Howdy!
Welcome to Wellness Wednesday, 10.2018. Time to review the progress I’ve made on my wellness goals. And to share a cancer prevention tip, if we have one or two. I’m happy to report that I’m feeling much better after my recent flare-up of hemorrhoids. Hallelujah! Was under the weather for 24 hours last week after having a shingles vaccine in my left arm and a flu vaccine in my right. That shingles shot is a doozy. I ran a 101* fever and felt pretty lousy for about a day afterward. It is a two-part vaccination so I am already anticipating the next one in December.
I can’t believe we are winding down this year’s wellness series, heck, winding down the whole year, for that matter! So thankful that Natalie at Natalie the Explorer put together this series and its 12 months of prompts. I feel so much healthier now than I did a year ago. But the true test will come as the temps drop and I fight to keep from slipping into hibernation mode. Going to try very hard not to let that happen.
Wellness Goals Update
Here are the goals I created waaaay back in January. Seems a lifetime ago.
You can read last month’s installment here to see where I was on my goals in September. On one hand, there hasn’t been a lot of forward progress since then but on the other hand, there hasn’t been much back-sliding either!
- Exercise – Holding steady at a 5.0 PC continued to work out of town much of September but I did pretty well about working out alone. Gym, swimming a couple of times, weight lifting, yoga stretching and a 5K that was more like a 6K.
- Diet – 4.5, again. While PC has been gone, I have tried to eat better. None of you guys remember that night I had dinner at Menchies frozen yogurt shop, right? My secret’s safe, yes? Down two or three pounds now, hoping to lose a total of 6 pounds someday. Had originally said I wanted to lose 6 pounds before he got home but he’s home. Let’s set the goal for January 1.
- Mental Wellness – Perfect score, 5.0 Continuing to write and read, although I’ve slipped a little over the past week. My summer-turned-fall virtual book club has begun our 5th book just this week, A Spark of Light by Jodi Picoult. Come read with us!! Finished a jigsaw puzzle while PC was gone. And have another one waiting in the wings.
- Spiritual Wellness – Maintaining a 5.0 Getting up every week day morning to ENJOY my quiet time. Reading several fabulous personal enrichment books. Writing Morning Pages and memoirs (sounds so literary of me) as suggested by Julia Cameron in her book It’s Never Too Late to Begin Again. Years ago, I gave my mom a kind of journal for her to complete about her childhood, young adult life and her first years of momhood. She did so faithfully. Now I am working on answering the same questions for my daughters.
- Relationship Wellness – Holding steady at 4.5 But we were apart much of the month. And then had to kind of adjust to being home together again. This month we are traveling together to Albuquerque and Phoenix which will mean a lot of alone time. Just the two of us. Sounds like a song! Hoping to enjoy some of the activities on my autumn bucket list while we are gone.
Determined to rate all 5s by year’s end.
Cancer Prevention Tips
When I was a little girl, my father worked as a cancer research scientist at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis. His research centered around the role DNA and heredity play in the likelihood of falling ill with cancer. My mother was a chemist but she didn’t work outside the house after I was born. She did a great deal of volunteer work at St. Jude, including conducting tours of the hospital for visitors and dignitaries. When my younger sister and brother and I would visit the hospital, mom always cautioned us not to drink out of the water fountain. Of course, she knew that we couldn’t ‘catch’ cancer from the water fountains. But at that time in the late 1960’s, early 1970’s and even today, it hasn’t always been understood how certain cancers develop.
When my 18 month old nephew was diagnosed with Wilm’s Tumor, it broke our hearts. Possibly my father’s heart as much as anyone’s. Despite his years of work in cancer research, he felt helpless in trying to save his grandson’s life.
Cancer research has come a long way but we are still without a cure. I invite you to make a small donation to my sister Valerie’s Relay for Life team in memory of my nephew Andrew or in honor of someone you know who has battled this beast. Please click here to donate. This photo was taken several months before Andrew’s death in 2001. They were at Disney World thanks to Make a Wish.
Here are few tips for preventing cancer, courtsey of AARP.
1. Cut the cola
The sugar in colas bumps up insulin, which has been shown to contribute to pancreatic cancer cell growth. Research indicates that cancer, in general, has a sweet tooth. Studies are being conducted to determine whether restricting glucose can starve cancer cells.
2. Gobble some grapes
A compound found in grape, blueberry and raspberry skins, helps prevent cancer by killing damaged cells before they multiply. Red wine also contains resveratrol. Enjoy wine in moderation, grapes or glass of low-sugar grape juice knowing you are doing something to help prevent cancer.
3. Dress in red and blue
Surprisingly, simply wearing red and blue clothing over lighter colors can help protect against UV damage. And invest in and wear a broad-brimmed hat.
Head over to AARP to read 7 more tips for preventing cancer.
Look into a Keto Diet
My daughter Brennyn, a neonatal nurse, has started following a ketogenic diet for weight loss. A keto diet is one that’s low-carb, high-fat. I get the low-carb stuff but the high-fat is kind of contrary to everything I have ever believed about how to successfully lose weight. She has shared a couple of videos with me, though, and I have to admit there might be something to this keto diet. Including cancer prevention. If you are interested in learning more, please check out the video below.
Your Turn
Has anyone in your family been diagnosed with cancer? Andrew’s cancer was considered the best cancer to have, a tumor on the kidney with a cure rate of about 90%. But he was one of the 10%. The tumor was removed but returned. Sweet angel baby.
What measures are you taking to improve your health?
If you have a wellness post to share, please click below to link-up with us.
Thank you for holding my hand through this wellness journey over the months. I couldn’t have done it without you cheering me on. I love you guys for that.
Hugs and kisses,
Kellyann Rohr
Wow Leslie, there is so much in this post to comment on! How I’d love to chat with you in real life! First of all I am inspired by your wellness goals, they make sense and you have covered it all. Second, wow, your parents are amazing. What accomplished people. I can only imagine your father’s heartbreak when your nephew was diagnosed. Bless his heart. Finally, I just can’t imagine the pain and suffering your family experienced losing your sweet nephew. Heartbreaking.
xo,
Kellyann
Carrie @ Curly Crafty Mom
So glad that you have two trips coming up with PC and lots of alone time! I don’t drink soda anymore (maybe once a month), but I do like my sweet Starbucks drinks a couple of times a week! Interesting that cancer likes everything we want to like, such as sugar 😛 I do love grapes. Congrats on the 6k! I need to sign up for a race again, it’d be more of a 5k now for me! I haven’t been putting in the miles like I used to.
Carrie
curlycraftymom.com
Terri Webster Schrandt
Leslie, you leave us with some great tips for wellness and for cancer prevention. I can’t imagine how your father felt not be to be able to help in some way with your nephew. Seems like our workout patterns are quite similar! Keep up the good work!
Natalie
Thank you, Leslie, for the shout out. You’re doing great with your wellness goals. Congrats on the 6K! Look forward to our next link-up.
Delightful Repast
Leslie, found you through #WellnessWednesday on Natalie’s blog. Sounds like you’ve developed quite a wellness program. Congratulations and keep up the good work. I suppose the easiest way to answer your question about what measures I’m taking would be to give you the link to a guest post I just wrote on that very topic. https://www.crestingthehill.com.au/2018/10/becoming-healthiest-version-of-ourselves.html And that post contains links to two of my own blog posts about it. Wishing you all the best, Jean