It's Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and folks everywhere are signing up to walk and run for the cure. Maybe you're one who's signed up with your office buddies to wear pink and take on a race -- but are you physically ready to log the miles? That's Fit.ca offers last-minute tips for getting to the finish line.

Training: Choose a combo of walking, running or both, with a pace that allows you to carry on a conversation.

Stretching: Stretch for 30 seconds to two minutes post-training to prevent cramping and soreness and increase flexibility.

Eating: Eat fresh fruit, vegetables, whole grains, essential fats and protein. Avoid sugar, processed foods, alcohol and caffeine.

Hydrating: Start with water first thing in the morning, and keep drinking throughout the day.

Resting: Got to bed no later than 10 p.m., and get at least seven to nine hours of sleep. Consider allowing for 24 hours of rest after a day of training.

And on race day? Keep drinking water, eat healthy, and if you can't do without an electrolyte drink, That's Fit.ca shares a recipe for a thirst quencher you can make at home. Just beware of commercial sports and energy drinks, they contain lots of empty calories and sugar.

I like how Donna Deegan says she wants to take the words "fight" and "battle" out of the cancer conversation. News anchor, three-time cancer survivor and creator of the National Breast Cancer Marathon, Deegan doesn't want to just fight breast cancer, she wants to end it all together.

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and what better time to help put an end to this disease. Deegan's new book, "Through Rose Colored Glasses," teaches us how to get past the fear of breast cancer and move towards healing in a positive way. As much as we know the devastating effects this disease can have, there are a number of positive actions we can take to support those living with breast cancer now and prevent others from living with it in the future.

The Susan G. Koman Race for the Cure is the largest 5K run/walk series in the world, and events are happening right now. Find a race near you. Walk it, run it or get a group to volunteer at it. There is also a 60-mile walk held in various cities throughout the year. Funds from these events are used for breast cancer research, breast health education and breast cancer screening and treatment projects.

Want a butt like this? Just shell out a few bucks and get yourself The Mari Winsor Pilates for Pink Workout DVD. This is how Bullock tones her behind -- Vanessa Williams does too -- and the bonus in it all is that while you work your magic, you'll also be fighting breast cancer -- $1 from the sale of each DVD (you'll get a resistance band too) will be donated to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Perfect timing -- October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

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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.

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We all work out for a cause. Maybe it's to look better in that little black dress, or perhaps it's to cut cholesterol. Or, maybe you're just trying to live the healthiest life you can -- those are all fantastic reasons. And now, I've got one more reason for you -- supporting breast cancer research.

Shape magazine is once again sponsoring Pilates for Pink, an event benefiting the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF). This past weekend the kick-off was held in Union Square Park, NYC, with Pilates being taught all day and lots of other fun things going on.

If you missed the NYC event, don't worry -- you still have plenty of ways to get involved. Pilates studios and fitness centers throughout the nation are participating, hosting classes to raise funds for the BCRF. You can see if your area is hosting one here, or, you can look into hosting your own event. If none of that works for you, there's still a live auction with some fabulous items to bid on.

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Experts believe it's yoga's stress-relieving style that makes it so special. Studies show that combining regular yoga with healthy lifestyle changes can drop cholesterol points up to 23%. Women in menopause report that yoga can relieve their symptoms. And a study of women in treatment for breast cancer found that women reported feeling better after treatment when they did yoga regularly.

Want to learn more about the powerful medicinal benefits of yoga? Forbes has more in their gallery, including:

• Yoga improves balance, important for seniors who could be seriously injured in a fall.
• It relieves pain from conditions like arthritis, fibromyalgia, and carpal tunnel syndrome.
• Yoga can improve digestive and respiratory health.
• Yoga relieves stress and can improve a person's outlook.
• It can make bones stronger, important for women who are at risk for osteoporosis.
  
  

Do more than just wear your yoga pants around the house. Put them on and get yourself to a class to see what else yoga can do for you.

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Gaining weight at any age and stage of life boosts a woman's risk of developing breast cancer after menopause, says research from the National Cancer Institute. This may come as a surprise to some who think lifestyle plays no role in the development of cancer. But as many as 20% of cancer deaths are due to being overweight or obese. Clearly, weight does matter. If you're tipping the scales in a dangerous direction, then, you'd be wise to drop a few pounds in the name of cancer prevention.

Other lifestyle factors that deserve your attention are as follows.

Hormone Replacement Therapy. It slightly increases a woman's breast cancer risk, according to the large Women's Health Initiative. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends the smallest effective HRT dose for the shortest period of time.

Exercise. Women who exercise more than six hours a week cut their risk of invasive breast cancer by 23 percent. It's never to late to start. So lace up your athletic shoes today.

Alcohol. Even small amounts of alcohol spike breast cancer risk. Taking folic acid in addition to consuming alcohol helps, but cutting down on drinking is your best bet. An equivalent of one glass of wine per day is all you should drink. Less is better, if you can manage it.

Vitamin D. A supplement with at least 1,000 IU of the vitamin is recommended.

Five easy steps -- lose weight (OK, maybe this one's not so easy), limit HRT, exercise, cut down on drinking, and supplement with vitamin D -- and you'll be on your way to good breast health.

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Earlier this month Jacki told you that Christina Applegate, star of Samantha Who?, had been diagnosed with breast cancer, and now I have some great news to share -- the actress has announced that she is completely free of cancer, thanks to the early detection and the proper treatment.

Applegate, 36, has been getting annual mammograms since she turned 30 -- her mother is a breast cancer survivor, so she was aware of her risk. In an interview with Good Morning America's Robin Roberts (also a breast cancer survivor), she recalled her reaction to finding out she had breast cancer: "I was so mad and I -- I just remember I was -- I was just shaking. And then also immediately, I had to go into ... 'take-care-of-business mode,' ... I asked them, 'What do I do now? What -- what is it that I do? I get a doctor, I get a surgeon, I gen an oncologist? What do I do?"

What Applegate did was get all the help she needed, and she switched to a macrobiotic diet. And, obviously, it worked -- she's clear and told the world, "I'm clear. Absolutely 100 percent clear and clean. It did not spread. They got everything out, so I'm definitely not going to die from breast cancer."

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Actress Gwyneth Paltrow is lending her famous name and face to a good cause -- breast cancer research. The star is joining with Saks Fifth Avenue's and the Entertainment Industry Foundation's Key to the Cure. Key to the Cure raises money for research and brings awareness to the issue of women and breast cancer.

Paltrow will appear in the ad campaign in a t-shirt designed by Karl Lagerfield, which will debut at Saks Fifth Avenue on October 1st. The shirt retails for $40 and nearly all of that will go to Key for the Cure. During the week of October 16-19, customers who shop at Saks or saks.com will see 2% of their purchase go to the organization as well.

So if you find yourself in need of a new t-shirt, or just need some new back-to-school clothes of your own, when you buy from Saks in October, you'll also be lending a helping hand to breast cancer research. Win-win!

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Have you ever visited your parents house and stumbled upon a veritable time capsule in the attic? Old photos, mix tapes you made for your high school crush, and even old clothes -- items that you had all but forgotten about now stare you in the face, just begging to be taken with you on your instant trip down memory lane.

What do you do? Of course, you pop the mix tape into the old boom box you also found and press play; you sift through all the old photos, including the entire set from your junior prom; and you eventually get the nerve to try on what were once your favorite pair of jeans. And that's when this whole situation turns from nostalgic to depressing ... and, based on a recent American Cancer Society Study, somewhat unnerving.

According to researchers, women who gained 21 to 30 pounds after the age of 18 were 40 percent more likely to develop breast cancer than those who only gained five pounds or less. What's more, the study also revealed that women who gained 70 pounds or more doubled their risk of breast cancer. So, if your high school jeans don't even come close to fitting anymore, you may want to consider starting a regular exercise program and following a healthier diet.

Cynthia Nixon, well-known for her role as Miranda on Sex and the City, has recently revealed that she's been battling breast cancer. Diagnosed over a year ago, Nixon understandably decided to keep her news private. "I didn't want paparazzi at the hospital while I was going through this," said Nixon. The 42-year-old actress even scheduled surgery at a time that wouldn't cause her to miss any performances of the play she was in.

Nixon has a family history of breast cancer as her mother also had the disease. Nixon admitted to feeling very scared but she also stated "I was very cognizant of if it's going to happen, this is the best way for it to happen, that it's found so early and we can just get right on it,"

Nixon underwent surgery and radiotherapy and has made a good recovery. She is now an ambassador for the Susan G. Komen foundation. Look for Cynthia Nixon in the upcoming Sex and the City movie soon. She offers this advice for women "Talk with your doctor, make healthy lifestyle choices and most importantly, know your body as that can make all the difference in the world."

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How dark is your room at night? For me, not so much. I'm a little afraid to admit it but I might be, um, just the teensiest bit afraid of the dark ... hey, you, stop laughing! I'm serious. It goes back to my childhood when I watched the episode of Little House on the Prairie where Mary woke up and discovered she was blind. Ever since then, I need to have a little bit of light in my room when I sleep so that when I wake up, I can see something and prove to myself that, yet again, I woke up with my eyesight intact.

But as it turns out, you--and I--should be sleeping in total darkness most nights. It not only helps maintain a deep sleep but it can reduce our cancer risk too, according to Dr. Mercola. Why? It all comes down to your levels of Melatonin, which is affected by how much light you see. Melatonin, in turn, plays a role in Estrogen secretion, which plays a role in cancer, particularly breast cancer. In fact, totally blind women have a 36% less chance of developing cancer than those who aren't blind or who are visually impaired.

Dang. I guess this means I have to give up the nightlight.

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I take a daily Centrum multivitamin. Chewable, because for some strange reason, I have trouble swallowing pills. But there's some new research out of Harvard that many people may find just as difficult to swallow.

According to an article in the March edition of the Harvard Men's Health Watch, people who take a multivitamin may be at a greater risk of developing prostate, breast, or colorectal cancers. Researchers posit that an overabundance of folic acid found in bread products, when combined with the amount found in a multivitamin, can leave people consuming an excess of 1,000 mcg or more of folic acid per day. This amount, say researchers, can increase cancer risk.

However, this report has received a great deal of backlash from the scientific community. The Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), in response to the Harvard findings, released a statement saying that there was no reason to stop taking multivitamins.

Andrew Shao, CRN vice-president for regulatory and scientific affairs, said: "The issue raised on folic acid from a scientific standpoint is one that warrants follow-up, but it is not something isolated to multivitamins. He further stated that "The majority of Americans don't eat well... and multivitamins are an important component to the diet."

What do you guys think about these findings from Harvard? Personally, I think I need to see more conclusive evidence showing a link between multivitamins and cancer risk before I'm convinced, but that's just me. How about you?

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