My Own Mastectomy Experience

Last week, Angelina Jolie's announcement of her preventive bilateral mastectomy and breast reconstruction, after finding out she carried the BRCA1 breast cancer gene, was met with mostly positive reaction. But some questioned whether this information was helpful or would just result in a surge of young women requesting genetic testing, which is not recommended for everyone and may result in unnecessary financial, emotional and possibly physical costs to pay.

I'm no stranger to controversial discussions around breast cancer. After my own mastectomy I came to understand that (my diagnosis) ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), can be a source of heated conversation for many people, particularly for DCIS patients and those women who have been diagnosed with invasive breast cancer.

Last week, Angelina Jolie's announcement of her preventive bilateral mastectomy and breast reconstruction, after finding out she carried the BRCA1 breast cancer gene, was met with mostly positive reaction. But some questioned whether this information was helpful or would just result in a surge of young women requesting genetic testing, which is not recommended for everyone and may result in unnecessary financial, emotional and possibly physical costs to pay.

I'm no stranger to controversial discussions around breast cancer. After my own mastectomy I came to understand that (my diagnosis) ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), can be a source of heated conversation for many people, particularly for DCIS patients and those women who have been diagnosed with invasive breast cancer.

FREE Workouts all Summer Long in NYC

I love summer in the city. I love that the weather is finally comfortable enough for me, someone who is always cold, to skip the subway and walk all of Manhattan, from downtown to uptown, morning to night. I love August, when tourists and locals alike leave town and suddenly the city is quiet and peaceful. Most of all, I love all the great free events that return each May. I feel so connected to my city when I'm enjoying an evening Jazz performance or yoga class in one of our public parks.

One of the best things about these summer offerings is the free outdoor group exercise classes. Offered all summer long, they are a great introduction to a new fitness activity and an opportunity for starting healthy new habits in a stress-, judgement-, and commitment-free environment, surrounded by the energy and beauty of NYC.

I love summer in the city. I love that the weather is finally comfortable enough for me, someone who is always cold, to skip the subway and walk all of Manhattan, from downtown to uptown, morning to night. I love August, when tourists and locals alike leave town and suddenly the city is quiet and peaceful. Most of all, I love all the great free events that return each May. I feel so connected to my city when I'm enjoying an evening Jazz performance or yoga class in one of our public parks.

One of the best things about these summer offerings is the free outdoor group exercise classes. Offered all summer long, they are a great introduction to a new fitness activity and an opportunity for starting healthy new habits in a stress-, judgement-, and commitment-free environment, surrounded by the energy and beauty of NYC.

2 Apps Take the Guesswork Out of Healthy Grocery Shopping

So, you may have noticed that I completely skipped over last week's blog post. I have been taking some time to do some major soul searching and consider the best way to communicate my passion for fun and easy healthy living to the masses. To make it up to you, today's post has got it all: it's short, sweet, fun & functional! I'm sharing with you two awesome resources that make healthy grocery shopping a little less overwhelming. I had been planning to install these apps on my phone for awhile now and finally got around to it. Don't wait like I did!

Do you go to the super market with the best of intentions, planning to make healthy choices, brain bursting with nutrition information from magazines, TV segments and friends, only to find yourself completely confused once you're standing in the aisles comparing food labels? Fooducate aims to eliminate that confusion.

So, you may have noticed that I completely skipped over last week's blog post. I have been taking some time to do some major soul searching and consider the best way to communicate my passion for fun and easy healthy living to the masses. To make it up to you, today's post has got it all: it's short, sweet, fun & functional! I'm sharing with you two awesome resources that make healthy grocery shopping a little less overwhelming. I had been planning to install these apps on my phone for awhile now and finally got around to it. Don't wait like I did!

Do you go to the super market with the best of intentions, planning to make healthy choices, brain bursting with nutrition information from magazines, TV segments and friends, only to find yourself completely confused once you're standing in the aisles comparing food labels? Fooducate aims to eliminate that confusion.

I Won't Leave Home Without THIS...

Before I became an RD I was doing the same thing everyone else is: trying to balance work, school, family and a social life with taking care of my body and mind. Heck, I'm still trying to do all those things! I used to load up on all the free health and fitness magazines that I got from my media jobs and I'd tear out pages about 15-minute workouts and fast healthy snacks.

My friends and co-workers saw my passion and would always ask me to share my secrets. As a dietitian, I still get that question: "What do YOU do?" People always want to know what I eat, where I work out and how I fit cooking and exercise into my own busy schedule. 

Today, I'm taking another page from my favorite magazines to show you what I do to stay healthy & fit even when things get hectic. 

Before I became an RD I was doing the same thing everyone else is: trying to balance work, school, family and a social life with taking care of my body and mind. Heck, I'm still trying to do all those things! I used to load up on all the free health and fitness magazines that I got from my media jobs and I'd tear out pages about 15-minute workouts and fast healthy snacks.

My friends and co-workers saw my passion and would always ask me to share my secrets. As a dietitian, I still get that question: "What do YOU do?" People always want to know what I eat, where I work out and how I fit cooking and exercise into my own busy schedule. 

Today, I'm taking another page from my favorite magazines to show you what I do to stay healthy & fit even when things get hectic. 

Gratitude.

Since yesterday's attacks at the Boston Marathon I have been procrastinating on writing a next blog post. No topic seemed appropriate. Then today, I read an email newsletter from BCL Fitness founder Melissa Carter. Melissa has asked her readers to share what they are grateful for. This resonated with me.

This morning I started my day with my regular yoga class. The class seemed more crowded than usual and I took a spot in a back corner of the room. I don't know if it was yesterday's explosions or the packed room but I found myself distracted. I couldn't help but think how lucky I was, right there in that moment. Lucky to have the freedom to be in that room doing something that makes me happy: physical and financial freedom, as well as the freedom to decide how to spend my own time. 

Remembering to count our blessings and honor those things we are grateful for can refuel us with the strength we need to achieve our goals or get through a difficult time.

Since yesterday's attacks at the Boston Marathon I have been procrastinating on writing a next blog post. No topic seemed appropriate. Then today, I read an email newsletter from BCL Fitness founder Melissa Carter. Melissa has asked her readers to share what they are grateful for. This resonated with me.

This morning I started my day with my regular yoga class. The class seemed more crowded than usual and I took a spot in a back corner of the room. I don't know if it was yesterday's explosions or the packed room but I found myself distracted. I couldn't help but think how lucky I was, right there in that moment. Lucky to have the freedom to be in that room doing something that makes me happy: physical and financial freedom, as well as the freedom to decide how to spend my own time. 

Remembering to count our blessings and honor those things we are grateful for can refuel us with the strength we need to achieve our goals or get through a difficult time.

Are You Back-Loading Your Protein?

I recently read that while most of us Americans get plenty of protein in our diets, we tend to back-load our days with protein so that we eat the largest amount at dinner, a little less at lunch and a lot less at breakfast. The problem with this is that our bodies can only use a limited amount of protein at a given time, so it's important to spread out our protein throughout the day, getting plenty at each meal and snack.

The article, from the March 2013 Today's Dietitian, Milk Proteins: Packing a Powerful Nutritional Punch by Karen Giles-Smith, MS, RD,  focuses on the idea that:

"evidence shows high-quality proteins, such as milk proteins, promote satiety, weight maintenance, muscle synthesis, and blood glucose control"

I recently read that while most of us Americans get plenty of protein in our diets, we tend to back-load our days with protein so that we eat the largest amount at dinner, a little less at lunch and a lot less at breakfast. The problem with this is that our bodies can only use a limited amount of protein at a given time, so it's important to spread out our protein throughout the day, getting plenty at each meal and snack.

The article, from the March 2013 Today's Dietitian, Milk Proteins: Packing a Powerful Nutritional Punch by Karen Giles-Smith, MS, RD,  focuses on the idea that:

"evidence shows high-quality proteins, such as milk proteins, promote satiety, weight maintenance, muscle synthesis, and blood glucose control"

Stop Saying "I Can't"

It's over. I would say it's finally over but actually, it wasn't so bad! We just spent the past month and a half following a vegan diet. I know what you're thinking: Why?! But those 6-ish weeks taught us so much more than just how to survive eating nothing but plants. The biggest lesson? 

Stop saying I Can't!

The biggest surprise I got from going vegan for Lent was that, if you pay attention, major life lessons can be found everywhere. In this case, veganism reminded us that sometimes the biggest obstacle to achieving a goal is yourself. Don't get in your own way!

I can't remember where I saw this quote but I recently read something like (I'm paraphrasing here): 

The biggest obstacle to achieving something is believing that change is possible. 

It's over. I would say it's finally over but actually, it wasn't so bad! We just spent the past month and a half following a vegan diet. I know what you're thinking: Why?! But those 6-ish weeks taught us so much more than just how to survive eating nothing but plants. The biggest lesson? 

Stop saying I Can't!

The biggest surprise I got from going vegan for Lent was that, if you pay attention, major life lessons can be found everywhere. In this case, veganism reminded us that sometimes the biggest obstacle to achieving a goal is yourself. Don't get in your own way!

I can't remember where I saw this quote but I recently read something like (I'm paraphrasing here): 

The biggest obstacle to achieving something is believing that change is possible.