Lead a Fit and Healthy Life
Cancer Related Information
Feb 4: World Cancer Day
03 hours ago
It’s Friday and it’s my birthday weekend. Hard to believe it’s February already and my birthday is here again. And tomorrow it’s World Cancer Day — What a great way to kick off the weekend.
World Cancer Day is this Saturday, 4 February 2012. It is the occassion to unite the world in the fight against the disease through raising awareness, educating the public, and lobbying for change.
It is only by every person, organisation, and government, individually doing their part, that the world will be able to reduce the global cancer burden.
So get involved and do something this World Cancer Day – because Together it is possible!
In light of what’s going on with Susan G. Komen Foundation - if you are looking for another non-profit to support that helps breast cancer patients and cancer patients around the world, consider the American Cancer Society. They do great work for support and research and deserve lots of support from all of us!
Do I look tired in this pic or what — I took it after my CrossFit workout. Mary, one of the mean bad girls of CrossFit reared her head this morning and holy crap – she is a force to be reckon’d with. I mean who invented pistols aka a one legged squat? Squats are tough enough, now let’s be evil and make em do it with one leg. Jeesh. Thank goodness for scaling -balance, coordination and strength all wrapped into one seems to challenge me every time – but practice makes better!
Warmup
General Stretching
3x—
25 DUs
10 Squats
10 Push Ups
10 ?? (I can’t remember for the life of me!)
Skill
Pistols (one leg squats)
Handstands
WOD
Mary
20m AMRAP
5 HSPU
10 Pistols
15 Pull Ups
Total: 10
Today’s workout felt great. My kipping is coming along and boy it makes a difference when you are doing long workouts with lots of pull ups. It’s night and day and it’s so energizing to me. Every time I get the right momentum, inside I get all giddy. I so, so, so needed some progress to reignite me and there it is. Now — on to the rest of my day so I can get ready for my big birthday celebration tomorrow with the CF girls of CrossFit Impavidus. Watch out World — Don’t say I didn’t warn you.
American Cancer Society Relay for Life
01 week ago
It was another proud moment yesterday watching Hannah up on the stage sharing our family’s story. She worked hard to improve her presentation and it really showed. Remember, she’s only 9!
It was a touching evening overall –the videos and the stories really touched my heart. I can relate to much of it and it’s comforting to hear from others going through the same thing. It’s sad that we all are a ‘family’ because we have had to deal with some scary challenges in our lives, but it is what it is and you come together to help one another the best you can. This year they are also going to honor caregivers.
As a caregiver of a cancer fighter myself — I know it’s a really hard job in every way. So honoring those that care so much is so worthwhile!
The American Cancer Society Relay for Life sounds like a very fun event –
- Overnight relay-style event
- Teams of people camp out around a track
- Members of each team take turns walking around the track for the duration of the event
- Food, games and activities provide entertainment and fundraising opportunities
- Family-friendly environment for the entire community
Because it’s a Relay, you’re not required to be there the entire time…but it’s so fun, you’ll probably find it hard to leave!
Now – we all have charities we support, so when looking into one –make sure that it meets your own goals and also look into how they spend their money. I am often dismayed to find out how Non-profits use the money we all donate. Be a smart with your donations and make sure they are doing what they said they were going to!
I like events that give people the opportunity to celebrate the lives of people who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost, and fight back against a disease.
Relay for Life: Hannah Hoaglund Shares Her Family’s Cancer Story
11 week ago
Her speech ends around the 4:00m mark –and then she helps give Cancer Survivors in the audience special pins.
Here is the link to the slideshow that accompanied her speech: Relay for Life: Hannah Hoaglund
Are you doing what you love?
12 weeks ago
This morning’s workout was the famous Lady of CrossFit – FRAN. Mentally I was just not in the game this morning – I heard some very sad news yesterday that brought both Scott and I to tears and has thrown me for a loop this morning.
Mrs McMichael, Nate and Ms. Megan
Nate, who is in 2nd grade now, had the most wonderful Kindergarten teacher. Mrs McMichael is the definition of teacher – smart, interactive, passion for teaching. While Nate was still in K, she and I talked about kids in general. She and her husband had been trying to have a baby for some time but had not given up hope. Last year, she finally got pregnant but the pregnancy was a very rough one. She was very sick and was put on bed rest. But she made it through the 9 months, and now Carter is 11 months old.
During her hard pregnancy, her husband became seriously ill and turns out he had a brain tumor. He died on Monday. 33 years old.
I have not been in regular contact with her since Nate graduated although have attended the fundraisers on their behalf and sent her a note. I can not even begin to understand what she must be going through – my heart breaks for her in so many ways. As a mother, a wife, a cancer caregiver, a young adult who shouldn’t be dealing with cancer changing their family. And as I have mentioned before, it brings up our own experience each and every time we hear about someone losing their cancer battle. That could have been our family -
I just can’t seem to get it all out of my mind — it definitely is a good reminder about priorities in your life. I wrote this short status update yesterday:
Life is so short & unpredictable– wake up every day thankful and appreciative of all the great people in your life. You never know what tomorrow will bring…
It’s the kind of news that you just shake your head a lot and think about where you are in your life — and what if it all ended tomorrow? Are you doing what you love?
Don’t forget about the Cancer Caregivers
12 weeks ago
You can’t forget to treat cancer as something that affects the entire family. Caregivers are often the least cared for during treatment and are often stressed and taxed more than any reasonable person can handle. Offering support and resources to caregivers, their children, and of course the cancer patient is what’s needed – even after the treatment is done. The story below is one of thousands out there of families living with the after affects of cancer treatment, or any trauma/crisis that hits a family. As I have said before, The cancer may be gone, but the cancer never really goes away…
Wife Slips Into Madness As Husband Dies of Brain Tumor
And an estimated 70 percent of all caregivers are women, according to Richard Nix, executive vice president ofAging Care, a website that provides resources and an online community.
“The point is caregivers are trying to hold it all together and don’t have the time to go to support groups,” Nix said.
Another study from the American Psychological Association found that caregivers like Graves are more likely to report more stress than the general population and at higher risk for chronic illness themselves.
Graves said she stayed strong during the five months she cared for her husband. But after his death in 2007, Graves declined into depression and anxiety and was eventually treated for post-traumatic stress.
Resolution Follow Up: Get Moving
03 weeks ago
It’s a great day isn’t it? It’s Friday, many of us have Monday off — the weather in Northern VA isn’t too shabby. Life is pretty good right now, right this second, day. What are you doing to kick off your day? It’s the 13th of January and for many of us, we vow to make changes but never really sit down and think through the ‘HOW’ of making the changes. Nothing comes easy or free — weight loss, good spirits, fitness are no different.
I don’t really share any in depth info about my husband Scotty very much on this blog. Partly because this is my journey and while he is definitely an influencer of it in more ways than I can count, it’s my story to tell. Also, he’s more private about stuff than I am — obviously. He doesn’t live his life like an open book. This may surprise you, but I don’t either. My book is certainly more open than most, but there are some things that I choose to keep private.
This blog highlights one aspect of my life –my personal passion. You can call it an obsession but I find that with that word brings certain pre-conceived negative ideas. If something brings you joy, keeps you healthy, surrounds you with a great community and keeps you learning and striving to improve – it’s a passion. Does I sometimes get carried away with it all — yes but I recognize that and that’s what counts.
Anyway, back to my original point — Scotty. Scotty started CrossFit a few weeks ago. I could not be more proud of him, even though he comes home ‘mad at me’ for encouraging him to go. I will take him mad at me forever if it means he’s working on getting back into shape and getting healthy.
Since his cancer treatment, it’s been hard for him to get back into any sort of fitness routine. He still has some neurological issues because of the chemo and while you and I can push through them — imagine having your hands and feet hurt all the time and try to do any sort of fitness. You use your hands and feet all the time! It’s no excuse though. When we finished up chemo, Dr. Marshall – our oncologist – told us “your diet matters but what is most important is getting regular fitness in. We know, it’s proven, that regular exercise helps prevent colon cancer from returning.”
Now, think about that. The Dr just said regular exercise can help prevent a re occurrence. After all he has been through, he owes it to himself to get moving. So, although there is a cancer card in the mix, he’s no different than many people out there struggling to follow through on their NYE resolutions to get in shape. Look at it this way – We know – there is proof – that regular exercise can prevent so many cancers and other diseases from occurring. You owe it to yourself to get moving!
Join Team Live Fit and Sore! at the Scope it Out 5k 3.25.12
43 weeks ago
As you know, my very own husband, Scott is a colon cancer survivor and this will be the 2nd year we are running the Chris4Life Scope it Out 5K – 3/25/12 in DC to honor his battle and help raise awareness for the many people battling this horrible disease.
We would love for all of the folks who supported us along the way to join us – we have created a team Live Fit and Sore!
Visit Chris4Life Scope it Out 5K – 3/25/12
- Click Register Now
- Select the Team Member Category Live Fit and Sore!
- Select team name from the drop down list.
- Register!
If you would like to make a donation, visit our team fundraising page:
Chemo Brain May not be Due to Chemo
01 month ago
Memory Problems More Common In Cancer Survivors, Regardless Of Chemo: Study
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) – Women treated for breast cancer with radiation with or without chemotherapy had more thinking and memory problems a few years after their treatment ended than women who’d never had cancer, in a new study.
Research has suggested some women experience mental haziness, dubbed “chemo brain,” during and soon after chemotherapy treatment. And one recent study found evidence of changes in the activity of certain brain regions in women who’d undergone chemotherapy (see Reuters Health story of November 15, 2011).
But some researchers have questioned whether those problems are due to the specific drug treatments, or possibly to the cancer itself. In the new report, breast cancer survivors showed certain small mental deficits, regardless of whether or not they’d had chemotherapy.
Fiber helps Cut Colon Cancer Risk
01 month ago
I read this article yesterday and as you all know — I gave up whole wheat/gluten a while back and have never felt or looked better — so I am very skeptical about this report. I realize they also mentioned that in the study “didn’t find that getting extra fiber from vegetables or fruits was linked with the decreased colorectal cancer risk”. I gotta say that I call foul on this one — and studies like this should be looked at much more carefully.
There are many sources of fiber — I found a list of gluten-free sources of fiber from Livestrong.com.
I do find the fact that “researchers reviewed the results of 25 studies that included nearly 2 million people. They found that for each additional 10 grams of total dietary fiber and cereal fiber consumed a day, the person’s colorectal cancer risk decreased by 10 percent.” very encouraging!
Fiber From Whole Grains Could Cut Colorectal Cancer Risk: Study
Getting your fill of fiber from whole grains could help ward off colorectal cancer, according to a new review of studies.
Researchers from Britain and the Netherlands found that the more total dietary fiber and cereal fiber people consumed, the lower their colorectal cancer risk. For example, people who consumed an extra 90 grams of whole grains a day also had a 20 percent lower risk of colorectal cancer, according to the British Medical Journal review.
However, these researchers didn’t find that getting extra fiber from vegetables or fruits was linked with the decreased colorectal cancer risk, which means that there might be something else in the whole grains at work, too.
Researchers reviewed the results of 25 studies that included nearly 2 million people. They found that for each additional 10 grams of total dietary fiber and cereal fiber consumed a day, the person’s colorectal cancer risk decreased by 10 percent.
Study researcher Dagfinn Aune, of Imperial College London, told WebMD that even if a person starts off with a low level of fiber consumption — say, 5 grams a day — and increase it by 10 grams — to 15 grams a day — that could still be beneficial at lowering colorectal cancer risk.
“This study highlights the importance of a diet rich in fiber,” Dr. Anthony Starpoli, a gastroenterologist at Lenox Hill Hospital who was not involved with the study, told USA Today. “We know that soluble is most helpful in improving colon transit times. As the contents of the colon move at a better rate, there is thought to be less toxic exposure to the interior of the colon thereby reducing risk of developing colon cancer.”
