Teaming up with @PGeveryday & @SheSpeaksUp to raise awareness & bring you a great #Giveaway too! #PGBestDefense

{CLOSED}: WINNER IS ENTRY #644 - COURTNEY RENEE, CONGRATULATIONS!

ad: This is a Sponsored Post & Giveaway brought to you in conjunction with SheSpeaks and P&G

I am honored to team up with P&G and SheSpeaks again this year for a very important cause, Breast Cancer Awareness. Last year I participated in the P&G GIVE Hope Do It For the Girls Day of Action where I participated in a blogger round-table with Breast Cancer Survivor and host of E! News Giuliana Rancic, if you missed my recap to that event click HERE. That day inspired me so much that after a visit to my primary (I changed my Primary Doctor shortly after my long term hospitalizations in 2012), where I shared my Family History with Cancer, he opted to have me begin annual Mammograms earlier than I needed to, and I shared about my very first ever Mammogram HERE.

I am so proud of P&G for being consistently involved in such an important cause that directly affects so many lives. I would say too many lives. In fact One in EVERY Eight women will get Breast Cancer in her lifetime. The death rate in fact is actually HIGHER among Latina and African American women. Every hour and a half a Latina woman dies of Breast Cancer in the United States! As a Latina I find this statistic beyond alarming and if I can help in some small way to give another woman the courage to do her self exams MONTHLY, and talk to her Primary Care Physician about getting her Mammogram than I am more than happy to do so.

This year, the P&G Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign has partnered with the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF) to educate everyone about the importance of early detection. Throughout the month of October you can visit the P&G Breast Cancer Awareness Website to hear P&G employees' who share inspiring stories about moments made possible in their lives due to early detection and also download the NBCF's Early Detection Plan App!

According to the National Cancer Institute, Early Detection is the BEST defense against Breast Cancer. The earlier it is detected, the higher the survival rate. When detected during the localized, (or early) stage, the five year survival rate is 98%!  An ounce of prevention is always worth a pound of cure my butterflies!

I am actually due for my annual Mammogram very soon, and want to encourage my butterflies that if you have been putting it off, please don't. Schedule your appointment as soon as possible! Breast Cancer, doesn't care how young you are, how healthy and athletic you may be, and it doesn't care that you have no history of it in your family, early detection is the key to saving lives.

P&G goes 'Pink' in October and we partnering with SheSpeaks and P&G to bring you a chance to win some of their most loved products and brands in a 'Pinktober Giveaway'  full of goodies to remind you about the importance of pink!

Enter using Rafflecopter:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Double Your Chances to Win and Join the TWITTER PARTY!

**Please Note: Ascending Butterfly is NOT a host or co-host for this party so please direct any and all questions to the host**

Join @PGeveryday and special guest @CoreyWootton for a special Twitter Party about the importance of creating an early detection plan and rallying the women in your life to do the same! (You might want to be sure you are following the hosts before the day of the party, this way if you win the hosts can DM you to get your info for prize fulfillment! and don't forget to RSVP and actively use the hashtag during the party!)

When: Thursday, October 22

Time: 3 p.m. EST

RSVP: http://bit.ly/PGbcaRSVP

Hashtag: #PGBestDefense

My Take:

Cancer has affected my family and I know first hand how devastating it is. Early detection is key for every cancer type not just breast cancer, so please butterflies do your monthly self-exam, and if you have a history of Cancer in your family speak to your primary about referring you for a Mammogram, you do NOT have to wait until age 40 if you have a history in your family or you detect a lump! Playing it safe is the best way to ensure you'll be able to keep playing at all!

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FTC Disclosure: This is a sponsored/compensated post and giveaway in conjunction with SheSpeaks and P&G Everyday. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission 16 CFR, Part 255 - Guides Concerning the use of endorsements and testimonials in advertising, you may check our Giveaway and Disclosure Page for additional information regarding Ascending Butterfly Disclosure. All opinions are 100% my own and I can't begin to stress just how important early detection is in saving lives. Ascending Butterfly staff are NOT medical experts nor do we make claims to be, always check with your Physician FIRST!

Taking care of your #skin summer & beyond + @ask_drgraf #DermDL Soiree! @Glytoneusa @Aveneusa @KOandAssociates #skincare #beauty

Dr. Jeannette Graf

During my visit to the fun Coney Island event that I shared with you guys, I got my first ever sunburn. I mean first ever in my life. All things considered that may not sound bad to you, but it was actually so bad it was pretty much Sun Poisoning. I alternated between fever and chills, pain, tingling, redness, blistering, nausea, dizziness, headache, upset stomach and dehydration Not a pretty picture! The sad part is that I did use sunscreen before leaving the house, but what I neglected to do was re-apply and I was out in the sun all day.

Because I lost my Aunt/Godmother to skin cancer, I'm normally hyper-vigilant and super careful when it comes to being out in the sun. Too bad this event wasn't held BEFORE that fateful day out in the sun!

Our view from the outdoor terrace on a perfect summer evening in New York City!

I got to attend a lovely evening summer soiree on a beautiful outdoor terrace where Dr. Jeannette Graf - who you may know from either her skincare line via HSN, her popular book 'stop aging, start living The Revolutionary 2-Week pH Diet That Erases Wrinkles, Beautifies Skin, and Makes You Feel Fantastic' or you may have had a consultation with her as she is also the Assistant Clinical Professor of Dermatology at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York. (Yes the same hospital where I spent my third long term hospitalization last year!). She is a board-certified clinical and research dermatologist who has been recognized for excellence in education with the 2011 Mount Sinai Medical Center Teacher of the Year Award. In addition she received an award for Outstanding Achievement from the National Institutes of Health and obtained an NIH patent for her research on peptides, which is how she was fondly dubbed "Doctor Peptide".

It was a perfect summer evening in New York City, it wasn't too hot or too cold, the weather held out and we started out with the chance to put our face into a device that would assess our sun damage, if you haven't done this, you really should, it definitely opens your eyes to making you want to take better care of your skin.  And I don't just mean that in the superficial way with cosmetics, I mean down deep quality skincare that takes care of your skin from within so you can can radiate your inner beauty naturally!

We all know diet plays a major role in beauty, so I had to take a moment to snap a picture of these great eats:

A beautiful buffet spread was accompanied by a lovely rosé or white wine of choice!

I don't know about you, but I personally could live on Seafood alone, those Shrimps were delish!

Starting with Circadian Rhythms (learning how to take proper care of our skin day and night) I learned that Day time is Protective Mode, our skin has a higher pH level and experiences Increased Sebum Production . Daytime Essentials include: Broad-spectrum protection, UVA & UVB, SPF 50+ in the summer and Antioxidants. 

Your sunscreen should be thing you apply daily before your makeup, even if the makeup contains an SPF! According to Total Beauty Media Group, one in five women between the ages of 18 to 24 does not apply sunscreen regularly or understand the severity of melanoma.

Night Time is Renewal Mode, our skin has a lower pH level, it is experiencing increased microcirculation and increased transepidermal water loss. Dr. Graf also reminded us that there is real power in 'Beauty Sleep' getting enough rest helps regulate your weight and offers anti-aging benefits. This is definitely one area where I know I need to improve, I don't get nearly enough sleep! One of the evening essentials that was recommended to us was Retinol/Vitamin A, as it regulates skin repair on a molecular level. Retinol targets Acne, Fine Lines, Wrinkles, Hyperpigmentation, as well as loss of Collagen and Elasticity. Retinol based products should be applied at night while the skin is in renewal mode since sunlight can destabilize the effectiveness of retinol. Apply retinol on DRY SKIN as applying it to damp skin increases the risk of sensitivity. Let it sink in before applying any other moisturizer or serum on top of it and be sure to apply sunscreen during the day, especially when using products with retinol at night.

One of things that resonated greatly with all the attendees was a Myth vs Facts quiz, I can tell you that not one person got every question right, which means we all have a lot to learn when it comes to better overall skincare and wellness!

"Darker Skin is more Vitamin D3 Deficient, Get your D3 levels checked! UVB is what aids in D3 production, but since it causes skin cancer, we don't want people to get Vitamin D3 from UVB exposure." ~ Dr. Graf

MYTH vs. FACT:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - All skin types require sunscreen - FACT

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Dark skin does NOT require sunscreen since it doesn't burn - MYTH (I learned this one the hard way!)

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Dark skin is not susceptible to sun damage or skin cancer - MYTH

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Melanoma rates are increasing in Hispanic and African American Women - FACT (We need to face that reality and if you spot something suspicious ladies get your primary to give you a referral for a Dermatologist appointment.)

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - The Stats: In a skincancer.org survey, respondents reported that they had experienced greater than 4 sunburns in the preceding year and this is how the percentages were broken down by demographic:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - American Indian/Alaskan Natives, 19.6%,
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Asian/Pacific Islander, 15.5%,
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Hispanics, 19.1% (YIKES, I wasn't expecting that!)
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - African Americans at 12.3%.

Butterflies the numbers DON'T lie, and the report also broke down the percentages by male and female respondents! Both of us (both men AND women) need to get real and get serious about our skincare!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Vitamin D3 Facts: Vitamin D3 levels are often LOWER in darker-skinned people, causing a Vitamin D3 deficiency, while it is known as the 'Sunshine Vitamin' Sun exposure is NOT recommended as a source of Vitamin D3. (Needless to say during my next visit to my primary I will be specifically asking to have my D3 level checked!). It is readily available in food (like one of my personal faves Salmon) and is easily supplemented.

Sunscreen in the Summer:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - UVA - While it's considered Low Energy, it has a Long Wavelength and causes Sun-induced Skin Aging that is the same all year round

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - UVB - Is High Energy with a Medium Wavelength, it causes sunburn with higher levels in the summer

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Use a Broad Spectrum Sunscreen Product with at least an SPF of 50, DAILY! (and yes even in winter, your skin still needs UVA/UVB protection and if you are using retinol products at night, you must remember to apply sunscreen during the day to protect your skin against increased irritation and sensitivity.) And remember to RE-APPLY it throughout the day.

My Take:

This event was not only fun, it was informative, getting an assessment of where my skin stands now and how best to protect it was a great post sunburn reminder to make sure I NEVER let that happen again! I appreciate Dr. Graf taking the time out of her super busy schedule to educate us on the importance of keeping our skin protected. We were able to ask her everything and anything about skincare, and the part where common myths were addressed was an eye opener for us all that's for sure, but as a Latina it made me especially sad to know that the myth that darker skin can't burn is still so prevalent.

Gift Bags on Display at Ask Dr. Graf #DermDL Skincare Event in New York City

What's in the Bags?

We were sent home with great products to add to our Beauty and Skincare arsenal including:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ -Rétrinal EYES - by Eau Thermale Avène which reduces the appearance of deep lines, puffiness and dark circles. It also contains "soft focus" powders which camouflage irregularities and reduce shine.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ -Thermal Spring Water - by Eau Thermale Avène has a pH of 7.5 is bacteriologically pure, preservative free, Hypoallergenic and non-comedogenic and has been used since 1743 in the Hydrotherapy Center to treat serious dermatological conditions such as atopic dermatitis, psoriasis and eczema.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - High Protection Tinted Compact - by Eau Thermale Avène is a Broad Spectrum 50 SPF Tinted Compact 100% Mineral Sunscreen with powerful antioxidant protection that is formulated with Avenè Thermal Spring Water.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Sunscreen Ltion SPF 30 - by Glytone Skincare. A PABA-free, mineral based lotion that provides UVA/UVB protection to guard against sunburn and premature aging.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - enhance night renewal cream - by Glytone Skincare. A nighttime cream formulated with Free Glycolic Acid and Retinaldeyde to help clarify, smooth and firm skin.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - stop aging, start living - Dr. Graf gave us a copy of her book 'stop aging, start living The Revolutionary 2-Week pH Diet' which I can't wait to dive into!

Left: Tracy from Ascending Butterfly, Right: Dr. Jeannette Graf

Get Social With it:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Follow @ask_drgraf on twitter

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Like Ask Dr Graf on Facebook

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Follow Glytoneusa on twitter

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Like Glytone on Facebook

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Follow @Aveneusa on twitter

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Like Avène USA on Facebook

Left: Maria Gutierrez of Glytone, Center: Dr. Jeannette Graf, Right: Laurent Saffré of Pierre Fabre USA

So tell us Butterfly, how do you keep your skin safe from the sun's harmful rays? What is your favorite sun skincare product or products?

*Bottom two photos are courtesy of Karen Oliver and Associates who provided us with permission to use these photos.

**Style Shout Out: The Black Suit I am wearing is by IGIGI.

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FTC Disclosure: This is NOT a sponsored post, no monetary compensation has been received to share our event recap coverage and all opinions expressed herein are 100% my own. Gift Bags were provided to attendees. I really do take Skin Cancer prevention VERY seriously!

#ad: I am joining @AmericanCancer Society to #finishthefight against #Cancer, because for me, it's very much Personal! Learn how YOU can help too!

Let's Finish The Fight {Sponsored Video}

Disclosure: I am honored to have this opportunity to tell my story as part of the American Cancer Society's 100th Birthday Celebration. While this is a Sponsored Post that includes a Sponsored Video Message, all opinions and stories contained herein are 100% my own. This post is Sponsored by the American Cancer Society.

It's no secret that 'The Big C' has been a major part of my life. I lost my Great-Grandmother to a Brain Tumor, my Grandmother to Uterine Cancer, my Dad to Liver Cancer, and my Mother has battled Ovarian Cancer twice and thankfully is here to tell her tale. Last year I was diagnosed with end stage Lung Cancer despite the fact I have never touched a Cigarette in my entire life. My ongoing battle, (as it stands I am being told by one hospital it's not while another is very sure it is) has not been an easy one. My Godmother, (who is also by blood) my Great Aunt, lost her battle to skin cancer.

I HATE Cancer. There I said it. Hate is not a word I use lightly. I don't use it carelessly. Since I started blogging I have taken as many opportunities as I possibly can to share about initiatives that aid in the fight against Cancer, not just Breast Cancer, but ALL Cancers equally. The fight against Cancer is very much a personal one for me.

In College I helped to put together a Fundraiser Concert for the American Cancer Society, it combined two passions of mine, my love of music (you listen to a lot of music and do a lot of praying while someone you love (or while you yourself), is undergoing testing and treatments) and my desire to aid in the fight in some way. The way fellow students on campus rallied to help is something I have never forgotten.

Will there be a cure in our lifetime? I can't answer that question with total certainty one way or the other, but what I can tell you with 100% certainty is that Cancer does NOT discriminate. It doesn't care how young you are, how much life you have yet to live. It doesn't care if you have a family that needs you. It doesn't care how important you are, it doesn't care what you have done nor does it care what you haven't yet accomplished.

 

Close your eyes and imagine hearing a Doctor tell you that you have end stage cancer and that you are 'on borrowed' time. How would you feel? What is the first thought that crossed your mind? Was it the loved ones you'd be leaving behind? Something you really want to achieve in life that you haven't had the opportunity to do yet?

About The American Cancer Society:

The American Cancer Society is a nationwide, community-based voluntary health organization that is dedicated to eliminating cancer, they help save lives by helping people stay well by preventing cancer, by detecting it early, by being there during and after a diagnosis, by finding cures through investment in ground-breaking discoveries and by rallying lawmakers and communities worldwide to join the fight.

The achievements of this organization are amazing, they have contributed to a 20% decline in cancer death rates and have helped to save 1.2 million lives. Their efforts have directly lead to a 50% drop in smoking deaths since the 1960's, contributing to a drop in overall lung cancer death rates.

The Fight Continues:

Despite their impressive accomplishments the fight continues! Some current goals include the undertaking of a historic research study called the 'Cancer Prevention Study-3 (CPS-3), the goal is to enroll at least 300,000 adults from various racial/ethnic backgrounds from across the US by the end of THIS year. They want to be sure that people facing Cancer have the help they need including a free place to stay during treatment and a ride to get there (I can't begin to stress how important those two things really are when you are facing such an emotionally, physically and spiritually draining process). In addition to the continuation of giving everyone access to quality health care, lifesaving screenings, clean air and more! The Society currently operates 31 Hope Lodge Facilities around the country, each offering a home away from home for patients and their caregivers traveling for treatment at no cost.

Where my online persona and my real one meet:

On Twitter, I am 'The Official #TwitterPartyDJ' as I'm a Twitter Party online hostess, and I'm also a music lover who shares fun tunes and audio accessories that make music sound better because music, and travel are two of my biggest passions. Online, I may be the TwitterPartyDJ, but offline I'm a lucky survivor, and I was super excited to find out two musicians I really like are joining in the fight too, check out these videos by Mary J. Blige and Josh Groban:

YOU CAN HELP:

Silence Won't Finish the Fight AGAINST Cancer:

My Take:

Will YOU take a moment against silence? You can sign up on the American Cancer Society website to join the boldest move yet in the fight against cancer and I hope you will take a moment to do so. Let's help the society with their effort to help people celebrate more birthdays. After you sign up check out the tab that reads '100 Stories of Hope'. If reading those stories don't put your day-to-day temporary worries into perspective, nothing will. Silence never helps anything, let's make noise, let's give this issue a voice online, talking about it raises awareness and raising awareness is the way to get closer to a cure!

Just like I took the StrongMoms Empower pledge, and shared with you recently about #MoonWalkNYC, I have also taken the pledge to help the American Cancer Society to make NOISE to finish the fight against cancer and I hope you will too!

Sixty years ago, 1 out 3 people diagnosed with Cancer survived. Today, thanks in part to the work of the American Cancer Society, 2 out of 3 will survive. Let's make it 3 out of 3!

How has Cancer or the American Cancer Society affected your life Butterfly? Please share your story. Together we can add 100 more stories of hope! 

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FTC Disclosure: This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of the American Cancer Society. All stories and opinions are 100% my own. I am a survivor and it's important to me personally to empower others with my story!

Wanna Power Walk an Overnight Marathon in Your Bra? For Real! Let's Do it! #MoonWalkNYC

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post from One2One Network and Walk the Walk. All Opinions Expressed in this post are 100% my own!

I wasn't around for the Feminist 'Ban the Bra' Movement, but awhile back there was a big controversy in New York City when Men were allowed to go Topless on local beaches but women not only could not go Topless, they would be fined for it. So when I found out about an event that is actually encouraging women to 'Power-Walk' in their bras, I just had to share (and find out more! Color me Intrigued! Time for my Rebel Yell!).

Participants with hands held high wearing decorated bras at Walk the Walk's Moon Walk Marathon

About/History of MoonWalk:

Walk the Walk was formed 17 years ago when a handful of women Power Walked the New York City Marathon in their bras to raise money and awareness for Breast Cancer. What started off as a one time fundraising event grew into a multi-million dollar charity, that to date has raised over $126M for Breast Cancer causes and has engaged over 300,000 participants.

It all began with founder of Walk the Walk, Nina Barough, who after only two months since her adventure at the New York City Marathon, found out in January 1997 that she herself had Breast Cancer. A very aggressive tumor (which is believed she had for three years), turned her world upside down and her treatment included a mastectomy, followed by radiation therapy, and a two year course of Zoladex Injections and Tamoxifen (a drug that has a few side effects of it's own). In 1998 Walk the Walk, became an official charity that not only promotes a healthy and fit lifestyle, but also raises money for breast cancer causes.

Walk the Walk is a grant making charity who has held MoonWalk events in London and Edinburgh as well as SunWalks in Newcastle, Bristol and Southampton.

And amazingly enough the MoonWalk officially comes full circle this year! The inaugural event in America is being held in New York City where it all began for Founder Nina Barough!

Balloons Being Released during MoonWalk Marathon

WHEN AND WHERE/HOW DO I SIGN UP:

Ready to decorate your bra and get started? I thought so! Here are the deets:

MoonWalk NYC presented by Empire BlueCross BlueShield will take place on July 20, 2013 at Randall's Island in New York City. An estimated 8,000 participants will join in an opening ceremony celebration at Randall's Island, walkers will then depart weaving through Manhattan and passing some of the City's most iconic landmarks lit up brightly at night!

There are two courses to ensure that everyone can participate regardless of their fitness levels or abilities, there will be a 'Half Moon' (13.1 Miles) and a 'Full Moon' (26.3) Miles.

Both Women AND Men are welcome to participate!

They are hoping to raise $2 Million dollars in ONE night, the bulk of which will be granted to Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center to help support the Breast Examination Center in Harlem, which is one of the first FREE screening facilities for Breast Cancer in the country. 80% of patients are un-insured, and this center not only provides them free screenings, but support and guidance as well. (You may remember we mentioned the center last year as well!)

Not only do they offer a half and full marathon, they also need volunteers, so if you are not up for running or walking, consider volunteering a few hours of your time to make a huge difference for an incredible cause, let's face it, it will be the most unique, rewarding and fun volunteer experience you will ever have!

I am going to check with my doctors and see if they will clear me for this, if I do opt to run I will form a team so if you want to join me you will be able to do so! But if you can't wait for me and decide to form your own team or want help in finding other Ascending Butterfly readers who will be there, please post your comments here! Let us know your team name if you form a team before I do, and a way to contact you if others wish to join your team. You may want to meet in advance to train with your team, or spend an evening decorating coordinated bras to show your team pride! I'm behind you all the way!

Want a sneak peek of what to expect? Of course you do, check it out here:

 

Who says Breast Cancer Awareness efforts should only happen in October? This is NOT your mama's breast cancer walk! Be sure to share this post on your social media sites butterflies, the more the merrier, the more awareness raised the more lives we can save.

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FTC Disclosure: This is a sponsored post from One2One Network and Walk the Walk. All Opinions Expressed in this post are 100% my own!

Ascending Butterfly May Monthly #Book Club Title: Review and #Giveaway of The Fast Metabolism Diet #FastMetabolismDiet

This is a sponsored post/Giveaway for SheSpeaks/Fast Metabolism Diet (All opinions are my own):

I spent 2010 and 2011 on a series of Lifestyle Changes that resulted in very healthy weight loss overtime. Getting more excercise and recipe substitions had resulted in the loss of 3 dress sizes and way more energy. I was thrilled!

Then 2012 happened. I spent the bulk of the year at three different hospitals for long term stays. Which meant being sick to my stomach and not wanting to eat due to the medications and surgeries, and a ton of time in a hospital bed which meant no excercise. To say last year threw me off my game is an understatement. Considering I was told I may not make it, I have much to be grateful for. Every few months it's back to the hospital for testing and I still can't go back to a full workout routine yet.

With summer coming I want to have tons of energy because after a year in the hospital, I plan to go out everyday and take full advantage of the sun this summer! I knew I needed to find a way to get my metabolism going knowing full well that I can't yet go back to the workout routine I was enjoying in 2010 and 2011 (which included Zumba and Yoga).

I had actually seen the book on TV before I was invited to participate in this campaign and it had caught my eye. The one thing I've learned through the years is that Lifestyle Changes, (no matter what they are for, to break bad habits, learn new ones, incorporate meditation into your day), have to be logical and not too difficult to incorporate to be successful. From what I had seen this looked easy to do, and seemed to make sense for me with my many restrictions.

I am going to be totally honest, I tried this out and didn't follow it to the letter, but it's OK because I knew I probably wouldn't. My schedule is erratic and because of my varied obligations, it's ever changing. Events in NYC come with cocktails, food, appetizers and all kind of things that are not always what I was meant to be eating that day. And worse still meetings all day and events most evenings including weekends leave very little time for much of a workout routine anyway.

The Science behind The Fast Metabolism Diet is explained graphically on their website and it's worth taking a look at so you can get an idea of 'the HOW' behind the diet. As a single girl in the city I didn't have the problem of worrying about other people in the home not liking the meals, it was just me I had to worry about. Is that how I eat everyday? NO. So it was hard to get adjusted to. For me the biggest problem was the cutting back of refined sugars, I love my chocolate and my Ice Cream and I am NOT going to cut them completely out of my life.

I was excited to discover that some of the foods I already love like Lobster, Shrimp, Avocados, Cashews, Seaweed (Sushi anyone?), stimulate the release of fat-burning T4 and T3 hormones which create a thermogenic effect in the body, melting those hard fat stores and allowing them to be liquified by the Thyroid Hormones, burned for energy and released from the body. This burn boosts your metabolism!

I know what you are thinking by now, 'So Butterfly, Did it WORK?'. Yes it did. I did not lose 20 pounds, but I have a firm policy of not gauging my weight loss with the scale, I lost one dress size so far, and I have maintained that size, my underwear/lingerie are all so loose I have to get new stuff in a size down, and I am happy with that progress. I am not following it to the letter, but with the principles it outlines, and with me slowly but surely being able to become progressively more active I am sure I will be back to where I was in 2011 in no time.

We are happy to make this our first title for the return of the Book Club, and with the advent of swimsuit season upon us, I am happy to recommend this program as the kick start to a series of full Lifestyle changes that will help you get ready to put your best face forward this summer!

Get Social With It:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Like Author Haylie Pomroy on Facebook
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ -  Follow @hayliepomroy on Twitter

WIN IT: 

Our friends at She Speaks and The Fast Metabolism Diet want one lucky Ascending Butterfly reader to have the chance to kickstart and rev up their metabolism too!

Enter using the Rafflecopter Widget below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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FTC Disclosure: This is a Sponsored Post for She Speaks/Fast Metabolism Diet. I received compensation and a complimentary copy of the book, the sponsor is also fulfilling to the giveaway winner. All opinions are 100% my own.

I want to be #Latina health leader for @Hispanicize 2013 #UHCLatino #Hispz13

Ascending Butterfly was established in 2009 to create a space online that I couldn't find, one that shared motivational messages with an emphasis on breathing affirmational meditations. I love reading quote of the day type posts, but realized shortly after reading them I'd forget them. I wanted to find a way to make quotes, motivations and positive life lessons memorable, and the breathing affirmations helped to bring those to life and sharing not just the motivation and the breathing affirmation, but how I applied them in my day to day life gave me a true 'mind, body and soul' approach to wellness and wellbeing.

About two years later, I wanted to get myself in better shape and began including healthy changes in lifestyle that included recipe substitutions, getting more active (even incorporating my Wii and Wii Fitness into my daily routine) and had actually dropped 3 dress sizes and 26 pounds. Our most popular recipe substitution posts based on your views: http://www.ascendingbutterfly.com/2011/07/healthify-your-summer-with-fage.html, and: http://www.ascendingbutterfly.com/2011/07/healthify-your-summer-with-fage-recipe.html, and: http://www.ascendingbutterfly.com/2011/08/healthify-your-summer-with-fage-recipe.html)

Things were going very well, both body, mind, and soul as well as physically, until New Years Eve, December 31st of 2011 I was experiencing severe pains in my lower chest region and couldn't lift one of my arms at all without being in agonizing pain. The ambulance of course assumed heart attack, but after a battery of testing and two days in the E.R., a specialist that is a 35 year veteran in her field, diagnosed with me a lung mass that they all felt was end stage cancer that had already spread to my bones (which would explain the pain near my rib cage) and that I had maybe hours at best to get my affairs in order. I was told I might not even  get to ring 2012 in, nevertheless see it end, and be here alive and kicking now in 2013.

I shared my journey here every step of the way. As a non-smoker (I mean like never even tried it) who has always lived a reasonably healthy lifestyle, my family and I were confused, devasted and rightfully so, angry.  I knew I had only one choice and that was to cast aside fear and with total faith, fight with every ounce of strength I had. (This post leads back to the whole saga and links to posts that outline what I experienced in more detail, it's called 'Thank You + Not Quite the way I had in mind to lose more weight')

And fight I have, I spent 2012 in and out of THREE different leading New York City Hospitals meeting with specialist after specialist across a variety of areas and teams. Each one more baffled by my case than the one before. In fact, 2 hospitals still use me as a case study and every doctor, from experienced to intern knows my story.

Sometimes my over a year nightmare seems like a blur, a distant and faded memory and some days it all comes back to me like a freight train. Today was a 'freight train' day for me, today it all came back to me as I was riding the express bus back from the city home and passed the hospital I stayed at most recently. I also go back to that hospital every 6 months for a repeat catscan, in fact I just had one recently.

I think of all the pain, the exploratory surgeries, particularly the one I woke up during and literally felt everything, and the care at the different hospitals both the good and bad. It sometimes seems surreal. Until something reminds you and brings it all flooding back.

When I got home and saw a post on the Hispanic Marketing and Online Media Facebook Group that United Healthcare is running an essay contest looking for someone to be a Latino Health Leader at this year's Hispanicize Conference, I literally jumped out of my chair because I knew it would be perfect for me!

At age 5 I spent most of Kindegarten in hospitals while my mother served as caregiver to both my grand-mother and great-grandmother, (her mother and grand-mother) who were both battling Cancer, as well as my Dad, all who passed within 3 months of each other. My mother, 'Mama Butterfly' as we call her around here, battled cancer twice, and she was by my bed in the E.R. when that specialist told me I wouldn't ring in another year.

Yet here I am not only still standing, but thriving, and I know for a fact that the healthy changes I had been making in my lifestyle well before all this started are what kept me alive.

It took me awhile to get the courage to share my story, but as flowers arrived to the hospital and my emails and social media pages were overloaded with messages to get well soon, and other readers were brave enough to share their battles with Breast Cancer and other life and death medical scares so that I would know I am not alone, I decided it was time for me to do the same. My story is a pretty unique one, so my dear butterflies don't allow yourself to be fooled by mis-conceptions, even the person who doesn't smoke, did NOT grow up in a house where they were exposed to second-hand smoke and living a healthy lifestyle can still end up in a hospital bed fighting for their lives!

I know I would make a powerful voice as United Healthcare's Latina Health Leader at Hispanicize, I was already well aware of how small but impactful lifestyle changes could improve things for the better, but after spending a year fighting for my life, now more than ever I truly understand that an ounce of prevention really is worth a pound of cure!

Check out this YouTube Segment called Hispanic Health on the Run:

There are mis-conceptions being brought to light in this video that not only affect the Hispanic Community but America at large! This nation and generation may very well be 'Super-Sizing' itself to death!

Oddly enough I had been invited to speak at Hispanicize this year on the topic of Lifestyle Blogging already, and somehow I saw this as a sign from the Universe that I really should challenge myself this year, and a sign I'm definitely meant to attend this conference! But with Medical Bills still very much being a huge battle for me to contend with, getting to Hispanicize is certainly going to take some help!

There is a quick and easy way to help support me as a nominee, it's as easy as copy and pasting this as a tweet:

I want @Tracy_Iglesias of @Ascending1 to be the #Latina health leader for @Hispanicize 2013 #UHCLatino #Hispz13

I think the Universe is telling me it's time to take my story from the behind the keyboard to in front of the public, and if it will motivate just one person to make the daily changes necessary to improve their habits and lifestyle then in my opinion it will be well worth it!

My path to well-being is ongoing, and I'm filled with gratitude because on this same day, one year to the date I was on my second hospital stay at a second hospital, being released in April just hours before my birthday. I have come such a long way from where I found myself just one year ago. And I tell you all the same thing, if I could overcome and triumph despite the obstacles I faced and still face, so can YOU Butterflies, seize every single day and every single opportunity that comes your way!

If you do tweet, please share the link to your tweet here as a comment!

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FTC Disclosure: This is NOT a sponsored post, no monetary compensation has been received by Ascending Butterfly. However this post is an essay entry to a contest that offers the winner a chance to attend the Hispanicize 2013 Conference as a sponsored guest.

@LuckyMagazine Bloggers Luncheon with @JaneIredale + @JeanGodfreyJune Lucky Beauty Director #beauty #makeup #inspiration

Last month in the midst of holiday madness, a whirlwind of personal and professional events, (including Spring and Summer 2013 Previews how bizarre is that right?), came a gem of an event that left me truly inspired and uplifted afterwards, a bloggers Luncheon with Jane Iredale hosted by Lucky Magazine.

My first introduction to the brand was during the Makeup Show in NYC in 2010. When I got to the Jane Iredale booth I met Kevin Mendleson who is now the Global Educator for the Jane Iredale Cosmetics Brand. He gave me what I considered then and still consider to this day a total transformation. His makeover truly transformed the way I saw myself.  And that of course started my fascination with the brand. Kevin actually really took the time to understand my lifestyle, my rush out the door barely time for anything mornings, down to my eating habits and diet! I was pleasantly surprised, he gave me a ton of advice, and decided on giving me an all out glam girl look and he *gasp* introduced me to the muted/aka 'Nude' lip! (and I was delighted that he did appreciate the work that goes into my signature custom daily red lip). He made me let go of my comfort zone and help to see myself in a new way.

And that inner/outer combination is what exactly Jane Iredale is all about!

So in a mixture of personal pictures, professional pictures and quotes, here is a recap of the luncheon:

Lucky Magazine Jane Iredale Bloggers Luncheon, Pro Shot used WITH permission!

Before the event began we were given the chance to write out a question we wanted to ask Jane! Which I thought was fantastic, nothing scripted, and everything straight from the heart and on the spot!

Left: Lucky Magazine Beauty Director Jean Godfrey-June, Right: Jane Iredale, President and Founder of Iredale Mineral Cosmetics (makers of jane iredale)

Our Moderator and all-around 'hostess with the mostest!' was none other than Lucky Magazine Beauty Director, Jean Godfrey-June (can I be her when I grow up?), and many of us curious bloggers also wanted to know Jean's answers to many of the questions that were also asked of Jane.

"Good skin is important to the longevity of a career" ~ Jane Iredale

Left: Jane Iredale, President and Founder of Iredale Mineral Cosmetics (makers of jane iredale) Right: Lucky Magazine Beauty Director Jean Godfrey-June

"I asked myself, why can't we have a makeup that's GOOD for the skin?" ~ Jane Iredale

Much like me Jane is NOT yet a mom, but dotes over her 'furbabies'. She said "Having two dogs helps, they have to be walked, they have to be taken care of - that at least gets me out of the office! One of my absolute favorite quotes from the luncheon was:

"To be a successful entrepreneur, you have to have passion for what you are doing then that passion is all consuming" ~ Jane Iredale

 

We learned that the company came about after a broadway show that had flopped in a week left Jane searching for what was next. I personally think being at a standstill be it personally or professionally is where our best ideas come from, and hearing someone that has reached such an amazing level of success say the same just added fuel to my flame to stick with my passions, allow myself to sometimes go down the rabbit hole and see where it leads!  When Jane said "The Public Failure, it was just ugly, but I learned that I didn't know enough about it to take on writing a Broadway show, but it was good. If that hadn't happened I wouldn't have started my company", I think it was an 'a-ha' moment for everyone. I doubt there is anyone out there who can't relate to personal or professional mis-steps of their own. But it's what she did with that 'failure' that led to her ultimate triumph and victory.

"Lifestyle and diet are absolutely key, I think supplements help a lot with Health. What you put on the skin is absorbed by the body." ~ Jane Iredale

Jane's Greatest Moment? - The first testimonial that came in from a consumer

How Jane Defines Beauty and who she thinks is beautiful? - "Beauty is very nourishing for the soul, whether it's a person or place or art. Helen Mirren and Meryl Streep - they have both inner and outer beauty!

What does Jane do in her 'spare time'? - "I love to read. I love Gardening, it resonates to everything I do" She also likes to play Golf and hang out with her Dogs!

When asked - What do you have in mind when you design? she replied "Things I have personal interest in, and things consumers would like. We have two seasonal collections that are really, really about color."

When asked - Do you have advice regarding criticism of your work? I really loved her response:

"It's hard to deal with, but you can't ignore it. The worst thing you can do is pretend it didn't happen. you have to face it. And have some objectivity. Confront it, deal with it, it's an opportunity to learn." ~ Jane Iredale

Jane Iredale's Advice for women over 35:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ  - Don't ignore makeup

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ  - It's not about wearing less and less, it's about ADJUSTING

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ  - Feel free to pay attention to trends, but adapt it to what works for YOU

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ  - Too much blush can be aging

How to prevent the dry skin look that mineral makeup can sometimes impart in winter:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ  - Use a tinted mouisturizer

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ  - or you could also try a facial spritz then pat your face gently to set the minerals

What is the #1 benefit of using Jane Iredale Cosmetics?

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ  - It lets skin breathe and function normally. The skin is the body's 3rd lung and 3rd kidney, it must breathe, it's important that you are NOT blocking things!

What are your preferences for applying Foundation?

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ  - For Powder - Definitely a brush!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ  - For Liquid - I use my fingers but many of our artists will use a brush with Liquid also

What is the Go-To Product in your line?

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ  - Loose Powder as well as our Lash Conditioner (to help them grow and keep them healthy!)

I found Jane to be a true inspiration, and the luncheon was incredibly empowering!

Jane was nice enough to give us a gift to give to YOU, so stay tuned butterflies for a Jane Iredale Cosmetics Giveaway coming SOON!

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FTC Disclosure: I attended a Lucky Magazine Luncheon as a member of the Digital Press. Our lunch was provided and Jane Iredale provided a product sample for editorial consideration, however this is NOT a compensated post and no monetary compensation has been received to recap this event. All opinions are 100% my own.