FITNESS EXPERT AND PERSONAL TRAINER GIVES TIPS ON STAYING STRESS FREE THIS HOLIDAY SEASON, THROUGH EXERCISE :: Wire Service Media
Breast Cancer in Women Under Age 40
Breast Cancer in Women Under age 40 may not be talked about enough, but here is some information on Breast Cancer in Women Under age 40: Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer among American women, and the leading cause of death for women ages 40 – 59. Early detection is key to helping women survive. In fact, according to Cleveland Clinic “More than 90 percent of women whose breast cancer is found in an early stage will survive.” [i]
5 percent of all breast cancer cases occur in women under 40 years old, [i] and when it does it’s often harder to detect and more aggressive [ii] than in older women. Assuming that breast cancer only occurs in older women, younger women often ignore the warning signs and delay treatment. By being proactive and adhering to the following tips women of all ages can reduce their risks, and increase the odds of early detection, diagnosis and effective treatment. Breast Cancer Prevention Tips · High Risk Factors in young women § Family history – If someone in your family has had breast cancer § Genetic Mutation – A certain gene is linked to breast cancer risk (BRCA1, BRCA2) § Radiation Therapy – Too much exposure to radiation can increase risk · Starts with healthy habits[iii] o Limit alcohol intake – have no more than one drink a day o Stay active to help maintain a healthy weight – obesity increases your risk of developing breast cancer, especially after menopause o Breast Feed – The longer you breast feed the less likely you are to develop breast cancer, because breast feeding balances hormones, lowering levels of some cancer related hormones. o Quit smoking · Other risks[iv] o Menstrual Cycle § Early menstruation – Females that start menstruation at 11 or younger are at a higher risk § Late menopause – The longer a woman menstruates the longer her breasts are exposed to estrogen § Late pregnancy or never getting pregnant –During pregnancy your estrogen levels are much lower · It is important to have screenings o Start having regular mammograms at 40 years of age (the standard is 50, but EHE recommends 40 years old) o Women in their 20s and 30s should have a clinical breast exam every 3 years o Breast self exam – know how your breasts look and feel normally so if you detect any changes such as lumps or discolorations you can consult a doctor [v] o MRI – Recommended if… § High inherited risk – could be a better way to find tissue and tumors than a mammogram No Matter what age, if your family history puts you at high risk, or you find signs of breast cancer, you should seek advice from your doctor about screenings and possible treatment. This information was brought to you through Perfect Fit Personal Training by: EHE International’s Advisory Board, the Life Extension Research Institute (LERI)EHE is the oldest preventive care company in the US, dedicated to proactive management of health.
Best and Worst Pasta Dishes
Do you love pasta?
If you eat pasta a lot and perhaps order it at restaurants, do you think you are getting the most bang for your pasta buck?
Not all pasta is created equally; some pasta is higher on the GI index than others, some has more fiber, some has more protein.
To find out what the best and worst pasta choices are, check out this great article at Men’s Heath magazine:
What kind of pasta do you have as a go-to meal?
Diabetes On-The-Go
From Chef Robert Lewis:
Diabetes On-The-Go
Growing Industry Helps Diabetics Maintain Active Lifestyles
A whole industry has grown up around freeing diabetics to lead less restricted lives. New on the market, or on the verge of being introduced, are three “firsts”: tubeless insulin pumps, a needleless blood-glucose monitoring system, and diabetic-friendly frozen foods.
With the number of diabetics growing worldwide – 246 million at last count, according to the World Health Organization – businesses are motivated. In 2011, diabetes therapeutic products were a $23.7 billion dollar industry feeding a growing population that’s starving for a better quality of life, says Chef Robert Lewis, “The Happy Diabetic,” author of two cookbooks for people with the metabolic disorder.
“It wasn’t long ago that Type 1 diabetics had to be sure they packed ample sterile syringes and insulin, whether they were going to work for the day or on a road trip,” he says. “Monitoring blood sugar levels, which is crucial to keeping vital organs healthy, was painful, primitive and hit-or-miss.
“And food? That’s been the hardest. A diabetes diagnosis can feel like a life sentence of bland eating.”
Among the “firsts” Lewis says diabetics can look forward to:
• The first tubeless insulin pump. Thirty years ago, people with insulin-dependent diabetes had to give themselves shots around the clock to control their blood sugar levels. In some cases, diabetics were hospitalized to ensure they got the insulin necessary to prevent ketoacidosis, a condition that can lead to coma and death. In 1983, the insulin pump was introduced. It attaches to the body and provides continuous insulin injections. But while it was a major breakthrough, it can be bulky and awkward, with a dangling catheter. The most recent innovation is a streamlined version called the OmniPad. It has no tubes, it’s smaller and it attaches anywhere on the body with adhesive. It also has a built-in glucose-monitoring system.
• The first needleless glucometer. The Symphony tCGM System uses ultrasound to monitor blood-sugar levels, which will free people from the painful pricks needed to get a small blood sample for testing multiple times a day. The device, which attaches with adhesive to the body, continuously tracks glucose levels day and night and can send the readings to your smart phone. Under development for more than a decade, Symphony is undergoing the studies necessary to win regulatory approval.
• The first diabetic-friendly frozen meals. Meals-in-a-Bun (www.lifestylechefs.net) will arrive in Northeast U.S. grocery stores beginning in July and roll out across the country through the end of the year. They’re low on the glycemic index, low in sugar and carbs, high in soluble fiber, low in trans fat, high in lean protein and low in sodium, Lewis says. “And the best thing is, they are delicious.” The five varieties – two vegan and three vegetarian – include selections like Thai Satay, mushrooms, broccoli and tofu in whole-wheat flax bun. “This is particularly exciting because, while there have been advances in equipment that makes life easier for diabetics, there haven’t been for convenient, packaged foods.”
Diabetics who do not watch what they eat may wind up suffering kidney damage, stomach problems, heart disease, pneumonia, gum disease, blindness, stroke, nerve damage, complications during pregnancy, loss of limb and other health problems, according to the CDC.
But many Americans are trending toward healthier diets, eating less meat, gluten, salt and sugar, Lewis says. Tasty foods developed for diabetics will be excellent choices for them, too.
“What’s good for diabetics is good for everyone,” he says. “And you don’t have to give up one teaspoon of flavor.
“There’s a reason why I am called ‘The Happy Diabetic’; I have discovered the joy of nutrition-rich food.”
About Lifestyle Chefs
Lifestyle Chefs is a Santa Clara, Calif., company specializing in creating meals inspired by world cuisines and using only natural, healthy and nutritious ingredients. Lifestyle Chefs’ products are all vegetarian and diabetic-friendly, perfect for families who want fast, convenient meals that are low in calories, high in nutrition and robust in flavor. Chef Robert Lewis, “The Happy Diabetic,” was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes in 1998. He specializes in flavorful recipes that won’t spike a diabetic’s blood sugar.
Spa Week- Use Our Promotion and Enjoy Spa Week!
Perfect Fit Personal Training in North Vancouver has a great promo on for April: sign up for 12 sessions or refer a friend to sign up, and get a $100 Spa Utopia Gift Card.
Here is a press release from the Spa Week Media group which ties in well with our promotion!
Spa Week Shapes The Nation Through Health & Wellness Innovation
National Event leads health and wellness movement with its affordable $50 Treatments
April 2012: By definition, spas are places devoted to overall well-being through various professional services that renew mind, body and spirit, according to the International Spa Association. For years, the spa industry has been undergoing an exciting transformation of making these services more diverse and wellness-focused than ever before, offering more programs and incentives for consumers to lead healthier, happier lives. Spa Week, the original and most successful Spa Marketing Event to date, continues to successfully spread this message by making it possible for millions to take advantage of the healing benefits of the spa with its biannual, signature $50 treatments.
Moving into its 16th installation this Spring, Spa Week will deliver the most innovative, cutting-edge services at a discount to deserving consumers across the United States and Canada. From April 16th – 22nd, hundreds of spas (day, medical and resort), yoga and Pilates studios, fitness centers and other health and wellness practices will offer up to three signature treatments at the major discount of just $50 each. As always, Spa Week partners with some of the most prominent, respected names in the industry to deliver the most current trends in spa and wellness services. From introducing new massage therapies like Acupressure and Bamboo Massage and advanced, clinically proven, skin-perfecting facials to weight-loss and nutrition classes, Spa Week is responsible for educating spa-goers on how to incorporate specific treatments into their lifelong health regiments.
Prior to Spa Week’s inception in 2004, the spa industry was notoriously mistaken as a VIP circle reserved for beautifying and pampering the rich and famous. In the years to follow, Spa Week broke down these barriers by opening up the world of spa to the masses by making costly treatments affordable for the average consumer. After experiencing a huge economic downturn and the recent healthcare crisis, stressed-out, overworked consumers have come to rely on Spa Week as a means to provide the physical and mental, therapeutic relief they need on a budget. For the past eight years, Spa Week has established itself as the most comprehensive way to engage consumers in the health and wellness lifestyle, and thanks to its Spring and Fall Events, no longer is the spa associated as a fluffy place of privilege, but an essential life ingredient that’s within reach of the masses.
In order to take advantage of Spa Week, consumers should register on SpaWeek.com for exclusive information on participating spas and their $50 services. For the first time ever, SpaWeek.com launched five weeks early, on March 12th, to give consumers even more time to book their desired services well in advance. It is recommended that spa-goers sign up and book their appointments as early as possible.
Never before has the spa industry been more focused on delivering serious wellness initiatives by offering more services and programs geared toward building long-term consumer relationships that go beyond the periodic spa visit. This is the result of more savvy, educated spa-goers that Spa Week helped to create not only with its Spring and Fall Events, but also with its National Gift Card Program which recently launched in over 17,000 retail locations including Target, Sam’s Club, CVS Pharmacy and Rite Aid. As the health and wellness needs of consumers change, Spa Week is there and will continue to be an integral way in which they experience the spa.
Spa Week was created and founded by Cheryl Reid, who hails from successful careers within the luxury spa industry and publishing spheres. Joining Spa Week for the Spring 2012 Event, sponsors include Exclusive National Media Sponsor: Allure magazine; Exclusive Spa Association Partner: ISPA; Exclusive Skincare Sponsor: American Laser Skincare; Exclusive Wine Sponsor: Rioja; and introducing Exclusive Book Sponsor: Where We Belong by Emily Giffin; Exclusive Cosmetic Sponsor: Christopher Drummond Beauty and Exclusive Catering Sponsor: Incognito Continental Bistro. Co-sponsors include CEW and Spa Chicks On The Go®. Spa Week donates a portion of the proceeds from the Spring and Fall Events toCancerAndCareers.org.
This is a great time to use our 12 session package to get a $100 Spa Utopia Gift Certificate!
Breast Cancer Survivors and Fitness; A Great Combo!
Hello readers,
I am lucky enough to have worked with a number of breast cancer survivors over the past few years. These ladies are fighters! They beat the odds and paid themselves back with the investment of health and fitness.
The inspiration for this article came from working with these wonderful breast cancer survivors here in North Vancouver.
Please check out this article in Alive magazine on breast cancer and fitness, which I wrote for April’s issue.
If you know any breast cancer survivors, which I think most of us, sadly, do, please forward it on! There is a ton of useful info in this article.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/story/2012/04/18/breast-cancer-genetic-map.html
Let me know your thoughts!
Best,
Nicole
Natural You, Naturopath…
Have you ever seen a naturopath?
I didn’t know too much about what they did until today when I met a very informed and lovely naturopath named Sacha Elliott.
Dr. Elliott works at Canopy Integrated Health here in Lynn Valley, just at the Town Center.
If you’re looking for something different, something that can really help you in terms of healing yourself naturally, this could be the way to go.
Dr. Elliott specializes in women’s health issues, and is extremely interested in the GI system. Who would have thought that the intestines were so interesting?
If you’re in the market for a naturopath, I highly recommend you check her out. She offers a complimentary 15 minute consult to see what it is that she offers.
Hula Chair? Ab Belts? Weight Loss…????
Please check out this article on Shape.com where yours truly is the expert trainer! Such a blast to share my comments.
http://www.shape.com/fitness/workouts/seen-tv-fitness-products-do-they-work
Cheat to Stay on Track
Diet; it can be a bad word in some circles. If you’ve ever been on one, you know how it feels to be without your favourite treats and foods. So why go crazy depriving yourself of all the foods you love…just cheat!
Cheating on a diet is crucial if you want to stay focussed and stop pining over the chocolate bar in your cupboard, or the ice cream in your freezer. So how can you cheat without feeling guilty and going overboard?
Make a plan
If you have a plan in place, it’s harder to fail. Give yourself a set menu for the day, including your fruits and veggies, healthy whole grains and lean proteins. At the end of each day, give yourself something that you really enjoy, but that you know is bad for your diet. For example, one square of chocolate, or two tablespoons of rich ice cream.
Buy Less
If you have less of the bad things in your fridge or cupboards, you are much less likely to eat them! If you don’t have chocolate bars or ice cream pops in your freezer readily available, it’s much harder to go grab some when you’re watching your favourite show on the couch. If it’s not in the house, it’s a lot harder to indulge.
Best Splurges
If you’re going to cheat, but only want to cheat a little, what are the best choices you can make?
• 100 calorie pre-packaged treats. You know you’re getting the same taste as the treats you love, but in a much smaller package. Easier to cheat when you only have one; bigger sizes make it easier to eat more.
• Make Your Own- buy in bulk things like chocolate covered raisins or pretzels and figure out how many make up 100 calories. Make your own cheating snack-packs. Freeze the rest for later.
• Low calorie pudding- you can get your favourite flavours like chocolate or butterscotch in single servings of 60-100 calories.
• Fresh fruit- might not seem like a splurge, but it’s so sweet and tasty! Buy what’s in season and enjoy a variety like strawberries, watermelon, or cantaloupe.
Cheat Day
If you aren’t interested in doing the 100 calorie cheat every day, then why not take a day off from your diet once a week? That way you can enjoy the things you really love in their full capacity. For example, Saturday is your day off from dieting. Enjoy three meals that you really want and craved all week. Get those craving out of your system and get right back on track the next day.
Surprisingly, after you’ve been eating clean for a while, you may stop craving those treats and not even enjoy them anymore!
Depriving yourself of the foods you love for long periods of time can make you feel very unsatisfied. Keep your diet going by allowing yourself that little cheat every now and then. You will be better off in the long run; your diet will last longer and you won’t have so many cravings.
Perfect Fit Personal Training 