No one can claim not to know how incredibly important fitness and exercise are to your health. The list of benefits and rewards of a regular exercise routine is endless: cardiovascular health, a trim waistline, better moods and mental health, increased flexibility, lower risk of injury, and on and on and on. We get it, exercise tops the "to do" list.

Today's blog is presented by a guest blogger, David Haas, with the Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance, and presents a deeper and even more exciting benefit of exercise: a tool in the fight against cancer!!!! Read on, and be inspired to know that having fitness in your life means you have a lifelong tool in the quest for health and happiness :)




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"Fitness is extremely important to your health"
by David Haas
Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance

When a person is diagnosed with cancer, whether it is a form of mesothelioma cancer or any other form of cancer, they are given options. They can choose to have chemotherapy and/or radiation to help cure their cancer. Many people choose to take this option because they want to live a long, healthy life and this is their best option to make that happen. Despite the fact that cancer treatment is an excellent way to get rid of cancer, there are plenty of side effects that make it difficult to endure. Fatigue, depression, nausea and frequent vomiting are just a few of those side effects.

For cancer patients, there is an excellent way to alleviate these side effects and make the experience of going through cancer treatments much easier and much less painful. In fact, some people can even clear up these symptoms all together and go about their daily lives in a way that feels as if though they are not living with cancer and fighting a battle with their own bodies on a daily basis. This great cure is called exercise; while exercise will not cure a person’s cancer, it will make a significant difference in the way a person feels as they fight their cancer.

The benefits of exercising with cancer are just astounding. People with cancer will alleviate and minimize their treatment side effects. By exercising, the body releases hormones and endorphins that promote health and well being; these hormones will help to reduce feelings of depression and sadness caused by a cancer diagnosis and subsequent treatments. Those who are not feeling depressed throughout their fight with cancer will have an easier time accepting their treatments. Additionally, exercise helps promote energy, which has cancer patients feeling far less tired and fatigued. It also promotes health, which means cancer patients will not feel as nauseous as they did without exercise and vomiting bouts will be significantly reduced.

Doctors recommend that cancer patients get at least 150 minutes per week of exercise. In the past, they asked that their cancer patients rest and relax, but studies have proven them wrong. The best way to help fight cancer is through exercise combined with effective treatments. Exercise not only alleviates and reduces side effects of cancer treatments; it also promotes a better quality of life, which is one of the most important aspects of fighting cancer. There is no reason why a cancer patient should avoid exercise.

It’s true that not everyone loves to exercise. The idea of getting up early and going to the gym is frightening for some, but the good news is that cancer patients don’t have to do this. In fact, they can improve their mood even more by doing something they consider fun as exercise. Cancer patients can join a yoga class, take a Zumba dance class, take ballroom dancing lessons or salsa dancing lessons, they can join a sports team, take a walk, go swimming or even walk on the treadmill while they watch their favorite movies and television shows.


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Mesothelioma, although rare, is an aggressive form of cancer affecting the mesothelium, which is the thin layer of cells lining the body's internal organs. Most commonly it is caused by asbestos exposure, and inhalation of asbestos particles. The Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance was formed to support the victims and their families of this form of cancer. They have a very informational website at www.mesothelioma.com.

After a VERY high energy class this week, I found the motivation for the next blog. What can we do to fight fatigue and command more energy into the daily grind? Our take home with the intense high-energy boxing class this week was my top five tips for daily energy. No matter how much sleep we get, or the weight of our workload, having enough energy is a constant battle. Here are my easy to follow ideas:

1. Take a Power Nap.

A true "power nap" only takes minimal time from your day. Sit back in your seat, close your eyes, and just let yourself relax for 5-10 minutes. You can do this on trains, buses, office chairs, park benches, and even in the unconventional bathroom stall. You can even incorporate it into your lunch break at work. Set a timer so you don't focus on the time. The key is that you don't become super comfortable so you completely fall asleep, hence resting sitting upright in a chair.



2. Eat smaller more frequent meals every 2-3 hours.

I realize that eating every few hours is on my list for most of my health tips, yet it's appropriate again in relation to energy (surprise surprise). Eating often helps keep your energy levels even throughout the day. I’m sure you've had the experience where you eat a huge lunch, and afterwards notice a huge decrease in your productivity. What happened is that you put a huge amount of food in your stomach so that your body had to divert all it's energy to digestion, and took away from other important functions such as your brain (and work).


3. Keep your body hydrated. (me "hydrating" from a stream of melted glacial water in Argentina)

Water is needed to maintain a healthy body, a clear mind, and a good balance within your tissues. About 60% of your body is water, and to function efficiently, you must stay hydrated. Sometimes when you have a lack of water in your body, you receive confusing signals. Instead of feeling dehydrated, you might think you feel hungry or tired. A lack of water makes normal processes more difficult than normal, and the complicated signals are hard to read. We know that drinking water is a necessity, so by meeting your water intake you automatically remove a variable for why you are tired.





4. Go to the doctor.

The list of physical ailments that can effect your energy is unfortunately long and unexpected. It helps to know that you just need a cup of coffee for a pick me up, and not an iron supplement or a gluten-free diet, Knowledge is power. Go to the doctor and have a physical including a full blood test so you can be sure that afternoon fatigue is because you've been missing your weekly bootcamp workouts, and not because you need more spinach in your diet.

A few fatigue culprits:

Anemia
Blood sugar
Allergies
Deficiencies
Thyroid disease

5. Exercise.

Daily exercise encourages a healthy metabolism, which helps increase and balance energy. A great side effect of exercise is that we sweat, and sweating is a wonderful way to help your body detox. We attack our bodies with a large assortment of toxins daily, and when we exercise and sweat it gives our bodies a chance to expel those nasties.