No joke, cancer sucks.
But, the good news is some cancer is preventable.
According to the American Cancer Society, about half of all cancer deaths could be prevented if people maintained a healthy weight through diet and regular exercise; avoided tobacco products; and got recommended cancer screening tests.
So today I challenge you to Choose You.
Choose You is a movement started by the good people at the American Cancer Society and together we are asking you to stop for a second and reflect on your diet, fitness, and lifestyle choices. Is there room for improvement? If there is, what are you going to do to clean up that room?
Answer that simple question in comments section below and be entered in the drawing to WIN a Choose You gift bag just like the one they sent me by the American Cancer Society containing:
- A Choose You water bottle
- A Choose You t-shirt
- Neutrogena Sunblock
- A $10 Walgreens gift card (I bought a big bag of heart-healthy Wonderful Pistachios with my gift card!)
- A Swarovski Crystal Choose You pin
I want you to Choose You and live a long, healthy and happy life full of Fitness & Spice.
Now I really must go suck back some more water before I hit the gym to blow off some steam!
Miz says:
August 20th 2010I really really like the sentiment behind those words Joanna.
every morning when I tell my child to wait and sit and PLAY while I do my cardio—I am CHOOSING ME.
amanda says:
August 20th 2010I am very big on getting preventive health checks for myself. Right now I am working on getting my eating habits to a normal pattern. It is something that is work in progress but working hard!
Robin says:
August 20th 2010An excellent program. I already choose to eat healthy and be fit but there is a lot of cancer in my family and I need to be more attentive so… I choose regular checkups
Tracey @ I'm Not Superhuman says:
August 20th 2010I shine when it comes to getting check-ups and preventive screenings. But I could definitely do better on the fitness front. Now if only my knees took the hit and stopped hurting!
Kendra says:
August 20th 2010I LOVE this!!! :-)
I wish more people would have a CHOOSE YOOu mentality. I Choose me everyday by making healthy eating and exercise my lifestyle. I have room for improvement in doing regular checkups and self screenings to take that extra preventitive step.
Heather (Where's the Beach) says:
August 20th 2010I think there is always room for improvement in one way or another. I wear sunscreen all the time, but I am also in the sun more than most during the summer, so that’s not so good.
Ashley says:
August 20th 2010I wear sunscreen all the time. My grandpa had skin cancer from being a construction worker for so long, and he never wore a hat or any kind of protection. That really woke me up about what tanning beds and the sun can do to you.
Erin says:
August 20th 2010One thing that I think I am good at is paying attention to my skin. I wear a lot of sunscreen and pay attention to any moles that look a little different and point them out to my dermatologist. Everyone in my family (including me) is pre-cancerous (me) or has had skin cancer. But even more than that, I’m starting to try and remove several unhealthy foods from my diet. I’ve started eating whole grains and am trying to incorporate more fruits and veggies. It is a work in progress for this picky eater but I think I making huge strides to having a healthier lifestyle.
Samantha Angela @ Bikini Birthday says:
August 20th 2010I choose me when I avoid beauty products that contain carcinogenic chemicals and hormone disruptors using the Skin Deep database.
Stephanie says:
August 20th 2010This is so wonderful. Since my dad was diagnosed with terminal cancer I’ve made the choice to care more about my health and not just about the number on the scale or the size of my jeans. I choose fitness and whole foods as a part of my daily life but I know that I could pay more attention to the most important organ of all, my skin. I choose to make sun screen a part of my daily make up routine and to continue with regular check ups.
I choose life.
Janet Lovegrove says:
August 20th 2010To clean up my room I will exercise more consistently, work harder on my diet, get my weight down, & get that colonoscopy that I have been putting off.
Nikki says:
August 20th 2010I’m in the process of loosing weight to be within my healthy BMI. So I’m choosing me now! Thanks so much for this great post.
sian-girlgetstrong says:
August 20th 2010I could choose ME if I ate more veggies! I rec’d this gift pack already! It’s a GREAT pack!
P.A. says:
August 20th 2010(Wish my calculuis questions were this easy.)
I CHOOSE MORE VEGGIES (for me)
P.A. says:
August 20th 2010OK — so I was not good in English either
Calculus
April says:
August 20th 2010I really need to start wearing sunscreen more often. Especially being a Gingerkid and all.
Erika @ Dr. TriRunner says:
August 20th 2010Awesome! Today was the kick off for the breast cancer 3-day in my city, and I was out on a run on the same paths they were walking. It was so inspiring to see this essentially massive parade of pink, music pumping, solidarity, and passion!
I am pretty on track with my diet and exercise, but I need to continuously and consciously work on my skin care. As a fair skinned, easily burning redhead… I’ve already had little basil cell spots taken out three times, and one BIG spot on my back already when I was 14. I do wear sun screen when I know I’m going to be out in the sun, like if I’m going to the lake or something, but I do NOT *always* wear it when I’m just going outside. Even guilty about skipping it for some runs. I want to CHOSE ME and make a better effort at staying protected, and also get my check from the dermatologist this year.
Laura says:
August 20th 2010My father and grandfather have both been diagnosed with melanoma, and my 40 year old brother has has colon cancer AND liver cancer. The big C is no joke in my house. I’m eating clean, have quit smoking, and am doing my best to set an example for my 4 children. I have annual pap, annual skin check at the dermatologist, do my self-breast exam weekly, and every 5 years I get a colonoscopy. So room for improvement? By all means. Sunblock is kind of hit or miss, as is my work-out schedule. So from today on, I choose me by being consistent in my prevention, no more excuses.
Jody - Fit at 52 says:
August 20th 2010What a wonderful thing!!!! Yes, I have room for improvement.. just in the screening part. Due to the high cost of healthcare, that is an issue for me right now.. healthcare, that is… I need to find a way to get screened…. I do the rest of the stuff but we all know the screening is so important!
PS: Shared your earlier in the week recipe today at my place! THX!
april says:
August 20th 2010This is awesome!! I need to improve with stress in my life. I let it get the best of me sometimes!
Kathy says:
August 20th 2010There is always room for improvement! I choose me so that I can show my family a healthier way to live.
Deb says:
August 20th 2010I’m going to get a mammogram this year – skipped it last year!
Antoinette says:
August 20th 2010Decrease my alcohol intake and make sure I use sunscreen even when exercising, which I usually forget.
Lynn@Sit. Stay. Cook. says:
August 20th 2010I don’t think people can be reminded of this enough. I’m going to commit to an extra 10 minutes of walking next week.
Janis Brendeland says:
August 21st 2010My sister was a leukemia survivor, but years later lost the battle to breast cancer. They were unrelated… just double bad luck. I’m very regular in getting things checked out medically. I am now on the weight loss journey and am finding eating healthy is very easy, but exercise takes every bit of commitment. I am doing it AND as of Sept. 1 (first day of school and I’m a teacher) I’m getting up every morning at 5 a.m. so I have no excuses for not getting it in each day! There have been very few days this summer I’ve missed and plan to even improve upon that.
lizbeth guest says:
August 22nd 2010my mom had breast cancer earlier this year. thankfully a stage one diagnosis and her prognosis is excellent. I am eating healthy & exercising regularly for the first time in many years. I am going to be 45 next week, and my awareness of living healthy, eating clean and exercising as part of daily life are more important to me than ever. I have made goals for weight loss & fitness and I am committed to them.
David DiDonato says:
August 22nd 2010There is definitely room for improvement in my life. I’ve unfortunately smoked off an on since I was 17 years old (I’m 24 now). I’ve never had a healthy diet and I’ve only periodically exercised. My grandmother died of colon cancer and my step-great uncle recently died of lung cancer. My mother smokes on a regular basis and I tell her how much I want her to quit because I am concerned about her health. It seems hypocritical of me, the typical “I only smoke when I drink” kid telling his mother how bad smoking can be. Now I’m in my final year of law school, first in my class, and completely unhealthy. The last thing I want is for my future to be compromised because I cannot make necessary improvements to my life. Simple day-to-day improvements that take minutes but can add years to my life. It took my a long time to realize that although I was doing a lot of things right in my life, I was also doing a lot of things wrong. Now is finally the time I’ve committed to making a change. I’m excited by my new attitude. Hopefully, I can keep my motivation high because in the past I’ve been known to fall off track. I Choose Me because I want to succeed, achieve my goals, life a happy life, help others lead better lives by setting good examples, and because Me is important. I Choose Me because my life depends on it.
Anastasia says:
August 22nd 2010I have to stop eating sweets and maintain healthy weight.
Sarah says:
August 22nd 2010Losing weight and exercising. Taking smoking seriously and getting it completely out of my life…even though it’s not an addiction for me…it’s a really stupid thing to do!
Kesha Werstein says:
August 30th 2010I love the new concept created by the american cancer society..Choose you. These words have alot of meaning since my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer a year ago in July. I know there is always room for improvement so I will be trying to keep my workouts scheduled..I also joined this wonderful running club at playmakers. I know that my mom would have had a harder time with her treatments if she wasnt healthy. Excercise and healthy eating are very important to a long life.
SOPHIE says:
September 8th 2010EVERY person in my family up to and INCLUDING my mom has had cancer. She beat it, I am next in line. Everyday I chose NOT to smoke, not to do things that will make me miss out on the lives of my family. My hubby, my daughters, my beautiful grandbabies. Cancer sucks, but I know that if we are diligent and make the right choices and FIGHT together, one day we wont NEED websites like this.