Barbara

But the most important benefit of embracing all these healthy new habits was knowing that my two daughters were watching me take control of my health and life in a very positive way. That one healthy habit of running had created all the other great new healthy habits I had incorporated into my life. Six months ago, I started walking for 30 minutes several times a week, treating myself to new running shoes and a cool new running outfit to give me the extra push. NYC Marathon (my third) to celebrate my upcoming 60th birthday in December, my return to living a healthy life, and most importantly, to raise money for colon cancer research in memory of both my brother-in-law and grandfather by running as a member of Memorial Sloan Kettering’s

While trying to come to grips with the changes my body, mind and life were going through after turning 50, I came across a life-changing article in the Wall Street Journal about Jeff Galloway, the Olympian and marathoner who developed the Run-Walk-Run program used by hundreds of thousands of people around the world. The article was published the day after the NYC Marathon, so its focus was on how anyone can train and run in a Marathon using Jeff’s program. Galloway’s Run-Walk-Run program, which has been followed by hundreds of thousands of runners of all ages and abilities since 1978, and has a 98 percent marathon-completion success rate, lets you alternate between gentle running with regular walk breaks — and plenty of them. After 50“ (in which I discuss the Run-Walk-Run program in great detail), and my articles are thought through and very often written (in my head) while I run.

This week we’re focusing on the best of everything in October, and will tell you what you need to know to look, stay, feel and be absolutely, positively glowing this fall. Not long ago I was invited to attend a press event for the launch of two new additions to the  extremely popular Tensage line of dermatologist-dispensed skin care products: Tensage Stem Cell Cream  and Tensage Stem Cell Eye Cream. This technology helps push sleeping stem cells to convert into new skin cells, which in turn help increase collagen, elastin, fibronectin and epidermal thickness. They asked us to use it exclusively for 12 weeks, which I did, and the results are in: my skin looks brighter, more even, softer and there seems to be a definite reduction in the number of fine lines and wrinkles, especially around my mouth and eyes (yes, those darn crows feet).

At no point in all those years did any doctor suggest that Karen’s mother be vigilant about the signs of ovarian cancer, or urge her to get the special tests to potentially diagnose ovarian cancer. In honor and memory of all women who have succumbed to ovarian cancer, and to acknowledge September as National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, it is probably the most appropriate time to review this list of symptoms, risk factors, early detection tools, treatments, and guidelines on when to tell (not ask) your doctor that you want the “early detection” tests performed. According to the American Cancer Society and the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance, here are the most important things you need to know: Possible symptoms of ovarian cancer, especially when experienced together and for several weeks: Bloated for no reason Pelvic or abdominal pain Back pain Abdomen has increased in size Difficulty eating or loss of appetite Losing weight without reason Not only do researchers need to develop an early detection test for ovarian cancer, like mammograms for breast cancer and pap tests for cervical cancer, but women and medical professionals need to become more aware of ovarian cancer symptoms.