Check in for the 3-Day is next week! October seems so far away, when it’s really just a few more weeks. Walks have already begun in other parts of the country, and it’s only a matter of time before I’m packing my gear and strapping on my sneakers for another 60 miles. Maybe I’ll walk off the 5 pounds that have settled on my hips! I haven’t trained as much this year as I did last year, but that’s not worrying me. The heat is worrying me. I’m a wimp when it comes to walking in the heat, and if I’m camping in the heat, I’ll be cranky. My tent mate might regret offering to share a tent with me

People with an illness, be it terminal or just long lasting, need support from others. Knowing you can connect with other people in the same boat, so to speak, is just one thing that can help people to stay positive during an illness. You are not alone! And that’s the idea behind Hopecube.com, which is sort of a MySpace for health. What could be just another side to read health news and articles has a purpose in the lives of those who are struggling with a health crisis, be it on the behalf of a family member, or a personal battle.

You can get support, give support, seek advice and assistance from medical professionals, and even get information to share with family and friends. The content is user generated but all centered around health issues. The breast cancer area, for example, not only offers articles and relevant links, but a way to find other HopeCube members connected to the cause. If you have questions, if you need support, HopeCube.com is a great resource.

I just signed up to walk in a 2nd charity walk in October. This walk is to benefit Alzheimer’s research (to find a cure) and support (to help those suffering from Alzheimer’s disease) and given that my Grandpop had Alzheimer’s, it’s near and dear to my hear. The walk is only 2 to 3 miles, making it possible for anyone to participate. It’ll be a warm up for the 3-Day for me. Please join me for the 2007 Memory Walk in Orlando this October!

I’m a nosy little thing when it comes to celebrities, so when I see these new moms who always happen to be Hollywood A-listers strutting their stuff down the red carpet a few months, I always have to wonder HOW they got back into shape after giving birth. Especially the moms giving birth to twins…yeah, Julia Roberts, I’m talking about you! Is it some wacky cabbage diet? 8 hours a day of working out? Or have those hot celebrity moms gotten their very own tummy tuck, courtesy of a doctor who performs celebrity plastic surgery? And if these Hollywood stars aren’t talking about their surgeries, how does a California plastic surgeon make a name for himself? It’s not as if you can announce that you performed a nose job on someone after they’ve paid you to keep your big yap shut! It’s got to be pure torture, not being able to brag on the fabulous work you’ve performed.

That said, wouldn’t it be nice to have the cash to have your nose job done like a celebrity? A posh office with state of the art technology, nurses catering to your every whim and need - not like in a regular hospital where you press that darn call button for hours before someone pays you any attention! Te office has a private entrance away from the paparazzi, and you can leave and get into a waiting limo, without anyone knowing you had a little work done! If you’ve got to have plastic surgery, that’s the way to do it. Living large and all that - rodeo drive style! Maybe you’ll even see one of those Hollywood A listers on your way in…

I already knew that grape juice was healthy for your heart, much like another drink made from grapes…red wine.

A new study from the Journal of Medicinal Foods says that the natural properties of Concord grape juice protected healthy breast cells from damage by cancerous cells. The magical ingredient that did? Anthocyanins. Yeah, I never heard of them either! Anthocyanins are strong natural antioxidants (I have heard of those) present in grape juice.

I’m not sure if this will prompt me to add more grape juice to my life though. Maybe they can take out the anthocyanins and put them in a pill form for lazy people like me?

I was a lot more active in my youth.

Not only did I bike everywhere, because I couldn’t drive, but I walked 2 miles (each way) to school, and I took dance classes several times a week. Trust me when I say that dance gear has gotten a lot better looking in the past 15 years! Back in my day, you were hot in a one piece cat suit and some leg warmers. Ick! It was either that or tights (usually white) and a leotard (usually black). We had to travel to a specialty store to get footless or stirrup tights! You kids today have it easy, with the internet - you can go online to a store like Just For Kix and get dance tights, unitards, warm up gear, tutus, and costumes too! The site offers footless tights, body stockings, specialty stockings (excellent for recitals and costumes), and even special sizes for children and toddlers.

When I first started training for the 3-Day last year, I was told about Thorlo socks, and that I definitely needed them for walk. I balked a bit at having to fork over $10 for a pair of socks, but let me tell you - they are worth EVERY penny! I saw tons of walkers in Thorlo socks last year, and was happy to hear that Thorlo has joined as an official sponsor this year. They even sent me a free pair of pink and white socks a few months ago called the Distance Walker.

Buy and bring enough pairs so that you have 2 pairs of socks per day. Pack an extra pair in your fanny pack, and when you stop for lunch take off your shoes. Let your feet breathe for a while! Put on moleskin to cover any hot spots, and apply body glide to your feet. Put on fresh socks - you’ll be amazed at the difference it makes!

Most people who go to their doctor for an illness will be referred to a 3rd party lab for additional testing or blood work. So you’ve paid a co-pay and wasted time at the doctor, and then you need to go to another location for lab work, which you may have to pay a portion of as well. If you don’t have health insurance, you’re probably trying to tough it out, knowing that the lab fee will be all out of pocket for you Online lab tests allow you to save time and money, by submitting lab results yourself, via the mail, and receiving confidential results via a secure email. It’s completely private, and you can order allergy testing, DNA screenings, diabetes testing, and STD lab tests from PrivateMDLabs.com.

LaCroix water will be back out at the 3-Day walk this year. I drank a ton of LaCroix (and Gatorade) during the walk last year, and even sampled some of the fancy LaCroix flavors at camp. They’ve got lemon, lime, berry, orange - and it’s a nice switch from soda, especially when you’re trying to avoid getting dehydrated in the heat.

From now until November, LaCroix is selling 12 packs and 1 liter bottles for the “Help Us Help The Cause” promotion. You can submit two 12 pack UPC codes and a $10 donation and receive a limited edition 3-day pin, with all proceeds benefiting the Breast Cancer 3-Day.

It may be sobering to think about, but not all cancer patients end up being cancer survivors. One of the reasons that I walk is so that we can someday find a cure for breast cancer, and other cancers. Often, people who are terminally ill start to go downhill rapidly. Terminal patients want to spend their last days at home, surrounded by family and friends, which often necessitates that the family of a terminally ill person buy a home care bed. Much like funerals, these things are not typically planned until it’s too late, which means that the family goes into this type of purchase short on time and money.

This article on how to choose a home care bed is one that I hope none of you will ever need to use, but should you ever have a terminally ill family member, the article provides key points on what to consider. For example, the author points out to consider the medical condition. Most people not in the medical field think that sick means sick, and one bed will suit all patients. This simply isn’t true. You may require a low bed, or a bed with special equipment. A person dying from cancer will have different requirements for a home care bed than a non terminal patient with a debilitating illness.

The article gives you what to look for when shopping in 8 bullet points, and explains each clearly. My impression of the company is that they’d rather have satisfied, informed customers than make a profit on just simply selling a bed to someone. Obviously, they know the power of a happy customer!