CFS Progress Review: August 2012

Another month, another few weeks of learning about myself and my health.

As I have progressed in my recovery I have become more and more aware of what my body needs, and my mind and body are far more in tune now than they were even six months ago. I have discovered that one very useful way of getting your mind and body in tune is to pay attention to what you are eating.

I had been toying with the idea of going vegetarian for some months; and I finally decided to give it a go. I initially decided that I would try it for seven days, but I am now on day 20, and plan to go a full 30 days before I consume animal flesh again. Click this think to see a selection of things I have been eating.

For me, eating meat is a 29 year old habit, and whilst I haven't found the abstinence hard, I have struggled on occasion knowing what to make, or thinking of something interesting to do with my vegetables, pulses and legumes. I caught up with Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall's Veg Every Day series on Channel 4, and this helped inspired me to make many meals.

Whilst planning meals, and cooking mindully, I became aware that I really was paying so much more attention to what I was eating than ever before, and this is what has helped me stay in tune with my body's needs. Instead of just mindlessly sticking a couple of chops under the grill, and steaming some veg, I have had to actively THINK about what I am going to eat, how I am going to cook it, and even what I am going to make with the leftovers!

I have kept on juicing too, but if I haven't felt like having one, I haven't! And more importantly I have stopped berating myself for this too. I have become far more relaxed around food, and this has carried through into my everyday life.

So how does this fit into the grand scheme of CFS recovery? Well, I think that if I can apply mindfulness to a simple yet essential task such as nourishing my body, surely I can learn to apply it when I nourish my mind? Instead of thinking about things I "should" be doing, I can take a different approach and apply my mindful tools to think "how is it best for me to approach this challenge?" instead of rushing (both mentally and physically) to get things done as I did in the past, and contributing to what was my eventual illness crisis point.

Another milestone has been reached this month. I have finished my course of CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy). I know this approach causes a lot of controversy with CFS sufferers, and I agree to a point: in my opinion there is little to be gained from attending CBT unless you are already well on the way to recovery, as I was. If you are very unwell every day, and have severe ME/CFS symptoms, I find it hard to understand how CBT at this stage would be helpful. But that's just my two 'pennorth!

In summary, I have reached some kind of an epiphany as far as long term recovery goes-you definitley ARE what you eat! My mood has improved, so much that I have felt able to cut down my dosage of homeopathic anti depressants, and my sugar/fat/carb cravings have all but disappeared!

I had a few late nights (well, 10pm is late for me!) this week, and I have felt like I've been playing catch up with my sleep and energy levels. It's not all plain sailing all the time, but I am enjoying the journey, which is more than can be said for twelve months ago, even six months ago. My whole attitude has changed. I have so many tools at my disposal now, to enable me to carry this positive attitude through life with me for a very long time.

I hope this blog helps any fellow CFS recoverers out there!

Look out for my special "ME/CFS and Nutrition" post coming soon when I finish my 30 Days of Vegetarianism"!

Take care and look after yourselves :) x