Fight Back

Good Evening and Good Morning!

Please gather around the stage as we begin the Relay for Life Fight Back Ceremony.

My name is Angela Pollard and I’m Mrs. Fort Worth International 2012. My platform and my cause is the fight against cancer.

I am often asked why I am so passionate about raising awareness for Cancer – or educating others on ways that we can lower our risk of cancer. My husband and I both lost our mothers to this deadly disease some years ago and I am still fighting for them and for others at events like this one.

Tonight we gather together and we RELAY. We RELAY for our cancers survivors and we RELAY for those who lost their battle with this disease, we RELAY for our loved ones, and we RELAY for the Cure.

We come together to support those who have battled cancer in their lives. Many are loved ones who have emerged victorious. Relay provides us a place to rejoice in those victories together. We come together to stand alongside those of you who are fighting cancer now. Relay provides us a place to show our support. And we must remember the people we have lost. We must remember their fight against cancer. We must remember the journey we took while supporting them.

Relay provides us with a place to keep their memories alive. The luminaria lining the track and our Stars of Remembrance honor our loved ones. By honoring them we hope to find comfort and healing among others like us, who have experienced our loss and understand our grief.

By celebrating the survivors, standing with those who fight now, and remembering those we have lost, we become motivated to do something -anything- to make sure no one else has to face this disease.

We are here tonight together to FIGHT BACK.

Please take time to look at the flags on this field. Every one of these flags represents a person in our community who is battling cancer this year. It upsets me to see how many flags are here. It upsets me that even one more person must fight this terrible disease.

We have seen too much suffering and have already lost too many people we love. We MUST FIGHT BACK! We must fight back in support of our friends and loved ones who have cancer. We must fight back to honor those we have lost. We must FIGHT BACK to protect our families, our friends and our community.

You participation tonight and in the future means that you are a vital part of the American Cancer Society’s efforts to eliminate cancer. Together we unite to take this day and night to make a statement about our commitment to creating hope for a cancer-free world.

Many of you work 365 days a year to improve the lives of those battling this disease. You drive patients to treatment, you serve as Celebration on the Hill ambassadors, you provide support to newly diagnosed breast cancer patients, and you encourage others to get screened for cancer. You embody all that the American Cancer Society is. You save lives, you help those in the fight, and you empower others to fight back with you.

Tonight we need everyone here to commit to saving ONE life this year. It may be yours, a member of your family, a friend, a co-worker, or even someone you haven’t met yet. Make it your goal to help them celebrate another birthday. If we can all make a pledge to save just one life, then those flags can be removed from this field.

There are posters, signs, and banners all around this event to explain how you can take just one action to save a life. It can be as simple as committing to get a mammogram or recommending that family members not put off a colonoscopy.

You can send an e-mail to pass legislation impacting cancer, or tell a neighbor to call 800-ACS-2345 to get more information on their cancer diagnosis. Such simple steps can and do save lives.

We MUST save lives, and we must do so faster. Failing to take action and failing to fight back is letting cancer win. That is just unacceptable. So in honor and support of everyone who has faced this disease – We Together Will Fight Back. Tonight please sign the Celebrate, Remember, Fight Back banner with your pledge to save a Life this weekend!

Now let’s focus on why you are here. Look within yourself to your own story-your own reason for being here, and for FIGHTING BACK!

If you all are ready to make a commitment to save just one life please come forward now and remove a flag. Carry it with you as you continue to walk, and think about the impact you can have if you just leave this field inspired to fight back and save another person from facing cancer.

Please come forward now and make that commitment and remove the flag.

I will start it off-

Tonight I make a commitment to continuously educate others about ways to lower their risk of being diagnosed with cancer. I will also continue to educate others on where to turn if diagnosed with cancer.

Thank you all for being here, for being part of the American Cancer Society and uniting together to FIGHT BACK!

WE WILL FIND THE CURE AND DEFEAT THIS DISEASE.

52 Small Changes to Happiness- Brett Blumenthal-
*Also my implementation of items

How many of us schedule time for ourselves? Between having family, work, and other various activities happening in our lives we have tendency to put off taking down time for ourselves. This can often lead to unmanaged stress, frustration, fatigue, resentment or worse health issues.

Alone time provides an avenue to give a fresh perspective giving you the opportunity to clear your mind. Often clarity of your thoughts will helps with getting down to the nitty gritty of what IS important to you without the outside influence.

I recommend that you start by finding a half hour a day to distress. Not only will it help your health it will assist you with dealing with the everyday stresses and activities in your life. So calendar this into your day today and see where it makes a difference. Exercise, read, bond with Nature, take a class, get pampered- take some “me” time. Do not feel guilty-how can you take care of others if you don’t take care of yourself. This will assist in lowering your risk of heart disease and cancer in the future. Step up and it is time to take care of you.

Everyone have a Great Week.

There are times that we eat well and there are times that we do not.
Multivitamins are a combination of the nutritional minerals and vitamins that are essential for the proper functioning of the human body. The body is a combination of chemical reactions where each of them needs a nutrient or nutrients for them to function properly. By making sure that all the nutrients are present, the body can function smoothly and in an effective manner that results in vitality, energy and good health. Though multivitamins cannot substitute a healthy diet but it can surely provide some good nutrients.
There are mainly two groups of multivitamins; the synthetic and the whole food multivitamins. The synthetic multivitamins are prepared in laboratories by creating essential vitamins and minerals. The whole food nutrients on the other hand are from natural sources and contain concentrates of fruits and vegetables. Besides, they also contain additional nutrients that help the body absorb the vitamins and minerals that are essential.

Taking multivitamins for kids and teenagers is important because this is the growing stage and they need a constant energy for the healthy existence of body and growth of new cells. For this, there is constant need of vitamins and minerals. The same is also needed by athletes and pregnant women because they need this supplement as their body needs constant nutrition. The multivitamin can offer all minerals and vitamins that are needed for the healthy growth.

The immune system also experience rapid growth, when the body suffers from an infection the white blood cells multiply rapidly and this is affected by the nutrition status of the body. Taking multivitamins enhances the immune response of the body and keeps the body healthy. Adults also need multivitamins because it is in the 20’s that people developing vitamin deficiencies. Also with age the increase in responsibilities and managing home as well as career can be tiresome. To cope up with this kind of situations it is important to have multivitamins.

For the elderly, multivitamins are necessary because at this age the body starts losing the tendency to absorb nutrients from the food, and providing nutrients directly in the form of multivitamins can help their body being supplied with all the necessary nutrition. This is not only good for the body but also works great for the skin. However, it is important that you choose a multivitamins carefully because there are some products out there in the market that are not effective.

While buying a multivitamin, it is important that you read the product label and check the dosage. In case you have any doubts about the product then it is important to consult a pharmacist. Another factor to be considered while taking multivitamins is that you should take the vitamin at the same time every day. In case you forget to take the vitamin on time then take it as soon as you remember. Also, keep in mind not to double the dose. To get the best effects of the multivitamin take it with a full glass of water and in case you are eating products containing caffeine then take the tablet 30 minutes after having caffeine, because caffeine inhibits the absorption of vitamins.

So it is important to take your Multi-vitamin!

From left to right, Latoya Oduniyi, Health Promotion and Substance Abuse Educator, and Angela Pollard, Mrs. Fort Worth International 2012, explain cervical cancer causes and prevention tips.
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“Cancer used to be a taboo word. It should not be taboo. We should be speaking about it.” – Angela Pollard, Mrs. Fort Worth International 2012.

Cancer is not a likely conversation topic among college students, let alone the general population. Last Friday, UTA Health Services hosted a Cervical Cancer Awareness event, which facilitated discussions about cervical cancer. The event aimed to raise awareness in the university student, faculty and staff populations about the risks of cervical cancer and what preventative measures can be taken, as well as inform them about the resources that are available to them, according to Latoya Oduniyi, Health Promotion and Substance Abuse Educator.

While I was having my lunch at the Palo Duro Lounge, I noticed the informational tables and posters and decided to have a look around. I was immediately drawn to the sparkling crown and smiling face of Mrs. Forth Worth International 2012, Angela Pollard. I learned that she had lost both her mother and her mother-in-law to cancer. Mrs. Pollard says of her activism with promoting cancer awareness and prevention: “This is the way my husband and I are dealing with grief. This is where I can give back to the community and educate. Knowledge is power, and if you don’t use the knowledge that you have, you’re not going to lower your risk [of contracting] cancer.”

Cervical Cancer: What you need to know

All women are at risk for cervical cancer. It occurs most often in women aged 30 years and older. In 2005, 11,999 women in the U.S. were told that they had cervical cancer, and 3,924 died from the disease.

It is important to get tested for cervical cancer, because 6 of 10 cervical cancers occur in women who have never received a Pap test or have not been tested in the past five years.

Cervical cancer is highly preventable in most Western countries because screening tests and a vaccine to prevent HPV infections are available. When cervical cancer is found early, it is highly treatable and associated with long survival and good quality of life.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
In addition to encouraging students to have regular check ups and advising everyone to question the doctor, Mrs. Pollard also advocates other important measures such as a positive lifestyle, which includes a healthy diet and exercise. I agree with the beauty queen’s philosophy: “Your lifestyle is the one thing you can control to lower your risk of contracting diseases like cancer, heart disease, and diabetes in the future.”

After getting Mrs. Fort Worth’s autograph, I collected many pamphlets and resources at the information tables. As a vegan, I was excited, and not too surprised, to see many of the foods that I already eat on a regular basis, on the list of top ten cancer fighting foods (check back for some recipe posts featuring these advantageous foods).

Regardless of our dietary preferences, I think we can all agree that the omnipotence of junk food on campus is a disservice to the well-being of the student population and does not facilitate learning. If one is not mindful, the wrong food choices will cause fatigue and decrease concentration in the short term, and they will greatly affect our health in the long run. However, that’s not to say that a healthful lifestyle on campus is impossible.

Get Involved with Health Services

What: Women Go Red | Heart Health Event
Time: 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
When: Feb. 3, 2012
Where: Palo Duro, University Center
Odyuni explained that students can take action to be healthy around campus.

“If it’s readily available in front of you that’s great, but if you live in a world where healthy options are not always visible, you have to take extra steps to make things healthier,” Odyuni said. “People might not be aware that these things are available on campus. It’s a little more work, but it’s doable.”

We are ultimately responsible for the food choices we make. Odyuni encourages students to find different ways to integrate healthy items into their meals and snacks throughout the day, even if doing so may not be popular or what the establishment usually sells.

Healthy snacks for students on the go

Granny Smith apples with peanut butter | Mrs. Fort Worth’s favorite
Grapes | Latoya’s favorite
Almonds and clementines | My favorite

Customizing a meal to make it more wholesome is not a new habit for me. Simple actions such as asking the server to replace meat with beans, replacing cheese with guacamole, replacing white rice with brown rice or asking for more spinach in your sandwich can go a long way to benefit your health. Of course, in addition to a healthy diet, exercise also plays a role — just 30 minutes a day can make a positive difference in our overall health.

Come back soon for a more in-depth post on how to customize your meals at UT Arlington to be healthier and vegan-friendly.

Week 5

52 small changes to Happiness (by Brett Blumenthel)-Keeping an postive outlook.

Several Studies have shown that individuals who see the glass half full are more likely to stay healthy.

Here are some reasons why to have a positive outlook:

You expect positive outcomes and results, and you usually get them.

Problems are no longer problems, but become opportunities to learn and grow.

You have higher self-esteem. You believe in yourself and what you are capable of.

You see opportunities where other people see problems.

Your thinking is more creative.

You have more inspiration and you rely less on others to help motivate you.

You are generally much happier.

You have much less stress.

Your health is better because you are less stressed.

Your immune system is stronger.

You will live a longer life.

You have more friends. Who wants to hang out with somebody who is negative?

Keeping a food diary may be a key to losing extra weight, a new study shows it has a sense of accountability-and also a proven method of increased weight loss.

• Write as you go. Don’t wait until the end of the day to record what you ate and drank. “We recommend they write it down as soon as they can after they eat.”

• Focus on portion size. Practice at home with measuring cups, measuring spoons, or food scales. And be aware that people tend to underestimate how much food they’re served.

• Use whatever type of food diary works for you. It doesn’t matter whether you use scrap paper, a personal digital assistant (PDA), or a notebook. What matters is that you use it.

• Don’t skip your indulgent days. “We encourage people to keep records especially on days when they’re tempted to eat,” says Stevens. “What gets measured tends to get changed.”

• Cook at home. You’ll have more control over what you consume, and you know what that food contains, and how much of it you’re eating. That makes for a more detailed entry in your food diary.

Also, remember that even modest weight loss — even if it doesn’t bring you down to your ideal weight — may have health benefits.

Please let me know how these small changes are affecting your life.

There is work that goes into competing for a pageant. Last Saturday night was the Miss America Pageant and Miss Wisconsin, Laura Kaeppeler was crowned 2012 Miss America. Congratulations Laura. Miss America Pageant had 13000 young women compete for this title. This pageant consists of Interview, Talent, Swimwear, and Evening Gown. The Miss America pageant is the oldest United States Pageant. There is a lot of preparation, practice….practice….practice that goes into competing. Each competitor is not just competing for the crown, but they are talented beautiful individuals that are giving back through community service.

Remaining active provides the benefits improving the quality of your life. Regular activity helps reduce your risk of type 2 diabetes, and metabolic syndrome for which both can contribute to heart disease. It can lower your risk of some cancers, it can strengthen your bones and muscles and improve your overall mood.

Finally incorporating routine activity into your every day will do wonders for your overall health and help keep you youthful in the the process.