By D. Haas

Exercise can make a world of difference in the lives of cancer patients. As they deal with the rigors of disease and treatment, many patients find it hard to muster the motivation to work out. Aggressive cancer treatment calls for periods of rest, but patients need exercise too. Even a short walk around the block can have substantial benefits, including a better general outlook.

The Components of Exercise

The American Cancer Society, National Cancer Institute and American College of Sports Medicine recommend exercise for everyone, especially cancer patients. The ideal regimen includes three components of exercise, even if patients get only a little of each.

Aerobic workouts improve heart and lung health. Walking, jogging, swimming and bicycling are common aerobic activities. Their intensity and duration depend on numerous factors such as patient age, fitness level and cancer type.

Strength training builds muscle and bone. Light weightlifting and isometric exercises offer good strength training activities. Some patients, such as breast survivors, must avoid lifting heavy weights after surgery.

Stretching keeps the body limber, and anyone can do theses movements. Gentle flexibility exercises are ideal for mesothelioma patients and others who are bedridden.

The Importance of Exercise

The American College of Sports Medicine stresses the importance of exercise for cancer patients. The federal government’s 2008 activity guidelines are recommended unless doctors advise otherwise. [http://www.health.gov/paguidelines]. Adapted exercises help patients avoid fracturing bones or stressing the heart.

When someone is facing a benign skin tumor or a rare cancer like mesothelioma, they can improve their lives through exercise. Most patients can do a lot more than doctors originally thought they could handle, even on chemotherapy and radiation treatment.

Exercise creates energy and resists the fatigue that accompanies cancer treatment. It helps patients feel better overall, so they can face the physical and emotional challenges that cancer brings. Best of all, exercise produces a positive outlook and a better quality of life.

Most patients can do something in the form of exercise, if only gentle stretches or a short walk. When they are too sick to exercise, they need a break or a new exercise regimen. Patients should not be afraid to talk to their doctor or a personal trainer, who can tailor a workout program that caters to the patient’s needs.

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• April 5, 2012 -- Athletic Revolution Hilliard announces scholarship opportunities
• April 2, 2012 -- YUN Fitness Bootcamp & Athletic Revolution announces Nutrition Revolution Workshop
• March 21, 2012 -- YUN FIT’s former Brutus Buckeye receives special certification

Below are the finalists for the 4th Yun Fitness Bootcamp Look Better Naked Transformation Contest. Please help us pick the winner of the contest by voting. Just leave the name of the person you think should win in the comments box. You can’t vote for yourself 

There are 4 Individual Finalists and 2 Teams. Please vote for both. 

The contest took place from 6/27/11- 8/14/11. It’s amazing what 7-weeks can do to a body and a life. The next transformation contest will be taking place shortly after the beginning of the year 2012. But you don’t need a contest to start changing your life today. 

Thanks in advance for voting! Contestants are in no particular order.

Only vote once, if you’ve never commented on this blog before it needs to be moderated by me, so please be patient if it doesn’t show up immediately.

Stacey:

Before Essay:

After carrying around all of my weight I gained from my 2nd child for 4 yrs and still being asked by strangers, “When are you due?” more times that I want to admit, I finally decided in January 2011 I was going to lose this weight and fat once and for all!  I had enough with my wardrobe that consisted of nothing but elastic waistbands and long over sized sweaters.  I had enough of standing in the mirror grabbing my fat rolls and wishing they were gone.  I had enough of this “fat suit” I was wearing!  I had to put a plan together and stick to it!  Just coming off of Christmas and New Years, money was tight around my house.  I went to the extreme of taking back EVERY SINGLE christmas present I was given so I could have enough money to hire a personal trainer.  Which is what I did.  I was pumped up, motivated and ready to get my body back to how it used to be.  After 3 months of working out with my trainer, I had lost 25 lbs and 3% bodyfat!  I actually had some self esteem back!  I finally went shopping and bought JEANS!  Those are something I have not been able to wear without my muffin top exposed for years!  I was in a very positive mind frame, eating great, and losing weight.  But then April arrived.  That was the beginning of the end for me.  My daughter broke her wrist and had to have surgery which required her to miss a lot of school so in turn my workout schedule got messed up.  I started a childcare business too.  Once again, my workout schedule was effected.  And then, the training sessions that I had bought from my christmas money had run out.  I thought I could workout on my own, just using the routines that I had learned and done with my trainer.  A week passed, then a month which leads to me now, two and a half months since I have worked out.  I CANNOT let any more time slip away.  I cannot go backwards!  My brothers girlfriend has been with Yun Fitness Bootcamp for a year and a half now, and has talked to me about it countless times.  After realizing that I won’t workout on my own, or be able to afford personal training, I decided to come to bootcamp!  And what a GREAT way to start bootcamp with a 7 week body transformation challenge.  This challenge will give me back my motivation and get my back on track where I left off.  I can’t wait to see how my success story will read in 7 weeks!!!!! 

Before Measurements
Neck: 14″
Arm: 12″
Chest: 41″
Waist: 40″
Hips: 44″
Thigh: 25 3/4″
Calf: 15″
Weight: 182.7

After Measurements

Neck – 13 3/4″ -.25
Arm – 11 3/4″ -.25
Chest – 39 1/2″ -1.5
Waist – 36 1/2″ -3.5
Hips – 43 1/2″ -.5
Thigh – 22″ -3.75
Calf – 15″
Weight 180.5 lbs

Total Inches Lost – 10″

After Essay:

I have 8 weeks of Bootcamp under my belt and have completed the body transformation contest. How do I feel you ask? To sum it up, I feel powerful! In just a short 8 weeks I have gained more strength physically yet also mentally, than imagined. Not only can I now touch my nose to the ground when doing pushups or push out 30 squat thrusts in 1 minute, but mentally, I am on a path to a better me and better life! I want to live a long time for my children, I want to show my family the strength that I have to lose this weight. I want to be a role model not only to my children and husband, but to others out there that think they can’t do it. Once your mind has decided to make the change, your body will follow! Am I near my “final” goal? No, not yet. But I am strong enough mentally and getting stronger physically by the day, that I will reach it! It is on my radar now!

LAURA

Before Essay:

Although there are dozens of reasons why I want (and need) to lose weight and get in shape, there are two primary motivating factors for me right now.

First, over the last several years, I’ve watched life go by without me. I’m unhappy with the way I look and uncomfortable in my body. I pass on friends’ invitations to parties and plan trips based on what I’m willing to wear.  I don’t go to amusement parks in the summer because I hate the way my rolls rub together when I sweat.  I prefer to stay in on the weekends because I don’t want to go through the stress of looking for an outfit I’m confident in – that task usually ends with me feeling depressed and defeated. I’m embarrassed to see old friends – I’d love to hang out and catch up, but I don’t want them to see how much weight I’ve gained.

The second reason first needs explained with a background story: As a child, one of my female ‘role models’ was very concerned with her appearance and her body. She was constantly complaining about her problem areas and asking my opinion on how she looked, specifically asking about her thighs, butt, and belly.  Her preferred method of weight maintenance was binging and purging.  Although I’ve never resorted to purging, I do eat for emotional reasons, and have a very difficult time with portion control. For me to stick to a diet, it must be extremely structured with limited options. As my husband and I talk about having children, I know that I want to get my eating habits under control and my body image in check. I want to raise children by example: to enjoy healthy meals and healthy portions, and to have high self-esteem.  There’s enough pressure at school, and learned through movies and advertisements – low self-esteem is something I refuse to pass on to my children.

I know that I feel good when I work out, and I know how well I feel when I eat clean. I’m interested in fitness and nutrition and used to spend tons of time reading articles and researching the two. I have a better than basic knowledge of how to fix myself – but I can’t seem to hold myself accountable for my own happiness anymore. Until now. Now, I’m done with excuses. I’m only 28 years old, and I’ve wasted too many of “the best years of my life” already – it’s well past time for me to get MY body back.

Before After Measurements:
Weight 195.4 —187 -8.4
Neck 14.25- 13.5 -0.75
Bust 43   42 -1
Hips 45.5 43 -2.5
Waist 40 37.5 -2.5
Thigh 25 24.25 -0.75
Calf 16.25 15.5 -0.75

Total Inches Lost: 8.5″

JOE

Before Essay:
Throughout my childhood and well into my young adult life, I have been pushed and challenged to become stronger, faster, and more athletic. I was always involved in a sport throughout the year during school, but after I graduated I became, well, lazy. Falling victim to the freshman fifteen, I slowly watched the scale creep higher and higher. By the third year in college I weighed in at 249 lbs., after entering school at 190 lbs. I began to realize that eating became a habit and a hobby. As the years I have progressed, I married my high school girlfriend and have had two beautiful little girls. I want to begin this body transformation challenge to push me to become healthy and set an example for my children. This will allow me to practice what I preach, and instill a healthy and active way of life early on. My wife and my daughters mean everything to me, but getting healthy and taking charge of my life has been something I have done for myself. I want this and need this to push me to become more active and healthy.

Before Measurements:
Arm: 13.5″
Neck: 16.5″
Chest: 41.5″
Waist: 39″
Hips: 44″
Thigh: 21.25″
Calf: 16.5″

After Measurements:
arm: 12.75 -.75
Neck: 15.25 -1.25
Chest: 39 -2.5
Waist: 37 -2
Hips: 42.25 -1.75
thigh: 20.5 -.75
Calf: 15 -1.5

Total inches lost– 10.5

SARA

Before Essay:
I have not always struggled with my weight, although I was never considered a “skinny girl.” I tried so many things to try and lose weight, none of which were healthy and I even made myself sick sometimes. I went to college at Ohio University, and when I turned 21, the pounds really began to pile on. During my senior year of college I became lazy. I quit working out, I ate really bad food all the time, and I pretty much drank my way through my senior year. I gained almost 20 pounds just during my senior year. My husband proposed to me this year, and after I graduated I tried to lose the weight for my wedding. I tried all of the fad diets, and none of them worked. I got pregnant with our first daughter a year after we were married. I did not take very good care of myself during pregnancy. After she was born, I dieted to lose the baby weight. I did lose the weight from being pregnant, but then I stopped trying. Still not having had reached my goal weight by any means, I got pregnant with our second daughter. She was born in March, and I have decided that this was going to be the time to get in shape and get to the weight I have always wanted to be at. We recently moved to North Carolina and for the first time, I am staying home with our girls. Losing weight and getting in shape will finally allow me to have energy to play with my two girls. I have realized that I need to stop dieting and focus on being healthy. This is finally the time to focus on me. I was not my ideal weight for my own wedding, but I am hoping I will be when I am the Maid of Honor for my sister’s wedding in September.

Before Measurements:

Measurements:
Current weight : 171.5
Arm: 11.3
Neck: 13
chest: 40.4
waist: 39.9
Hips: 45
Thigh: 23
Calf: 15.5

After Measurements:
arm: 11 -.3
Neck: 12.2 -.8
Chest: 38.2 -2.2
Waist: 38 -1.9
Hips: 43 -2
Thigh:21 -2
Calf: 15.5 -0

Weight: 161

Total INches lost: 9.2″

TEAM RESULTS:

TEAM #1

SARA & JOE

SARA Before Measurements:

Measurements:
Current weight : 171.5
Arm: 11.3
Neck: 13
chest: 40.4
waist: 39.9
Hips: 45
Thigh: 23
Calf: 15.5

After Measurements:
arm: 11 -.3
Neck: 12.2 -.8
Chest: 38.2 -2.2
Waist: 38 -1.9
Hips: 43 -2
Thigh:21 -2
Calf: 15.5 -0

Weight: 161

Total INches lost: 9.2″

JOE Before Measurements:
Arm: 13.5″
Neck: 16.5″
Chest: 41.5″
Waist: 39″
Hips: 44″
Thigh: 21.25″
Calf: 16.5″

After Measurements:
arm: 12.75 -.75
Neck: 15.25 -1.25
Chest: 39 -2.5
Waist: 37 -2
Hips: 42.25 -1.75
thigh: 20.5 -.75
Calf: 15 -1.5

Total inches lost– 10.5

Average Team member lost- 9.85″

Team 2 – NO PICTURES

Sharron, Dawn, Kaitlin, Michael

Kaitlin Before:

waist: 34

Dawn

Sharron

MICHAEL

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One workout focuses on body weight, and the other uses resistance bands. Yun, who travels frequently himself, wants his fitness followers to know that being out of town doesn’t mean sacrificing your workout routine.

“You don’t need fancy gym equipment to get a workout,” he explains. “Working out doesn’t have to stop when you are on the road. Using body weight or resistance bands is a cheap, portable way to stay in shape while you are traveling.”

You can view the workouts for free by visiting the Yun Training Channel at http://www.youtube.com/yuntraining.

For schedules and more information on how you can sign up for Yun Fitness Boot Camps, receive a free two-week trial, and look better naked, visit http://www.yunbootcamps.com/.

For schedules and more information about his youth training program please visit http://www.athleticrevolutionhilliard.com/

Jason Yun is a certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist and Sports Nutritionist. He owns Yun Strength and Fitness Systems, LLC, and runs Yun Fitness Boot Camps in Columbus, Ohio.

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It’s a strange phenomenon. People are sooo much more interested in losing weight than their health. I’ve seen it enough to know it’s true.

Articles about fat loss and six pack abs are much more likely to be read than an article on reducing your risk of heart disease.

So I urge you to take the time to think about the articles you read. And I also urge you to take the time to read this brief one from my partners over at Prograde. They reveal a very interesting study about multi-vitamins and decreases in heart attack risk.

http://jasonyun . getprogradecom/multivitamin-and-heart-disease.html

Yours in health,

Jason Yun

PS – A great way to provide your body with the nutritional foundation you need each day is a Whole Foods based multi-vitamin. Prograde has a terrific one called VGF 25+ that is made from 25 veggies, greens and fruits.

The best part is you can try Prograde’s VGF 25+ for FREE! (There’s just a small S & H charge)
http://jasonyun . getprograde.com/vgf25-free-trial.html

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Lyrics:
Today gentlemen, I am honored to coach you
More honored to be leading you onto the field of battle
But theres another honor to be bestowed upon you
And that is in the answer that comes with that question:
Who am I? I AM A CHAMPION!
Thats right, and you need to remember that all through this game
I will conquer what has not been conquered
Defeat will not be in my creed
I will believe what others have doubted
I will always endeavor to pull esteem, honor, and respect out of my team
I have trained my mind and my body will follow
Who am I? I AM A CHAMPION!
I will acknowledge the fact that my opponent does not expect me to win
But I will never surrender
Weakness will not be in my heart
I will look to my comrades and to those who are a part of me in this world and those who have trained me
And I will draw strength from them
Who am I? I AM A CHAMPION!
I will gladly go out into the field of battle
And I will move in everything I can do
And I will reach my field of battle by any means at my disposal
And when I get there, I will arrive violently
I will rip the heart from my enemy, and leave it bleeding on the ground
Because he cannot stop me
Who am I? I AM A CHAMPION!
To my side I have comrades, comrades that have been with me through thick and thin
Who have sacrificed their blood, sweat and tears
Never will I let them fall, never will I let them down, and I will never leave an enemy behind
Because our opponent does not know my heart
Who am I? I AM A CHAMPION!
No one will deny me, no one will define me
And no one will tell me who and what I am and can be
Belief will change my world
It has moved continents, it has moved countries, it has put men on the moon
And it will carry me through this battle
Who am I? I AM A CHAMPION!
Defeat, retreat: those are not in my words
I dont understand those definitions
I dont understand when things go wrong
I dont understand mistakes
But I do understand this:
I understand victory,
And I understand never surrendering
No matter how bad things go my heart and my mind will carry my body through limits and weakness
Who am I? I AM A CHAMPION!
Today will be that day
Not tomorrow, not next week, but right now, right here
In your house and in your homes
Who am I? I AM A CHAMPION!
History will remember me
I will not let worrying affect my cause
I will define myself
I will write my own pages
And no one will tell me what I cannot be
I will never give up
Not until Ive given everything I got
Because who am I? I AM A CHAMPION!
Who am I? I AM A CHAMPION!
Who am I? I AM A CHAMPION!
Who am I? I AM A CHAMPION!
Who am I? I AM A CHAMPION!
Who am I? I AM A CHAMPION!
Who am I? I AM A CHAMPION!
Who am I? I AM A CHAMPION!
Who am I? I AM A CHAMPION!

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Acheieve Your Goals in 2010!!!

If someone said you could do group exercise but at your own pace, would you believe it? If you were told you could get an intense, fat-burning workout without the joint-jarring hops, skips, and jumps of a cardio routine, would you say, ‘No way.’ If you knew of a way to test these statements for two weeks entirely for free with no obligations, would you deny yourself that opportunity?

Well, not only are all these statements true, but you can see for yourself why Columbus-area’s Yun’s Fitness Boot Camps can erase all doubt about achieving your fitness goals in 2010.

See for yourself in the newly released interval training vido from Yun’s Fitness, available on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C24pha1ExeM. The video shows Bootcamp members moving through a circuit of up to eight different exercises, timed with rest periods in-between. These exercises involve tools like resistance bands and kettlebells, but also include calesthenics like push-ups and squats. Circuit interval training–like what you see in this video–is key to achieving the weight loss, toning, strength-building goals you have set. Even if you haven’t set any goals, your body will respond to these 45-minute workouts with increased energy and vitality and a leaner, stronger physique.

So take a look at this workout method on video from Yun’s Fitness. Subscribe to this and other videos on the Yun Fitness channel on YouTube. And then take the step toward better fitness by signing up for your two-week free trial at http://www.yunfitnessbootcamps.com/. Don’t take anybody else’s word for it when you can see it and try it for yourself.

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It’s that time again—the Winter Olympics. For two weeks, the world will be watching as many of the best athletes on the planet ski, skate, and slide their way to victory in their individual and team sports. Not every athlete will win a medal in Vancouver, but all of them have achieved something amazing just by participating in these elite games.

You may not believe that you have anything in common with the Olympic athletes. They’re as fast as lightning—and you get winded jogging down to the mailbox. They display incredible strength—and you haven’t lifted a weight for years. They’re in peak physical condition—and you consider yourself a couch potato. Your thinking is wrong! You do have one important thing in common with these athletes—potential. True, you may not ever complete at the Olympic Games, but like these people, you have the ability to become fit, to become an athlete, to reach your goals—it just takes hard work.

Everyone has to start somewhere. Olympic athletes don’t just step onto the mountain or the ice rink one day and decide to go for the gold. Their achievements come as the result of years of hard work and training. Each day they made a choice to work out, practice, and train. Each day they made a choice to eat nutritious foods to fuel their bodies. You can make the same commitment, and you can start right now.

You don’t have to climb the mountain in one day. Start with small steps toward your goal of losing weight and getting in shape. Begin by reassessing your portion sizes or upping your water intake. Get off the couch and get moving at least a few times a week. Better yet—sign up for a butt-kicking boot camp with a free, no-obligation, two-week trial at www.yunbootcamps.com. Fitness classes are a great way to stay motivated and achieve fast, fat-burning results.

Don’t take a pass on your potential. Get motivated and get going. Your hard work can pay off in good health and happiness for years to come.

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Jason Yun is a certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist and Sports Nutritionist. He owns Yun Strength and Fitness Systems, LLC, and runs Yun Fitness Boot Camps in Columbus, Ohio.

Contact:

Jason Yun

Email: jyun@yunbootcamps.com

Web: www.yunbootcamps.com

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Tony Robbins talks about Sly Stallone and how Rocky came to life.

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