No one knows the exact causes of breast cancer. Doctors are careful when discussing reasons why one woman would experience breast cancer while another, in the same family or circle of friends would be cancer free. American Cancer Society researchers have documented there is a growing connection between breast cancer and obesity -especially abdominal and upper-body obesity. For example, almost half of all breast cancer cases occur in obese women.
Also, cancerous breast tumors are notoriously hard to find in young women with more than 15-20 percent excess body fat. Exactly how severe overweight leads to breast cancers is not yet known. The link between body mass index and breast cancer is mostly statistical. "We can see it, but we don't understand exactly why it exists."
According to the report, "A purported link between breast cancer risk and lifetime weight gain holds true for every type, stage, and grade of estrogen receptor-positive tumor."
The researchers continued their release of findings with some very serious statistics:
"Compared with women who gained only 20 pounds or less after the age of 18, those who gained 60 or more pounds had elevated risk of:
Ductal carcinoma (odds ratio=1.89; 95% confidence interval=1.53 to 2.34)
Lobular carcinoma (OR=1.54; 95% CI=1.01 to 2.33)
Regional or distant metastases (OR=3.15; 95% CI=2.21 to 4.48)
Higher grade tumors. The association was strongest with Grade 3 tumors (OR=2.84; 95% CI=1.99 to 4.06).
During 1999 to 2002, 68% of U.S. women ages 60 or older were overweight or obese, they noted. "Thus, our results pertain directly to what is likely to be an increasing segment of the population."
The potential health risks for women who are overweight or obese are not limited to breast cancer. Heart disease is a killer of more women than any other single malady. Take a look at a report from the American Heart Association:
"Obesity is now recognized as a major risk factor for coronary heart disease, which can lead to heart attack. Some reasons for this higher risk are known, but others are not. For example, obesity;
Raises blood cholesterol and triglyceride (tri-GLIS'er-id) levels. lowers HDL "good" cholesterol. HDL cholesterol is linked with lower heart disease and stroke risk, so reducing it tends to raise the risk.
Raises blood pressure levels.
Can induce diabetes. In some people, diabetes makes these other risk factors much worse. The danger of heart attack is especially high for these people.
Even when there are no adverse effects on the known risk factors, obesity by itself increases risk of heart disease. It also harms more than just the heart and blood vessel system. It's a major cause of gallstones and can worsen degenerative joint disease."
Let’s get right to the heart of the matter. There are few who would doubt that being overweight is less than advantageous for a number of reasons, including the serious potential health risks. What complicates the issue is most individuals have little success with diets and other attempts at losing weight.
When the question of long term weight loss success is asked there are less than 5% of all dieters who can report they have been successful at keeping weight off.
What is not wide spread knowledge is there are so-called secrets of dieting that many in the mainstream have not tapped into. Take it from me, I’ve been counseling men and women in weight loss techniques since 1980 and I’ve had my share of losers in the finest sense of the word.
Losing weight for most people is a conscious process from start to finish. What I mean by this is most people think of what they are going to do to lose weight and plan their approach in a focused manner that differs little each time they start a diet.
The mind actually has two chambers that process information and provide for other functions. The problem for most dieters is they are placing too much of the focus for their success on the conscious mind.
It is the subconscious mind that must handle the major part of the change process. To balance this process to help increase my client's rate of success, I prepared a simple list of success tips.
Using subconscious processes is much simpler when one has a coach. However, my client’s have experienced great results with a tip sheet I provide. I give this list of 5 simple tips to newbies who are trying self-hypnosis or hypnosis for the first time.
While no hypnosis is involved, my success rate has averaged 85% for those who follow the deceivingly simple looking tips for weight loss beginners. Take a look at the list and spend 10 to 15 minutes for the next 5 days just reading my 5 most important tips over and over to yourself. You will be amazed at what you’ll notice in the next 7 to 10 days.
Decide on how much weight you want to lose over the next 30 days and write it down on a 3X5 card. Once you’ve written it down promise yourself to look at the number 3 times a day for the next 30 days (in the morning, at noon, and at bedtime work best).
While you're looking at the number you've written on your card, visualize yourself in your perfect size, shape, clothes you like, and the activity you would most like to enjoy as the New You!
At first this might not be easy to do, however, your visuals will become clearer and more detailed each time you practice. Just Do It!
Eliminate Guilt! If you've ever tried to lose weight you have most likely failed. Poor will power, a bad diet, working hours that only allow for eating fast food, or any of a million reasons could explain the failure.
Nothing is accomplished by feeling guilty or mentally beating yourself up. Let it go. Be kind to yourself and start over. You'll feel better and your next attempt will improve. Commit to giving up on guilt, not yourself.
Unless your doctor has directed you to do so, stop weighing yourself every day or every week. Step on the scales when you start your weight loss program, write down your weight and put the scales into the closet.
Don't pull them out again for at least 30 days.
Drink 3 to 4 glasses of water every day and load up on vegetable snacks.
Have fun and enjoy yourself to the Max! Life is too long to mope around worrying and fretting about how it could have been. Enjoy yourself to the fullest exactly as you are right now.
Being OK with yourself now, at this moment in time, is a very important idea for you to understand. Work on it daily.
For current news and views on health and other issues go to my blog at http://newsspreader.blogspot.com
