Motivation

You gals are too funny!  If I'm a car...it has to be a white Mercedes...as I will be earning mine very soon!  I think my husband is more excited than me!

I sweat a ton during zumba, but yesterday it was so muggy, even my pants were sopping wet!  We are getting major thunderstorms right now...so that should help with the humidity.

Did I tell you all I'll be teaching Zumba at midnight at one of the Relay for Life events....to wake up the walkers! LOL

Vivre - I love it!  

Well ladies, we have a Mercedes for sale right now too...my hubby is a car freak!  I can't even keep up with the different cars we have owned.  I was always happy with my chevy when we met, but he had 3 cars and a Harley at the time I met him!  Good Grief!!!!!!!!  The porsche is his car, it was his surviving cancer present, haha!

OK, I need to put a muzzle on.  I just ate birthday cake! AARRGGHH!!!!!! what a friggin piggie!

Lisa, send me some Zumba vibes!!!!!!!!!! 

Joy, I'm in Raleigh, so a "neighbor" - I am sorry your husband did that. (I want to say Jerk, but I don't want to offend!) My goodness, how hard on you, I mean really, WHAT TIMING!! ugh. It reminds me not to take for granted the family/friends that do stick by us...

Well, I did the eliptical today and it was hot and sticky anyway!!! 50 minutes, what a sweat, as Lisa said, even the pants!  ick. But bound to be good!

Mum, have a lovely 2 weeks. I hear you... I have a similar shift of prioroties, enjoying all I can now. You go girl!!

Spring.

PS, Joy, Lisa will explain Zumba! She is our Zumba Queen!!!

Good morning beautiful ladies!

Ok so I took off the food bag yesterday after leaving home and ate well!  haha  Left work and it felt like a furnace outside (104)...needless to say I didn't get any exercise in, I was pooped (bad food and heat combo) so today will be in the 80's - YIPPEE!!!  Will exercise tonight for sure.  2 of my girlfriends are driving up from the Bay Area to spend Sat night with me.  They are in training for the 3 day Avon walk in San Francisco this July in my name!!  So we will be walking tomorrow for sure.  Thank goodness the heat wave broke just in time for their visit!  After living in N.C. and Oklahoma for years I do appreciate our dry heat although feels like we're in an oven!

Spring, I believe we sweat out the toxins too!!!!!  50 minutes on the elipitical - WOW! you go girl!  (funny I just thought of a girl in our office, skinny, pretty, very trendy and drinks Go Girl constantly)...maybe I need some Go Girl, haha

Mum, enjoy the cruise!  You can't take the $$ with you so LIVE girl!

Joy, I remember what a tough time you've had but you are one TOUGH broad!  Do you take your doggie on the kayak with you?  That would be so cute! 

Vivre, I was telling my husband about all the conversations about naming your bike, cars, etc. and he started singing the Mer ce des benz song last night.  We were laughing and singing.  It was fun actually talking about all you girls, like old friends!

Lisa, when are you doing the relay midnight zumba??  Keep on shakin it sister!

Have a GREAT Friday!! 

Yes, when you sweat you sweat out the toxins.  Surprisingly enough, the bottoms of your feet is where you sweat the most!  I always look like I've just gotten out of the pool when I'm done with Zumba...literally dripping wet with sweat! 

To help pull toxins from your body...find a good body mask...like a sea mud mask.  Best to do your entire body once a month...but if you don't have time for that...do your face, chest and the bottoms of your feet.  The detoxifying actions of sea mud help draw out impurities.  Marine botanicals and algae possess antioxidant properties, vitamins and minerals and are the most detoxifying agents known to man...and they condition the skin's surface!

I'm doing the Relay for Life June 12th Kari

 Here is a link you all may enjoy!  55 Ways to get more energy!

http://zenhabits.net/2009/05/55-ways-to-get-more-energy/

I used my external detox products all through treatment, especially after my neulasta shot.  I used the internal detox after I was finished with chemo and now use it monthly.

Here is a great article on Vitamin D

http://www.caring4cancer.com/go/cancer/news?NewsItemId=43586

I use a 7 day detox program for internal in addition to the teas, fiber etc.

For external, I use a sea soak, detox wash and detox mask... 

Wow, two weeks -- sounds like a fabulous trip, mumayan.  Have a great time, but I hope you can keep up the fitness stuff, too. Maybe you can post a photo for us when you get back.

Joy ~ I'm so sorry about what you've been through with a divorce in the midst of bc tx.  That must have been devastating.  I hope you won't mind my unsolicited opinion, but my immediate reaction is, you're better off without him!  What a selfish, heartless thing to do!

My walking has been a total bust this week. I still have a couple of days to go, but weekends are often my worst for finding the time.  DH had the week off -- working on a much-needed remodelling project -- but it has really put a crimp in my normal routine, and if I don't get out there early, it's hot-hot-hot here.  I feel like I also slacked off a bit now that I've had a low estrogen/Estradiol blood test and a clear mammo.  So, I've really got to get myself re-motivated next week!!!    

I hope everyone has a fabulous weekend ~  Deanna

Hey Kari...my skin changed a lot when I started using quality products.  I was thrilled that they kept my skin from drying out through chemo.  I had many of the nurses ask me what I was doing.  It's funny, when I show my "before" photo at my presentations, people actually argue that it isn't me.  I love it!  And that was five and a half years ago! 

Yes, the body/face mask is like you would get at a high end spa.  I rarely do the entire body...but I frequently do my face, chest, back and bottoms of my feet.  The hardest part for me is sitting still long enough for it to work! ROFL 

I always tease my clients...I tell them to put on the entire body mask and wrap up in a cheap shower curtain liner and when their husband comes home...he will think they have flipped their cork!  But in all honesty, women are awful at taking care of themselves.....a little pampering goes a LONG way!!!!!!  And since my diagnosis, I make sure to take the time to take care of my body, as I plan on being around for a LOT longer!

Well, time to head to Zumba and then I'm off and shopping for my son...he will be 20 tomorrow.  Just seems like he was learning to walk...............they grow too fast.  My "baby" will be 19 in August. 

Make it a great day!

Joy, do you take CoQ10? 

Spring, YES!  I not only have some tightening & pulling in the radiated breast, which I try to stretch out as I'm walking, but I also have a small area of hard, lumpy "thickening" (lower, inner quadrant) that has recently appeared.  I have Diep reconstruction, and don't know exactly what is going on in that area, so I probably need to show it to my PS.  I still need what they call the Stage 2 Diep surgery, where my PS will revise my scar and make a nipple, and I've been trying to wait a few months see him, hoping the radiated skin would become more supple.  But I kind of want him to see it now and tell me what the heck is going on in that lumpy area.

I'm sorry you have the tightening too, but I'm relieved to know I'm not alone with this concern...   Deanna 

Good morning ladies!

Well alone again...my two girlfriends from the Bay Area drove up yesterday and spent the day/night here.  Busy busy day with lots of fun!  My hubby and I walked yesterday morning then went shopping, then went for a long walk with my girlfriends last night.  We also had the stereo cranked up and danced, even my hubby!  it was so FUN!  But I am pooped this a.m.  hubby was up at 4:20 to leave for the work week, friends left at 8am. 

Lisa, that's terrific about your skin!  I feel my skin gets really dry and itchy these days...could be the Avastin?  I moisturize daily, but my body just can't get enough.  I need to look into this mask thing/detox thing...Your babies are getting older like mine!  So weird, time does fly.  Enjoy your DS birthday today!!  Lisa, I have heard of coQ10...what does that do?  I am trying to understand which other supplements I need.  I asked my pcp about some, and she never gave me an answer.  I'm still searching for the right pcp to change to.

Spring, my muscle where rads hit is sooooo tight, but I'm not sure what stretch to do to get that sucker!!  I just lay on my back and put my arms up over my head until it grabs that area and I hold...its so uncomfortable.  I do have some yoga dvd's so I can start those up again now.  I thought of you last night when one of my friend's said "ok I have done over 10,000 steps today"...LOL!  she had her pedometer on...I said "oh you sound like Spring", she said "who?" I said my friend from Raleigh!  haha...also the walk was fun cause we went a different route plus we were talking and laughing. I sure miss my girlfriends!!

I find myself telling others about all of you, cause you all inspire me!

Deanna, its hard to stay on the normal routine when the weather plays a big part of your schedule!  and when your dh is home!  don't be too hard on yourself.  So since your estrogren/estradiol counts are low, and you aren't on AIs (right?), do you have do take anything different to maintain the low counts?  or do you have to be retested often? 

Joy, that's some work schedule!!  don't know how you find the energy on the weekend with the late sat night and early sun morning...the kayak on the river sounds so serene and relaxing!  It takes time for our bodies to recover from chemo/rads....I'm still working on it myself.

Have a wonderful Sunday!

once you get to another page it will be back to normal, its related to the picture.

Deanna-I think the screen is wide because of the picture Kari posted. If she changes it, the screen should go back to normal.

Well, I finally took my baby out for a spin today. I can't believe how late our spring is. I know I have been on my bike by early April before. But we had a perfect day today. Sunny, almost 70. The kind of day that you really thank God for after bc. We took a long ride through the forest preserve. I put some McCartney on my IPOD and was in Heaven.

"the long and winding road" took me through the wood, prairies and marshes, where all the birds where flittling around and I could smell the wildflowers in bloom. It is heaven on earth. There were lots of other bikers out, and horses, and even the walkers with their dogs and kids. So everyone was really happy enjoying this gift of a day. I hope you all also had a beautiful day in your neck of the woods.

As I was riding I was still trying to figure out a name for my new wheels. I am leaning towards" the Beamer". I started thinking about what is going on in the world,(as I usually do while riding) and I thought of how people seem to be forgetting about Sept 11th. I thought of Todd Beamer, a local hero, who was on the plane full of heroes that took control of the plane over PA. If ever anyone had a will to survive, those folks did, and they probably never realized how they inspired the rest of us. I am trying to cope with the deep deep fear I have of our country's drive to socialism, and I think of these people and I hope that Americans will stand up and not let it happen. So every time I hop on my bike, I will say to myself, "Let's Roll!" and remember how lucky I am to be a survivor and keep my resolve to fight for freedom in whatever way I can.

Deanna, one of my girlfriends I have known since we met in high school at age 16.  Now we are 47 and have remained best friends.  The other girl I met about 12 years ago and I just cherish them but don't get to see them too often.  You did a great job this a.m. walking and for the week after all!!!  I can imagine the remodel 'fun' has run its course...now just another 'chore'...hang in there!  Like Vivre said, the previous page was too wide cause of the big ole picture I pasted....sorry ladies...(embarrassed sigh...)

Joy, what kind of dog do you have?  There is a brand new dog park by my house, surrounded by oak trees and a woodsy feel. you can't see it from the street and take a trail to it.  I walk by and just smile at all the dogs and their owners.  I am trying to get my older daughters dogs Chip and Dale to come over so we can go too!  I hope you rest well tonight.

Vivre, your ride sounds like heaven and the name Beamer - I personally love it and hold a spot in my heart for Todd Beamer and have never forgotten him or that plane.  After my first husband's stint as a paratrooper all those years and our lives in the Army family, I will NEVER forget...And I'm with you as far as your views on the subject.  I take Wild Alaskan Salmon Oil, but just realized I am not taking enough per day...oh dear.

On a different note, my older daughter and I just went to lunch and then went to David's Bridal spontaneously...she tried on several wedding dresses and then tried on the "one" I think...several ladies and even a couple of men stopped and told her she looked breathtaking and she should get that dress.  Needless to say, she was a vision!  We left the store, and I started bawling, and then she started crying...how fast they grow!  She is 25 and where did the time go?  She was telling me about her stressful week at work last week (she's a PICU nurse)...they've lost 9 kids in the last 2 weeks and she said it was horrible.  Thank God for people like her taking care of the sick ones and helping the family through tough times...

Ok, I'm going to try and go for a bike ride..its 90 out but I need to get out and enjoy mother nature like Vivre said.