Gratitude and appreciation of beauty
Jun/Friday/2009 08:01 AM Filed in: Healthy
and Fit After Cancer
It’s
been an exciting month with little time to blog,
though I have managed to Tweet here and there!
The Liver Symposium in Chicago was filled
with some incredible stories of survival. It was an
honor to speak and be with survivors who live fully
each day. I spoke about Embracing Happiness,
something they know a lot about. I will attach a few
photos. Suzanne Lindley, the director of the event,
made it memorable for all.
This last week I presented our longitudinal research on Wellness Coaching for Cancer Survivors at the American College of Sports Medicine’s Annual Meeting in Seattle. I never imagined that I would have such an opportunity, given that over 5,000 researchers from around the world attend. I’m what you might call an “honorary researcher” as the principle investigator calls me. I’m not a PhD, researcher, but a practitioner with passion! Several years of work has culminated in some great data showing significant improvement in survivors quality of life, depression, anxiety, and healthy lifestyle measures. Participants reduced their BMI (Body Mass Index) and weight, as well as ate more fruits and veggies, over the 3 months of coaching. The exciting part is that one year after the coaching ended, weight loss was either sustained or continued to go down!!! Fruit and vegetable consumption also continued or increased! Helping people live their healthiest, happiest lives, in their own way, is what I love to do and I’m thrilled to confirm that what I thought was working, IS!
I am so grateful for Dr. Mary Lou Galantino, who took on the project and continues to inspire those around her. She is also a cancer survivor and is passionate about doing research that will improve survivor’s quality of life. Stay tuned...
This wonderful month culminated in the opportunity to go to some beautiful locations in British Columbia, Canada... Victoria, Vancouver, and Whistler (the site of the 2010 Winter Olympics). I’ll share some photos of it all.
I am grateful for the opportunities I’ve been able to take part in over the month. The beauty I experienced wasn’t just the beauty from the “sights” but in the hearts and minds of those I came in contact with. Wish I had some good photo’s to share of them. More to come!
Take a moment to think about what you appreciate today. Science is telling us it is one of the most important pieces of improving our happiness!
Chicago was beautiful in the spring!
Reunion of LIVESTRONG Orange Monarchs (Leana May, Suzanne Lindley, and me) at the LIVER Symposium, Empire Room at the Palmer House where Jim Belushi and his Sacred Hearts Band performed for all.
Presenting our research at ACSM
Seattle... with Mt. Ranier in the background
The drive between Vancouver and Whistler... breathtaking
On Whistler... we did the Snowi Limo which is someone skiing you down the mountain while you sit in a chair... soooooo cool. It’s not available in the US because of our litigious society, by the way. insurance is unavailable :-( I took this little video (click here) as I sat in the limo and FLEW down the mountain...
The Fairmont Empress, turn of the century hotel l in Victoria... outside, inside, and the courtyard with my parents... then Bouchard Gardens. All beautiful!
Buchard Gardens in Victoria
I couldn’t talk about the last month, without showing a picture of our newest addition to the family :-)
This last week I presented our longitudinal research on Wellness Coaching for Cancer Survivors at the American College of Sports Medicine’s Annual Meeting in Seattle. I never imagined that I would have such an opportunity, given that over 5,000 researchers from around the world attend. I’m what you might call an “honorary researcher” as the principle investigator calls me. I’m not a PhD, researcher, but a practitioner with passion! Several years of work has culminated in some great data showing significant improvement in survivors quality of life, depression, anxiety, and healthy lifestyle measures. Participants reduced their BMI (Body Mass Index) and weight, as well as ate more fruits and veggies, over the 3 months of coaching. The exciting part is that one year after the coaching ended, weight loss was either sustained or continued to go down!!! Fruit and vegetable consumption also continued or increased! Helping people live their healthiest, happiest lives, in their own way, is what I love to do and I’m thrilled to confirm that what I thought was working, IS!
I am so grateful for Dr. Mary Lou Galantino, who took on the project and continues to inspire those around her. She is also a cancer survivor and is passionate about doing research that will improve survivor’s quality of life. Stay tuned...
This wonderful month culminated in the opportunity to go to some beautiful locations in British Columbia, Canada... Victoria, Vancouver, and Whistler (the site of the 2010 Winter Olympics). I’ll share some photos of it all.
I am grateful for the opportunities I’ve been able to take part in over the month. The beauty I experienced wasn’t just the beauty from the “sights” but in the hearts and minds of those I came in contact with. Wish I had some good photo’s to share of them. More to come!
Take a moment to think about what you appreciate today. Science is telling us it is one of the most important pieces of improving our happiness!
Chicago was beautiful in the spring!
Reunion of LIVESTRONG Orange Monarchs (Leana May, Suzanne Lindley, and me) at the LIVER Symposium, Empire Room at the Palmer House where Jim Belushi and his Sacred Hearts Band performed for all.
Presenting our research at ACSM
Seattle... with Mt. Ranier in the background
The drive between Vancouver and Whistler... breathtaking
On Whistler... we did the Snowi Limo which is someone skiing you down the mountain while you sit in a chair... soooooo cool. It’s not available in the US because of our litigious society, by the way. insurance is unavailable :-( I took this little video (click here) as I sat in the limo and FLEW down the mountain...
The Fairmont Empress, turn of the century hotel l in Victoria... outside, inside, and the courtyard with my parents... then Bouchard Gardens. All beautiful!
Buchard Gardens in Victoria
I couldn’t talk about the last month, without showing a picture of our newest addition to the family :-)