b.Well Blog

Celebrate and Honor YOUR Health & Wellness

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0500

When I was diagnosed with Stage II breast cancer in July, 2006, my first reaction was fear; it had only been six years since another form of cancer took my mom.

Almost immediately fear was replaced by shame. I thought of any and every unhealthy behavior in which I had engaged during my life: beer and wine, birth control, exercise (or not), unhealthy food, and even personality type.

Fear and shame had no place in the days, weeks and months that followed. I was focused on test results, accessing research, joining a support group, scheduling surgery, preparing for chemotherapy, 2 hour daily drives to radiation and learning about complementary treatment.

Three years later, I am a cancer survivor. Fear and shame occasionally creep into my mind, but they are pushed aside by deeper, more grounded emotions like gratitude and exuberance. I still enjoy beer and wine, think more about diet and exercise and don’t get hung up on personality (sure makes me more interesting!).

We have all been touched in some way by cancer. Fortunately research on cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment has contributed to a world in which many more survivors are living and loving life.

In honor of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month I share the lessons that I learned.

Celebrate and honor the health and wellness that we have – our strengths and victories will help us to overcome whatever health issues come our way.

Do something today about concerns that are hanging over our heads – they don’t go away on their own.

Prevent the illnesses we know we can – invest time, energy and necessary resources in the services, education and products that promote health and wellness. We are so worth it.

Join a community of support – no one can do it alone.

If you would like to discuss your own health and wellness concerns, I invite you to call b.Well today - 208.921.1044.

Back-to-You!

Thu, 03 Sep 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Ah… back-to-school! Remember, back in the day, picking out your lunch box? Even when you were too cool for a lunch box, you got excited about new notebooks. We’re programmed to think about back-to-school this time of year; I still feel the urge to hit the sales for a new pair of Mary Jane’s.

For parents back-to-school brings mixed emotions. It is an end of the summer and spending memorable time with children; but it is nice to get on schedule again. Whether it’s the list of school supplies for a child just starting kindergarten, hoping for that certain teacher, a high school debut, or even… deep breath now… packing up the car for your “baby" heading off to college, back-to-school is big time.

Are you responsible for all the preparations in your household – the school supplies, the physical exams, the clothes shopping, the carpool, the orientations, and who knows what else? What if this year were different? What if you went “back-to-you" this year?

Take Charge of Your Health

Thu, 27 Aug 2009 00:00:00 -0500

As a consequence of the roller coaster economy, most people I know became more aware of their financial position, re-evaluated their spending priorities, paid down debt and learned about their retirement portfolios. They’ll come out stronger in the long run.

WHAT IF the health care reform debate inspired us to take charge of our own health? We could learn more about our health and make lifestyle changes, such as reducing the excess fat and stress we’re carrying and adopting wellness strategies.

“The You Docs,� reviewed a proposed senate bill, “Take Back Your Health" (Idaho Statesman, August 24) which promotes intensive lifestyle changes in nutrition, exercise, stress and tobacco that have been shown to produce better outcomes in treating chronic diseases than drugs and surgery.

Don’t wait for politicians to legislate health and wellness. These are personal issues – our control and our responsibility. Take Charge of Your Health today and live stronger, healthier and happier. By taking charge of your health now, you become your own insurance against chronic disease later and reduce your odds of participating in the “illness-based" health care system.

b.Well!