeah. I was almost as heavy as I’ve ever been in my life (including my fat phase during my late 20s when I was a regular mainstay at Dollar Beer Night at my local).
So, foggy brained and pudgy bellied me started the Prolon fast on Monday. It’s only 5 days and it’s actually very easy. Everything you need to do/eat is packed in little boxes and numbered 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Boom.
And when I stepped on the scale after Day 1, three whole pounds were gone! Now of course, I know that this is water weight and such, but what a great kickstart…on day 5, I’m 5 pounds down.
But the biggest kicker of them all - and this is a biggie - is that it feels like the BRAIN FOG HAS LIFTED!!!
Seriously, I haven’t felt this clear in at least a year. Everything feels lighter and sharper and more vivid. I can see clearly now! And think clearly! And look back on some of my mistakes and ughhh.
Yes. A biggie that I realized is that I screwed up my medical insurance this year. I figured that out just today. And we are well past the enrollment deadline. And I have been beating myself up all morning and afternoon over it, but I’m just going to have to suck it up and know that I’m going to have to make a better choice next time…I just made a costly mistake and I will be OK! If you must know, I didn’t look at the small print and picked the option with the lower deductible but the higher out-of-pocket …and you know I’ll hit the out-of-pocket this year…even though it is $2K higher than my original insurance. Ughhh. I was NOT thinking clearly!
Anyway. These are the things that happen when your brain is cloudy and lumpy and filled full of poison. I’m sure in the coming days I’ll figure out a bunch of other bad decisions I made in the past several weeks/months.
And that’s OK, because you know what? There are always ways to move forward, right? I googled how to change your medical insurance after the enrollment deadline and you know what I can do? I can have a major life change - like get married or…how about this: get a new job!!
Now. I’m sure that means I’ll be starting all over (new deductible to hit, right?), but that also means that I’ll be STARTING ALL OVER! And I really want to start all over. I really, really do. All of the companies I’ve been talking with are quiet now. I’m sure they are spending Week 1 of the new year settling back into their work lives, but I need to continue to manifest like a motherfucker.
Now, with Clearer Mind!! Let’s make this new gig happen! Make it so!
Anyway, Day 5 of the Prolon FMD is over halfway through and I’m feeling good and energized. I’ll likely do this thing again. They recommend doing it at least once a quarter.
And if it’s truly making me smarter (or at least not so foggy-brained), maybe I’ll do it way more often!
Practically giddy,
GS
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