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Benefits of Goji Juice For Ultimate Health! The Goji fruit has been known for centuries in Asia but it is only until recently that this fruit has gained immense popularity all over the world. This wonder fruit is so full with nutrients and vitamins that many people across the globe are making it an integral part of their fitness diet. The goji fruit is a berry famous for its anti aging properties and hence a [...]

Healthy Living With Goji Berries! Everyone wants to remain young and healthy forever. Nature has given us many natural secrets to remain young and fit with the right food and exercise. One of the natural gifted fruits that we can resort to for youthful looks is goji. This wonder fruit has not received as much hype as the other fruits but they are currently making waves in the market with their rich nutrients and antioxidant [...]

Mangosteen A Healthy Tropical Fruit! A mangosteen is a tropical fruit that’s nothing like a mango, and not widely known in the Americas, although a great favorite in the Mediterranean and Asia. One writer calls it “One of the most praised of tropical fruits”. Mangosteen juice is renowned for its health benefits, because of the presence of xanthones. However, the true benefit of a mangosteen is its unique and delicious flavor – so skip the [...]

Nutritional Value of Acai Berry! Acai berry juice is one easy way to get the nutritional value of this wonderful superfood. Acai berry juice is a natural potion for people suffering from high cholesterol or people are at high risk for developing high blood cholesterol. The Acai berry, a native to Brazilian forest, contains high concentration of cholesterol combating fatty acids, omega-6 (60% oleic) and omega-9 (12% linolenic), which help in reducing high levels of [...]

Pomegranate Juice Benefits For Great Living! Pomegranate at one point of time was unknown for its rich health benefits and it was until a couple of years ago that the medical fraternity opened the doors to the secrets of this wonder fruit. This pulp of this fruit can be eaten as a whole or the juice can be extracted for a concentrated health drink. Pomegranate juice benefits have gained a lot of predominance worldwide and [...]

Discover Pomegranate Health Benefits! Health experts and researchers have attributed a lot of importance to the drinking of pomegranate juice in the present times. Synonymous with good health and fitness, there are still a lot of people who may think why this fruit is the attention of so much hype in the recent years. Pomegranate health benefits have been associated with a number of human ailments and disorders. This fruit has been over the recent [...]

The Health Wonders of Noni Juice! What is Noni Juice? Used as a medicinal plant for thousands of years to cure different conditions. The morinda citrifolia fruit, which can be sited in different places in the South Pacific, produces Noni Juice. The morinda citrifolia is part of the Rubiacea plant life family. Once the plant blooms, the fruit will come out within 3 months. The fruit looks a great deal like a potato does. When [...]

The Healthy Wonders Of Levive Juice! Nature has given us many natural cures that have magical effects on the human body. One of such nature’s wonders is levive juice. This antioxidant juice has miraculous and innumerable positive effects on the immune system. It is an undoubtedly a tasty health drink that can be consumed everyday to keep many ailments at bay. As a powerful antioxidant drink it has numerous health benefits and hence can be [...]

Le’Vive Green for Healthy Living, Graceful Aging! Start your day with our energizing daily shot formula, Le’Vive Green, Real Energy Juice! Le’Vive Green juice assists the body with nutrients that help re-energize, detoxify, and revitalize. This proprietary blend provides high concentrations of antioxidants extracted from the world’s top herbs and vegetables like Aloe Vera, Alfalfa, Artichoke, Milk Thistle, Senna, and Ginger. Everyday Health Benefits: – Antioxidant* – Promotes cleansing of the digestive tract * – [...]

By Kim Benz Once upon a time, there was a girl who grew up on the beaches of Gulf Shores, Ala. As a teenager she would bask in the warm summer sun, her skin glistening with baby oil. Fast forward a few years. At age 17, the girl discovered tanning beds and was instantly addicted. The girl I’m talking about is me.

By Cristina Rodriguez I’m a 30-year-old non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma fighter. It’s not all that I am, but it’s all I’m focused on at the moment. The purpose of my blog, lymphomamaniac , is manifold. I want to record this experience, not just for myself, but for anyone who can relate to or learn from my experience. I want to let people know that cancer can be funny and cancer is not politically correct. Why should I care about cancer’s feelings? Cancer sucks and I’m going to kick its butt.

By Lura Lumsden, health education specialist, Patient Education Office – The Learning Center Growing up in a small town in Virginia, I always had a huge vegetable garden, so eating healthy was easy. When I went to college, my diet changed. With my main focus on studying, I rarely cooked and often opted for quick meals that weren’t always the healthiest option. Since I began working at MD Anderson in The Learning Center , I’ve tried to live a healthier lifestyle. Good nutrition has become a priority, and I pay close attention to what my family eats. To ensure that we eat more fruits and vegetables, I prep all of the produce when I get home from the grocery store. I wash, cut and store it in the fridge so that I can grab and go. What we offer The Learning Center offers free information at all levels — from very basic materials all the way to physician-level resources. Although many of the cookbooks in The Learning Center are cancer-specific, the recipes are for anyone who wants to eat healthier. Our Nutrition Pathfinder is a condensed list of reliable resources including books, cookbooks, videos, brochures and periodicals. Patients and family members are encouraged to use our email reference service to send us their questions. Contact us at asktlcstaff@mdanderson.org. Nutrition for patients Proper nutrition is important for people who have cancer. The disease and treatment can cause changes in appetite. If you are experiencing changes in appetite or difficulty eating you should speak with a dietitian . At MD Anderson, every patient has access to a dietitian, so ask your doctor for a referral. One popular book available for checkout in The Learning Center is “Eating Well Through Cancer: Easy Recipes and Recommendations During and After Cancer Treatment,” by Holly Clegg and Gerald Miletello, M.D. Offering more than 200 recipes, the book features an explanation for common cancer treatment side effects and also provides grocery lists and menus. Side effects addressed in the book include neutropenia, diarrhea, sore mouth and throat, constipation and weight management. After checking out this book several times, I finally bought my own copy. One recipe that I frequently cook is the “Oven ‘Fried’ Parmesan Chicken.” It’s quick, easy and a healthier alternative to traditional fried chicken. It also pairs well with any side dish, especially steamed vegetables. Quick tips Recipe substitutions I refer to The Learning Center’s nutrition resources for quick recipe tips. For example, some cookbooks suggest substitutions to replace less healthy ingredients, like using Greek yogurt instead of mayonnaise or sour cream. Below is one of my go-to favorites. It’s especially delicious with sliced cucumber. Greek yogurt veggie dip Ingredients 16-20-ounce container, fat-free, plain Greek yogurt 1 packet of your favorite ranch dip seasoning Steps Mix the yogurt and ranch dip together. Serve chilled with your favorite cut vegetables. The freezer is your friend Plan your meals ahead of scheduled treatment. Cook in advance and freeze small portions for easy meals when you’re feeling tired. Set water goals During treatment, set water goals for yourself. Use a permanent marker to mark your goals on the water bottle so that you drink throughout the day. The Learning Center To learn more, I welcome you to visit The Learning Center. Main Building, Floor 4, near Elevator A, R4.1100 Mays Clinic, Floor 2, near The Tree Sculpture, ACB2.1120 Jesse H. Jones Rotary House, Floor 1, RH1.103 713-745-8063

By Justin Ozuna Justin Ozuna lives in Dallas and was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia in January 2006. He is a Texas State Representative and Dallas/Fort Worth facilitator for The National CML Society . His mission is to capture the ups and downs of a young adult living with cancer and to serve people through humor, encouragement, hope and adversity at his blog, theozunaverse.com . I’m not much of a runner. My only experience running a timed event was during a junior high track meet. I ran the equivalent of one lap, or 400 meters. It didn’t turn out so well. I was responsible for the last leg of a 1600 meter relay so by the time I was passed the baton, the competition was three-fourths of a lap ahead of me. I didn’t have a chance. Early in my fight with leukemia , I felt much the same way. I was 25 years old, struggling to get ahead. It felt like life was passing me by. I was anxious for the baton, for a chance to sprint, because catching up with the world around me was the only thing I knew to do. Everything else, I figured, would take care of itself. When I was younger, it was extremely difficult to wrap my mind around the big picture. I grew up in an excessive culture defined by immediacy and indulgence, where patience is considered weakness and investments are often vilified. To rely on endurance to get me through the trials and tribulations of life was a tough lesson to learn. Race with a purpose Four years after my diagnosis, I moved to Dallas and discovered I was growing resistant to Gleevec, a first-line medication. I learned of a mutation called t315i, which would prevent any known FDA-approved medication from working. It was at that moment I started to see things differently. I realized the futility of my self-centered approach to life and reinvigorated my efforts to run the race against cancer with a purpose. I stopped believing life was a sprint. A diagnosis of leukemia didn’t necessarily mean I was going to live a shortened life, it simply meant I had to run smarter, more effectively, and with purpose. I knew as soon as I let go of that truth, I would lose. And so I pressed forward. I decided to do whatever I could to cross the finish line with determination. With a renewed mind, I came to MD Anderson to begin treatment . My oncologist had another mutation test performed to validate the sometimes-elusive diagnosis of t315i. The test came back negative and I began treatment on a second-line drug called Sprycel. The heaviness of being told I didn’t have many options was counterbalanced by a new hope. A new peak leads the way for a new valley As renewed as my efforts were, six months later I was told my bone marrow began releasing immature white blood cells back into my bloodstream again. Sprycel was no longer working. Another mutation test revealed an obvious t315i mutation diagnosis. There was no reason to second guess anymore. I found that no amount of optimism could buffer unpredictability. Soon after, I began a clinical trial at MD Anderson. Two weeks into the protocol, the trial drug caused an increase in eye pressure, which eventually led to partial vision impairment in my right eye. My oncologist removed me from the trial and applied for compassionate use of the t315i effective drug, Ponatinib, a clinical trial that was closed to new patients at the time I arrived in Houston. Ponatinib is my last hope to avoid a bone marrow transplant. Dedication to finish Fred Lebow, New York City Marathon co-founder once said, “The marathon is a charismatic event. It has everything. It has drama. It has competition. It has camaraderie. It has heroism. Every jogger can’t dream of being an Olympic champion, but he can dream of finishing a marathon.” The same could be said about our fight with cancer. Instead of winning, we simply hope to overcome. Instead of finishing, we yearn to see our children and grandchildren grow up. The aspiration to live long, inspired, productive lives supplants heroism. I wasn’t always sure if a long life was possible for me. Much like my race in junior high, I was focused on the short term, on catching up with everyone else. Had I continued to run my race against cancer in the same way, I might not have finished at all. When life kept slipping away and bad news lingered, I learned to see the big picture, to not allow bad news to crush me and to fully appreciate the life I live. Everything stopped becoming so immediate. The world slowed down and the clarity of truth and importance were made known. Life isn’t a sprint, it’s a marathon. I had to learn that the hard way. Now, I can fight my cancer with grace, perseverance and a dedication to cross the finish line. Read more posts by Justin Ozuna .

By Val Marshall Val Marshall’s cancer journey began in May 2009, when her son Addison was diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia . A visit to the family doctor for what they thought was a simple high school football injury turned out to be much more. Inspired by her son’s strength and hope, Val strives to be a voice that connects other parents on this journey. Her series shares insight into her life as a mom of a typical teenager who just happens to be fighting leukemia . Addison Marshall crush cancer It’s a bitter sweet time as Addie will be graduating on May 26 and will begin his new chapter at Texas A&M in August. When you have faced the world of relapse , you tend to fear the end of treatment and the hospital family that has caught your fall for 1,095 days, but who’s counting? Jack and I were invited to an MD Anderson fundraiser in West Texas a couple weekends ago and we reflected on the support system we’ve received as parents these last three years. Apparently, other families have felt this love as well. Polo on the Prairie is in its 26th year and has raised millions of dollars for cancer research because one family has modeled what MD Anderson teaches us with hope, science and the never-ending quest for a cure. Jack commented that cancer begins with a single cell and grows into a life-threatening disease, but one family has grown into a major contributor to help end the suffering of human kind. Footprint of compassion I became emotional when the polo match began, I looked over the crowd on a beautiful spring day and thought of all the patients in the hospital unaware of the quiet love of this event. When I rewind the events of the last three years, I can’t help but see the depth of compassion throughout the massive footprint called MD Anderson. I have included a few special pictures that illustrate a day in the life for Addie at MD Anderson. The first is a special picture of Addie and the “book lady.” She stays in shape by pushing a heavy book cart and trying to ignite the love of reading to kids who are sick, angry and just plain sad. Addie has teased her for years that he reads enough for school, doesn’t have time to read, yadda, yadda, yadda. She never gave up and, bingo, one day he accepted a book called “TheHunger Games,” which turned into reading the entire series. His comment to her: “The books are better than the movie!” She has taught me the power of never giving up and smiling along a path without end. At first blush, the other two pictures look disturbing as Addie is being prepped for his routine spinal tap. This sweet anesthesiologist kisses the forehead of her pedi patients as they become unconscious for the procedure. This brings new meaning to the phrase, “Always kiss me goodnight.” I ask her if I could share this picture with Congress on my next trip to Capitol Hill . You can see by her radiant smile that her passion and love for her profession shines like an August afternoon in Texas. Talk about being kissed by an angel. Finally, the Anderson Network works endlessly to identify and execute programs with a single goal: empower patients and their families to follow a roadmap of hope, perseverance and becoming a part of the solution. I pray that our family can carry the baton respectfully and continue the fight of “Making Cancer History.”

By Adelina Espat and Laura Nathan-Garner Looking for a treat to beat the heat? Try one of these cancer-fighting drink recipes. Each provides plenty of fruity flavors with cancer-fighting vitamins and nutrients for just a fraction of the calories and sugar found in most beverages. Citrus punch This first recipe is a sweet way to quench your thirst on a hot summer day. The orange juice and cranberry juice in this recipe offer a healthy dose of cancer-fighting antioxidants like vitamin C . You’ll get the most vitamin C if you use freshly- squeezed orange juice, but refrigerated or frozen concentrate also will do the body good. Get our recipe for Citrus Punch. Sparkling grape party punch Want to offer a festive alternative to alcohol at your next gathering? Serve this punch recipe. The grapes and grape juice provide a powerful dose of resveratrol — the same cancer-preventing antioxidant in red wine — with none of alcohol’s drawbacks. And the citrus juices in the recipe give you a generous amount of vitamin C. Get our recipe for Sparkling Grape Party Punch. Blueberry watermelon freezes Need an after-workout beverage? Whip up blueberry watermelon freezes! The blueberries are packed with vitamins C and K, manganese and dietary fiber . That means more protection against colorectal cancer and possibly mouth, esophagus, lung and stomach cancers. Get our recipe for Blueberry Watermelon Freezes. Be prepared for the summer sun Serving up cool, cancer-fighting drinks is one of many healthy summer tips in this month’s issue of Focused on Health . You’ll also learn about some the new rules for sunscreen labels , find out who should get an annual skin check-up , and get our berry best tips for picking and storing the best blueberries and strawberries. For more recipes and tips on sun safety, follow us on Twitter and join our conversations on Facebook .

By Holly Easley Holly Easley began her cancer journey five years ago when she was diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). After two types of chemotherapy and a stem cell transplant , she says she loves life, is improving daily and enjoys blogging about the cancer experience at http://hollyeasley.wordpress.com/ . My husband and I arrived in Houston a week early for my stem cell transplant . We wanted to get him moved into an apartment and I needed several tests prior to the surgery.

By Sophia E. Continued from Chordoma, caring and coffee part 1 After chordoma Obviously, a sense of humor has helped during the years as I had to learn to live with several residual handicaps after chordoma surgeries and radiation treatments — accommodations for which are listed in the following litany, some of which may be helpful to others. When dining with other people, try not to chew and speak at the same time (it’s not polite, anyway). Spitting, coughing, choking and sneezing does not make for an attractive meal partner. Order food that is moist and slides down easily, and sip liquids when swallowing. Fish, sauces, mashed potatoes, applesauce and thick soups work well. Experiment to find other choices. Save the bagels, rolls, steak and thick corned beef sandwiches for home when you can cut them into small pieces and take two hours or more to eat. One gets tired of having everyone else’s plates cleared while you’re still eating and wind up leaving half of your food or taking it home. Remember to do those throat, lip and tongue stretching exercises two to three times daily. They do help your smile. Drink liquids frequently and suck on sugar-free candies to keep your mouth moist. Stay away from alcohol and citrus drinks, as they can irritate and dry the throat. Socially, I still drink wine but drink water in between each sip. And practice those beginning, middle and final speech sounds if people have trouble understanding some words, especially when you speak quickly. I do public speaking and have to remember to slow down. It’s also frustrating when I have to repeat my name a few times, especially over the phone. Most important, embrace each moment of your life with outstretched arms. We owe it to ourselves and to life itself to not let each moment pass without laughter, love and friendship.

By Sophia M. Oh, does the aroma of freshly-brewed coffee smell good in the morning — even if I cough and sneeze while drinking it. The coughing and sneezing are a small price to pay for having what, for me, is the perfect welcome to a new day. And, I surely did miss it during those endless months of recuperation. I consider myself an optimist — maybe as that famous song from South Pacific says, “A Cockeyed Optimist.” Nonetheless, it took me a long time to say the words “I have chordoma disease.”

By Angela Rankin Angela Rankin is a three-time primary cancer survivor , who attributes her positive attitude and “fighting” stamina to her faith, family and friends. The excellent care received at MD Anderson gave her “healing confidence.” She continues to fight as she also deals with Parkinson’s disease and severe back problems. She’s been an active member of MD Anderson’s Celebration Singers, a singing group made up of cancer survivors and caregivers, and has no doubt that music heals . When I was diagnosed with stage three ovarian cancer in 2005, I knew I had a long road ahead of me. Then, the “road” took a series of unexpected turns when I was diagnosed with breast cancer , melanoma and Parkinson’s disease within the next three years. I was being treated at the No. 1 cancer hospital in the country, but I also needed medicine for my mind. That’s when I decided to focus on music. “He who sings scares away his woes .” (Cervantes) Musical medication Music heals … plain and simple. Many studies have shown a direct correlation between music and feelings and attitudes. When I was teaching, I would often play Mozart or Beethoven in the classroom during tests. Invariably the class was calmer and the students entered the room quietly. Many expressed they were more at peace during tests with the music playing. If music can help 14 and 15 year olds, I knew it would help me fight cancer. I listened to all kinds of music during my “healing” days. Gregorian chant helped to take me to a place of spiritual relaxation during chemotherapy . I thought about St. Peregrine, the cancer saint, who envisioned Jesus coming down off the cross to heal him and pictured Jesus doing the same for me. Music was an important “medication” during stressful mammosite radiation, an additional chemotherapy regimen, surgery and various medications. A second family Early on, I joined the Celebration Singers at MD Anderson, under the leadership of Michael Richardson. The group’s purpose is to make beautiful music, have fun and provide inspiration to the newly diagnosed patient as well as the long-term survivor.

By David Renninger, facilities project manager As one of the world’s most respected cancer centers, MD Anderson symbolizes excellence. This includes our facilities — a network of state-of-the-art buildings interconnected by lushly appointed gardens and green spaces throughout the main Houston campus. The beauty of our gardens is recognized throughout the region, but they serve a much larger role than to simply add curb appeal to buildings. MD Anderson’s gardens and green spaces contribute to a holistic healing process, lift the spirits of patients and improve patient satisfaction. The mission of our in-house grounds and landscape team is to enhance the MD Anderson experience by creating and maintaining healing and therapeutic environments of care for patients, visitors and staff. The gardens are dynamic environments and always in a state of renovation. We constantly strive to capture the interest of garden visitors and provide them with a positive distraction from the burdens of their hospital stay. Therapeutic environment The idea that gardens can help with the healing process sounds good, but what is the measure? Enter Robert Ulrich, Ph.D., professor at Texas A&M University and fellow at the Center for Health Systems and Design. Ulrich is a pioneer of evidence- based design, a philosophy that relies on credible scientific evidence to influence the design outcome.

By Toni Franciosi, Department of Social Work Receiving a diagnosis of a life-threatening illness like cancer may be one of the greatest agents of change that exists — a change that can lead to

Katrina Burton, MD Anderson Staff Writer With nearly one in five teens smoking cigarettes, there is no better advocate for smoking-cessation than Breanna Jordan, a senior at Stone Mountain High , a school nestled in DeKalb County in Georgia. As a member of the National Honor Society, varsity cheerleader squad and active participant of SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions) – a student-run program that discourages students from drinking, smoking and engaging in destructive behaviors – Jordan is no stranger to peer pressure and what’s popular among teens. “Smoking is the in thing to do for those going through the cool phase,” says Jordan. “There is a lot of stress that comes with being a teenager, and some think that smoking among other things helps relieve that stress.” Jordan says it is not only the hygiene problems – bad breath, bad teeth and body odor – that have made her say no to smoking, but diseases like cancer that concern her. Jordan, like most people, has either had a personal experience with cancer or knows someone whose life has been touched by the disease. Just last year her aunt died of a non-smoking related cancer – ovarian cancer. Tobacco is the leading cause of preventable deaths, killing more than 1,200 Americans every day, and a high percentage of smokers start smoking before the age of 18. When told about the recent release of the U.S. Surgeon General’s report on smoking that revealed 3.6 million kids smoke cigarettes, including more than 600,000 middle school students, making youth smoking an epidemic, Jordan was not surprised by the numbers. “I don’t have any close friends that smoke cigarettes, but I know of some high school and middle school students that do,” says Jordan. “These poor choices and negative decisions are why I am committed to helping other students see the dangers of smoking.” The tobacco industry has invested heavily in marketing to young adults through the internet, video games, magazines and most recently social media sites including Facebook. The problem is that young children and teens also have access to the same channels that young adults do, and these messages appeal to them as well. ASPIRE to quit smoking Through her participation with SADD, Jordan is able to help plan school activities including Red Ribbon Week, Ghost Week (Zombie), and more recently participate in MD Anderson’s ASPIRE (A Smoking Prevention Interactive Experience) Program – a web-based learning tool developed jointly by MD Anderson Cancer Center and The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston to help teens quit smoking and encourage those who don’t smoke not to start. Today, there are 24 states enrolled in ASPIRE and almost 13,000 student interventions initiated since program inception. Most recently, an international location was added in Beirut, Lebanon, and just last year the Centers for Disease Control launched a national initiative, Communities Putting Prevention to Work (CPPW), to combat tobacco usage and obesity. The CPPW program identified several counties including, Dekalb County (GA) and Austin/Travis County (TX), that are using ASPIRE as a tool to curb teen tobacco usage.

Katrina Burton, MD Anderson Staff Writer With nearly one in five teens smoking cigarettes, there is no better advocate for smoking-cessation than Breanna Jordan, a senior at Stone Mountain High , a school nestled in DeKalb County in Georgia. As a member of the National Honor Society, varsity cheerleader squad and active participant of SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions) – a student-run program that discourages students from drinking, smoking and engaging in destructive behaviors – Jordan is no stranger to peer pressure and what’s popular among teens. “Smoking is the in thing to do for those going through the cool phase,” says Jordan. “There is a lot of stress that comes with being a teenager, and some think that smoking among other things helps relieve that stress.” Jordan says it is not only the hygiene problems – bad breath, bad teeth and body odor – that have made her say no to smoking, but diseases like cancer that concern her. Jordan, like most people, has either had a personal experience with cancer or knows someone whose life has been touched by the disease. Just last year her aunt died of a non-smoking related cancer – ovarian cancer. Tobacco is the leading cause of preventable deaths, killing more than 1,200 Americans every day, and a high percentage of smokers start smoking before the age of 18. When told about the recent release of the U.S. Surgeon General’s report on smoking that revealed 3.6 million kids smoke cigarettes, including more than 600,000 middle school students, making youth smoking an epidemic, Jordan was not surprised by the numbers. “I don’t have any close friends that smoke cigarettes, but I know of some high school and middle school students that do,” says Jordan. “These poor choices and negative decisions are why I am committed to helping other students see the dangers of smoking.” The tobacco industry has invested heavily in marketing to young adults through the internet, video games, magazines and most recently social media sites including Facebook. The problem is that young children and teens also have access to the same channels that young adults do, and these messages appeal to them as well. ASPIRE to quit smoking Through her participation with SADD, Jordan is able to help plan school activities including Red Ribbon Week, Ghost Week (Zombie), and more recently participate in MD Anderson’s ASPIRE (A Smoking Prevention Interactive Experience) Program – a web-based learning tool developed jointly by MD Anderson Cancer Center and The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston to help teens quit smoking and encourage those who don’t smoke not to start. Today, there are 24 states enrolled in ASPIRE and almost 13,000 student interventions initiated since program inception. Most recently, an international location was added in Beirut, Lebanon, and just last year the Centers for Disease Control launched a national initiative, Communities Putting Prevention to Work (CPPW), to combat tobacco usage and obesity. The CPPW program identified several counties including, Dekalb County (GA) and Austin/Travis County (TX), that are using ASPIRE as a tool to curb teen tobacco usage.

Growing up, I moved every few years, sometimes more often. No, my family was not in the military. It is a rather complicated story, but basically my father worked away from home in an industry that made him move frequently. I bounced between my mom and dad, sometimes several times within the same school year. On one hand, this made it difficult to develop substantial relationships with friends, always being the new kid on the block. I tended to be guarded against becoming too attached to people, because I knew it would not be long before I would leave. However, I eventually adapted by deciding moving would be a chance to start over with a clean slate. I maintained this pattern of moving even when I became an emancipated minor in my late teens. It became a fairly predictable cycle. Move. Start fresh. Get stale. Move again. At seventeen, I picked up and moved from Maine to Washington State. Today, I would probably be terrified of making such a drastic change on a whim, but I was officially an adult, at least according to the courts, and I was more than ready to start over –again! When I moved to Washington, it took less than two months before my fresh start became stale. You see, I had already established myself as a revolving door patient, in and out of one eating disorder program to the next. I always had a team of therapists, doctors, dieticians, etc… My friendships started out where I presented myself as a young and intelligent go-getter, and I was. However, I also tried to pretend I did not have any issues. Eventually, I would “purge” out all of my deepest, darkest secrets, usually overwhelming the one or two people who I would allow to know the real me. Once I burned out the friends, treatment providers, and programs in the area, I would start looking for the next place to start fresh. I honestly thought I would eventually move out of the eating disorder and into recovery. The problem with my theory was this; you cannot run from yourself! “Wherever you go, there you are!” It took a good ten years (and at least ten more moves) before I realized my theory of moving away from my problems was not an effective remedy. For all of those years, I had hoped I would find the magical therapist or treatment center that would cure me. It never occurred to me that I was the one who had to save me. I was never actually taught that I held the key to change. Perhaps I was and I just could not swallow that in my fairy tale version of recovery, where someone was supposed to sweep in to rescue me from myself. I have had ample opportunity to gather tools, resources, and skills. Treatment centers, such as Mirasol, provide a chance to break free from unhealthy and ineffective patterns while in a safe, supportive environment. Hopefully, you develop a positive relationship with the treatment providers who arm you with recovery tools and skills that you can utilize when you leave treatment. You gain insight, confidence, and an opportunity to exercise your recovery muscles as you experiment with applying your new skills before you graduate and venture back to your life outside of treatment. This is what a great treatment program does best! You are taught how to accept, cope, and thrive in the ebb and flow of life. You learn that when push comes to shove, you are your greatest ally as much as you were your greatest enemy. Here is where I had a major disconnect. My tool belt looked a little too picture perfect. I had all of the tools in the right places, but I never used them on the job. Basically, I had a really hard time helping myself. I just kept gathering tools and not using them! I thought I would be a whole new person when I found the right treatment program. They were going to take all of my issues, crumble them up, and do away with them completely—you know, like magic! Ta-dah! They were going to transform me! After an effective treatment experience, I realized the magic of recovery is being willing to take what you are given and work it. You have to grab the tools out of your tool belt and continue to build your new identity and lifestyle one brick at a time. If you want to recover, there is no way around this. There is a lot more to building a home than laying a foundation and framing the structure! There is also a lot more to the process to building your recovery than going into treatment. Starting treatment is a courageous first step, but the journey requires putting one foot in front of the other, over and over and over, especially when you leave treatment. Chances are that you (or your family member) will not leave treatment cured, completely free of all urges, forever. Recovery presents challenges, especially during periods of transitions. Even if outdated and no longer useful, there is often an urge to retreat to old ways of coping during times of change. Graduating from treatment is one of the first major transitions that will call upon your recovery tenacity and patience. You will have to apply and re-apply your skills, even when no one is watching. You do not have to make the commitment forever. Today is enough. When things are especially difficult, I always seek comfort in the fact that today is the only day I really have. Stubborn and tough as nails, I can get through anything, at least for today. Shaping new behavior and thought patterns are not easy tasks. We are creatures of habit, so it is only natural to require a lot of practice and repetition to unlearn one habit and replace it with a new behavior. For example, I have been using “paper or plastic” at the grocery store for over a decade. I have had reusable tote bags in my car for well over a year now. I want to use less plastic, but only over the last few weeks have I ever remembered to bring the canvas totes into the store with me, so I could actually use less plastic. I would usually only remember my totes while checking out or while loading groceries into my car. I am finally learning to enter the store with tote bags in hand. As you pack your bags, whether figuratively or metaphorically, remember this…Wherever you go, there you are. Break open your tool box, put on your tool belt, grab the tools you need for the job, and build your life one day at a time. For my next guest blog contribution, I am going to introduce to you a coping tool that is also always with you wherever you go, so stay tuned! Heather Purdin, M.Ed., RYT