The Three Pillars of Health

What does it take to be healthy?  It takes some basic information and some basic habits. Yes, it is that simple.

But often the information you find about being healthy is conflicting and confusing.  Especially when it comes to nutrition, or how much exercise to do, or how to lose weight, or how to deal with thoughts that make you anxious…

That’s why I have sorted through all the noise and broken it down into a simple framework that makes the most sense to me.

All of the healthy practices that I teach follow a plan that I developed based on my years of oncology practice and my Integrative Medicine training.  This is the plan that I recommend for my patients and that I use in my own life every day.  So, if you are wondering if I practice what I preach, I do indeed.

This plan is the Three Pillars of Health and it will help you take control of your life now. The changes you will need to make are organized and the process is simple.  It’s your turn to take control.  You’ve gotten through all the treatment.  You’ve done what you were told to do.  Now you get to make the decisions.

The Three Pillars will help you introduce three simple practices each day that will become the foundation for your healthy lifestyle. No confusion.  No time crunch.

The information I’m giving you in the Three Pillars of Health is not new.  It comes from many of the ancient healing traditions, and it was also a part of the foundation of what we know as conventional medicine.  Unfortunately, modern medicine, with all of its cutting-edge technology, specialized tests, and super fancy gadgets, has crowded out some of the basics of the practice of medicine.

So I want you to understand that these Three Pillars are simple for a reason.  They are the basics of taking care of your body.  Human care and maintenance 101, if you will.

These Three Pillars are Nourish, Strengthen, and Grow. These are the absolute necessities of healthy living.  Now let me explain what they mean.

The first pillar is Nourish.  As you might have guessed this refers to your nutritional foundation.  If you can look at what you are putting in your mouth from the perspective of how it will nourish your body, your view of eating is likely to change…for the better. 

I know there is so much confusion around what to eat and what not to eat, what diet is the best one to follow, and what foods are safe for breast cancer survivors.  I am going to help you sort all of that out. This includes taking a personalized nutrition assessment so that you know exactly which diet you should be following for your best health now.

The second pillar is Strengthen. This refers to your level of physical activity which includes purposeful exercise but also things like gardening, house cleaning, and washing the car.  You need to do something to be active every day.  And when you know that you don’t have to go out and run 5 miles or spend an hour on the elliptical machine in order to make a difference, then being active can seem manageable. 

I will discuss the specifics of what type of exercise is important for breast cancer survivors and just how much you need to do. In addition, you will be given an exercise assessment so you will know how to get started or what to add to the activities you are already doing.

The third pillar is Grow.  By this I mean that you have to find some way to let your inner self have more of a presence in your day.  That may sound a little woo-woo to some of you, but what I am really talking about is finding a relaxation practice that will calm you down and allow your awareness of yourself and your surroundings to grow. I will give you several specific practices to try so that you can decide which one is best for you.

By knowing what to eat, how to move, and how to think, you will reduce your risk of breast cancer recurrence.  It is not just my promise to you, it is backed up by research. Can I guarantee that your breast cancer won’t come back?  Of course not.  I dearly wish I could.  But if you can weave the healthy practices that I am going to teach you into your life, you will be richer for it.

I put all of this guidance in one place in an easy to manage online program called THRIVE Beyond Breast Cancer. It includes all of the information you need to know about getting healthier after breast cancer. Not only will you be healthier, have more energy, and be happier, you will also be doing all that you can to prevent a breast cancer recurrence.

Because after the surgery, chemo, radiation, and hormones, there is still so much you can do to keep the cancer from coming back. The bonus is that you prevent other cancers and chronic health problems as well. And you can lose weight, be more relaxed, sleep better, feel better about yourself, and have better relationships.  All of this is possible.

Click here to find out how you can THRIVE now.

I look forward to seeing you inside the program.