Racing For The Cure.... Optimal Health..... And Me!

Tomorrow morning I am headed out for my third Race For The Cure event. This year it holds more meaning to me than ever. The first time I raced, I had the recent passing of my wonderful Grandma Willa Piersall in my heart. She died of breast cancer. If she would've had it now she could've survived it. They've come so far in the way they treat breast cancer and how soon they detect it. Of course, she was modest, didn't want to see a doctor so maybe it wouldn't have mattered. This past July my Mom was diagnosed with Stage 2 Aggressive Ductal Carcinoma. (Forgive me Mom if I got that wrong.) But the more and more I see women I love, the more I realize the importance of regular mammograms and raising awareness. Many  people cannot afford these and that is why I am so happy to join with the Susan G. Komen foundation for my third time this year. Imagine how much farther a long we could be when my daughter gets to the age of risk! 

Strong Link Between Obesity and Breast Cancer There is a growing connection between breast cancer and obesity - especially abdominal and upper-body obesity. For example, almost half of all breast cancer cases occur in obese women. Also, cancerous breast tumors are notoriously hard to find in young women with more than 15-20 percent excess body fat. Exactly how severe overeight leads to breast cancers is not yet known. The link between body mass index and breast cancer is mostly statistical. We can see it, but we don't understand exactly why it exists. I propose, until we know more, we err on the side of health.Do you have more than 15-20 percent excess body fat? I think you can imagine why that would be harder to detect if you did. We know that people that are within a healthy BMI range tend to live longer, have less health care expenses, sleep better, look better, look younger longer, ECT! Lets talk about how obesity affects our pocket book.  In total, the yearly cost of obesity in the United States is $147 billion, or 9% of all medical expenses. And, it figures to get worse now that the average American is 23 pounds overweight. That's right. The average American is over weight. Did you know that obesity tends to run a person an extra $1500 a year? That doesn't include the extra cost of the food you need to consume to maintain that higher weight (eating out, sugary/fatty candy coffee's, movie popcorn....you get the picture.)  So what does it cost to lose 30 pounds? Not as much as you might thing, and not as much as it costs to hold on to it. Take a look at this graph.  What I'd like to do is encourage you to get healthy. The plan I am on, the plan I have helped over 200 people with, teaches you healthy habits, includes personalized one on one support and an individual plan that best suits your needs. Nursing mothers, diabetics, arthritics, thyroid patients, vegetarian, soy allergy? I've got a plan for you. A plan that is proven to work.   Contact me and let's talk. If you live in NW Oregon, we can get together in person if you'd like. If you don't, I'm hooked up to SKYPE if you have a webcam we can hook that up. Phones, texting, instant chatting... all works for me. You can find me on facebook following the link on this page.  UPDATES  Ulcer had healed and I have to "OK" to get back on plan. Today I am on day 6 and feel great. I started Yoga yesterday. That's been an adventure in pain! I had no idea that it really heated up your muscles and that after all that sleepy time stretching and breathing, I'd actually feel like I just had a workout afterward! Whoa Nelly!  Mom begins radiation on Wednesday, please keep her in your prayers for the next 7 weeks.  We are almost totally unpacked in our new house. Feels good to start to settle in. Still haven't hung pictures but, it will get done. Allison and Jarod are attending public school this year. It was a last minute decision. We scrambled to get supplies and new clothes for the first time in years. If you are a homeschooler that is wondering why I'd do such a thing, feel free to email me personally. I love homeschooling and do not plan to abandon it all together. We will be back.