Life Update!

Hi! Time for an update! Since this is a blog about health and wellness and it’s been a minute since my last post, it would be nice for you to know that I am still here!

Yes! Still here and healthy! All my yearly tests and scans are normal! My blood work looks good and I don’t require any prescription meds!

Aside from what scans and tests can tell me, I rely on my energy level for information. Energy seems to equal health in many ways! Thankfully, I have enough to do everything that’s on my schedule, including watching a new grandchild a couple days per week, cooking almost all of our food from scratch, teaching the strength training and Essentrics classes, taking our youngest child with special needs to all her activities and getting a walk in most days! I’m not saying this to make myself sound in any way exceptional, but to be an encouragement to you! If someone would have told me back in 1996-98 what I would be doing in 2025, I would have never believed it! Whatever your present condition, you can heal!

I have been focused a lot lately on maintaining and gaining muscular strength. I never realized how important muscle mass and strength are to aging well. It’s not just for the ability to lift things (like grandchildren) but is a huge factor in managing blood glucose. Muscle acts like a sponge to draw glucose out of the bloodstream. Keeping our blood glucose within normal ranges is vitally important to our metabolic health. Interpretation: more muscle, better blood sugar levels!

To gain strength, I have started teaching two classes per week using resistance bands and body weight compound exercises. (I became a Certified Personal Trainer several years ago! You’re never too old!). These classes have been challenging (because doing a proper push up is hard!) but when working out with friends, it has become something I almost “enjoy”! Especially when we’re done! Most importantly, we all are getting stronger!

I highly encourage everyone to include some type of resistance training into your life. Even if you’re in a cancer battle right now, some form of both cardio and strength work will help you. If you’re not presently doing any exercise, start small. When I had cancer, I started with just a fifteen minute walk. I swung my arms and kept a moderate pace. I did whatever I could and it made me feel better.

What started as something I had to make myself do, became a habit. I think those fifteen minutes of movement helped to bring my stress level down – by a lot!

Research shows better outcomes from cancer when exercise is part of the treatment plan!

So, I’m still alive and kicking!

Thank you for reading!