Winter 2013

CHANGING LOCAL COMMUNITIES - PROMOTING A HEALTHY NATION

WINTER 2013

www.mhealthylifestylemag.com

FOCUS

If there is a good reason to stop smoking, It is to Stop in the Name of Love!

in the name of

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WRAPPING UP FOR THE WINTER

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WINTER DRY 21ST CARE JANUARY CENTURY SKINWITH

HIV

JENNIFER YOUNG

NTS

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Joojo Kyei-Sarpong EDITOR Dr. Adjoa Kyei-Sarpong Design and Layout Kenteba Kreations

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Credit

Change4Life British Heart Foundation Alcohol Concern Chris Lewis Tanya Oliver Grieves Jennifer Young

Photography Credit www.fotolia.com

MAGAZINE CIC

31 KENSINGTON HOUSE, SUNDERLAND, SR2 8HW w:www.mhealthylifestylemag.com e: info@mhealthylifestyemag.com

MEET CHRIS ‘THE EAGLE’

@Mymhlm

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My Healthy Lifestyle Magazine

CRAVINGS ARE MORE THAN JUST DESIRE

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KENTEBA KREATIONS 31 Kensington House 12-14 Gray Road Sunderland, SR2 8HW contact.kenteba@gmail.com

ACCURACY OF INFORMATION: My Healthy Lifestyle magazine makes every effort to ensure that all information available in this magazine about our outfit, services and any products mentioned is accurate and up to date. Nonetheless, the information may be out of date as a result of continually development of Medical, commercial and legal practice. My Healthy Lifestyle magazine offer guidance and has been prepared for general interest only and are not a substitute for specific medical, legal or other professional advice and should not be read or used as such. For accurate up-to-date information, you should contact us and/ or your GP directly. All rights reserved. While every care has been taken in compiling the magazine to ensure that it is correct at time of going press, My Healthy Lifestyle Magazine assume no responsibility for any effects from errors or omissions.

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H E A L T H O L Y M P I A N

By Joojo Kyei-Sarpong

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s 2013 comes to a close and 2014 begins, we are all making new plans and resolutions to make the coming year better.

Over the past year our emphasis has been on developing and nurturing the abilities and capabilities of an Olympian to pursue our health goals.

In this edition, we take on one of the key attributes of Olympians - focus. In all of our goals, big or small, focus is the compass that keeps us on track to achieving them. It is the essential attribute of a great Olympian.

When it comes to new years resolutions, sadly many of us lose focus even before the end of January, or mid way through the year. Interestingly, staying focused on financial, business and other life goals is often much easier than health goals which unfortunately tend to get sidelined in the thick of things.

In this edition we look into the life of the long distance

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open water swimmer, Florence Chadwick (1918 –1995).

Though not an Olympian, her determination and focus are inspiring. She was the first woman to swim 23 miles across the English Channel in both directions.

One of her most memorable feats was her double attempts to swim across the Catalina Channel from Catalina Island to Palos Verde on the California coast.

The first attempt took place when she was 34 years old on the 4th of July, 1952. The weather on this day was particularly challenging. The water was very cold and the fog was so thick that she could not even see the support boat that was following her along the way.

After 15 hours and 55 minutes of swimming, she asked to be pulled out of the cold water with just half a mile left to reach her goal at the coast.

When interviewed after the swim she confessed “I’m not excusing myself, but if I could have seen land I know I could have made it.” Florence

proved herself right by returning a second time and even though the same conditions prevailed, she made it to the coast in 13 hours 47 minutes and 55 seconds, breaking a 27 year record by more than two hours.

Florence’s experiences and achievements demonstrate the importance of focus even in the most dark and cloudy situation, which could be a busy lifestyle, stress and family issues. Dr. Mike Murdock, a motivational speaker defined focus as the ‘key to stripping everything of its power and channelling all the attention and effort to activities and other things that accelerate your progress to your goal’.

Being focused on health goals does not mean neglecting our jobs, families, hobbies or other activities that are important to us. Rather, prioritising these activities helps us to find the right balance. Our health is the foundation on which most other aspects of our life are built, so in this coming year let us determine to make it our primary area of focus.

Olympians are the perfect role M Y

models for us in this regard.

They are individuals who have been able to pinpoint what they are good at and then strive to master it. That does not mean they do not have weaknesses.

Explaining this further, pingpong coaches confirm that when training players, it is crucial to find the individual’s dominant strength and raise that strength to it’s highest level.

In doing so the weaknesses become almost negligible.

Similarly for us when striving to overcome a habit or make a lifestyle change, we need to find our strength and nurture it so that our weaknesses become less of a hindrance.

We can become champions by magnifying our strengths and celebrating every success, no matter how small it may seem.

Focus starts in the mind.

A National Geographic photographer, Dewitt Jones once said, ‘the mind decides what you are able to endure and what you are able to suffer to achieve’ and this can be narrowed down to focus again.

Dr. Murdock rightly affirmed this when he said, ‘the battle of life is for the mind and the battle of

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the mind is for focus’. The onus is now on us to choose what we will focus on.

Inasmuch as focus is an inherent attribute, it is influenced either positively or negatively by the things around us. Three things that come to mind immediately are pictures, words, and sounds. Surround yourself with inspirational pictures on the walls of your home and office, office desk, phone, laptop and other digital appliances and just like Florence, this will imprint the goal in your mind. Secondly, watch your words. Work on your mind with your mouth.

Repetition is the persuader of the mind. Whatever you keep hearing, you begin to understand, whatever you keep hearing you eventually believe and whatever you keep hearing you begin to live.

As this year comes to a close and the new year begins, decide not to wait for encouragement from another person before you take a step.

You’ve got it all. Surround yourself with individuals who challenge your thinking and provoke you towards your goal. Lastly, create a positive environment with sounds that inspire you! Some love the sound of sea waves, the sound of whistling birds, or just music.

We all have things that calm us down after a hard day at work which can help us to relax and refocus our minds.

There are no superhumans.

When we all start to see ourselves as Olympians and determine to conquer unhealthy lifestyles, we can achieve our own gold medal which we can keep for the rest of our lives.

In 2014 let’s put aside distractions and determine to stay focused on our goals.

The achievements of Florence Chadwick and other great athletes are excellent examples for us all. They tell us that no matter who you are, you can make great achievements if you just believe in yourself.

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ovember, the month formerly known as November, is when men around the world grow a moustache for 30 days, with the support of the women in their lives, to raise awareness and funds for men’s health -­specifically prostate cancer, testicular cancer and men’s mental health.

Movember started in Melbourne, Australia in 2003 with a few friends who wanted to bring back a past fashion trend -­the moustache. That year, 30 guys participated but no money was raised. In 2004, amazed by the fun they had and the conversations that were sparked, four of the 30 original members came together to make their Mo-­growing an annual, official charitable endeavor by adding an important cause – prostate cancer. That year, 450 participants raised $43,000 AUD for the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia.

Now in 2013, there are official Movember campaigns in 21 countries and in 2012 over £92 million was raised globally.

To get involved and sign up visit Movember. com

Movember • Movember is about real men growing real moustaches and talking about real issues

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• The Moustache is a ribbon for men’s health • Movember is about changing the face of men’s health, one moustache at a time • Mo Bros sporting upper lip hair effectively become walking talking billboards for the 30 days of Movember raising funds and much needed awareness around the often ignored issues of men’s health • Mo Bros start the month clean shaven, then grow and groom their moustache all month long

Campaign figures • In 2012, over 1.1 million Mo Bros and Mo Sistas raised over £92 million globally • In 2012 over 363,000 Mo Bros and Mo Sistas raised over £26.9 million in the UK • Since its humble beginnings in Melbourne Australia in 2003, Movember has grown to become a truly global movement with campaigns in 21 countries in 2012

Where do Movember funds go?

• Funds raised around the world are directed to our programmes, which are shaped by our vision to have an everlasting impact on the face of men’s health • The programmes are delivered by the Movember Foundation and our men’s health partners in each country • The causes we currently focus on are: Men’s Health; prostate cancer; testicular cancer; men’s mental health • The programme areas we focus on are awareness and education, living with and beyond cancer, staying mentally healthy and research • Currently our men’s health partners in the UK are Prostate Cancer UK and The Institute of Cancer Research Key Health Stats • In the UK, 1 in 8 men will get prostate cancer at some stage in their lives • A man will die from prostate cancer every hour M Y

-­more than 10,000 men will die of the disease this year in the UK • African Caribbean men are three times more likely to develop prostate cancer.

• You are 2.5 times more likely to develop prostate cancer if your father or brother has had it • Occurrences of prostate cancer in men are comparable to the rates of breast cancer in women • 2,209 men in the UK were diagnosed with testicular cancer in 2009 • 47% of testicular cancer cases occur in men under 35 years and over 90% occur in men under 55 years • 1 in 4 people in the UK will experience some kind of mental health problem in the course of a year • Suicide is the single most common cause of death in men under 35 Media enquiries: Aletheia Hunn, Aletheia@movember. com

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IF YOU DON’T LIKE OUR MOUSTACHES WE DON’T LIKE YOUR LAWS

? e f a s u l f u o Are y

! b a j e h t t e G

“ You’d do everything you can to protect your baby... “

People often don’t realise that flu can be a serious illness. If you’re pregnant, flu can knock you off your feet for weeks, and you are more at risk of flu complications such as pneumonia.

A flu jab is quick, safe and free.

To book your jab, speak to your GP practice today.

jab The flu you s protect ur o y and baby www.nhs.uk/flu

Wrapping up Y M Y

C L O T H I N G

for the winter

By Joojo Kyei-Sarpong

ear after year I never fail to be surprised by the number of people who choose to walk around in the cold winter days and nights dressed as though it’s still summer!

The worst culprits tend to be groups of people on nights out, preferring not to carry a coat with them. Although amusing, the reality is that this exposure to the cold is actually very dangerous.

One of the reasons for this is the false sensation of warmth that alcohol can give, even in the most bitter cold. Contrary to this claim, a report from NHS Choices states that the bodies of users of heavy drugs and alcohol do not have the ability to retain heat because it causes the blood vessels to dilate (widen) allowing the heat to escape. Someone who is under the influence of drugs or alcohol may also not realise they have hypothermia (a

condition caused by getting too cold as the body loses more heat than it can generate and the body temperature drops below 35°C (95°F).

Other groups of people are at risk of hypothermia in the winter including babies, older people, those who are homeless and people with heart, lung or memory problems. Hypothermia is a serious and life threatening condition, so keeping ourselves and our loved ones safe is vital.

An anthropologist from the University of Sydney, Stephen Juan highlights a few simple ways to keep warm outside: 1. Get a good winter coat This Christmas, give yourself the gift of a good quality winter coat. Good quality winter coats usually have down or feather insulation and are usually waterproof or water-resistant.

Synthetic fabrics and wool provide better insulation. Some

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synthetic fabrics are designed to keep sweat away from your body to keep you dry and further reduce your risk.

Three-quarter coats, which end at or below the knee, help to ensure that a larger percentage of your body is retaining heat.

Finally, make sure your coat has a hood, for an extra layer of protection.

2. Get a good pair of boots!

An experience I will never forget is walking 10 miles to work in thick snow wearing a pair of trainers. By the time I reached my destination, my feet were soaking wet and the pain of the chill in my toes was unbearable. Needless to say, I bought myself a good pair of ankle-high winter boots as soon as possible!

One of the most important body parts to keep warm is the feet. There are two key ingredients to keeping the feet warm - a good pair of

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wool socks, and a good pair of boots. Many good quality winter boots have tags with temperature ratings. These temperature ratings are a good indication of how warm the boots will keep the feet in very cold temperatures.

From the lesson of my story above, make sure the boots are waterproof or water-resistant.

A beautiful, crisp snowfall can quickly turn into a wet and slushy mess. Keeping the feet dry during the winter is just as important as keeping the feet warm. Wet feet mean cold feet. Like temperature tags, good quality boots will usually have tags that tell you whether they are waterproof or waterresistant. A quick way to tell whether boots are waterproof or water-resistant is if the outside material of the boot is made of rubber. If the outside material of the winter boots is suede, they’re probably not going to do a very good job of keeping the water out.

Finally, make sure the boots have good traction. Boots with good traction have better grip on icy and slippery surfaces.

If the soles of the boots are

• mittens • hats When dressing in layers, it is especially important to wear a hat. More heat is lost through the head than any other part of your body so never forget to finish off your winter wardrobe with a good warm hat.

smooth, they probably have very poor traction, and this means that you will be more prone to slips and falls on icy and slippery surfaces.

However, if the soles of the boots are grooved, then you will have a better chance of manoeuvring icy and slippery surfaces without falling or slipping.

3. Dress in layers One of the best ways to protect the body against the cold is to dress in layers. Dressing in layers is important because it helps you to adjust to changes in temperature. The caution however is not to dress too warmly, as that might cause sweating which means getting wet leading to feeling cold.

An advantage of dressing up in layers is the options it gives to take off layers when it is too warm, or add them on when feeling too cold.

When dressing in layers, these articles of clothing will come in handy: • longjohns • turtlenecks • sweaters • scarves • gloves

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Don’t place yourself at risk this winter. Wrap up and think warm thoughts!

Sources: Stephen Juan, Ph.D. Anthropologist at the University of Sydney, www.theregister. co.uk www.nhs.uk www.hc-sc.gc.ca

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DRY JANUARY

CAN YOU STAY OFF THE BOOZE FOR 31 DAYS?

Your challenge is to go booze free for 31 days M Y

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Alcohol Concern

tells us more about dry january MHLM: What does Alcohol Concern stand for?

AC: We are the leading national charity working on alcohol issues and our goal is to improve people’s lives through reducing the harm caused by alcohol. We do that in a number of ways through campaigning, looking at policies within a political process, or as with Dry January, raising awareness and encouraging behavioural change. But ultimately our long term aim is to change the drinking culture in this country.

MHLM: In terms of policies, what is the ground breaking policy Alcohol Concern influenced?

AC: The main policy area that we are working on at the moment and have been for quite a while along with other colleagues in the health sector is something called “Minimum Unit Pricing”. That relates to setting a minimum price per unit of alcohol sold. One of

the reasons for that is, over the last couple of decades, some types alcohol particularly in off licenses and some supermarkets have become very cheap.

So if we are going to reduce alcohol harm, then we know it is something we have to look at. What Minimum Unit Pricing would do is to increase the prices of the very strongest and cheapest alcohol that you see sold in these off licenses and supermarkets.

MHLM: There are a number of charities that focus on alcohol awareness. What makes Alcohol Concern unique?

AC: We are the only national charity that is working on the preventive side of things.

There are a lot of charitable treatment organisations that work with people who may have alcohol dependency issues. But we want to change things before people get to the situation where they have dependency issues. Our work comprises of a combination of

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political / lobbying campaigns and raising awareness among the general population through research. Additionally, we do a lot of work with young people. We have a number of specific projects that work with young people to encourage them to think critically about alcohol and the role it plays in their environment. We are hoping that through these sorts of measures, we can start to affect a change before people reach the other end of the spectrum where they would require alcohol dependency treatments.

MHLM: Why the phrase “Dry January”?

AC: We know that people often think of having a month off alcohol, particularly after Christmas. We thought it would be the perfect opportunity to get people thinking and talking about their drinking.

Instead of doing it individually, we offer this platform where we all come together to talk

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about how we are fighting it, identify the pitfalls and know what the difficulties are. What we actually found in January 2013 was that lots of people who took part said they took part because they wanted to make sure they could do it.

These individuals also found it much easier than they thought they would once they got going. Quite often they fall into habits such as saying yes to a drink when perhaps they did not even fancy one.

MHLM: So is this for just for January?

AC: What we say is, join us for 31 days without alcohol.

We think that people would feel better, they have a good chance of losing some weight, they would certainly save some money and they would probably find some time in the month to do things that they perhaps weren’t able to do previously especially on a Saturday morning when they would normally have a hangover.

This isn’t aimed at people with alcohol dependency issues. This is not a detox, this is for social drinkers

who consider themselves to be a normal drinker just to have a go to see what it is like to go 31 days without a drink which also includes socialising without alcohol.

This helps people realise how ever present alcohol is in lots of the socialising we do. It can be very difficult to say no.

What we found in a survey of Dry January 2013 was, over 80% of participants said they were going to reduce their consumption for the rest of the year. Participants of 2013 were self-selecting but in 2014 we are going to do a piece of academic research to see what the impact is and we feel really positive about the outcome.

This would be a period where people would think about what and why they are drinking and also encourage them to drink less. Over the coming years we will hopefully have some academic research to back us up.

MHLM: Was Dry January 2013 the first organised Dry January event?

AC: Yes it was the first. AC is a charity that has changed a lot over the last few years. It M Y

used to get core funding from the government. It doesn’t anymore. Our modes of working and interacting have changed and we are working more on behavioural change campaigns. The public has become more important to us as an organisation and that is the reason for the first Dry January in 2013 and we are hoping 2014 is going to be bigger and better.

MHLM: How did people access Dry January 2013?

AC: Over 4,400 people signed up to take part with us. We know that more people were probably doing it but didn’t sign up. We reached our participants through the news and media, for example we took part in quite a number of interviews with organisations like BBC Radio 5 Live and Sky News. Lots of newspaper columnists wrote about it too, including the Telegraph’s chief political commentator. We also used social media to keep the ball rolling and also asked people who were following us on twitter to let their friends know about it to try to pull more people in. In 2014, we

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will be doing something quiet similar but hoping the numbers will grow. We are hoping to have those who took part in Dry January 2013 as our basis and then we will be able to add to that. Our target for 2014 is 10,000.

MHLM: Apart from the 10,000 mark target, how different is the coming event?

AC: It is bigger and better.

Obviously, January 2013 was our first year; we were testing the water and seeing what people found helpful, what they needed from us. For example we are going to have a panel of experts including GPs, Dentists, Nutritionists, and fitness experts and we are going to be offering online sessions on our Facebook page. One of the things we found was, we had a huge online community talking to each other and asking questions and saying how they felt. For a lot of the questions we felt we needed an expert to answer them so in 2014 we will make sure that is there. We are going to have twice weekly sessions with experts so people can put questions to them and really try to make the most of

shouldn’t drink. That is really far from what we are trying to do. What we are saying MHLM: So what is the future for is that alcohol over the last couple of decades has become Dry January? very cheap and is available AC: Obviously, we would everywhere and perhaps want to increase the number advertised everywhere. Once of individuals who are taking part in Dry January. We kind of you switch on to looking for where alcohol is advertised, you say, imagine what the country start to see how present alcohol might be like if everybody is in your life. It creates this kind had a break from booze in January. Imagine what an A&E of norm that alcohol should be a part of almost every activity department would look like on that we do. Alcohol has a place a Saturday night. The key aim in society and our socialising for us over the next couple of and there is nothing wrong years is to get more businesses with that but it doesn’t have to to take on the challenge because we think that alcohol is be part of everything we do. a work place issue as well and The reality is alcohol costs us £21 billion a year in terms of not enough employers perhaps healthcare and policing. Our have switched on to that. Dry relationship with alcohol is January can be a good place to start a conversation in a work slightly skewed and we need to look at that and rebalance it. place but it is not threatening or accusatory, it is just about MHLM: Is it really possible to breaking down barriers. rebalance the scales when it comes to alcohol?

MHLM: With the aims and AC: It is more of a whole objectives of AC in addition to community approach rather the events you organise, are than just looking at one you looking forward to an individual’s relationship with alcohol-free country? alcohol. This takes us back AC: No, we are not anti– to what we were discussing alcohol and we are not earlier about the need to look suggesting that people their month and have some fun in the process.

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at pricing, availability and also look at changing the way it is being advertised in our societies. These three pillars will help to make the kind of change that will encourage lots of people to drink a little bit differently and perhaps drink a little less. It is not something you can change overnight.

There is no one silver bullet but there are a number of things that we can do to make a change.

MHLM: Are there role models in society to look up to?

AC: I am sure there are, especially most sports

personalities. When you look at the Olympics in 2012, I think that was a great event that was very encouraging to young people and showed there are opportunities if you apply yourself. Interestingly, statistics are showing that overall, young people are drinking less. There are nuances within that which suggest that the group of young people who are drinking are doing it more but also there is a growing group of young people who are not drinking at all. So that clearly shows there are some role models out there.

Fashion and social norms take time to shift, sometimes you

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have to keep working on an issue.

MHLM: Is there anything else to add?

AC: Yes, the main thing is we want people to sign up for Dry January 2014. They won’t be alone, we will be with them throughout the month and there will be experts on hand to answer questions. It is a great challenge for people, even if they are just a bit curious as to whether they can manage it for a month. It is a great goal to set and almost everyone can benefit from just taking 31 days off.

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NATIONAL

HIV TESTING WEEK

22-29 NOVEMBER 2013

21st Century HIV

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wo important landmarks in the history of HIV in the UK will be marked in 2012. It signals 30 years since the death of Terry Higgins, one of the first people to die from AIDS in this country. Terry is the man our organisation, the UK’s largest HIV charity, is named after and dedicated to. This is also the year when the number of people living with HIV in the UK will reach 100,000 for the first time.

Thirty years ago, I was infected with HIV through contaminated blood products used in my medical treatment.

It was some years later that I was diagnosed and better understood what had happened, but no treatment was available then. Life in the 1980s and 1990s with HIV was a life of discrimination,

stigma, ill health and for most, an early and unpleasant death.

The high profile of the condition at the time meant that it was in the public’s consciousness, either for good or for bad.

Since then, for many people in Britain, HIV is perceived to be something which has either gone away, is not relevant to them or is something that happens thousands of miles away in another country. This has never been further from the truth. There are more people living with HIV in the UK than ever before. Across the country men and women from all walks of life are living with the virus and many more are at risk of infection.

Terrence Higgins Trust has been at the forefront of supporting and helping people living with HIV for three decades.

That support has changed as M Y

the epidemic has changed, from the pioneering Buddy programme of the 1980s and 1990s to the equally groundbreaking Long Term Condition Management programme of the myhiv website today; but the need for our work continues to grow and is as important as ever.

This collection of stories offers a snapshot of what it means to be living with HIV in modern Britain. It illustrates how far we’ve come and the distance we still have to go. We are hugely grateful to everyone who gave us their time and story in the hope of improving the understanding and lives of others. We hope that it will inspire you to lend your voice to theirs.

Get a collection at www.tht.org.uk

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WORLD AIDS DAY

GETTING TO ZERO

ZERO NEW INFECTIONS ZEROAIDS-RELATED DEATHS ZERO DISCRIMINATION For more information contact

www.aidsmap.com and www.tht.org.uk

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h WinterwitJennifer Skin Young Care

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ot only is Jennifer Young Skincare the only place to get your bespoke skincare (www.jenniferyoung.co.uk), the UK beauty brand has created skincare, hair care and cosmetics collections to help women to recognise themselves as they go through treatment for cancer (Defiant Beauty by Jennifer Young). In addition, they have developed an online blog devoted to news, fashion and beauty for cancer patients.

Here we speak to Jennifer, and ask how to look after your skin during the winter months.

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MHLM: What are the main problems that our skin suffers during the winter?

JY: There are so many! The wind, rain and cold, combined with drying artificial heating means that our skin experiences all of the seasons, sometimes in one afternoon!

Our skin becomes dry and sometimes chapped as a result and it becomes a challenge to keep it looking great.

MHLM: What do you suggest we do to look after our skin during the winter months?

JY: I am a great believer in looking after your skin from the inside as well as the outside (Jennifer is a qualified Nutritional Therapist and a skincare formulator) so I recommend eating skin foods such as tomatoes and oily fish as well as good sources of protein, again, fish is perfect.

As for products, balms are my favourite and my first port of call for all skin emergencies. Cleansing Balms often provide all of the moisture needed by the skin as well as taking away the dust and debris of the day. I recommend our ‘Eczema-Free Beauty Balm’ to many people that don’t suffer from Eczema.

It contains soy butter, well known for its anti-aging properties as well as its moisturising benefits.

I suggest that clients apply the balm, massage the face for a few moments (improving the blood supply) and them remove the balm with a hot cloth or cotton wool.

Many clients feel that all that is needed after using a balm is a quick spray of our bespoke toner and a drop of eye serum.

MHLM: Tell us more about the Cleansing Balm JY: Our Eczema-Free Beauty Balm combines gloriously soothing, healing and moisturising Soy Butter, Calendula and St John’s Wort with the a divine blend of Bergamot, Juniper, Patchouli, Lavender, Tea Tree, Ylang Ylang and Benzoin. The essential oils create a complex, multidimensional fragrant experience that smells sublime.

These natural essential oils are traditionally associated with improvements in dry skin and eczema as well as sore and itchy skin conditions. We have also added some oils traditionally used to calm anxieties and worries and promote relaxation as many of our clients tell us that their Eczema is stress-related. Winter is a stressful time for many, dare I mention Christmas yet? Am I the only one wondering if I will be snowed in as I make January appointments? The calming essential oils benefit M Y

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more than those with Eczema.

The balm is multi-purpose; it can be used a cleansing balm, a face mask and a moisturising balm depending upon your needs.

Cleansing Balm Massage into the face before removing with cotton wool, paying particular attention to the forehead, nose and chin.

Face Mask Massage into the face, relax for five minutes and then remove with cotton wool.

Moisturising Balm Apply to areas of dry skin.

MHLM: Is there anything else that you can recommend to keep skin healthy throughout the winter?

JY: I find that a facial toner works wonders as a quick pick-me up. Our bespoke toners are made to the exact requirements of the client and many tell me that it is the miracle that they keep in their handbag. It can be used as a refreshing mist when the central heating dries the skin.

MHLM:It is my lips that suffer the most in the cold- what do you suggest to help protect them?

JY: Lip balm, lip balm and more lip balm- I am addicted to lip balm. I always have a lip balm with me and I apply liberally many times a day. Our Defiant Beauty Lip Balm is my absolute favourite. I am forever buying lip balms to see if any other comes close. I am sure I am biased as I created the Defiant Beauty Lip Balm but I haven’t found a better one yet. I will keep looking, like I said, I am addicted to lip balm!

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www.jenniferyoung.co.uk 0800 999 8518

Requesting A Prescription?

Men don’t talk about cancer.

It is not the manly thing to do Well I am here to tell you It is the manly thing to do

DON’T BE DUMB! Talk about it

Samuel L. Jackson

w w w. o n e f o r t h e b o y s . c o m

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HRIS LEWIS is an international cancer blogger, speaker, patient and mad Crystal Palace fan. He can see a funny side in most situations, and enjoys helping people smile!

Eagle Meet chris the

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MHLM: Can you briefly describe who you are and what your journey has been so far professionally?

CHRIS: I was a successful business consultant working in the ladies fashion business, travelling around the world, buying and selling fabric and clothes. I had a list of contacts from my experience abroad who were either buying or selling and I made profit from trading with these contacts.

MHLM: Tell us about your psychological status before your diagnosis.

CHRIS: My 50th birthday was a time of reflection for me. I knew I had been lucky in my life and I thought to myself, this can’t last. Although still young at heart, I planned an exit strategy, aiming to retire at 55.

For the next 5 years, with the help of my wife, I was going to for it as much as I could, and whatever I earned in that time would be my holiday and pension money.

MHLM: Tell us about your diagnosis CHRIS: I was diagnosed age 51. As an entrepreneur

with a 110% mindset I have always worked long hours because I managed a business that involved foreign clients, irregular working hours, lots of unusual things and plenty of entertaining. It started with me getting tired very quickly which then progressed to a bad throat and a rash on my leg which prompted an appointment with the doctor. It was during an appointment with the E.N.T consultant that it was revealed to me that my tonsils were swollen. This led to an emergency operation through which unknown to me a biopsy of my tonsils was taken. In the process of recovery from the operation I was called back in to be informed that I had stage 4 Mantle Cell Lymphoma.

Treatment started immediately and after going into remission I had my first bone marrow transplant in Christmas 2007.

in shape to enable me focus on my recovery. My wife’s support through everything has been exceptional although she really struggled to accept it.

MHLM: When did you come to terms with it?

CHRIS: I still haven’t come to terms with it! As a very practical person with a business background I saw this as a problem that required a plan. My first concern was my family. I had to put my finances

MHLM: Does the uncertainty associated with the disease frighten you?

CHRIS: No I am not afraid of uncertainty, I live with it. In fact, I dealt with this question in one of my previous posts called “Facing Fear and Feeling Free”.

My greatest concerns has

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MHLM: Was it difficult to tell the kids?

CHRIS: Yes it was difficult.

When I told my friends, they didn’t really believe me because I looked reasonably well and nothing had changed.

But telling my kids was difficult.

We did it over a family dinner.

MHLM: So how did they take it?

CHRIS: The primary issue when it comes down to them is the uncertainty that surrounds this whole disease. They have witnessed the aggressive nature of the disease, treatment and side effects and they know individuals in remission with this particular type of cancer relapse quickly.

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always been the family and preparing well for them in my absence. I have had three near death experiences from chemotherapeutic treatments, stem cell transplants, all sorts of biopsies and many horrible treatments some of which caused my liver and lungs to fail at some point. Nothing frightens me anymore.

MHLM: What makes you depressed?

CHRIS: My business potential had been hindered by the disease. I enjoy what I am doing now and I am making a difference and that is what matters to me. But when I sit and think of how much better I could be, I feel like I am a car driving on two wheels. In every month, my treatment takes up to a week, so my potential working time is only ¾ of that in which I have recovery, family time, social life and other pertinent commitments which all have to be fitted in. I get fed up at times because I know how much more effective I could be.

MHLM: How did you start writing?

CHRIS: It was a TV show really.

People started to get interested

in my story and so I thought writing blogs would be the best platform to let them know what was going on. Once I had written things it was easier for me to direct people to my blog, rather than keep repeating the same story.

MHLM: How do you get your inspiration to write?

CHRIS: 99% of that blog is my personal experience. I rarely take stuff out of a paper.

Almost every week of my life, something crops up. It could be speaking to someone interesting. Sometimes I’ll just be sitting in the hospital and someone will tell me a story about their life. People contact me on twitter. All of these things can be inspiration for me. I am determined to always keep my content fresh and topical. I try to make it relevant so people in similar circumstances can identify with the issue.

MHLM: What are your aspirations for Chris Cancer Community – CCC? CHRIS: My aspirations for my Cancer Community would be to find a business angel that would subsidise my work for M Y

me. My aspiration would be to expand, get someone to help out with my office duties, marketing, social media, and emails as I am at maximum capacity now, to enable me to reach a larger audience. My work is inspired by meeting people so the social media though very important becomes counterproductive as it also demands so much attention.

MHLM: Are cancer patients getting enough support?

CHRIS: I wouldn’t use the term enough. Cancer unfortunately like many health issues has become part of the game of politics which prompted me to write a blog on the politics of cancer. I don’t think the correct support is there. The problem is, the charities which seem to be the major drivers of government policy are too tied up in brand awareness and in many cases, they have forgotten what their major purpose is and they are more interested in fund raising than they are interested in why they are raising the funds.

The biggest issue I see for cancer patients in terms of support is that there are many organisations working for

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cancer support and doing wonderful things but they are not working together! They all have big egos and they are trying to protect their own interest instead of actually collaborating for the good of the cancer patients in general.

The best and most effective kind of support for cancer patients is local support.

MHLM: Do you think all the cancer support charities can ever come together?

CHRIS: No! All charities, not just cancer support charities, are driven by financial support and have become brand aware. It is all about income.

There is a lot of sign posting going on but I think there is too much vested interest in charities. There is more competition than collaboration leading to a concentration on brands and legacies.

MHLM: Is commercialisation making cancer care and support lose its quality?

CHRIS: I think it is losing its focus. Nevertheless, from my personal experience, the commercialisation of cancer support has played a vital role in the current successes

especially putting the word out there to let people know more about the disease.

MHLM: Is there discrimination and segregation in Cancer?

CHRIS: It plays a part all over the place! The biggest place I found it is in the work place. I hadn’t realised it until it happened to me. I have actually applied for only four jobs throughout my entire life time. Three of those were when I was young. Then a few years ago I applied for a freelance job which would allow me to work from home a few times a week. I hadn’t realised I would have to mention my ‘disability’, that is my cancer diagnosis, on the form. Then on my CV, I had to disclose that I had been home for the past 3 years without work. Can you imagine getting an interview after being home for three years without work? With the way the economy is, you would never get an interview. Most of the people I have met either lose their job, or are given a lower grade or they go from full time to part time and eventually they pack up.

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can your input be 100%?

CHRIS: Well each person is different. Mine is an aggressive disease and which is currently in remission. The treatment I had, had side effects which are longer term and some of those side effects could go dormant for about 6 months to a year and then come back. Nobody can predict what will happen.

So at this moment I am reliable but in a month’s time it might get worse with something else.

Looking at me as an employer, I can’t be reliable which is no fault of mine. So when you are employing from a pool of hundreds of reliable people, why employ someone who isn’t reliable?

MHLM: Should individuals diagnosed with cancer continue to work?

CHRIS: Yes, they should continue to work because expenses are still going out. If nothing is coming in it becomes a vicious cycle. Luckily, I had paid off most of my mortgage and my kids were grown up and were working by the time of my diagnosis and treatment.

Our wives also take on the pressure too, if not more! It is like a never ending downward

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spiral because physically it is tougher for you to get better. Many patients end up splitting up with their partners, contributing to a depressing cycle. In essence, we cannot say fire or demote someone because they have cancer. I don’t think we could ever do that. We couldn’t because that makes things worse. We have to believe as a society that we could make something for that

person.

MHLM: Does that mean there needs to be some form of support system for employers and employees?

CHRIS: Yes there needs to be, but as a former employer, I know money is tight. Fellow colleagues at work sympathise with you at the initial stages of treatment but as time goes on, when your other colleagues are

working 35 – 40 hours a week for their cash and you have to catch up, it does cause a little bit of tension and animosity.

There needs to be some form of acceptance of illness, since it could happen to anyone!

Catch up with all Chris’updates at @christheeagle1 and www.chris-cancercommunity.blogspot.com

Testicular Cancer is REAL!

KNOW YOURSELF

Visit the GP immediately if you notice a lump or swelling on your testicle

You can reduce the risk of cervical cancer by attending cervical screening.

Despite this, over 20% of women invited for screening don’t attend.

Be proactive about your health and go for screening when invited.

For further information please contact: Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust, 16 Lincoln’s Inn Fields, London, WC2A 3ED T 020 7936 7498 E info@jostrust.org.uk www.jostrust.org.uk Helpline: 0808 802 8000

Information / Support / Friends

Funded by Lisa and Graeme McColl

Registered in England and Wales Company Limited by Guarantee: 7111375 Registered Charity Number: 1133542 Registered Scottish Charity Number: SC041236

Europe’s oldest and largest charity bike ride will open for registration in the New Year

LONDON TO BRIGHTON

is back in 2014 for its 39th year

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ver 28,000 people getting on their saddles and pedalling 54 miles from city to sea – it can only be the British Heart Foundation’s (BHF) London to Brighton Bike Ride.

The oldest and largest charity bike ride in Europe is back in 2014 and will be opening for registration at 10am on Saturday 18 January.

This iconic ride sells out fast so be sure to make this date the first entry in your new year diary this Christmas.

The ride will take place on Sunday 15 June 2014 setting off from Clapham Common, South London to the Brighton seafront. Ditchling Beacon is M Y

the highest point of the ride at 813 feet, and is a renowned challenge amongst cyclists.

In its 39 year history, the BHF London to Brighton Bike Ride supported by Santander has seen over 750,000 people get on their bikes and raise over £60 million to fight heart disease. Coronary heart disease remains the single biggest killer in the UK claiming nearly 74,000 lives every year – that’s over 200 people every day. Thanks to the money raised, we’re leading the fight against it but there’s still work to do.

To find out how you can register for the BHF London to Brighton Bike Ride, visit bhf.org.uk/L2B or call 0845 130 8663

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do you need smart ways... ...to get your 5 fruit and veg a day?

Eating at least 5 portions of fruit and veg every day is good for our health, as we all know. And it’s easy – if you know a few tricks.

To get your 5 a day, which of these smart swaps could you make?

X 2Ks A[OcGa <_K_:f Hl IiKlB^@_ PcMb : b:h=`Nf of berries or chopped bananas instead of your usual breakfast.

X 1P[I ]AcIm Hl IiM[Mi>m PbB]A ^Hh M ]HoGn ?iK p>a Hl L[E[= qAc<b =i X !AiHm> [ u oGmP_>n>h>^ ?lNcM dNc<_ W 1 glass a day counts towards your 5.

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itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s easy to be food smart... ...by cutting back fat.

Snacks that are high in added sugar can give you a quick burst of energy, but you soon feel sluggish and hungry again. To help you keep going longer, which of these smart ideas could you use?

X 'GmM_:^ H` : j:mMlR iK ^Ho@bGoM ]AiHm> jBnM[ bread fingers with lower fat hummus or salsa.

We donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t realise how much fat is hidden in many of the foods we eat. The fat thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s really bad for us is saturated fat. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the one in things like butter, cheese, pies and fatty meats like bacon and sausages. Here are some easy ways to choose lower fat options...

X 1P[I `NfE `:n <b>_L_ ?iK fHq>l ?[M ]A_>m>m

X 1P[I \Bm<oBnL `Hl Kc<_ <[D_L qBnA l>^N]>^ ?[M cheese spread.

X !AiHm> f>[G g>[Mm Lo<b :m <bB]D_G iK nKs : meat free alternative to cut back on fat.

X !AiHm> [ A[G^?oE i? ^Kc>^ ?lNcM fBe> l:cLcGm

cranberries or apricots as a mid-morning or afternoon snack.

X 'GmM_:^ H` <bHiLcGa ;oMn>l Lq:j Bn ?iK margarine.

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Š Crown copyright 2012. C4L294 Table talker 1 Dec12.

avoid that energy slump after a snack.

D R A E B M E C DE The B ea

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The Joker

The Admira l

The Thinker er The schem

!

S L E W O B R O F S D R A E B W LETâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S GRO Join us this December for Decembeard, our sponsored beard grow raising money in aid of Bowel Cancer UK. Register now to take part:

Email the team at events@bowelcanceruk.org.uk Call us on 020 7940 1769 Or visit www.bowelcanceruk.org.uk/decembeard/

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CRAVINGS ARE MORE THAN JUST

DESIRE

By Tanya Oliver-Grieves

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oday I thought I’d write about something I think most of us women do when trying to diet. I personally don’t like the word diet. I feel if you say you are on a diet, it means that at some point you are going to come off that diet.

Having a healthy lifestyle is far better than dieting, right?

I find that if I say I’m on a diet I tend to crave foods, even foods that I hardly ever eat. I’m sure you can relate to me on that! It is a fact that a craving is more than just a desire for something. We tend to create a physiological need and from

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that comes a physical reaction.

When we diet we may deprive the body of certain essential nutrients and craving sugary foods, for example, can indicate that this is what is lacking.

Each time you eat, your body releases a hormone called insulin. A mineral called chromium which you get from food allows your body to use insulin properly. If your body lacks this mineral, the insulin in your body may not work properly. Glucose is what fuels your body, helps make muscle and burns fat. Insulin helps get glucose from your bloodstream into your cells.

Depriving your body of this one nutrient could mean that you feel low on energy. It could also mean that the glucose in your bloodstream which can’t get into your cells turns to fat instead. Because your body

will not be getting the energy it needs through glucose, it will send out signals or cravings for the sugary foods. This issue is also a problem for people who abuse their sugar intake. The big problem is that the more your body wants it, the less it is able to use it the way it is intended to.

Here are some suggestions to help with this problem: • Try including more broccoli, apples, banana, green beans and garlic in your diet. Chromium can help sugar cravings and stop you wanting to sleep after a meal.

• Try including magnesium in your diet. Craving high carb foods and chocolate can indicate a lack of magnesium in your body.

• Try to include

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more nuts, legumes, grains, fish and eggs, fresh organic fruit, liver, raisins, sweet potato and spinach.

Our bodies have been designed to send out signals to obtain what they believe they need. Unfortunately this can make us crave foods that are not necessarily good for us and may not provide us with the nutrients that are lacking. The key is to recognise cravings for what they really are and don’t let them force you into making unhealthy food choices.

I hope this piece has helped you in some way. Feel free to contact me for any advice at www.tanyaolivergrieves.com

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No mums. No dads. No brothers or sisters. Not your next-door neighbour or the lady from the corner shop. No grandmas.

No grandpas. Not the chap from the chip shop or the noisy lads at the back of the bus. Not your best mate. Not a single stranger.

No one whatsoever. No one should face cancer alone.

Text TOGETHER to 70550 and donate £5 so we can be there for everyone who needs us.

Texts cost £5 plus your network charge. We receive 94p of every £1 donated in this way. Obtain bill payer’s permission first.

Macmillan Cancer Support, registered charity in England and Wales (261017), Scotland (SC039907) and the Isle of Man (604). MAC14175_0413

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