A guest post from Melanie Bowen on fitness for a positive outlook in chronic illness

Fitness For A Positive Outlook

Check out Melanie's blog: http://miladyknows.blogspot.com/

or her guest spots at: http://www.mesothelioma.com/blog/

For those who have been diagnosed with a chronic or terminal illness, keeping a positive frame of mind can be very difficult. Enduring the rigors of any number of treatment regimens and fending off the fear and uncertainty of a frightening diagnosis can make focusing on wellness very difficult. It is of critical importance for such patients, and their caregivers, to maintain a positive focus on wellness, which can translate to a positive influence on life expectancy.

The importance of a positive frame of mind in patient outcomes cannot be overstated, and this psychological aspect of patient-response is well attested in medical literature. Keeping a positive outlook can often be difficult in the face of uncertainty, but there are things that patients and their caregivers can do to stave off the negativity that can lead to stress, fear and depression. Creating a purposeful atmosphere of engagement and cheer can engender that positivity than in turn can foster healing

One crucial aspect of improving the long-term prognosis for those diagnosed with chronic or terminal conditions is for such patients to engage in a regular regimen of moderate fitness training. It seems counterintuitive that research is needed to confirm what should be common sense, but the research has been done and clearly suggests that regular exercise can help patients overcome the deleterious effects of treatments for cancers such as mesothelioma, and even help reduce the chronic fatigue symptoms reported by patients with long-term degenerative conditions like Multiple Sclerosis or Parkinson's Disease.

The benefits of even a moderate exercise regimen on a regular basis has been shown to do much more that simply improve cardiovascular function and muscle strength, there is also a clear connection between regular fitness activity and an increase in feelings of well-being and self-confidence. Regular fitness training can relieve stress, reduce anxiety and improve the quality of life in patients with chronic and terminal conditions

These boosts in mood, well being and self-confidence can be key in helping chronic patients maintain that positive frame of mind that is so essential in helping the body respond well to treatment. The same research that indicates the positive aspects of regular moderate exercise also shows that people tend to physically withdraw and slow down following an unfavorable diagnosis, as the toll taken on the body through stress, anxiety and fatigue from symptoms and treatment lead to depression. The natural response to depression and fatigue is to seek rest, but the consensus of the scientific community is that those diagnosed with chronic or terminal illnesses should avoid inactivity.

Before starting any exercise program, chronic patients should consult with a doctor to ensure that the program chosen is the right one for the patient's situation.

Sandwich Girls and Reads Landing

SANDWICH!

I got a night with two of my besties aka my sandwich girls. I often get asked why do you call them the sandwich girls. The short of it is that there are two Kristins and one Jess and we give Kristin sandwiches and Jess is our favorite filling. After about 5 years of friendship, 1 marriage, 1 divorce, 4 babies we still find time to get away just the girls. It doesn't matter how much time passes we get all caught up on work, kids, love, and loss and frustrations. We can't solve problems or change the world, but after an evening with these amazing women I feel more at peace. I feel loved, I feel safe, and I am blown away at how awesome these two strong women are.

Reads Landing!

We went to the Reads Landing Brewing Company www.rlbrewingco.com (check them out!). Just a jaunt down the river from beautiful Red Wing you could almost miss it if you weren't watching for it. In the summer there is an awesome deck that would be so much fun. Us ladies wandered in on a cold windy night and were greeted with a hug from the beautiful Sheena (of course I know her, so most people will not get a hug) but you will get a beautiful smile and a hi any seat, welcome! I felt like I was coming home, it is a beautiful place. I love the high tin ceilings covered in a beautiful red color. But what I loved most was the A-M-A-Z-I-N-G dinner made by the amazing Chef Scott. Kris got the most amazing jumbo shrimp, Jess got a flavorful roast beef sandwich and I got the squash soup with a cinnamon/honey drizzle. The other girls said their meal was great, I loved mine. I love soup and this met all expectations and beyond. It was delicious! Thank you Scott and Sheena for the amazing time. I LOVE to eat and your food made me happy! I had a great night.

American Idiot = AWESOME

In a world after 9/11 three friends each took different paths and how everyone came together in the end surrounded by a bit of Green Day.

It was an amazing show. It was an intense ride with amazing music, dance, and emotion. It was interesting after the show how all the guys stated the number of TVs that were on the stage. I noticed the TVs, but did not notice the number of them. I did notice what they brought to the show, but what I noticed more were the reflections and the shadows on the walls.

And things are always fun with the Triplehorns!

Arts Alive

Arts Alive is in its 23rd year in Red Wing MN. It was started by my 5th grade teacher Mrs. Donna Macaulay (Now Mrs. Bratz). It is an amazing program for children from K-4th grade to participate in the preforming arts onstage at the Sheldon Theater. I had the opportunity to be in the first arts alive and this year my children got to participate in the 23rd. It was so fun to watch their confidence grow and for them to be bold in front of a full audience and show their talents. They did amazing! In the first show they started giggling and once 4 girls start giggling it is hard to stop. I asked what happened and they said "Grace farted, but ya know the show had to go on Mom, farts/giggles in all."

That little guy...

"That little guy I wouldn't worry about that little guy." A favorite quote from one of my favorite movies, Super Troopers. Not a serious movie, but last time I watched it that quote stuck out to me. I realize so often I get stuck on little things and don't let them go. This is something that bothers me about other people. That they bring up something over and over that happened in the past. They just can't let it go. Specifically something that hurt them.

I was discussing this with a close friend and a new friend and within the conversation my new friend pointed out that I do the very thing I don't like. I cover it up with being funny or in a light airy way. I was shocked, I had no idea that I did this. Right away I recognized that I do this. This new friend did not know me but she recognized a weakness of mine. I was reeling a bit and was slightly quiet.

This has been on my mind for a while marinating, thinking it over and over. I do bring up things in a joking manor that have hurt me to the person who did the hurting. I don't want to let it go. It is safer to hold onto hurts than open myself up to new hurts. I have been thinking of this each time I almost bring something up from the past again. I make mistakes, but I am trying to let things go. I am working on identifying things and purposefully thinking about them and releasing them.

Now every time I think about things from the past I think is that little guy hurting me? nope, well then release it, let it go and move on. Life has too many good things to embrace to hold onto the past.

So today I am not going to worry about that little guy!

Just a proud gf

'The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain."
-Dolly Parton
Talking to someone the other day they stated, "loving someone in the military is hard. The military gives me everything I need and want but my husband, they can't give me him. They give me great benefits, health care, schools, a great rec center, support systems, I get to stay home, I get to go to school and get my degree. Isn't it great in some ways?" I reminded her that I am not a wife, and the army gives me nothing for loving one of their men. "Oh ya," she said, " you are a girlfriend you get nothing but quick visits."
I have read different blogs trying to figure out how others face being apart and the gfs say that their life is harder and wives bash them saying it is harder to be a wife.
Someone else explained that as a man dating someone that he is committed to, when he goes to family rediness he feel so out of place because he gets treated differently as he is unmarried. Although, he deals with more seperations than some married people. When his buddies go home to their wives he goes home to call across country and hopes his girlfriend is avaliable.
I am not saying it is harder or easier to be a wife or be a girlfriend, it's just different for each. Both need support. Both are supporting someone who desires to protect our freedom.
I know people say military girlfriends come and go. That there is no commitment, that only until they are married is there commitment. Statistics show over and over that marriage is hard. Signing a sheet of paper does not prove that you are committed. In 2005 the Center for Disease Control during a survey showed that 43% of all first marriages fail within 10 years. So there is no promise that marriage equals forever. In 2011 the divorce rate in the military leveled off after climbing during the times of war and deployments. To see women or men chose to wait until their loved ones commitments to the military are complete to be married doesn't make their commitment to each other any less of a commitment than those who are married.
Military Life isn't easy no matter if you are a wife who waits at home or you are a girlfriend who waits across the country. It isn't easy if you are serving. It isn't easy if you are a child or parent of a military man or woman, but it is a choice.
It is a choice I have made. I did not want to be with my man because he is a soldier but because he is my best friend. When we decided to start dating we got to see each other for just hours and then waited 4 months to see him again. I made that choice because we have been friends for 16 years and because I see a future with him, and no the Army doens't give me anything to love my soldier. It is because I can't imagine my life without him and someday we will be in the same place.
So support each other no matter what type of relationship you have with a soldier.

End of the Rainbow

A couple of weeks ago I asked my Mom to go rush at the Guthrie Theater with me. She has been wanting to go for a while and she decided to she wanted to go see End of the Rainbow. I wasn't super excited, thought it might be a bit depressing to experience the decline of Judy Garlands played out on stage, but boy was I wrong!

End of the Rainbow is here until March 11th then it heads to Broadway. Tracie Bennett as Judy Garland was amazing. Her voice blew me away and her acting superb.

The play takes place in December of 1968 in London where Judy is trying to make a comeback with her fiance and future husband Mickey Deans. This time is shortly before Judy's death in Chelsea London where she was found in her bathroom by her 5th husband Deans caused by an over dosage of barbiturates. She turned 47 just days before her death. Judy was loved by many and when her remains were returned to New York City it is estimated that 20,000 people lined up for hours to pay their respects.

Judy has many iconic quotes including

"Be a first rate version of yourself, not a second rate version of someone else."

An interesting quote from someone who at the age of 13 had to wear removable caps on her teeth and rubberized disks to reshape her nose. Louis B. Mayer studio chief is known to call her his "little hunchback." During the filming of The Wizard of OZ Judy had to wear binders to hide her chest and a special corset to hide her curves. It seems her whole life she was being told to be someone she wasn't, but her voice is what they loved.

Judy lived up to her quote

"I can live without money, but I cannot live without love."

Judy married 5 times between the ages of 18 and 47. She was loved by thousands of fans, but they loved her for who she showed them she was. And the sad truth that she stated in

"In the silence of night I have often wished for just a few words of love form one man, rather than the applause of thousands of people." (History obtained both from show and Wikipedia)

If you can go see the play, we laughed and we sat in utter silence as we watched Judy's demise. It is one of the best shows I have seen at the Guthrie and before it leaves for Broadway go see it!