Reclaiming Health

LIVESTRONG® at the YMCA is a small-group program developed and established in partnership with the LIVESTRONG® Foundation, assists cancer survivors in strengthening spirit, mind and body after a cancer diagnosis. Recent research from the Yale Cancer Center and Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Institute confirmed that LIVESTRONG at the YMCA participants experience better quality of life and significant decreases in cancer-related fatigue. If you or someone you know lives with a chronic disease, ask your Y staff about programs like LIVESTRONG at the YMCA that help improve quality of life and enable individuals to connect with others in a supportive environment.

In addition, here are some healthy living tips from the LIVESTRONG Foundation that can help cancer survivors heal and everyone lower their risks for future illnesses such as cancers and heart disease:

 DEVELOP A PLAN: Work with your health care team to create a healthy lifestyle plan. Consider your entire medical history. Include any health goals you have set for yourself. Make sure you address any concerns you have such as weakness, fatigue, loss of balance, weight loss or weight gain, or problems sleeping.

GET ACTIVE: Incorporate physical activity into your healthy lifestyle. Walking, running and cycling build cardiovascular endurance, but gardening, outdoor work, dancing and other activities you enjoy also can contribute to a healthy lifestyle.

REDUCE STRESS: Attending support groups and counseling can help you deal with stress. In addition, there are also many health benefits when you spend time doing things you enjoy. Write in a journal. Listen to music. Take a new music or art class.

EAT HEALTHY: Eat five to nine servings of fruits and vegetables every day. Include plenty of fiber in your diet. Drink eight to 10 glasses of water a day and avoid eating a lot of red meat or processed meats such as bacon, sausage or hotdogs.

To learn more about how our Y helps individuals improve health outcomes, visit: LIVESTRONG at the Y