October is "MALE" Breast Cancer Awareness and Education

It’s the end of September already! This can mean many different things to different people; summer is now officially over, survival of the first month into the new school year, time to prepare for Halloween, time to rake those beautiful yellow and orange leaves, apples, apples and more apples or time to start thinking about the holidays! But if you are watching the television, listening to the radio or reading the print ads, you know that after September, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

How many advertisements will you view or hear that talk about the loss or the survival (HOPEFULLY)of someone's wife, mother, sister or friend to breast cancer? I know there’s a slim chance you will hear one for someone’s father, brother, husband or boy friend. Face it! We all know how prevalent BreastCancer in women is and that it is one of the highest percentage of female deaths, however that doesn’t mean because Breast Cancer in men is a lower percentage, that it doesn’t or shouldn’t matter!  Equally as important, we must educate and bring awareness that men can be diagnosed with Breast Cancer

Throughout the month of October you will hear and receive by mail, email, etc many, many request to support finding the cure for breastcancer. This month, HIS Breast Cancer Awareness also has a request; help us inform men they are not alone when diagnosed with this “women’s “ disease.  Make a contribution to HIS Breast CancerAwareness so we too can help spread this information through television, radio, print, etc.  With your support, we can help educate people that men DO have breast! That men should be self examiningtheir breast since no one else is looking to teach them how it should be done for early detection and which just might save their life!

Unfortunately there are many men who know they have had women in their lives diagnosed with breast cancer but do not even comprehend that it can affect them as well. It’s important for men to identify their own backgrounds as they may possibly be a BRCA genetic carrier as well with higher risk for breast, colon and prostate cancers. This information is important not only for them, but for their children and grandchildren- both sons as well as their daughters.

Information is a valuable tool. What you do with that information is up to you. HIS Breast Cancer Awareness is a non -profit organization that is not conducting research for ‘the cure of cancer’ it is here to help educate.  With your help, we can have information available in Doctor’s offices, gyms, educational facilities and shopping malls or radio or even a television ad to help spread the knowledge.  

If you’re a man who thinks ‘this can’t happen to me’, think again! My own brother after knowing his Aunt, Mother, and Sister were all diagnosed with breast cancer, thought that way until he noticed a lump on his own breast.  No one is excluded by gender or age from this deadly disease and it can happen to you or someone you love; maybe your father, your brother, your husband, your fantasy football player, your rockstar, your actor, so please help support the education and awareness and make October “Male” Breast Cancer Awareness and Education.

Click on the links to SHOP for awareness products or to make your DONATION today. 

Modah Ani-I Am Thankful

Editor: Vicki Singer Wolf Co-Founder

MALE BREAST CANCER; MAN DENIED INSURANCE....

This week through msnbc.com an article about a man diagnosed with breast cancer who was denied coverage by Medicaid was released. The comments below although will have some relative information regarding health insurance, is not meant to discuss or determine what is right or wrong regarding our healthcare system or lack of. This article is written to enlighten us all regarding just another stigmatism of a male diagnosed with breast cancer.

Last month, Raymond Johnson, a 26-year old South Carolina man was diagnosed with Breast Cancer. Mr. Johnson worked for $9.00 an hour approximately 30 hours a week, could not afford private insurance and did not qualify for traditional Medicaid because his income was “too high”. Through the hospital, Mr. Johnson was directed to apply for assistance to The Breast and Cervical Cancer Prevention and Treatment Act. Although he met almost all of the criteria of this complex program, there was one factor that would deny him assistance, he was not a woman! In addition, two other men in the past 4 years were also denied coverage through this program because they were-men.

As Mr. Johnson stated “ I didn’t even know men could get breast cancer” and he is not alone. “I just can’t tell you how floored I was when I got that letter saying I didn’t qualify for help”, he says. “The bills are going to be huge. I have breast cancer. I really don’t see how that’s possible.”

There are men, women, medical professionals and teachers who even today are also not aware. Some of the medical staff my brother Harvey came in contact with during his diagnosis were often surprised as to why he was going through the test and treatments. Even they did not understand a male with breast cancer and at times, made him feel uncomfortable as if his diagnosis was unheard of.

Clearly our health care system needs a major overhaul. It does not appear some of our neighboring countries are doing any better right now to follow in their footsteps. In Canada, health care is cheap, but that doesn’t mean it is good. If you have a serious illness, receiving treatment is determined by your rate of survival. In the U.K. you are put on a waiting list to see a specialist and may take months or years in which many do not have this unlimited luxury of time.

Who a disease will affect is not determined by age, race, religion or gender. Insurance coverage should work the same way. It is difficult enough to receive any diagnosis of cancer but to be denied assistance because of its rarity by gender is very wrong. A man with a “woman’s” disease is already traumatized, our government doesn’t need to make it any worse.

Share this article with as many friends, relatives and professionals as you can because everyone needs to be made aware of and educated on Male Breast Cancer. 

To read the original article, you can click the link below;

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/44065422/#.TkNItM00idM

Modah Ani- I Am Thankful

Editor; Vicki Singer Wolf  Co-Founder

The Best Father's Day Gift You Can Give

On Father’s Day you’re probably thinking about the family of men in your life. In addition to your father or father in law or husband, you probably send wishes to sons, brothers, uncles, friends and neighbors. This Father’s Day would be a great opportunity to help make them all aware that breast cancer is not just a woman’s disease.

How many men are diagnosed with male breast cancer? The percentage is small, but is even a small number not important enough? Because it is few, does this mean we should ignore the possibility? For a large percentage of the men diagnosed, it is often more fatal since no one is looking, it is found much later and more progressed. The first step for HIS is to bring awareness. We talk about different diseases and tragedies all the time with our families, so why not discuss Male Breast Cancer? Although it may not appear as such due to its low numbers for men, it’s still equally as difficult when a female has to verbalize they have breast cancer. No matter how you look at it-it’s a life threatening disease and male or female, once diagnosed with breast cancer, your life is never the same.

Do the men in your life conduct self-breast exams? Probably not! So who’s checking? This most likely doesn’t take place at their annual physical examination, no one is suggesting a yearly mammogram, and when was the last time they were given an instruction sheet on how to check them-self?

Looking for the right gift? You might just save a life! So start with a simple gift this Father’s Day. Print the self-breast exam instructions below, laminate on your favorite paper, frame it, or present it with that perfect tie inside the box. At HIS Breast Cancer Awareness you can also shop for Male Breast Cancer Awareness t-shirts, wristbands, lapel pins or send a donation card in honor of those special people in your life.

Make Father’s Day the perfect reminder time for all men to take a minute out of their day, right after breakfast in bed, to examine their breast (yes men do have breast). It just may be the best Father's Day gift they'll ever receive because it shows how much you really care.

Thinking of you and missing you always but especially on Father's Day Dad. We love you xoxo

Modah Ani- I am Thankful 

Editor; Vicki Wolf, Co-Founder

How To: Male Self Breast Exam

Step 1: Begin by standing in front of a mirror with your arms on your hips to tighten your chest muscles and inspect yourself.  Watch for any changes such as dimpling, swelling and areas around the nipple. Raise your arms above your head and continue to examine your breast and arm pit areas.

Step 2: Move around the breast in a circular motion with the fingertips.  You can perform this in either an up and down method, a circular or a wedge pattern, but try to be consistent using the same method each time. In addition, check the nipple area for any discharge. Complete on both breast.

Step 3: In addition to standing, you can also examine your breast lying down. To do so, place a pillow under your right shoulder and bend your right arm over your head.  Then with your fingertips on your left hand, begin checking by pressing all areas of the breast and armpit.  Once completed on the right, move the pillow to under your left shoulder and repeat the same process.

www.hisbreastcancerawareness.org

offering insight and education on male breast cancer

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Glass Half Full or Half Empty?

Is your glass half full or half empty? Do you find something positive no matter what or only have negative thoughts? Does the way you think have an effect on your health?  POSITIVELY!

This is an easy question for me to answer personally. I have always been a “glass half full” kind of person.  No matter how bad you think things are or can be, there is always something good if you search hard enough. I may not always like what is going on around me, but I know deep down, there is also something good.

Being a pessimistic thinker can affect your over -all health and well being starting with your outlook on life. If you see partly cloudy skies, then you expect it to rain and maybe even cancel your plans. Then you might feel depressed that you can’t go outside. Studies have shown that pessimism has been linked to a decrease in physical functioning, mental health problems, pains and chronic illnesses.  With feelings of low self esteem this can lead to depression which can spiral to hostility, a poor diet, loss of sleep, weight gain, high blood pressure and ultimately a lower immune system.

When you view your glass half full, as an optimist, people tend to have a better outlook on life and work to take better care both physically and emotionally. This positive outlook will then assist with regular exercise, healthier diets, a lower risk of heart disease and better preventive care.  The overall benefits can include lower rates of depression, better immune system, better coping skills, lower stress levels and better overall psychological and physical well-being. A better immune system may assist in the prevention or treatment of Male Breast Cancer or any illness.

So how do you change or become an optimist? The first step is to create positive thoughts which can be assisted through meditation or spiritual guide books. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be a realist, but how you approach a situation, the thoughts you have to identify and resolve life’s difficulties will make the difference. Martin Seligman, a psychologist at the Positive Psychology Center at the University of Pennsylvania has even gone so far as to create an optimism test and believes the re-thinking process to be as easy as ABCDE.

In order to make changes to the way you think, you must first identify what areas of negative thoughts you need to make the most changes to; is it work, relationships or your own self esteem? Check in with yourself and be aware of your (negative) thought and how you can change it to be a positive one. Surround yourself with positive people as they will be more helpful, offer good advice and be supportive. Most importantly, remember to laugh, especially during challenging times. You’ll feel less stressed!

So are the skies partly cloudy and you’re expecting rain or partly sunny with a day filled with sunshine? Is any percentage of rain a reason not to plan an outdoor activity or do you plan and hope the weather holds out? I choose to plan and hope for the best, and if it rains while I’m outside, then I might get a little wet, but hopefully I also brought my umbrella, just in case!

Modah Ani- I am Thankful

Editor; Vicki Wolf, Co-Founder

Walk for the Cure and Awareness

Wake up at 5:00 AM and prepare for another special Mother’s Day and help raise money for Susan G. Komen and the cure! This has been the way my family has spent most Mother’s Day for the past 16 years.

The Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure on Mother’s Day began 21 years ago. We are so fortunate to have this special day every year in Philadelphia. Along with the thousands of participants, the memorials and celebrations, the amount of money raised for this special day is incredible to help find a cure!

The first year I was diagnosed with Breast cancer was in 1995. That year I asked for my Mother’s Day “gift” to have my husband Gary and my 3 sons Sam, Sean and Jeremy to all run the 5K with me in the Race for the Cure.  We made it into a fun time by going out to dinner in the city the night before (need to fill up on those carbs!) and sleeping over in a hotel. We’d wake up early on Sunday morning and make our way to the race. We were all so happy when that was over but we did it and always crossed the finish line together, helping each other (o.k. mostly me!). Over the years we had the addition of our yellow Labrador Cody to join us as he strutted his own tee shirt and bandanna. Then off to eat brunch in the city, somewhere we could sit outside so Cody could have his order of scrambled eggs too because he earned them!

These are and always will be the best memories of Mother’s Day for me. Today I didn’t have my son Jeremy since he is attending Naturopathic Medical School right now and Cody because at 10 1/2 he has a little too much arthritis. But I did have the addition of Sam’s fiancé Melissa along with her sister Beth and my “mockie” Janie. We no longer run but do walk the 5K together, talking, laughing, sharing and remembering how thankful we all are to be healthy and together. Jeremy, I know you’ll be back to join us soon with “your” Melissa.

It’s always such a moving day as you walk behind groups of people who are there to either memorialize a loved one, or in celebration of a survivor. I have also participated in the “3Day/60mile” walk with dear friends and was emotionally moved beyond words.  Today on my walk I was stopped by several people who were inquiring about our shirts and sign for HIS Breast Cancer Awareness. I spoke with one Male Breast Cancer survivor of 5 years now and had his family including young children walking with him and a woman who is also a 5 year survivor but who lost her dad 17 years ago to breast cancer.

Today along with the pleasure of sharing this very special day, helping to raise funds to find a cure, we also helped to bring awareness that men can also be diagnosed with Male Breast Cancer as well as hopefully letting other men know they are not alone with this “women’s” disease.

Happy Mother’s Day to all and hope to see you next year in Philadelphia

Modah Ani – I am Thankful

Editor; Vicki Wolf Co-Founder

"The Green Thing"

Fall of 1969, 6 months before the first Earth Day scheduled for spring of 1970…
"Rising concern about the environmental crisis is sweeping the nation's campuses with an intensity that may be on its way to eclipsing student discontent over the war in Vietnam...a national day of observance of environmental problems...is being planned for next spring...when a nationwide environmental 'teach-in'...coordinated from the office of Senator Gaylord Nelson is planned...."

April 22nd has been recognized as Earth Day since 1970 as a forum to express concerns about our land, lakes, rivers and air. Forty-one years later Earth Day is still going strong and for all the right reasons. The improvement of our land with organic farming, the care and clean up of toxic waste in our waters and the concerns regarding the air we breath from car pollutants to second hand cigarette smoke all have improved greatly. When did things get to be so bad? I received an e-mail called "The Green Thing" and wanted to share it with you for this Earth Day.

 In the line at the store, the cashier told the older woman that plastic bags weren’t good for the environment. The woman apologized to her and explained, “We didn’t have the green thing back in my day.”


That’s right, they didn’t have the green thing in her day. Back then, they returned their milk bottles, Coke bottles and beer bottles to the store. The store sent them back to the plant to be washed and sterilized and refilled, using the same bottles over and over. So they really were recycled. But they didn’t have the green thing back her day.


In her day, they walked up stairs, because they didn’t have an escalator in every store and office building. They walked to the grocery store and didn’t climb into a 300-horsepower machine every time they had to go two blocks.  But she’s right. They didn’t have the green thing in her day.


Back then, they washed the baby’s diapers because they didn’t have the throw-away kind. They dried clothes on a line, not in an energy-gobbling machine burning up 220 volts – wind and solar power really did dry the clothes. Kids got hand-me-down clothes from their brothers or sisters, not always brand-new clothing.  But that old lady is right, they didn’t have the green thing back in her day.


Back then, they had one TV, or radio, in the house – not a TV in every room. And the TV had a small screen the size of a pizza dish, not a screen the size of the state of Montana. In the kitchen, they blended and stirred by hand because they didn’t have electric machines to do everything for you. When they packaged a fragile item to send in the mail, they used wadded up newspaper to cushion it, not Styrofoam or plastic bubble wrap.  Back then, they didn’t fire up an engine and burn gasoline just to cut the lawn. They used a push mower that ran on human power.  They exercised by working so they didn’t need to go to a health club to run on treadmills that operate on electricity.  But she’s right, they didn’t have the green thing back then.


They drank from a fountain when they were thirsty, instead of using a cup or a plastic bottle every time they had a drink of water. They refilled pens with ink, instead of buying a new pen, and they replaced the razor blades in a razor instead of throwing away the whole razor just because the blade got dull.  But they didn’t have the green thing back then.


Back then, people took the streetcar and kids walked or rode their bikes to school, instead of turning their moms into a 24-hour taxi service. They had one electrical outlet in a room, not an entire bank of sockets to power a dozen appliances. And they didn’t need a computerized gadget to receive a signal beamed from satellites 2,000 miles out in space in order to find the nearest pizza joint.  But they didn't have the green thing back then!

If you haven’t thought about it yet, please take a moment to do something that will make a difference for not just this April 22, 2011 but for what we should consider as Earth Day-Everyday! Do it for yourself, your children, your children’s children, for your health and the health of ALL living things. Click on the links below for products and information to assist you with everyday life and better ways to help our environment;
1) http://www.luckyvitamin.com/t-green-shopping
2) http://www.50waystohelp.com/
3) http://www.ecofirms.org/

Modah Ani – I am Thankful
Editor; Vicki Wolf Co-Founder
Dedicated to my dear friend Edye for sharing “The Green Thing” e-mail with me along with my good wishes to Brian for a very speedy and full recovery

Happy Stress

So everything is going well in your life and you could not be happier! But can good things cause stress too? Is there a difference between the stress you feel whether it comes from good or bad?

I could spend the whole time discussing stress as it stands and the negative effects it has on our overall health. We all know how stress relates to weakening our immune system, causing headaches, flu, heart attacks and cancer along with changes in diet, sleep, sex and overall happiness. Male Breast Cancer is effected by stress as well. These are all easy to explain when the negative stress you are feeling is due to over working, money problems, relationships, lack of time and a mountain of other issues.

But what happens when you feel like your life is in a good place! Work is manageable, financial needs are being met, relationships are great, you’re planning a vacation and you have a new home. Can you still have stress even when things are good?

It’s not always easy to fit everything into our day or week even when they are all good things. So you have a new home, but it needs work, you’ll be going on vacation which is great, but you have to take care of the travel plans and the arrangements. Who will take care of your kids or your pets? You have a great job you love but you have projects to complete and deadlines. Or you met the person of your dreams and couldn’t be happier, but fitting in the time to spend with them can also be challenging.

When you have a lot going on in your life, and there aren’t enough hours in a day, you’re probably not sleeping enough, or well if you’re thinking about all those “good “things.  Maybe you’re not eating well balanced healthy meals just because you’re so busy doing and planning. And of course, fitting your exercise regimen into the day is definitely challenging, but its o.k. because you’re doing something fun! All of these are o.k. when they are just for a day, but when these things hamper your routine over an extended time, it may cause you stress.  However the positive affect of momentary happiness during your work day or leisure time can inversely relate to the cortisol output and have a direct relationship to your overall well being.  The positive affect is also associated with reduced inflammation and increased cardiovascular activity.

Everyone has their own demands in life and even if you look at others and think they are the luckiest people and they have it all, guess what, they too have stress. Nobody can avoid it and it’s a part of life- the good and the bad! So make sure you find balance in your life because too much of a good thing, isn’t always good but it’s not that bad either!

Modah Ani- I am Thankful

Editor; Vicki Wolf Co-Founder

Birthday Celebrations

Happy Birthday to my father in law who celebrates his 80th birthday this week in addition to my mother in law who will also turn 80 next month! How fortunate are they and how blessed are we!

Neither of them like most people experienced life in perfect health. My father in law Ed, was lucky enough in his 50’s to find out he needed a 5 artery by-pass (I say lucky instead of being a cause of death) and then a few years after, full hip replacement with several re-do’s over the next 30 years. My mother in law Lois, who for the most part was very healthy, had more than her share while turning 79. Within just a few months she was preparing for knee replacement surgery, while discovering she had something suspicious in the breast from her annual mammogram. But both of those things were to be put on hold to deal with as testing discovered she too would need by pass surgery before any of the other surgeries could be completed. Each procedure was followed by weeks and months of rehabilitation while she prepared her body for the next.

Why do I share this? We all know someone, a friend, a relative or oneself that has taken ill. Any diagnosis can be challenging no matter how difficult. But what really matters is how one deals with it all. Ed could have been disappointed that he wasn’t going to play tennis the way he used to, but instead he chose to take up golf and swim laps to re-build his body and his mind.  He also became an avid bicyclist while riding 6-10 hours each week. Lois, who had not one or two, but three surgeries along with radiation treatment within 7 months, worked extremely hard at her own rehabilitation and kept an amazing positive mental attitude each time. She surprised us all at how well she managed to per-severe through it.  She continues with weekly work outs, long walks and even gets in her occasional 9 holes of golf. Not bad for 80!

We don’t usually know what’s in store for us.  Harvey and I both live our life in 6 month intervals, from mammogram to breast MRI and at any point, our life can change. We have learned to make the most of our lives, to take the time to do things we enjoy, which is why when the opportunity presented itself we traveled to a warm island this past winter together with our spouses. We laughed, we ate, we took our morning walks and we appreciate the time we were able to share. My in-laws had the pleasure of taking their children and grandchildren away for one week, all 19 of us to celebrate their 80th birthdays. How lucky are we, how lucky are they!

So when someone wishes you a Happy Birthday, and you’re "feeling old" or sick, remember as long as you are on this earth to grow a year older, it is a celebration. Every birthday should be a “celebration” as there are many who may never be fortunate enough to reach your age. You can choose to be counted down or out, or you can choose to be strong and celebrate. Wishing everyone a very Happy Birthday and many, many more filled with good health. Enjoy!

Modah Ani- I Am Thankful
Editor; Vicki Wolf Co-Founder

Shhh! I can't talk about this!

Welcome March! And welcome to National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month-the test most people don’t like to talk about and like the commercials say, find every excuse not to have.

The colon which is known as the large intestine or large bowel is the last part of the digestive tract. The colon receives undigested food from the small intestine and is a long and muscular tube.  The colon’s main function is to remove water from undigested food and after storing it, eliminate it from the body through bowel movements.  

Colorectal cancer is a malignant tumor from the inner wall of the large intestine from the colon and rectum and can spread to other areas in the body.  Benign tumors also known as polyps do not spread to other areas and can easily be removed however if they are not removed, they can become malignant. The removal of polyps can be done during a routine colonoscopy- another reason to get this done!

I’d like to add that if you have been tested and know that you have a BRCA1 or BRCA2 genetic mutation, at one time there was an associated higher risk of developing colon cancer. Colon cancer is higher in BRCA1 along with pancreatic and prostate cancer. The latest studies for BRCA2 have not supported these findings however there are higher risk of other cancers such as pancreatic, stomach, gallbladder and bile duct cancer.  Either way, with the current mutations, and the higher risk factors, why take any chances? The best treatment is prevention and when found early, colorectal cancer is curable.

So how and when should testing begin? Fecal occult blood test  are performed on samples of stool which can detect if “occult” blood or amounts of blood so small they cannot be seen with the naked eye usually begin around 40 years of age. If the test results are positive for occult blood, then a colonoscopy will be performed.  The most “inconvenient” part of the colonoscopy is the prep which takes place the day prior to the test.  Really, it’s just a large cleansing of the colon, is not painful and just is limiting to your schedule. The colon scope has a small camera attached to a flexible tube and examines the entire length of the colon and is completed fairly quickly. It is recommended to receive your first colonoscopy at the age of 50 and every 7-10 years after that.

In addition to early screenings, other suggestions to aid in the prevention of colorectal cancer are;

·         Eat a balanced diet which is low in fats and cholesterol and high in fiber. Smoking and high alcohol intake increase risk.

·         Maintain a healthy weight as obese men are at a higher risk than women as well as those with an “apple shape” with increased fat around the waist.

·         An Active lifestyle-exercising can reduce colon cancer by as much as 40 percent.

·         Consider adding Genetic counseling if there is an increased risk of hereditary colon cancer, other family members have had polyps or colon cancer or you are of Ashkenazi Jewish decent. Discuss testing with your medical doctor.

·         Reduce risk of bad bacteria in the gut which are common in patients who developed polyps in the colon. Consider a gentle colon cleanse and or adding high potency probiotic Bifidobacteria for good bacteria in the large intestine.

Colorectal cancer is preventable with the removal of precancerous polyps and curable when found early and surgically removed before it spreads.  So don’t wait, don’t find an excuse, just get it done! It’s like filing your taxes, it takes up time, it’s annoying, but Uncle Sam says you have to so you do- so do this for yourself. You may not receive a return of money (for those that do), but you will hopefully receive a clean bill of health check! I know which I’d rather have…

Healthy 2011!

Editor; Vicki Wolf, Co-Founder

Lifestyle 2011 Part 4 Mental Attitude

“When life throws you lemons, make lemonade!”

How much does it matter if we choose healthy foods, include physical exercise and help supplement our body with vitamins and nutritional support if our head is filled with negative thoughts and anxiety?

There are many clichés such as; Have a Positive Mental Attitude, Strong Mind, Strong body! Or “from something bad comes something good” which is how the HIS Breast Cancer Awareness Foundation began.  Does our mental attitude make a difference in our health? YES!

There have been numerous studies conducted by many of the top universities that show a direct relationship on how improved health, quality of life and love are influenced by a positive attitude. We often read about how someone who is ill, had such strong will, they lived much longer than expected or fought their disease completely. The mind is a powerful tool and it should be used wisely and appreciated for all that it can do. 

Equally as important as your attitude is the importance of including humor, especially when times are difficult. The benefits of laughter help to reduce stress and boost killer T-cells to strengthen your immune system. Laughter is a healthy tool and    something that is so simple and often overlooked.

What are some ways to keep a positive attitude during your daily routine?

Create a few affirmations that you can relate to depending on your own needs, anxieties or goals.

Here are a few ideas, but feel free to create your own and you can share them with your comments at the end as suggestions to others.

        I am safe

        My heart is filled with joy

        I am loved

        I am healthy

        I am strong

        I can do anything

        I am powerful

        My life is full of meaning and pleasure

        My body heals itself

        I know what I want

        I am free of dependency

        I am a winner

        I am in harmony

        I am at peace

        I am strong and secure

        I create the life that I want

Another option is to keep a journal or diary. This can be used to record your emotions and thoughts, track your physical activities and even write the food choices you made and the supplements you took. You may even begin to see a pattern by what you ate, if you did or did not exercise and how you felt physically and emotionally afterwards. Keeping a journal has been proven to be very helpful in making a real commitment to your healthier lifestyle. These are a couple of basic journals to fill in your information;http://www.luckyvitamin.com/m-700-memoryminder-journals or if you’re creative, you can make and decorate your own as another way to reflect on yourself.

There are many other ways you can support and strengthen your mind.

Being mindful; mindful of eating, mindful of the moment, or mindful of the way you feel. Savor the moment and make the best of what you have to work with. Listen to music or comedian you enjoy while headed to or from work so not to let the noise and traffic bother you.  Save 5 minutes of your lunch break to step outside and breathe some fresh air, stretch or take a walk.  Get involved with a charity or volunteer your time for something that has meaning or enjoyment for you.  There are so many causes just waiting for your help that your choices are endless. Whether it’s once a month or once a year, giving of yourself will make you feel good and will be welcomed by others. We all work hard in our day to day jobs, but when you volunteer to help build a house, visit someone ill, foster an animal, raise money for a charity, assist someone who is less fortunate, clean up the neighborhood or just pay it forward and do a good deed, all or any of these will make you feel better about yourself and create a healthier environment within.

Some suggested reading/links on mindfulness;

·         Mindless Eating by Brian Wansink Ph.D.

             Why we eat more than we think we eat….

·         The Miracle of Mindfulness, by Tich Nhat Han

·         Meditation for Optimum Health, by Jon Kabat-Zin

·         Finding Mindful Meditation Classes - http://www.mindfulness.org.au/Finding%20Classes.htm

In remembrance of Jack LaLanne some of his affirmations or favorite quotes;

“Your health account is like a bank account; the more you put in, the more you can take out.”

“Any stupid donkey can die; it takes guts to live.”

“Exercise is the king, nutrition is the queen, if you put them together, you’ve got a kingdom.”

Whatever your thoughts are, as long as they are positive ones, you are supporting your whole self! 
My personal affirmation; Modah Ani (Hebrew) I AM THANKFUL

I hope you will share yours!

You’re never too young and it’s never too late to make healthier lifestyle changes,

 

Healthy 2011

Editor; Vicki Wolf Co-founder

Lifestyle 2011 Part 3 Nutritional Supplements

This blog has been moved to;
https://www.hisbreastcancer.org/male-breast-cancer-blog/date/2011-01

Lifestyle Part 2 Move It!

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https://www.hisbreastcancer.org/male-breast-cancer-blog/date/2011-01

2011 Lifestyle Part 1

This blog has been moved to;
https://www.hisbreastcancer.org/male-breast-cancer-blog/date/2011-01