The Midlife Fashionista: June 2019

Shaking things up this summer

This blog is sponsored by Life Extension.

Getting healthy is my mission. Based on my health history, I’ve recently made some major changes to my lifestyle. I exercise more, cut sugar, eat very little dairy, bread and meat and read the labels on everything that I buy. After all, what you put in your body is key for good health! Smoothies have become an important part of my healthy eating plan as they’re nutritious, filling and taste great. So, when Life Extension asked me to try their WellnessCode®™ Plant Protein Complete and Amino Acid Complex (Vanilla), I was excited to whip up a yummy smoothie!

Here’s why I love Life Extension’s Wellness Code®™ Plant Protein Complete and Amino Acid Complex (Vanilla)…

It’s gluten-free, vegetarian-friendly and made with sustainably sourced pea protein, which has 18 grams of high-quality protein and no soy or dairy. It fills me up and has only 100 calories per serving, 4 grams of carbohydrates and ZERO sugar! The vanilla flavor mixes so well with most vegetables and fruit-so you can get creative with your smoothies!

Summer is the perfect time to make healthy smoothies with in-season fresh fruit and veggies. Smoothies make a great snack and a delicious replacement to sugar filled desserts like ice cream. Wellness Code®™ Plant Protein Complete and Amino Acid Complex (Vanilla) supercharges a smoothie since it’s packed with essential pea protein (which I need since I don’t generally eat meat), and the branched chain amino acids L-valine, L-leucine, and L-isoleucine which support lean muscle mass and liver function. And if that’s not enough, it also contains oat bran and blue agave to promote digestive health and immune support. Plus, it’s absolutely delicious!

It smells so good!

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

I thought I'd share my favorite smoothie recipe with you. It tastes great and is packed with protein and nutrients. It makes a simple and filling breakfast, or use less liquid to make a frosty snack that you can eat with a spoon! Top with walnuts, unsweetened coconut flakes, and sliced strawberries and voila...you have a decadent dessert!

Strawberry Vanilla Shake

3/4 cup water or almond milk (I love unsweetened organic almond milk)

1 scoop Wellness Code®™ Plant Protein Complete and Amino Acid Complex (Vanilla)

3/4 cup of ice cubes

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2-1 frozen banana

4 frozen strawberries (you can substitute blueberries or use both!)

Blend together in a smoothie maker

To switch things up, you can substitute blueberries for the strawberries or mix both for a berry smoothie! Throw in a handful of spinach or kale for a serving of deep green veggies, or if you're a chocolate lover like me, add a teaspoon of raw cacao powder (it's delish!).

Happy summer smoothies! Here's to healthy eating!

Life Extension sponsored this blog, but all opinions expressed are my own. I only promote companies I love--promise!

XO Susan

Wednesday, June 19, 2019
1 Comments

He's my one

breast cancer

When Susan G. Komen reached out to me to help them spread the word about breast cancer, I wanted to be involved. It's personal.

Did you know that women in the U.S. have a 1 in 8 lifetime risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer, but men can also get breast cancer?

In 2019, 2,670 new cases of male invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed and 500 men will die from the disease.

Unfortunately, my dad (Jason) was one of those men.

He is my "one."

On this Father's Day, I want to share my dad with you.
Jason was a brilliant Harvard graduate who started out as a pre-med major and later switched to education. He taught middle school English for over 40 years. He was funny and fun--crazy and silly and loved the outdoors. He walked for miles every single night. Even in the worst of weather, he walked. He walked in the middle of blinding snowstorms, oblivious to the conditions. He walked until he could no longer.

In 2010 my father was diagnosed with Stage 4 male breast cancer. It came out of the blue and was a huge shock to my family. He had complained of having various aches and pains, but refused to go to the doctor. As a matter of fact, he NEVER went to the doctor--he didn't even have a primary care physician! So when he finally asked me to take him to the emergency room, I knew it was serious. But when the doctor told us that he had stage 4 breast cancer, it was like a bad dream. Where did this come from? How did we miss it?

Turned out my father had been hiding the cancer from us for years. He discovered a lump, but never mentioned it to anyone. Not even my mom. In the beginning, he thought the lump would go away. But as it got larger he realized it was cancer. He always believed that the body healed itself. He never took medications and successfully conquered colds, flus and even pneumonia with fresh air, good food and lots of vitamin C. But unfortunately, his cancer needed medical treatment and it was too late by the time he went to the doctor. The cancer had metastasized.

Dad used to put his eyeglass holder in his shirt pocket so we wouldn't notice the lump in his breast.

For three years, he was kept alive with radiation and chemotherapy. He actually had quite a good quality of life doing the things he loved.

We were blessed that he was able to be at my daughter Alyssa's wedding . He even boogied on the dance-floor!

But in April 1, 2014 the cancer won out and he died peacefully at a hospice center.

There isn't a day that goes by when I don't think of him. Father's Day is especially hard.

It is so important that cancer research is a top priority and that we come up with new and more effective treatments to combat the disease.

Breast cancer doesn't discriminate. It affects the young, the old, men, and women. That's why Susan G. Komen is on the frontlines of the fight against breast cancer. I hope you'll visit Susan G. Komen to learn more about their work in advocacy, research, education, and treatment assistance.

We all have our "one". The person we want to protect from breast cancer. Who is yours?

Happy Father's Day Dad.

xo Susan

Thank you to Susan G. Komen. for kindly sponsoring this blog. All opinions are 100% honest and completely my own.

Saturday, June 15, 2019
3 Comments