Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Joining A Sisterhood

We join together for:
..........We together fight
..........We together walk
..........We together win

To champion a cause
To inspire each other
To defeat cancer

In honor of
..........our mothers
..........our sisters
..........our friends
..........ourselves

We don't do this because we have to
We do this because we are inspired to
We band together, a sisterhood
Overcoming what we must
To give what we can

We ask only this of you:
..........See us - Cheer along our route
..........Join us - Donate to our cause
..........Be us - Walk these 60 miles

These 60 miles, walked by my sisters
Soon to be walked by me
Will touch the hearts and lives of
..........Those we love
..........Those we join
..........Those we meet
.....................................YOU

We call ourselves "The Sisterhood of Pink Sneakers"
We walk the greatest distance we can to fight breast cancer

See what we are all about: The3day.org

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Morning Ritual & Other Excercise...

Today, I reached a new goal: I surpassed the 20 minute mark! I even worked up one of those drippy, icky sweats!

Here is today's soundtrack: Drawing Flies by Chris Cornell (2:26); Head Over Feet by Alanis Morrisette (4:27); Mother by Danzig (3:25); Blackened by Metallica (6:41); Making Out by No Doubt (4:15); and Who Knew by Pink (3:31). Total workout time: 24:45 - SO CLOSE to the 25 minute mark!!!

Of course, this may be consided a retrograde milestone 3 days after my husband and I walked Discover Mills Mall for 30 minutes on Sunday! Now, I know what you are thinking: how can I count walking through a mall as 'excercise'? Well, that's easy: we went shopping BEFORE we started the clock! Discover Mills was a great place to walk, because even though the parking lot was FULL, there were not many people milling through the main walkways. The mall itself is huge, set up in "neighborhoods" and each neighborhood has a different theme too keep things interesting. We kept up a pretty good pace, even carrying the baby cast iron skillet I bought at Bass Pro Shops. (Remind me not to do that again!) Both of us worked up a hunger.....and ruined our excercise with burgers at Chili's. I can't figure out if it was the excercise that worked up the appetite or the constant smells of Wetzel's Pretzel's, Cinnabon, and movie theater popcorn from AMC. I'm blaming the aromas rather than the excercise, just so I don't sucker myself into doing that again! My husband and I had such a great time, I'm going to try to go to the Mall of Georgia this Sunday!

Saturday, February 13, 2010

The Right Doctor, in the Right Place, at the Right Time??

My husband and I have been dealing with medical issues for quite some time now, totally unrelated to breast cancer. We have both FINALLY found doctors that are listening to us, and we feel our issues are soon to be resolved. But, the lastest set of appointments got me thinking - what if we had gotten to these doctors sooner? Would I be facing surgery now or could that have been avoided?

The answer for many breast cancer victims, is that surgery is sometimes the only way to go. But, there are ways of finding the right doctor in the right place at the right time that may make surgery less evasive and survival more likely. You might be asking yourself: How do I do that?

The answer is simple: If you are a woman and you have a birthday every year, you need to rely on breast cancer detection. The earlier it is detected, the better the chance of survival. Now, you may be asking yourself: how do I detect breast cancer?

Here is yet another simple answer: the Susan G. Komen Foundation is educating everyone they can reach about how to detect and survive breast cancer. They provide resources, such as an online breast cancer self exam tutorial (in both English & Spanish), informational filers on breast cancer facts, risk factors and detection methods. Best part: all of this information is in one place: The Susan G. Komen Toolkit!

Now, while eveything is in one place, how does the Susan G. Komen Foundation reach every woman on the planet? Well, they made it part of my job as a walker is to educate people at risk about breast cancer. Being that the biggest risk factors are being a woman and having birthdays, I need to educate every woman I know. I have to point them in the way of the toolkit (Click here!!) and let them know that the older you get, the higher the risk. I need to tell them that the odds of getting breast cancer in a lifetime are 1 in 8.

But, I can point to the website, pass out fliers, and demonstrate breast self exams until the cows come home, but it won't work unless the danger of breast cancer is taken seriously. It isn't taken seriously until it is understood that you risk death if not participating in detection! In simple terms: you could die unless you feel your boobies. Seems so silly when I put it like that, but it is the truth. You cannot rely on your doctors for this either, because they don't know your body well enough to detect the tiniest changes in your breast tissue. The only person who knows your breast tissue is you!

Here are some tips about Breast Cancer Detection: If breast cancer is found early, there are more treatment options and a better chance for survival. A mammogram can find breast cancer before it can be felt. However, it is not perfect. But, when mammography is combined with clinical breast exam, your chances for find cancer are greater. (Source: http://ww5.komen.org/uploadedFiles/Content_Binaries/806-374a.pdf) So, be sure to feel your boobies (or have your significant other do it for you - more fun that way!), schedule your mammograms, and talk to your doctor about your risk factors!

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Title of Ambassador

Yesterday, I was honored by the Susan G. Komen Foundation by being graced with the title of 3-Day Ambassador. Part of me feels that I just made this challenge that much more difficult, but a greater part of me feels that I just made the biggest contribution I could ever make even BIGGER. For that, I am honored.


Now, however, I am going to be held accountable for updating this blog with my progress - which means that I have to make progress!!! EEEK!!! It can so intimidating (if I let it!) - I have such a long way to go - I have only raised $10.00, have yet to walk further than the edge of the parking lot to the doors of the Wal-Mart, have only 1 follower and I still don't know anyone walking yet! Thankfully I still I have 262 days until the 3-Day! Bring it on!!!


As for my progress, the next step is: checking out the Share List in the participation center and sending out a few emails to meet some fellow walkers and possibly join a team. Network, network, and network that's my current motto. I'm also going to read the message boards again - I found my last fundraising idea there, so who knows what I will find this time? Oh, and I can't forget to send a shout out to the February Newsletter which hooked me up with ambassorship!

Monday, February 1, 2010

Monday Morning...

So, here I am typing this 3 minutes after I should be getting myself out of bed, key word being should, as I actually got up EARLY this morning and decided to stay up to excercise. I think I am making progress here, because I actually looked forward to my workout. We shall see how long this lasts...

Today's soundtrack: "U & Ur Hand" by Pink (3:36); "Seasons of the Abyss" by Slayer (6:34); "Rape Me" by Nirvana (2:50) and "Swing Life Away" by Rage Against (3:20) for a total workout time of 16:20!!! Woo-hoo!!!

I think I have excercised more in the past month than I have in the past year. I have to take my hat off to my husband who keeps doubting me in just the right way that it is forcing me to prove him wrong. Got to love it!