Today is October 2. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Today my best friend’s daughter had surgery to remove both breasts. Her daughter is just 25.

The young woman’s grandmother had breast cancer, her aunt had breast cancer, and she had a small lump removed this year. The biopsy proved it was cancerous but confined. The doctor advised she have genetic testing…so she did. She carries the gene. He also advised after having children, she should have the surgery to remove both breasts. The young woman chose not to wait. She will be fine, she will have reconstructive surgery. Her reasoning is that now she won’t have to worry about a life with her new husband that may have held breast cancer in her future. She can look forward to a long life…an option that was not offered to her aunt.

My prayers are with her and her family and with all the women who are experiencing cancer. My mother had an inoperable brain tumor and my aunt had breast cancer. I never worried before because my aunt was my father’s sister. I was told the gene is passed down through the mother. My friend’s daughter’s grandmother and aunt were of her father’s family…not her mother’s.

Please be sure to have a breast exam every year. Take a friend with you…you may save her life, if not your own.

Visit the sites under “Help Fight Cancer” on the sidebar. Using “Search to Fight Cancer” will help raise money for the American Cancer Society through Yahoo. Thank you.

Nana didn’t want to pay Weight Watchers, but I am…. I’ve put it off for long enough. I finally gave in last two weeks ago and Joined Weight Watchers. I am a Life Member but have had 13 pounds to lose so I have to pay each week until I reach my goal weight again. I bought the monthly pass so it comes to a little over $9 a week for 4 weeks, then my credit card will be charged again…unless I cancel before then.

How’d I do the first week?  I counted my points, but I didn’t exercise more than once for 30 minutes which eauals 1 point. My weigh-in was on Wednesday evening, without eating before hand, I lost .4 lbs. I wore the same pant suit that I wore the week before. My son, who has only a few pounds to lose in preparation for his wedding, which isn’t until next May, lost 3.8 lbs. He claims it is because he didn’t wear his sweat shirt this time. I don’t think it weighs that much…I think he was being kind to me. (We were also weighed on different digital scales.)  (See below for 2nd week’s results.) (more…)

For Easter, the grandchildren and I made Nana’s Carrot Cake.  The grandkids helped me measure the recipe’s ingredients and then threw them into a large bowl. They did a good job stirring it, too. Nana’s Carrot Cake turned out delicious. Everyone came back for more. They said it was the best! Not only does the carrot cake taste yummy, it’s good for grandchildren and grandparents because it is made with carrots, walnuts, raisins, applesauce, and pineapple. Refrigerate the leftovers, if you have any. This carrot cake stays moist for days!  Here is the recipe:

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Grandparent fitness is increasingly important to help fight off heart and alzheimer’s disease in addition to following a healthy diet.  If you are concerned about your health or the health of your parents or grandparents, why not join them in exercising. This may give you and them an incentive to get up, get out, and get moving and to continue with a positive fitness routine. With each season, find ways that you can adjust the exercises to keep it interesting with variety.

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As a grandparent with grandchildren in the house, it is always good to be prepared and have ingredients for quick, healthy snacks on hand.  Make a game of it: see how many food groups your grandchild can get into one healthy snack - and enjoy it, too. Here are 6 healthy snacks for your grandchildren to enjoy at grandma’s:

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This week on Nana’s Corner Fitness post: 
1.  All those diet plans - which ones are right for grandparents? 
2.  National Nutrition Month grandparent and grandchildren activities. 
3.  Grandchildren’s St. Patrick’s Day fitness actitivies: Pot o’ Gold Coin Toss, Ring Around a Pot o’ Gold, Rainbow Treasure Hunt, and more  (moved to Activities category, 3/5/08)
 4.  Nana’s non-WW and Lori’s WW updates.  (see Week 1)
 5.  Healthy Snacks

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