#22 HOT OVER 40! SURVIVING CANCER - I RUN FOR ME, MY MOTHER, FOR LIFE 5/12/12

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I AM WRITING THIS FOR MY 10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY AS A CANCER SURVIVOR-- MAY 25th, 2002.

 I survived cancer. But hated the way I looked. 

I gained my life. But lost my self-esteem. 

For 7 years. 

Then - * I got the woman in the mirror I liked to see back again. 

I am determined to make up for those 7 lost years.

In between, I learned that we all really need and want to feel beautiful.  That society puts way too much pressure on woman to be skeletal skinny and prepubescent and that there is a huge prejudice for any woman out there who is a size 8,10, 12 or 14. 

 I had a conundrum. 

I feel magnificent as a size 4, fat as a size 10 --- so what can my philosophy be? 

"Are you a hypocrite?", I asked myself.

No.

My viewpoint is:

I am not advocating skinny, nor am I condoning too much fat.  Neither is good - both are reflections of poor eating habits and perhaps poor exercise regimes.

I decided to propose & promote a positive outlook --- 

to seek health and happiness based upon your own values.  Not Vogues.

The thinking that "taking care of yourself" is important.

A tall building won't stay upright without a deep foundation and strong supports.  The same goes for your body- it needs proper food and exercise to excel.  Take care of the inside and the outside will take care of itself. Your spirit needs to wonder and feel light.  That's why we love mountain aeries.  Feeling close to the sky transports you.  You must have moments in life when you feel as if you can jubilantly soar through the Heavens.

 

The more  you take care of yourself, the better and lighter you feel. Your mind and emotions need to feel inspired.  Creating new ways of eating, moving and then yes adorning, create a sense of well-being.

LIVING IS ABOUT HAPPINESS.

 I want everyone to look and feel as pretty as they can, based upon there own comfort levels. Because I know, I know that no matter what any woman says, she wants to look and feel beautiful.

The reason why I am a lunatic in the gym?  

Because I can be.

Because I am still here. 

I could have been LONG gone. 

I am grabbing Life and not letting go. 

No one can stop me. No one can pull me down. 

I won't let myself and I won't let anyone else.  

AND NEITHER SHOULD YOU.


No matter where you are in your journey to look good and feel beautiful, remember that you are alive and able. 
Just start.  It will become a wondrous adventure full of surprises. You will surprise yourself the most. 
I guarantee it.

 Sure there are setbacks.  Life is about "dancing in the rain" afterall. Any rebirth symbolism involved water; a sprinkle or a plunge, drinking or sweating, it's all the same.

When I am in a class and basically moving at 100 mph an hour while others drop around me.  I am not showing off. 

I am exhilarating in the fact that I can move,
that I am alive.
 

I am not competing -
I am exhulting in movement and breath and life. 
I look in the mirror and I am grateful, incredulous and absolutely amazed.

Working out has become a celebration. 

So yes, I run  for my mom who has survived not one but TWO bouts of breast cancer, and I run for me. 

The scars on my body are my testiment, her testiment, every woman's testiment.  They say "I have survived." 

YES! I RUN FOR LIFE!

If  you are a cancer survivor I would love to hear from  you. 

   

If you would like to read some other blogs about cancer, my fitness and weight loss journey and getting your groove back with Brazil Buttlift 
see blogs #1,2,3,6,8,10 & 14

Fitness tip: Brazil Buttlift w/ Leandro Carvalho  www.leandrofitness.com

*thanks Leandro - I may not be a VS model, but who cares? I feel like a gorgeous one and at my age --- that is enough for me!

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IMDB www.imdb.me/joannabonaro

#14 HOT OVER 40! MAKE THE MOST OF YOURSELF 1/9/12

MAKE THE MOST OF YOURSELF FOR THAT IS ALL THERE IS OF YOU
                                                                            Ralph Waldo Emerson

           Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air…

When I was recuperating from surgery hoping that my cancer had been cut out and decimated forever I had plenty of time to rest, think and read.

I discovered Ralph Waldo Emerson, and I have chosen to live my life by many of his credoes.  At the start of the new year  I want to share with you some of his sublime wisdom and tenets to live by.  I hope you are as inspired by them too: 

“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.”      

“To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and to endure the betrayal of false friends. To appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better whether by a healthy child, (a well loved pet), a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; to know that even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.”     

  “Finish every day and be done with it. You have done what you could; some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; you shall begin it serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense.” 

 

 

“Our greatest glory is not in never failing, but in rising up every time we fail.”

“Always do what you are afraid to do.”

 “Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.”     

                                     Ralph Waldo Emerson  

Thankfully I was cured by wonderful doctors, recuperated with a loving husband and family by my side and visited by loyal friends.  This is to have succeeded.  Namaste.

Let the joyful journey begin.......



Future posts --- on seduction, glam - wear clothes, skin care,
great food choices, key area exercises, make-up tips,  mindfulness,

Tell me what you want to hear & see, concerns and questions. And thanks for reading.  Strive to flourish!

    

#6 HOT OVER 40! BRAZIL, BIKINIS & ME (MY SECRET BIKINI FITNESS WEAPON REVEALED)

 I 

 MY SECRET FITNESS WITNESS WEAPON.

IT HAS BEEN 4 YEARS NOW- STILL SIZE 4 - STILL FIT AND ON FIRE- FOLLOW ME ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER AND I WILL CONTINUE TO SHOW YOU HOW AND SUPPORT YOU. I WANT YOU TO HAVE THE SAME JOURNEY OF EXCITEMENT AND FULFILLMENT AS I HAD. I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS 500%! BLUE COLLAR GALS UNITE!

IRA  More info click on
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My story:

As a cervical/ovarian cancer survivor I knew deep down that I should feel happy. 

Nevertheless, I was in a constant state of despair, especially getting dressed

 in the morning when I would longingly look at my “old” clothes which I

refused to throw out or give away, but which almost 7 years later I still

could not fit into. 

And let’s not even mention the idea of the bikini!

I thought I would have to eventually resign myself to a “perfect” size 10, until one

day I saw a notice for volunteers to undergo a pilot exercise program entitled

 “Brazil ButtLift with Leandro Carvalho” the trainer for many Victoria Secret models. 

The producers made us stand in front of a huge display of a bikini clad model

on a sun drenched Brazilian beach, announcing a grand prize trip to Rio de Janeiro. 

They took pictures of us and asked us to talk into the camera, saying something

about winning the trip to Brazil.

I quipped  about my very own yellow bikini collecting dust on the shelf.

To my surprise I was chosen.  I started the program.

 I met Leandro – The man who would change my life.   

Leandro turned out to be a warm, very energetic and highly knowledgeable trainer

par excellence, who demanded our utmost.   

One of his favorite statements is, “Don’t settle for less.”

The workouts were tough, but the challenge was exhilarating, and the exercises varied. 

As the weeks progressed, I started to look forward to exercise as more of a pleasant

diversion instead of as an onerous activity. 

I also started to think about a certain yellow bikini.

My favorite exercises were the ones that focused on “the tummy,” or as the class was to

 become known as “Brazil Tummy Tuck.”  The concept of tightened obliques became

less oblique as the weeks went by. 

Leandro’s favorite command -”More definition in your movement, more definition in your body.”

Well, I was starting to see definition on my arms, my thighs, and yes my stomach. 

Those were victorious defining moments for me.  I was learning what I needed to do to

 transform my body and I was seeing results. 

The inches were melting away. 

Yes it was hard work, and yes I was committed.

As I had read in a great novel somewhere, “What would it be worth if it were easy?”  

By week 11 out of 12 in the program I had lost 27 lbs and a lot of overall inches.

After the program ended, they took “after” shots of us all.

 They interviewed us and asked, “Will you be the one who wins the trip to Brazil?” 

I remember saying, “I have already won more than you can imagine.”

When I got home, I didn’t even glance at the clothes about which I had been opining. 

Instead, I ran to the shelf that held the zippered bag, that housed the wrinkled yellow bikini. 

I put it on. It fit.  In fact, it was too baggy.  I think at that point I cried. 

I finally felt as if I had been given my life back.  It was my self image.  My identity. 

The person who looked familiar again when I looked in the mirror. 

In fact, she looked even better than before.   I was “the new old Joanna.” 

And I needed a new bikini.

And yes, wonder of wonders, I also won the trip to Brazil. I went to Rio de Janeiro

and wore a teeny, weeny, itsy, bitsy, turquoise bikini on Ipanema Beach. 

Now, over two years later, I own a red one too, along with a whole new size 4 wardrobe. 

I go to the gym now with glee to work out with Leandro and keep up the pace with gusto

or pop in a Brazil Tummy Tuck and Brazil Buttlift Workout DVD and think about

when I’ll be going back to Rio!  

Next time I’ll be in yellow ! With feathers!

My secret weapon revealed -  Leandro Carvalho – Master Mind behind (no pun intended)

BRAZIL BUTTLIFT W/ LEANDRO CARVALHO  - DVD FITNESS SERIES  

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WEBSITE   www.joannabonaro.com

FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER AND FACEBOOK - CONTINUAL UPDATES ON EXERCISE , FOOD , NUTRITION AND OF COURSE BIKINI SHOTS.  THE MASTER HAS TO SHOW OFF HIS WORK YOU KNOW!

NOURISHMENT AND FULFILLMENT TIP - 

 eating foods that have a low value on the

               glycemic index scale are the key to sustainable weight loss ---

        filling and delicious low GI foods are 

broccoli (15), apples (38), sweet potatoes (54)