Exercise to Boost Your Health After Cancer

Cancer patients undergo tremendous stress - emotional, physical and mental. From diagnosis to treatment and recovery, cancer drains patients of energy, often causing them to fight just to lead a normal life again. Once cancer is gone, patients are Hell-bent on preventing the cancer from sneaking up again. Leading a healthy lifestyle becomes priority.

Research suggests that exercise benefits cancer patients and survivors regardless of the type of cancer they have or had, from a common cancer like breast cancer to a rare disease like mesothelioma. According to WebMD.com, exercise can lengthen the survival rate for cancer victims and help prevent cancer from recurring for survivors.

According to the New York Times, recent studies suggest that exercise may even be a form of treatment in and of itself. As little as two and a half hours of exercise every week may lower the risk of dying from cancer.

Being overweight after treatment can shorten survival time or increase the risk of recurrence. An active lifestyle can help combat weight gain by improving muscle tone and cutting down body mass. However, it’s not necessary to engage in intense workouts - it’s more important to avoid being inactive. Even light cardio, like walking, is better than not doing anything.

Exercise helps to improve a cancer patient’s or survivor’s quality of life overall. Aside from the obvious physical benefits, exercise can also help improve mood and self-esteem, increase energy while fighting against fatigue, and lower the risk for other diseases like diabetes or cardiovascular disease. Brisk movement increases blood flow throughout the body and brain, helping people to think more clearly and sharply. Exercise is also linked to combating depression and lowering stress and anxiety - all side effects of dealing with cancer.

However, it’s not recommended that every single cancer patient hop on the treadmill immediately following treatment. Chemotherapy and radiation can be highly draining, causing anemia and fatigue, which lower energy. It’s not safe to start an exercise regime if you’re feeling weak - wait until your energy returns and slowly work up to a regular workout schedule. Also, treatment can weaken the immune system, so avoid public gyms until your white blood cell count is back to normal.
Written by David Haas
Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance Guest Blogger

Dogs at Play | RedGage

Dogs at Play | RedGage

It's a Twin Thang

If your a twin or know twins, you will understand this video. If your not a twin or havn't had a lot of experience with twins, then you might think this is really weird.

My twin sister spontaneously videotaped me, doing a food demo on Pumpkin Seeds. (no cheat sheets). Notice how she doesn't think twice to tell me to: "Suck it in."

This is a perfect example of what it's like to be a twin. We are close enough to always be real with each other. After watching this spontaneous video, I noticed how funny it was that I quickly lowered my fat gut under the counter when sis tells me in our twin language, to "suck it in."  See video and hope you laugh like we did.
http://stoopinitinthesuburbs.blogspot.com/2011/10/my-twin-sister-doing-demo-on-how-to.html#links

Blog Hop/Thursday Writer's Post-Thrills and Chills-Halloween Style

I was asked in my Writers' Post Group to publish something about "Thrills and Chills"-Halloween Style. I hope you enjoy my Halloween Blog.


Baked Pumpkin Seeds


INGREDIENTS: Pumpkin Seeds, Olive Oil and Salt or Seasoning of Your Choice Ex: (Ranch Dressing Seasoning Mix, Popcorn Cheese Salt, Lawry's Season Salt).


1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Separate pumpkin seeds from the fleshy fibers. In a colander, Wash, Drain and Dry Seeds with Paper Towel.


2. Spread Olive Oil on Bottom of Baking Sheet. Spread pumpkin seeds evenly, in a single layer. Sprinkle seeds with seasoned salt of your choice. Bake 20-30 minutes or until Golden Brown.  Stir pumpkin seeds once during baking process to help them brown evenly and prevent burning. Let seeds cool before eating. 


3. Enjoy and Have a Happy Safe Halloween, Ghostly Blogger Buddies.

My Niece and Nephew Carving their Pumpkins

Cooking my Traditional Pumpkin Seeds

Jack-O-Lanterns Light the Dark Night

Pumpkin Seeds Flavored with Ranch Seasoning and Salt

 





                                          

Pumpkin Madness-Wordless Wednesday

Kathy's Smile

This week in my writing group/Monday Madness, we were given the prompt "Witchy Woman" for inspiration. I'm writing about the first thing that popped into my head. I hope you enjoy my story:

I was so nervous the day I met Kathy and the rest of the gang.  Fresh out of college, I had stars in my eyes. I was green as they come as a new upcoming professional in the Social Services field.

I will never forget being introduced to the seven residents I would spend the next three years of my life with. Before that front door opened, I had such excitement about it but so many worries that I might not work out. Maybe they wouldn't like me, what if I couldn't connect with them? So many thoughts, but most of all, something deep in my soul Knew this job was going to change my life and it did.

Each and every person I met became so special to me and made me a better person. I worked with "adults with mental disabilities" and believe me, they taught me so much more than I taught them. Everyday my friends lived and worked "life to the Fullest." They were involved in so many social activities and events that most "typical" adults either take for granted or are too afraid or embarrassed to try. Each person I worked with became family but one special lady found a part of my heart that I never knew existed. It would be too difficult to describe all the wonderful attributes that made Kathy so amazing. All that really matters is that Kathy was my friend. We connected in a place that had nothing to do with mental capacity or IQ. We were two women who had a blast together and loved each other unconditionally. Our relationship was one of the most beautiful connections I've ever had the honor to have in my life-time.

Other than the two of us singing songs in unison to the radio for the other six residents, one of my favorite memories of Kathy is about Halloween. Every Halloween I brought my gang to a Halloween Party with all their work friends. All Staff and Residents dressed up in costume and I was always a scary witch. I never lived down my costume choice.When Kathy got in a silly mood, I knew what was coming from my buddy. She nicknamed me "Witchypoo Linda." Sadly, Kathy lost her courageous battle with cancer but I can still hear her calling me "Witchypoo Linda."
I will never forget her~

Monday Madness-Talking in Your Sleep

Talking in Your Sleep

We were asked in our Monday Writing Group to share a story about talking in your sleep. Here is my story:

As an identical twin, I have many interesting stories to share and this is one of them:

Mom put her five year old, identical twins to bed one evening. Later that night she heard noises and stirrings coming from their room. She opened the door and peeked in. What she witnessed was something she never thought possible. Her daughters were talking gibberish to each other and searching for something under their respective beds.

Mom had known her twin girls to have the same dream before but never the same dream at the exact same time.  This was even a bit unsettling for a mom who was use to dealing with some mysterious, inexplicable twin behavior.

Eventually, after quietly observing the twins in their mystical search, she whispered, "time for bed Linda and Laura, I found it." The incomprehensible chatter and curious searching ceased and both girls went back to bed.

I still wonder after all these years, what Laura and I were looking for. How is it that we could have the same dream simultaneously.