Week 1 of my 3 week plan

Well I have to say, it's been pretty easy. I have not had any white flour or sugar (unless it was hidden in something I ate). I am down 3 pounds, although losing weight is not the main goal, I'm still encouraged to be getting closer to the number I have in mind for my ultimate weight. I have cheated a little with my wine, (which I admitted would be hard), but when I am sitting in our place in TN and the sun is setting on a gorgous day- I just gotta!!
The biggest positive from this plan has been my energy level- after the past two years of sitting around and then the chemo, I haven't had much energy. This past week, about 4pm and the time I usually wanted a nap- I am ready to go out on my 30 minute walk. One day it was even after 2 hours of physical therapy!! I just FEEL healthy.
If any of you joined me in this plan, share with us any changes you have noticed!

To the park for my walk!!!

Day 3- Let's get started

So today is the day that I will put all the research into action. We talked yesterday about what fueled cancer cells. Today I will share what I will be doing religiously, for the next three weeks to fight that fire!! I made several of these changes the moment I found out about the cancer, but it is time to turn into a Warrior and fight to keep Cancer out of my life! I have given myself 3 weeks to focus on all these changes, but I will hopefully make these "life changes".
Another reason for writing these three blogs, was to educate my kids and loved ones. Hopefully, they will make some little changes, to keep Cancer out of their lives! This idea came to me when I opened both of their refrigerators and found huge tubs of Country Crock. Along with sugar, margarine is the devil. Not only is it full of  Omega 6, which we want to avoid because of the inflammation that it causes, but one of the ingredients is Calcium Disodium EDTA. This ingredient is made from a concoction of poisons and chelation chemicals. So, I am hoping to teach my loves ones what they can do to avoid the cancer that lives in them.
So let's get started!! Here are the changes that I have made or will be making for the next 3 weeks.

1. Exercise- I will exercise at least 30 minutes 6 times a week. (It really needs to warm up!!) I am also now wearing a FitBit to remind me how much I am moving!
2. Sugar- will be eliminated from my diet.
3. Trans Fat- Eliminated as well. This is found in processed foods- key words are Hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.
4. Omega 6 is bad and Omega 3 is good- I am not a friend of Salmon so I add the Omega 3 to my diet via Chia Seeds. I sprinkle them into my yogurt each morning.
5. Wine and Alcohol- I know what your thinking! (Traci's going to stop drinking??) Well, I really have slowed down already. I usually don't drink during the week and have only a couple of glasses during the weekend. I can kick the habit for 3 weeks, then we will go from there. I do know that when I don't drink, I feel A LOT better and sleep better! And as previously stated, one glass of red wine with dinner is beneficial.
6. White Flour- This will be eliminated. If I eat bread, it will be multi grain or sourdough. Rice will be whole grain or basmati.
7. Stress- No body stress me out, ok??
8. Vegetables- I will be eating a lot more of these guys! Greens are good!!
9. Eliminate Chemicals- This is really hard!! I started with my deodorant- Thanks to Jennifer (aka Jenny from the Block), I have been able to try out most of the natural ones and the one below is my favorite. It really works, which is necessary since chemo pushed me into menopause and those hot flashes are hell!

Some of my weapons in this fight:

 

In the picture above is, my shampoo It is Trader Joes Tea Tree Tingle, my deodorant Crystal Essence, and My Fit Bit

 

In addition, to those products:

 

1. My yogurt maker- I make my own yogurt from Organic milk and eat it in the mornings, and also make homemade Ranch or Bleu Cheese dressing with it. Way before cancer we stopped buying bottled Salad Dressings and have always made our own.

 

2. Nutra-Bullet- I use this to make healthy drinks and my salad dressings.

 

 My Magic Bullet drink

Garden is planted- takes the guess work out of ingredients when I KNOW it is fresh and organic!!

 

****UPDATED for Yogurt instructions***

many have asked how you make your own yogurt- Well you start with a yogurt maker, mine is a Cuisine brand (pictured below) It's really easy, 1. you boil milk (i use fat free organic), to 180 degrees 2. let it cool 3. mix with a yogurt culture (you can purchase this in powder form or use one you previously made or use store bought 6oz container) 4. place in jars that come with your yogurt machine 5. place in yogurt machine for recommended time (9 hours for fat free milk) 6. Then take it out and place in the refridgerator, you will have 7 6oz containers of yogurt.

I add agave necter, berries and chia seeds to mine to flavor, when I eat it.

 

 

 

 

So here is a list of the VIP Foods for Fighting Cancer, lets add them to our diet and see how we feel:

 

1.Green Tea- 3 cups a day

 

2. Olive Oil

 

3. Tummeric-

 

4. Mushrooms

 

5. Berries

 

6. Ginger

 

7. Cabbage, Broccoli, Brussel Sprouts 3 times a week

 

8. Veggies and Fruits high in Caroteoids (Red, yellow orange colored)

 

9. Tomatoes

 

10. Dark Chocolate

 

11. Yogurt

 

12. Drink lots of water to help flush toxins

 

This is not some hard diet to follow, it is more just a conscious way of thinking that will help ANYONE keep the cancer cells extinguished. Please let me know if you are going to join me on this road and keep me posted on how you are feeling and any changes you may experience. 



Day 2- Cancer Fuel

We began the journey of knowledge, in the last blog and learned some of the "reasons" I believe I was susceptible to cancer. Now we will start talking about what we can do to keep Cancer away. This section is also helpful for people who want to live healthy and not fuel the cancer that lives in their body. Remember fact one in yesterdays blog, EVERYONE has cancer cells lying dormant in their body.

So here are some things that FUEL those cancer cells:

1. SUGAR- I had my eyes opened to this little gem, when I went in for my PET scan. They make you drink a sugary drink, then you wait just a little bit, and then get scanned. The glucose in that drink, will go directly to the tumor. That tumor will "light up" on the scan and they are able to see it. When we eat foods with a high glycemic index, your body will release a dose of insulin. That insulin stimulates cell growth. Reducing the amount of refined sugar and white flour we consume, we cut off a life line for that cancer cell. Added benefit to reducing the sugar and flour....healthier skin.

So here is a list of things we will avoid:
                     1. Sugar, honey and syrups (try instead Agave necter, dark chocolate and stevia)
                     2. White/ Bleached Flour, White Rice- (try whole grains, basmati or brown rice, multi-grain pasta, oats, and quinoa)
                     3. Potatoes- (instead, lentils, peas, sweet potatoes, beans)
                     4. Sweetened drinks, sodas ( drink instead water or green tea)
                     5. Alcohol- (red wine ONE glass with dinner is ok)

2. Inflammation- Yesterday, I mentioned a little bit about inflammation and how I felt it was responsible in some ways for my cancer. Here are some causes of inflammation in your body.
                            1. Diet of red meat, processed pork products and refined sugars
                            2. Oils rich in omega- 6 (trans fat)
                            3. Dairy products that are full fat and non-organic
                            4. Eggs fed corn and soybeans
                            5. Stress- The stress hormone cortisol causes inflammation
                            3. Less than 20 minutes of Physical Activity a day
                            4. SMOKING and other Pollutants- Do I really need to explain this one? Your putting SMOKE in your LUNGS- Hello??? Lung Cancer is the number 1 cancer causing killer and you can prevent it easily- STOP SMOKING!

3. Everyday Product- These are now so prevalent in our society, it is hard to avoid. Here are a list of some of the ones of most concern.
                          1. Deodorants with aluminum, especially for women who shave their armpits
                          2. Dry Cleaning chemicals- Perchloroethylene- air out dry cleaned garments in fresh air for several hours before wearing
                          3. Plastic containers made with PVC's- use glass or ceramic containers when using a microwave to heat.
                          4. Cell phones and electromagnetic fields-
                          5. Parabens and phthalates in cosmetic products
                          6. Pesticides and insecticides

                Tomorrow- Day 3- I will write about the changes I have made based on my research. I hope you will also join me in making these changes and continue this journey with me.

Day 1- Triple Negative, turning into positives

Triple Negative is the form of breast cancer I was diagnosed with, in August 2012. Last year, in honor of Triple Negative awareness day, I wrote a blog and shared a link. This year, I am spending 3 days researching and writing about ways to keep cancer at bay. Then spending 3 weeks making those changes to my own life and sharing the outcome and difficulties. Wish me luck and feel free to join me!!

First off, 40% of all cancers can be prevented (YES PREVENTED) by simple changes in your nutrition and physical activities!! That is huge and gives us all a reason to embark on these changes.

Second, and important....CANCER lies dormant in ALL of us!! No one is free to say, I'll never have cancer. We are all at risk. We might never really know what causes our cancers to show their ugly heads in our lives, but we can try to analyze it and reduce our risk with knowledge.

This knowledge is what I will be sharing. I have read many books and this is my conclusion: there are proven factors that fuel those dormant cancer cells. For me it was a combination of several, that came together in a perfect trifecta that resulted in my breast cancer. A perfect storm, if you will.
1. My weakened immune system-  A strong immune system will keep cancer at bay. At the time of my diagnosis I was taking Enbral a drug prescribed for RA, that suppresses your immune system. We can strengthen our immune system with a healthy anti-inflammatory diet, a positive emotional state of serenity and joy, a positive support system of family and friends, and regular physical activity.
2. Injury that won't heal- Researchers have directly linked 1 cancer in 6 to a chronic inflammatory state. Not only do I have this with RA, I had a shoulder injury that for one year was constant pain. When you have an injury your body produces highly inflammatory substances to heal your injury. The substances like cytokines, prostaglandins and leukotrienes act like gasoline to promote cell reproduction to heal- they also promote cancer cell reproduction,, which can slip right into the neighboring tissue. I don't believe that it is just a coincidence that my tumor was only 3 inches away from my shoulder injury and the constant swollen pain! Plus, my white blood cells are also working overtime to heal the shoulder. This left my defenses down.
3. A Sedentary lifestyle- Again, at the time of my diagnosis I was barely getting out of the house, much less my chair. The shoulder pain was so great and the weight of it "hanging" while I was standing, made me miserable after only a short time of walking or standing. Exercise had been non-existent for over a year.

When I went for my first check up after all my chemo treatments and surgeries were complete, I asked the Dr; if my boobs have been amputated and chemo is complete what test will we do to make sure we stay on top of this returning, and what changes can be made to reduce the risk of this returning? She said this," we won't be running any routine test (such as mammogram), and there is nothing you can do (that you haven't already done) to reduce your risk. You just need to be aware of any problems or any changes, in your body and let us know as soon as possible. Your cancer will return somewhere else, if it does." (based on research, in my brain or bones)
I have never been one that listened to the words- You can't do something- CAN'T just isn't in my vocabulary! So, for the next three days I will share with you what I find out CAN be done and we will embark on the journey for the next 3 weeks!! We CAN do this!!

Notice all the 3's? It's in honor of TRIPLE Negative Breast Cancer- Join me on the 3-day learning journey and 3-week implementation!