Could we transform our unhealthy habits? Here’s my story and how I have rewired my brain and being able to change habits into a new lifestyle. You can also learn more through Charles Duhigg’s book: the Power Of Habit .
Prologue: A Miracle of Resilience
My mother, a real warrior against cancer, sets the stage for this story of transformation. Her journey, marked by battles with multiple cancers, is nothing but miraculous, words from all her doctors. Diagnosed with Lynch syndrome in 2015, she faced a condition that accelerated tumor growth and spread to multiple organs. Her resilience in the face of such adversity was inspiring my change of habits, my changing habits into a new lifestyle.
Chapter 1: A Wake-Up Call
In 2015, as I lived my life in Malaysia, miles away from France. My mother, once again, was battling for her life. Dropping everything, I embarked on a long journey back to France, filled with anxiety and hope. Before my travels, she was fine after the surgery. But upon landing, I received a heart-wrenching message: my mother was in emergency care, fighting complications from a recent surgery.
As I entered her hospital room, I saw her connected to machines. It really overwhelmed me. Tears streamed down my face, a mixture of fear and love. The doctor, seeing my distress, shared words that echoed in my mind long after: “she doesn’t smoke, doesn’t drink and she’s pretty active. I believe she will be fine” .Those words, simple yet profound, ignited a spark within me.
He was right. She was fine. Even though she had a long recovery and had another surgery after that, after almost 2 years, she had fully recovered and again had the chance to heal without chemotherapy.
After this event, I realized that I needed to change my lifestyle. It was even more important for me when I discovered few years later that I have the same Lynch syndrome.
Chapter 2: The First Leap – Quitting Smoking
Reflecting on my own lifestyle, I realized I was not quite the picture of health of my mother. Smoking, unhealthy eating, and occasional excessive drinking – these were my vices, especially heightened during my journey as a newly single mom. But in this moment of clarity, I chose life. Quitting smoking wasn’t just a decision; it was a pledge to myself and my children. I remember they always asked me when I was smoking:” why are you smoking? You know it’s BAD!
So, from one day to another, I decided to quit smoking.
I have actually quit smoking twice. For my 2 pregnancies, I stopped for 18 months as I was breastfeeding the two of them. But after they changed to milk, I stupidly smoked again. I realized that when motivation is there, I could quit from one day to the next without much pain. Maybe at that time I was not too worried about my weight, as I thought I was allowed to gain weight!
Quitting smoking led to another challenge – my sweet tooth. I found comfort in pastries, chocolates, and all things sugary. It was a dilemma: control my weight through smoking or face weight gain by quitting. I refused to accept this as my only choice.
Chapter 3: Embracing the Run
That’s when running entered my life. Initially, it was a mean to an end – controlling weight gain after quitting smoking.
I was already running in the jungle with the Hash run group. It was more a community to discover the nice jungle around Kuala Lumpur with friends.
But the trail run has nothing to do with the flat road running. I found it harder actually to run on the road. The trail run consisted in up and downhills. So that it was easy to rest in between the steep uphills. But in an endurance run, you can’t really “rest” unless you stop running.
The decision to participate in a half marathon in Siem Reap was both terrifying and exciting. Training was tough, filled with moments of self-doubt and physical strain. Everytime I went running, I was telling myself: stupid me! Why did I register?
Yet, with each run, I found a new sense of accomplishment and joy. It took me a while to appreciate running, about a year with good discipline of one run per week. I was alternating between the hash run and the training run.
Unfortunately just 4 weeks before the Half marathon, I twisted my ankle during a jungle run! I was really mad, as I already booked my flight tickets, hotel and registered to the run.
Instead, it offered a beautiful detour – quality time with my kids, exploring the wonders of Siem Reap. In a future article I could share the beauty of Siem Reap and the magnificent Angkor Wat and all the other, less famous temples.
Chapter 4 – Keep on running
My journey with running took on a new dimension when I heard the stories from my friends who completed the half marathon in Siem Reap. It wasn’t just a race; it was a celebration with other participants, a vibrant tapestry of cheering crowds and bringing everybody together in a joyful moment.
I imagined the scene vividly: the starting line buzzing with energy, the air filled with cheers and encouragement. Adorable and sweet Cambodian children, lined the route, eagerly extending their hands for high fives. In the beginning, the runners would eagerly return the gesture, tapping every outstretched hand. But as the miles stretched on, fatigue set in, and the focus shifted to the finish line, leaving little energy for anything else. But all along the run, the motivation never failed as you would always have a runner nearby that would lift you until the finish line.
The course itself was a journey through wonder – running amidst the breathtaking scenery of Angkor Wat and its surrounding temples. It’s a magical experience, one that transcends the physical pain and fatigue from the run. My friends’ tales painted a picture so vivid, so full of life, that it was impossible not to live this extraordinary event.
Motivated by their stories and my own growing passion for running, I returned to the trails as soon as I recovered from my injury. I noticed a profound shift within me – running had evolved from a mere activity to an integral part of my life. There were days when motivation was scarce, but after a run, I always feel joy and pride of myself.
Oops, I did it again
I finally registered for the following year’s half-marathon. The experience was everything my friends had described and even more, the finish line within 2h19. The sense of community, the shared struggle and triumph, the beauty of the surroundings – it was an unforgettable journey. And i Did it again 2 years later.
Today, running is a constant companion in my life, a habit that travels with me even on business trips. It’s more than just physical exercise; it’s a source of clarity, a way to connect with new places and inner strength. Every step is a reminder of how far I’ve come and a testament to the transformative power of embracing new challenges.
Chapter 5: The No Sugar Challenge
This is one of my biggest challenge!
It was 4 years ago, my last year in Malaysia. The idea was inspired by my dear friend Manue – my kitesurfing friend. It seemed daunting, even IMPOSSIBLE for me at that time. I remembered my “magic drawer” of chocolates from my student days in England. TESCO supermarket there had amazingly 3 rows of display for chocolate bars, a real Ali Baba treasure cave for me! All my friends were teasing me, but always come and see me when they needed sugar! I was the chocolate bar provider at that time.
Could I really let go of these sweet comforts?
It is was a full YES. Motivated by my mother’s health journey and my own diagnosis of Lynch syndrome, I took the plunge. I invited few friends to join me in this challenge, turning it into a communal journey of discovery and support.
As it takes 28 days to change an habit, we took the challenge to do it for a month.
We were just in November 2019 at that time. It was a good month, just before the month of Christmas and new year’s eve, where we usually eat excessively, and sweet, with all the chocolates.
Since that year November became my month without Sugar.
Epilogue: A Journey Continued
Now, years into these changes of habits, I’ve discovered the true power of transformation. Quitting smoking, running, and reducing sugar intake weren’t just changes in habits; they were steps towards a fuller, healthier life. Each step brought its challenges, but more importantly, it brought joy, strength, and a sense of achievement.
We’re now in November, and after my 4th year doing the no sugar challenge, I feel almost no difficulty to do it. And this gives me so much satisfaction, that now this habit became part of my lifestyle. I haven’t yet gone to the next step to removing sugar fully, and happy with the limitation of one month per year. I still enjoy my croissants in the morning, my pavlova cakes, chocolates, wine and all the French delicacies that you could find in the boulangeries and patisseries in France.
My life bonus: I met my new husband just during this transformation phase. He is also a Runner, he’s surfing and Kitesurfing, and my Half for life. And What else?
Your Turn to Transform
I invite you to join me in this journey of transformation. Pick one habit you want to change. It could be anything that you feel is holding you back from a healthier, happier you. It is also a way to overcome our Impostor Syndrom and regain some self-esteem.
Share your journey with our community in the below form, and let’s support each other in these personal revolutions.
- Stay tuned for my next article, where I’ll go deeper into the daily challenge of removing sugar in your daily meals and victories of this transformative journey. Together, let’s embrace the change for a brighter, healthier future. Remember, every step counts, and you’re not alone on this path. YOLO!
