Diet and exercise secure strong finish

by Jacki Donaldson (Subscribe to Jacki Donaldson's posts)
Oct 5th 2008 8:30AM

Categories: Fitness, Nutrition & Supplements

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Racing against breast cancer(click thumbnails to view gallery)

It took a long time for me to learn to eat right and exercise well -- like 34 years long. What did it take for me to get a clue? Cancer. It took a deadly disease to wake me up to the fact that I only get one body and not too many chances to figure out how to do things right. Cancer was my warning: "Get a grip," it said. So I did.

Getting my grip took a few years. It wasn't until my breast cancer treatment was over and my body was heavy, slow, and fatigued that I really caught on. Now, at age 38, I think I've got it. Sure, I make mistakes and fall down on good intentions now and then. But for the most part, I know what I've got to do to live for as long as possible. Here's some of what I do.

I don't eat red meat, sweets, or junk food, and I don't drink alcohol. I aim for low-fat and low-sugar, and I load up on fruits and veggies. I eat lean meats, whole grains, and nuts. And I exercise a lot. I run one day, strength train the next day, run again, strength train, and so on. I mix in walking, biking, and swimming too. In a nutshell, give or take a few good and bad habits, that's my routine. And on days like yesterday, it hits me that I'm on the right path.

Yesterday, I ran a Making Strides Against Breast Cancer 5K. It was my 4th time participating and this year, I felt better than all the those that came before. I collected a few beads of sweat and felt physically challenged, but my body was strong, and my legs carried me far as I raced against breast cancer. I came in 7th or 8th, my mom tells me. I'll count that as a win. My winning strategy? A healthy lifestyle. Had I not been eating right and exercising well over the past 18 months, I doubt I would have finished so strong. What I don't doubt is that my new healthy lifestyle has a major influence on how well I'm going to live. That's why I'm sticking with my routine. I may be 30-some years late in learning my lesson. But I've got it now. Really, I do.

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