Spring is the perfect time to get into the garden before the hot days of summer. There's nothing like gardening to help tone muscles and burn up additional calories.
Weekend Rambling - forget sleepy Sundays, get out and about on a walk with family and friends. Find an opening and play some lively games like football, frisbee or cricket!
Walking Holiday - if you normally take 'lazy beach breaks' it's time for a change. There are so many beautiful places to visit that you may never have considered before. Get out and explore....and your legs will get a terrific tone-up!
Why Not.... Participate in vigorous voluntary work. Give a few hours a week to a good cause. There are plenty of charities that need help with gardening and odd jobs such as painting, handiwork and maintenance.
Spend more time playing with the kids in the garden. Forego hotel niceties and enjoy weekends away camping. Take up action cricket or soccer and meet new people in the process.
Get the bikes out for a regular leisurely ride or if you feel more energetic, join a cycling club.
Start today! If you focus on having energetic fun, you'll lose weight effortlessly!
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
New Journey
I thought the next time I wrote, it would be about how I got back into the swing of things. I have stepped out of the competition lifestyle and have been striving to get back to a "normal" routine. But today I will be sharing with you new journey, one that has been very difficult for me recently. I hope to give a glimpse into my next journey. During this time I ask for your prayers and support. Please take a moment, if you haven't already done so, to check out the guest blogger on my page about cancer.
Many of you may know that I have a friend fighting stage four ovarian cancer. Cindy and I became friends through real estate (for a short time I sold real estate upon arriving in Asheville). Cindy and Ray, her husband, were referred to my families real estate company five years ago. They had just married (Ray a widower and Cindy divorcee) and were looking at homes. They decided not to move and we soon became great friends. Cindy and I connected on so many levels. She is a nurse with a big heart, who is sweet, kind and just a joy to be around. She did not have children of her own but I felt a strong kinship with her. If I could of adopted her I would of.
We have spent most Thursday's together for the past year and half since the diagnosis. I cherish these Thursday "get togethers", it has been as much for her as it has been for me. I have so enjoyed the protected time we have had together and the fun things we have done. About eight weeks ago Cindy went back into the hospital and spent seven weeks there. After being released for two short weeks, she reentered the hospital again. She left this past Friday after being told they could no longer stop the cancer. Her life would be coming to a close and any fighting would only give her a small amount of additional time.
That Friday, my perspective and life changed has changed. I now realized a dear friend would not be able to stay here with me and would not survive this disease. This is probably one of the most challenging times in my life and after the summer I have had it just seemed a bit surreal. I couldn't believe how difficult this is for me, but even more important how difficult this must be for Cindy. It has been hard for me not to question what I am suppose to learn through all of this and how I can grow stronger. I have never felt such sorrow and I am really trying to find a balance between grieving and living.
My hope is to take that little bit of time I have left with her and add value to her time left on earth. I want to be a constant source of support for her. During this time, I must make sure that I will be strong enough emotional and physically. I can see how easy it is to neglect yourself when things get too hectic. I have really began to focus on "Worrying about what I can do and not what I can't do".
For those who have take the time to read this, I thank you. I hope you will pray for Cindy, as I can not imagine the gravity that this must be for her and for anyone fighting cancer. All that I can do is remain strong for her. I also hope you will also recognize that the time you spend here on this Earth is short and the value you offer is so critical. I pray that each of you will live life well and never give up.
Many of you may know that I have a friend fighting stage four ovarian cancer. Cindy and I became friends through real estate (for a short time I sold real estate upon arriving in Asheville). Cindy and Ray, her husband, were referred to my families real estate company five years ago. They had just married (Ray a widower and Cindy divorcee) and were looking at homes. They decided not to move and we soon became great friends. Cindy and I connected on so many levels. She is a nurse with a big heart, who is sweet, kind and just a joy to be around. She did not have children of her own but I felt a strong kinship with her. If I could of adopted her I would of.
We have spent most Thursday's together for the past year and half since the diagnosis. I cherish these Thursday "get togethers", it has been as much for her as it has been for me. I have so enjoyed the protected time we have had together and the fun things we have done. About eight weeks ago Cindy went back into the hospital and spent seven weeks there. After being released for two short weeks, she reentered the hospital again. She left this past Friday after being told they could no longer stop the cancer. Her life would be coming to a close and any fighting would only give her a small amount of additional time.
That Friday, my perspective and life changed has changed. I now realized a dear friend would not be able to stay here with me and would not survive this disease. This is probably one of the most challenging times in my life and after the summer I have had it just seemed a bit surreal. I couldn't believe how difficult this is for me, but even more important how difficult this must be for Cindy. It has been hard for me not to question what I am suppose to learn through all of this and how I can grow stronger. I have never felt such sorrow and I am really trying to find a balance between grieving and living.
My hope is to take that little bit of time I have left with her and add value to her time left on earth. I want to be a constant source of support for her. During this time, I must make sure that I will be strong enough emotional and physically. I can see how easy it is to neglect yourself when things get too hectic. I have really began to focus on "Worrying about what I can do and not what I can't do".
For those who have take the time to read this, I thank you. I hope you will pray for Cindy, as I can not imagine the gravity that this must be for her and for anyone fighting cancer. All that I can do is remain strong for her. I also hope you will also recognize that the time you spend here on this Earth is short and the value you offer is so critical. I pray that each of you will live life well and never give up.
Monday, March 12, 2012
How Cancer Patients can Benefit from Physical Fitness
Thanks to David Haas - Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance - He's our guest blogger for this week.
Many of you know a dear friend is fighting a tough battle with stage four ovarian cancer. I am so glad to have this great article and hope you also are able to learn some interesting facts about cancer and exercise.
How Cancer Patients can Benefit from Physical Fitness
Studies have proven cancer patients who incorporate exercise into their regular routines have an increased chance of living longer than cancer sufferers who do not exercise or do not exercise as much. Patients, who adopt a healthier diet, give up smoking and exercise, the rate of relapse decreased regardless of how serious the cancer was when it was first discovered.
Women who walked at least three hours or more per week decreased the cancer death rate and experienced a 50% drop in the risk for death over a long period of time. This does not mean that every cancer sufferer will increase his or her life span. Those who beat the odds were those who already exercised prior to diagnosis. This change may also have been possible because women who had a severe diagnosis chose to exercise to increase their chances of survival.
What Does Physical Fitness Do For Cancer Patients?
Based on a study performed by Harvard Medical School, hormone levels are decreased and this includes level of progesterone as well as estrogen. This is an important factor to stop the cancer from growing and from causing a relapse. Regular exercise and physical fitness stops the body from resisting insulin. The resistance to insulin is common amongst patients who suffer from breast cancer. This condition also causes a buildup of sugar in a person’s blood. The reason for the buildup is that the body muscles, liver and fat do not absorb the insulin they way they should.
Exercise also promotes weight loss and also prevents weight gain. Being overweight hinders survival rates but regular exercise can improve chances of survival for a person who has been diagnosed with breast cancer, mesothelioma or any other type of cancer.
Another major benefit of physical fitness in cancer patients is that they can improve the way they see themselves and their bodies. They can also improve their mood as well as their outlook on life.
It is true that you may feel tired and weak but physical fitness can correct this factor. The belief that exercising can make the medical problem worse is not true. Patients can gain stamina and also the will to fight the disease.
Studies have proven cancer patients who incorporate exercise into their regular routines have an increased chance of living longer than cancer sufferers who do not exercise or do not exercise as much. Patients, who adopt a healthier diet, give up smoking and exercise, the rate of relapse decreased regardless of how serious the cancer was when it was first discovered.
Women who walked at least three hours or more per week decreased the cancer death rate and experienced a 50% drop in the risk for death over a long period of time. This does not mean that every cancer sufferer will increase his or her life span. Those who beat the odds were those who already exercised prior to diagnosis. This change may also have been possible because women who had a severe diagnosis chose to exercise to increase their chances of survival.
What Does Physical Fitness Do For Cancer Patients?
Based on a study performed by Harvard Medical School, hormone levels are decreased and this includes level of progesterone as well as estrogen. This is an important factor to stop the cancer from growing and from causing a relapse. Regular exercise and physical fitness stops the body from resisting insulin. The resistance to insulin is common amongst patients who suffer from breast cancer. This condition also causes a buildup of sugar in a person’s blood. The reason for the buildup is that the body muscles, liver and fat do not absorb the insulin they way they should.
Exercise also promotes weight loss and also prevents weight gain. Being overweight hinders survival rates but regular exercise can improve chances of survival for a person who has been diagnosed with breast cancer, mesothelioma or any other type of cancer.
Another major benefit of physical fitness in cancer patients is that they can improve the way they see themselves and their bodies. They can also improve their mood as well as their outlook on life.
It is true that you may feel tired and weak but physical fitness can correct this factor. The belief that exercising can make the medical problem worse is not true. Patients can gain stamina and also the will to fight the disease.
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
I'm Back!
The past 8 months have been an emotional ride to say the least. My blogging has been scarce, I find myself writing down my thoughts, only to find myself taking too much time to edit, proofread and ready to publish. Even after all that work and time, I deem it not worth publishing. Today I'm going to do something different, I'm going to power through and hopefully giving you something good to read.
July 17, 2011, a dear friend of mine was hit by a car while riding her bike on a local road. She was paralyzed from the waist down. It not only drastically changed her life, it changed the lives of everyone who knew her. For me it was the time to step up and be the kind of friend that we all talk about being. It's easy to be friends with people when it's lunch dates, telephone calls and workouts at the gym. The challenge really comes when you know what your friend needs and understand that there will be sacrifices on your part to be there for them. I can tell you first hand that it is the most rewarding type of friendship you can have. I am a better person because of her. She has shown me what a strong person can do when ones life is drastically altered.
I wish I could say that only one friend was dealt a difficult blow this past year. Another dear friend is suffering with stage four ovarian cancer. This disease has taken so much from her already, that it is hard to watch her suffer while she tries to stay strong and continue to fight. She was diagnosed before, treated and was told she was cancer free. A recent test showed that it was back. The details of the second round of treatment have yet to be revealed. There is no way around the fact that she has an uphill battle. She may be looking at another round of chemo, we just don’t know. We were hoping that the last surgery would will help eradicate any leftover cancer and help her to continue to be cancer free. As I sit by helpless, I do my best to be a friend and support her in any way I can.
While these heart rendering events are happening to my friends, my business is achieving a great deal of success. It is hard to imagine during these difficult times that positive things still can exist. I am so grateful for what I have around me. I have worked hard to establish a quality business that I can be proud of. I love the fact that people are excited about making a healthy change in there lives and that I am there to guide them. I know that living life well is the best thing you can do for yourself and those around you. As always, in business and life there are hurtles that come up. During my process to trademark “train hard finish strong” brand, it was challenged by a man who owns the “finish strong” brand. Due to his challenge, the government did not to award me the trademark for “train hard finish strong”. After a bit of back and forth, I was offered a licensing deal with the man so that I could legally sell items with that logo. As disappointing as it is to come up with something you thought would work and hit a snag, my goal is not to be a T-shirt company with a great slogan. So I adjust, “train hard finish strong” could also be “train hard be strong”. One challenge meets another challenge and again I grow. It has been a compelling year thus far.
I will admit, in the midst of everything that was happening, my exercising, eating habits and active lifestyle had taken a back seat. Within a couple of months though I have gotten myself back on track. Tune in next week and I will tell you how I pulled my life out of a wellness tailspin!
Train Hard Be Strong!
Jolene
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