Plane Healthy

1000 Blenders for Breast Cancer

2010-03-01T13:28:00.000-08:00

Breast Cancer Statistics

Aside from non-melanoma skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in women. Breast cancer is the number one cause of cancer death in Hispanic women. It is the second most common cause of cancer death in white, black, Asian/Pacific Islander, and American Indian/Alaska Native women. For more information, visit Cancer among Women.

In 2005 (the most recent year numbers are available)—
· 186,467 women and 1,764 men were diagnosed with breast cancer.*†
· 41,116 women and 375 men died from breast cancer

It is truly scary. How is what we are doing working today? All of the millions and millions of dollars spent and raised for this cause and we have not even made a dent on this horrible disease. Just cancer in general is on the rise. What is going on?

As a passionate health advocate and a Nutritional Cleansing Coach, I really know why this disease is on the rise and we cannot eradicate it. The writing is definitely on the wall. Our food supply is so nutritionally bankrupt and this was actually written about in 1936! Can you imagine what it is like today? On top of that the toxins that we ingest on a daily basis is sick! There are even reports that Jet Fuel is found in mother’s breast milk!

Something truly has to be done. The air we breathe is questionable. And we drink and cook in water that is so full of chlorine, plus hundreds of other toxic chemicals. We just don’t have a fighting chance.

So we get cancer, it is so inevitable if we don’t take a stand now. I am not going to sit here and raise money for a cure without raising awareness about our food supply and our environment which is the cause. I am certainly going to raise awareness and let everyone know that prevention is the best medicine. Educate yourself people!
We simply must become more responsible keepers of our personal and world environment if we want to eradicate this disease!

No amount of chemo or other toxin laden drugs is going to cure cancer. Wouldn’t it have been done by now? Let’s try not to get it in the first place. When you do something or put something in your body. Ask yourself this question. Is this going to kill me? Because if it’s not organic and you are drinking coffee imported from countries where they use pesticides that are actually banned in our country. Or if you are still drinking diet sodas to hydrate yourself when you hear of all the statistics that point to artificial sweeteners causing not only cancer but various other illnesses! Stop the madness!!

I am raising awareness. I am shouting to the world that Proper Nutrition and Cleansing are a must for good health! I am donating $20 for every 30 day Nutritional Program someone orders from me. My goal for the year is to have 1000 blenders going every morning with a delicious breakfast shake that has over 242 nutrients, amino acids and enzymes, with a delivery system that will pack a punch to your cells! Let’s start the day with some nutrition folks so our bodies can do what it is supposed to do. Instead of getting sick!

Joanne Calvacca
http://www.planehealth.com

IN LOVING MEMORY OF "MOM"

2009-11-11T09:12:00.000-08:00

When I was just 14 years old my Grandmother entered the hospital and never came out. To me her name was "Mom", I can remember at just 3 years old hearing my Dad calling her by that name and that was it! She was "Mom" to me and of course all the other grandchildren took my lead.She was my safe haven, my security, all the love in the world meant "Mom" to me.

Of course I was her favorite being the only girl in her world of sons and grandsons. She was the one who I can go to, to be myself, bask in her world of Chicken Soup, knitting and an endless supply of Barbie Dolls. I remember her teaching me how to knit and letting me comb her hair. I would try out numerous hairstyles on her head. She would walk around all day with 5 pony tails sticking out and tell everyone I made her beautiful! How proud I would be!

I am not sure how old she was when she was diagnosed with Breast Cancer, but I do remember asking her why her bras had built in padding. I remember the scares on her chest as I would watch her dress getting ready for "Bingo Night".
This of course was due to her double mastectomy. I am sure this was a hardship for her because I know she was very young. She passed away some years after that at only 52 years old.Yes, they took her breasts but the cancer had spread and finally took her sweet young life. She never met my brother or sister, she never watched me get married. She was stolen from us.I

n dedication to "Mom" I am joining in this fight against this horrible disease. I have locked arms with many others, together we can educate and raise money to fight this battle.I hope you will join us! This is for you "Mom"!

Joanne Calvacca
PlaneHealthy

Click here to join my fight against Breast Cancer

2009-10-24T11:45:00.000-07:00

COUSIN TO COUSIN WE'LL ALWAYS BE, SPECIAL FRIENDS FROM THE SAME FAMILY TREE............ Anonymous

I am one of those lucky people who come from a big family. My immediate family meaning brothers and sisters is not so big, but then again I certainly wouldn’t say 2 brothers and a sister is a small family. But I certainly have a lot of cousins. I also consider myself lucky to be very close to all of them and I am blessed to be able to call them friends. And with each one, I share a close and very different relationship from the next. The reason for this I’m sure is our parents were close. Sisters, Brothers and Cousins among themselves, they were friends. So growing up, we had the pleasure of spending childhood days amongst each other’s company.

We can pick our friends but we cannot pick our family as the old saying goes. And how lucky am I that I chose to pick my cousins as some of my closest friends.

My fondest memories are big family Sunday dinners, or lazy summer days when we could “sleep over”. I remember trying to sit in on our parents conversations, because there was so much laughter amongst them, we all wanted in on the fun. But we were always shushed away and encouraged to enjoy the company of each other while time permitted. I remember those days in our swimming pools, playing games. My brother Paul being the favorite because he was usually the only boy among all the girl cousins until cousin Philip showed up. The other "boy" cousins still in diapers. Uncles and aunts at the barbecue grill always cooking something up alongside my parents. There were the “older cousins” who I couldn’t wait to be like. I remember asking my mother when I was going to be able to wear a bra like Debbie! And then there were the younger cousins who were always trying to see what we were up to as we locked our bedroom doors, played our music and talked about what we thought was cool.

My cousin Linda made me listen to “Ride Captain Ride” over and over again whenever I came to visit. To this day that song puts a smile on my face as I think of us riding up and down her street on our bikes with the banana seats and the fringe flying in the wind off the handle bars. We were so cool!

I also remember Peggy and me wanting to be “Go Go” dancers in cages at one of our parent’s basement parties! Oh the memories of being children of children in the 60’s.

Never the less, we had each other, through the fist fights, the bloody noses, the laughter and the tears. We had one another. Yes, Susie and I did have a few fist fights and Patty and I will always smile at the name "Sam Caramana".

Now as I gracefully mature in age, (sounds better than getting old) I still have that wonderful relationship with all my cousins. Our laughter is about different things now, like how I brushed my teeth with "Icy Hot" because it looked just like a tube of Crest to my failing eyesight! Or how we found a place that could actually make a strapless bra that will hold up our breasts! But my life is all the richer as we chat about our children. We still dream and desire about our future in the midst of reminisces about our past. We bask in each other’s successes, lend an ear or a shoulder to cry on if need be. And yes, we still fight and bicker about silly things.

But we are family and will always be there to hold each others hands and hold each other up. I thank God everyday for my cousins.

Love Keeps you Healthy!

2009-09-23T08:52:00.000-07:00

Last night was clearly one of those nights that you can smell fall in the air, as we enjoyed the crisp air we decided to enjoy dinner at our favorite little family owned Italian restaurant. As I said no to the delicious baked bread that was put on our table, I definitely said yes to a nice glass of Chianti. To stay healthy, everything in moderation of course. We noticed our daughter Kelly diligently giving excellent service to her many tables, moonlighting in this local restaurant. Its nice to know people, because of Kelly we never have to wait in line as we guiltily walk pass people who have been patiently waiting for this excellent food fare. Heads down no eye contact.

As I looked up, I noticed a couple at the next table, who were clearly in love, their faces beamed happiness and this showed in their whole demeanor. They noticed us too, because we were the only ones that kissed our waitress, so we were offered to share in their bottle of wine.

In our short conversation with this wonderful couple who we came to know as Vinny and Lorraine, we were allowed a glimpse into their happiness, past and present. You see Vinny and Lorraine were High School sweethearts, and after years of being apart, Vinny saw Lorraine's name on Classmates.com. He wanted to get in touch with his past flame, but since Lorraine was not a member, classmates would not give any information. Rightly so.

But we come to love Vinny's tenacity, he hired a private detective to find her! Well needless to say, after all these years, I'm going to guess 30, they are now a couple.

I love this story, since my husband and I share a similar story, childhood sweethearts finding each other after 25 years. But the point I want to make is this, as I was speaking to the both of them I couldn't help noticing the shimmer in their eyes, their lust for life, and the healthy glow that emitted from both of them.

It is a proven fact that love not only makes you feel good, but it fights disease and lowers stress and helps you live longer.

A study from the University of Pittsburgh found that women in healthy relationships have a much lower risk of heart disease than those in high stress relationships. There also is a study out there that shows that married people live longer, have fewer heart attacks and lower cancer rates less frequently than singles.

Of course good nutrition should always be combined with lots of laughter. John Gray author of "Men are from Mars Women are from Venus" also wrote "The Mars & Venus Diet & Exercise Solution". In his book he explains how to create the Brain Chemistry of Health, Happiness and Lasting Romance through proper Nutrition and Cleansing.

Here's to Vinny and Lorraine, may you live long and prosper!

Joanne Calvacca
Plane Healthy

The Greatest Gift you can give someone is your time.

2009-09-18T03:43:00.000-07:00

As I rose from my sleepy restless slumber yesterday morning, the first thing I did was glance out my bedroom window to see if Fall had crept in yet. As I peeked through my window between all the tiny nose marks from my two little Min Pins, I guess I was trying to "see" cold. I was happy I didn't have to go away on a trip, I just hate leaving my husband and my dogs for days at a clip and some days not necessarily in that order.

As I watched the rain pour down I started my morning ritual, feed dogs, load of laundry, clean last night dishes (hate doing them at night), all done before our 8am business call. Then off to yoga, lately its been Physical Therapy due to a back injury. One day I'll hire a landscaper!!

But I knew that that morning my husband, daughter and I were piling in the car to go see a sick aunt that is in a Nursing Home, a good two hour drive away.

My husband and I were fretting because this trip was certainly putting both our businesses on hold, for some reason that day was business busy for both of us, and we were afraid if might cost us some business. As all the excuses of not to go piled in my brain. A thought came to me, actually it was more like a whisper, it said

"The greatest gift of love you can give someone is your time"

This woke me up out of my self absorbed trance. It was Aunt Lindas 75th birthday and we are all she has. And I thought to myself if that was me sitting in a Nursing Home, what if my family couldn't come see me because the floors needed to be washed or the bills needed to be paid, or it was just too far for someone to take the time. I started to cry.

If I was on my death bed (don't get me wrong, Aunt Linda is not) what would I want with me? Certainly not my jewelry, or my things, I would want people, people who I care about, my kids, my friends, my family all around me holding my hand looking into my eyes.
Because love is what life is all about, relationships is what life is all about. God put us here to love.

Well needless to say when we walked into Aunt Lindas room, her face lit up like a Christmas Tree! We surprised her, she could not take her eyes off of my husband and all she wanted to talk about was the time he taught her how to fish. My husband barely remembers this incident, but to Aunt Linda it was one of he happiest times.

The greatest gift we gave to Aunt Linda that day was our time, but really it was the greatest give we gave to ourselves.

Love

Joanne Calvacca
Plane Healthy

A mother is not a person to lean on, but a person to make leaning unnecessary. - Dorothy Fisher

2009-09-15T04:26:00.000-07:00

I was enjoying a beautiful crisp morning with my mother the other day. We drove along in the convertible, stopping by roadside fruit stands. Fall is in the air, the pumpkins and mums are all out. I am truly blessed to still have my mom around and in great health. She really is my best friend, and we like to kill the day by going out to breakfast and shopping. Our favorite spots are Walmart and Nordstroms, yes we are very diversified! Sometimes we just sit in silence and enjoy the company and the day, other times we just get into silly laughing fits, these are the best! Other times we fight and get on each others best nerve!

My mom and I are only 20 years apart, she had me when she was just 20 years old in 1958. I remember her telling me stories, how she had me in a baby carriage, but she wasn't aloud to walk into a bar! "Mom, were you really trying to bring me into a bar?" No shes says its just the point! If you think about it back then pregnant and nursing mothers, drank and smoked and it was ok! Sometimes I wonder if it had any affect on me? But then again, I look at some of the youth today and think maybe it really doesn't matter if you drink and smoke while pregnant! Ok, I'm joking!! Of course it matters!

I don't want to take my relationship with my mother for granted. But sometimes I do, and it is at those times that I have to remind myself how lucky I am. I look at other mother daughter relationships and I cant believe that some are not close and even dislike each other. That is sad to me.

We plan together, we laugh together, we fight we cry together. I will cherish her always.

Joanne Calvacca
Plane Healthy

Plane Wealthy

2009-09-13T11:36:00.000-07:00

Since the day I was born I was meant to travel, my dad was the original ,stereo-typical tourist, camera dangling around his neck, map in one hand, my brother and I holding on to the other hand, while my mother was by our side turning heads with her jet black hair and her 1960 style glamour. I loved it, and I couldn’t wait to the following weekend where we would visit places like Howe Caverns, Washington DC or Williamsburg Virginia. But there was always those two weeks a year when we would go for the big vacation. We would all climb into the Gold 1966 Chevrolet for our road trip to Florida! My brother and I fighting in the back seat amongst the pillows, blankets and packed lunches. Our parents threatening to pull over and give us a good smack. And then there was always the games, like counting all the red cars or playing “Slug Bug” We always knew we were half way there when we hit the big tourist attraction “South of the Border” a complete emporium of tourist knick knacks filled with ashtrays, shot glasses and all kinds of doodads.

It is by no accident I became a Flight attendant for a major airline. Travel was in my blood, but now I wanted to see and feel more exotic destinations. Russia, Finland, Japan to name a few. How glamorous I would be! Traipsing though the airport with my crisp uniform, handsome pilots standing next to me. Just like a scene right out of the movie “Catch me if you can”.

But reality sunk in fast. The glamour? I would think about it every time someone would hand me a snotty tissue or a dirty diaper while I’m serving them dinner. Or when I would be down on the floor jamming dirty meal trays into a cart, spilling other peoples' dinner on my uniform. The delays, the jetlag, and let’s not forget the smoking flights. All this havoc would miraculously leave my thoughts when I hit my layover destination and have dinner beneath the Eifel Tower or throw a coin into the Trevi Fountain.

But the last wish I had as I was throwing a coin into one of the many fountains of the world was for residual income. I was done; I didn’t want to sacrifice anymore. I wanted to enjoy all this without having to leave my family behind for 3 to 4 days at a time. I didn’t want to wait on the people in the first class seats I wanted to be in the first class seats sipping on the finest wine with my husband right next to me. I didn’t want to trade my time for money anymore. I wanted to give my time to my family and charitable causes. It was starting to take its toll.

Well as we all know from the story above, what you think about you bring about. So it is by no accident I met entrepreneur and Success Guru Drew Berman. Drew introduced me to the world of residual income. Residual income through network marketing is the new paradigm of the 21st century. The only industry that creates the most millionaires. It is because of my relationship with this leader of leaders who has the experience to turn dreams into reality, that my dream is finally coming true. 2010 I will have the financial freedom to travel the beaches of the world with my family and will finally be in that first class seat next to my husband.

Dom Perignon please!

Joanne Calvacca
Plane Healthy

Stress for Success

2009-09-12T03:19:00.000-07:00

I don't think so!

Anyone under a lot of stress knows their breaking point is right around the corner. I have seen it on airplanes everyday. Well suited corporate guy takes tantrum because Flight Attendant could not serve him a diet coke on highly turbulent flight. Oh yes! This is true, I've experienced it first hand, the man was so upset he didn't get "service" (we were instructed by Captain to remain seated due to severe turbulence). I actually took the Diet Coke and handed him the can on the way out!

I'm sure his outbreak wasn't about the Diet Coke or the service, but it was that little tiny straw that broke the camels back for him that day.

Stress affect all our bodily functions including our hormones. When stress levels are high our body secretes high levels of a hormone called cortisol. The key is high levels, we need cortisol, for glucose metabolism, blood pressure regulation, insulin release, memory, and quick bursts of energy. But when these levels become high and stay high it can cause difficulty relaxing and sleeping, sugar cravings, weight gain, digestive problems. Your body will even retain water and use up more vitamins and minerals. Basically it compromises your overall health. WiseGeek says.........
"A 2005 study that was conducted by Japan's Tokyo Women's Medical University found one of the main causes of more heart attacks — blood pressure — was consistently higher in study volunteers on Monday than any other day of the week. An older study confirmed that indeed, more people suffer heart attacks on Mondays — 20% more than on the other six days."

Yikes stay in bed!

Here are 6 tips you can use to reduce stress levels.

1. Try relaxation techniques. Yoga, meditation or tai chi.
2. Book a massage.
3. Take a daily walk and literally take time to "smell the roses"
4. Drink lots and lots of water. It is suggested you drink half your body weight in ounces of water!
5. Your body uses us vital resources under stress. Adaptogens and B vitamins help deal with this. Calcium also helps your body deal with stress!
6. Take time for yourself and honor that spectacular person that God created. There has to be a balance in life, it cannot be all work, work, work, you are sabotaging yourself if there is not a physical, spiritual, mental balance.

Slow down, you only have one body, one lifetime, work hard, but play hard too. You owe it to yourself and your loved ones to take care of yourself. Because if you break, what good are you to anyone else?

Too busy to slow down? Life has a way of taking care of that problem!

Joanne Calvacca
Plane Healthy

Why Most Diets Fail

2009-09-11T01:48:00.000-07:00

You go to bed at night, feeling disappointed at all the bad food choices you made through the day. Tomorrow is a new day. You make a promise to yourself that tomorrow you are going to start a diet. You get off to a pretty good start, only to sabotage yourself by lunch.
Sound familiar.....................

Good eating habits and healthy choices are not something you start and stop. If you start something then you must stop something. Bad food choices, such as caffeine, alcohol, sugar and processed foods are detrimental to your health. Not only are they the major cause of obesity in America. But obesity leads to a myriad of health problems. When your body does not get the nutrition it needs it cannot function properly.

Our foods are so nutritionally bankrupt today. You would have to eat 14 apples today to get the same nutrition as one apple from 1976! This is a challenge for us! When our bodies dont get the nutrients it needs to function, its natural response is to open its jaws for the input of more food, because its still starving!

I teach people to think of it this way. Instead of asking the question "Will this make me fat?" every time you put something in your mouth. Ask "Will this kill me?" Because if its loaded with sugar, preservatives, chemicals, herbicides, pesticides. It will start doing just that, kill you.

Organic, whole nutrient rich foods with the addition of a Super Food supplement is the key to proper health.

Joanne Calvacca
Plane Healthy

"A man too busy to take care of his health is like a mechanic too busy to take care of his tools." - Spanish Proverb

2009-09-10T19:31:00.000-07:00

This Spanish Proverb or whatever type of proverb it is, really hit home for me. As I speak my vision of Health and Wealth on a daily basis, its amazing to me, what people don't hear or more importantly what they hear.

My health has always been important to me, without it many things are meaningless, certainly the ability to spend quality hours with loved ones.

So again it amazes me that taking care of our health does not come naturally. I am not talking about ignorance. Because you don't know what you don't know. But when you know what you are doing or what you are not doing is detrimental to your health, that's a whole other ball game.

I was coaching a young woman through a cleanse not too long ago. This woman had MS. I congratulated her for taking the steps necessary to achieve improved health. She had a very heavy diet coke habit. I explained and showed her research how Aspartame the sweetener in Diet sodas is now being linked to MS. I went on to explain that the only liquid that hydrates your body properly is water. She proceeded to tell me that she would cut down her diet coke consumption, but she still had to purchase it because her husband and kids liked it!!!!!!!!

Jaw to the floor moment..............Gasp gasp, glad your not my mother!

Another woman was going for major back surgery, I mean cut you wide open, in traction for 6 months after surgery. She was anxious to cleanse and replenish so her body would be strong for her surgery with a fast recovery rate. Since she only had a week to do this, I suggested she drink a high quality, all natural, 242 nutrient rich, enzyme & amino acid rich shake twice a day. She would only need one canister of this high end protein that has been used on cancer and aids patients because of its absorbability. She paused and then said she couldn't afford it because she had just laid out $1700 to have this surgery. I almost begged her to do this for herself, knowing how this would help her. I went on to explain that she would be spending $2.64 for a meal, which you will never find in NYC. She went on to explain to me I didn't understand her expenses.

Gasp gasp, jaw down to the floor.

If you cant afford prevention how are we going to afford disease.

Joanne Calvacca
Plane Healthy

Always Be Prepared

2009-09-09T19:09:00.000-07:00

The world is a beautiful place, full of exotic destinations that call out to the human spirit. It is for this reason that I pursued a career in the travel industry at a very young age.But the world as it is today also has a not-so-beautiful side. It is no secret that we live in a toxic world, a world where our foods are chemically altered, full of pesticides, herbicides, antibiotics, and hormones. The air we breathe is also full of toxins.Here are some tips I have learned throughout my thirty years in the travel industry that can keep you healthy as you travel. Sit back and relax while we take off to healthier skies!

Packing for Your Trip

You live a healthy lifestyle, you eat organic whenever feasibly possible, and you exercise regularly. Now you have to go clear across the country to a five-day seminar! Yikes! Airport, hotel, and restaurant food! The first key to all this (and the most important) is preparation. Never put yourself in a position where unhealthy food choices are the only option.1. Pack your carry on bag. This is your emergency survival kit. Always be prepared for delays and cancellations. Pack some almonds for snacking throughout the day. You may also want to pack a couple of hard-boiled eggs in case there are delays. Apples, an orange, and a protein bar are also good choices. Remember that you cannot take liquids through security.2. In your suitcase pack a bag of almonds to last you for five days. Throw in extra protein bars and some fresh fruit.3. No matter how early your flight might be in the morning, definitely give yourself some time for a healthy breakfast. You are now on your way to the airport with a full tummy!

At the Airport and on the Plane

You arrive at the airport in a timely manner, but just in case of a delay you have your emergency pack. In case of a long delay, you might find yourself looking for something more to eat.Most airports today are fully stocked. Once you get through security you can purchase liquids, but water is the only liquid you ever want to buy. (You can always add a chemical-free electrolyte drink to the water.) You can buy unsalted nuts; however, stay away from dried fruits – thePlane Healthsugar content is much too high. Fresh fruits are also usually available now, especially in major airports.If you need to sit down to a meal, avoid the fast-food courts and go to a restaurant where you can purchase a salad with some grilled chicken, grilled fish, or grilled vegetables. Remember, the only dressing you should ever have on a salad is plain oil and vinegar – avoid bottle dressings at all costs! These choices also apply at hotel restaurants.The airlines won’t be too happy with me for saying this, but if you are sitting in coach, never, never eat the food. (That’s if they’re serving it; it’s getting more and more rare!) Prepackaged hot foods sit in a warehouse, along with other things that live in a warehouse, and they are full of chemicals and preservatives. The cold foods are not as bad as the warehouse items, but most are not healthy choices. If you are in business class or first class, the food is better quality, but again it’s usually high in sodium and full of preservatives. Think before you eat, and only eat if you are actually hungry. Drink lots of water.

The Hotel Stay

If you’re taking a taxi to the hotel, ask the driver where the closest supermarket is. (For flight crews on layovers, the grocery store is usually the first stop.) Here you can stock up on bottled water. You never want to drink tap water from a hotel, so you are going to use this water in the coffeepot in your room for your tea and soups. You can also purchase fresh fruit and instant soups (make sure these soups are organic, and low in preservatives, chemicals, and sodium). The hotel can also provide you with water and fresh fruits. I once ordered a whole case of water from the front desk for a discounted price.Always wear slippers in your hotel room. Keep your toothbrush covered and away from the “flushing” area (this is a good practice at home too), because water molecules from the toilet bowl are splashing about at every flush. Bring your own pillowcase. Don’t ever sit on the bedspread or put it up to your face; it’s not washed frequently, and you never know what the previous guests were doing! And what were they were doing before they touched that remote that has now been in your hand for the past five minutes? Make sure you bring alcohol wipes for the remote, phone, and light switches – this is a must!Make sure you avoid alcohol and caffeine a few hours before bed. These two drinks can deeply hinder a good night’s rest. Instead, settle in with a nice cup of organic chamomile. Earplugs are a good idea; there are a lot of late night parties at most hotels. Don’t turn on the TV – there is lots of negativity that can cause you to worry and interrupt your sleep patterns. As an alternative, try some relaxation exercises or meditation. Half of a protein drink with some calcium can work wonders.

At the Seminar

You are fully rested and ready for your day. Remember to allow enough time for a nice breakfast. You can choose to eat in your room by having a protein shake or bar and some fresh fruit. If you are a caffeine drinker, please drink in moderation, as caffeine is very toxic. Pack your snacks, water, and fruit for the day.Be smart when eating in the hotel restaurants. For breakfast, choose poached or boiled eggs, because this way you can avoid unhealthy oils they cook with. Avoid butter and artificial sweeteners and eat whole grains. For lunch and dinner, you can order salads, grilled fish, or chicken.Remember to bring a sweater – they freeze you out at some of these events!

Have a Great Trip

The key thing is preparation; you can’t just wing it (no pun intended)! When life happens and you are starving, always be ready with your survival kit (nuts, protein bar, apple, water, alcohol wipes, etc.). The bottom line is that you cannot expect to make these choices when you’re away if you haven’t made them at home. Educate yourself and be prepared.Remember: If you can’t afford prevention, how are you going to afford disease?

Joanne Calvacca
Plane Healthy

7 WONDERS OF THE WORLD

2009-09-08T14:23:00.000-07:00

September took off with really beautiful weather here in the North East. Finally, since we have had a very wet summer! I had so much planned for the first two weeks. Spring cleaning my home & getting it ready for fall and the holidays. The yard, sending the last of the brood off to college. But most importantly, organizing and strategizing new game plans for my business. My business has finally taken off, and we are now seeing the fruits of our labor. So new games plans were to be incorporated and this was exciting. Plus the first of the next generation was getting married, we had planned for this all year, and we were really excited to let loose.

Then it happened. Excruciating, debilitating back pain.

The kind where you will do anything to stop the pain. This is a first for me. How did I do it? Who knows? Maybe it was dragging the 100 lb water soaked bag of potting soil across the yard? Could be. That with a combination of 50 years of walking on crooked feet. Anything could be. But I have been in bed for two weeks!

But the point I am trying to make is this. Never, never, never take anything for granted. Without our health, nothing matters. We work so hard so long, so many wait a minutes, putting off not only things but people until tomorrow. I think this was a wake up call for me, especially after two weeks of being flat out in bed, doctors and therapy. I know the pain will pass. But what I realized is. so will life.

Enjoy each moment and really bask in the wonder of it all. Enjoy your work like it was play, enjoy that conversation, the smell of morning, the frenzy of the family in the morning. A business associate of mine Susan Sly author of "Have it all Woman" posted this story on one of her newsletters.

I think it speaks for itself.

Seven Wonders of the World
Author Unknown

Junior high school students in Chicago were studying the Seven Wonders of the World. At the end of the lesson, the students were asked to list what they considered to be the Seven Wonders of the World. Though there was some disagreement, the following received the most votes:

1. Egypt's Great Pyramids

2. The Taj Mahal in India

3. The Grand Canyon in Arizona

4. The Panama Canal

5. The Empire State Building

6. St. Peter's Basilica

7. China's Great Wall

While gathering the votes, the teacher noted that one student, a quiet girl, hadn't turned in her paper yet. So she asked the girl if she was having trouble with her list. The quiet girl replied, "Yes, a little. I couldn't quite make up my mind because there were so many." The teacher said, "Well, tell us what you have, and maybe we can help."The girl hesitated, then read, "I think the Seven Wonders of the World are:

1. to touch...

2. to taste...

3. to see...

4. to hear... (She hesitated a little, and then added...)

5. to feel...

6. to laugh...

7. and to love.

The room was so quiet, you could have heard a pin drop.

May this story serve as a gentle reminder to all of us that the things we overlook as simple and ordinary are often the most wonderful - and we don't have to travel anywhere special to experience them.

Joanne Calvacca
Plane Healthy

Are Fast Food Establishments causing Childhood Obesity, or just Obesity in General?

2009-09-07T19:00:00.001-07:00

As a Health and Weight Loss Coach I ponder over this question quite a bit. Someone will say to me, "Oh I never go to out for fast foods, it will make you fat". Well you know what, you make yourself fat! Yes, they are not healthy for you, that I will agree on, and I can go on about that in a whole other blog. But, if you want to slide through that drive thru and you haven't been in 12 months, its not going to make you fat! Slide through 12 times a day, be sure to put some Crisco on your hips baby!

You see that's just what they are "Fast Foods" and as a society everything is fast. The new generation does not wait for anything. Hell, neither do we! Instead of boiling water, they stick it in the microwave, instant coffee machines, touch tone dialing, you get the picture. So most of the time eating at one of these establishments is convenient. You stop there to get your kids something to eat between soccer and karate. You pick up that bucket of Fried Chicken because you had to work late. In my opinion do this more than once a month and its going to create some poor health and fatness. Children especially, they grow up to love this deep fried, freeze dried, oil soaked preservative laden fare. And they think its food, because Mom gave it to them as a treat if they were good. Is it no surprise Childhood Diabetes is on the rise. We would love for them to take after us, but we have to draw the line somewhere!

So be careful, I remember reading an article about the government banning Fast Food places in a certain proximity around schools. Well I don't necessarily disagree with that idea. But to tell you the truth, proper eating habits start at home.

Joanne Calvacca
Plane Healthy

Is being Morbidly Obese a form of Suicide?

2009-09-07T02:04:00.000-07:00

I heard a story last night that utterly shocked me and saddened me deeply. It was a story of a father of four who now weighs in at over 1000 lbs!!! As the picture of him was been shown on the Television screen. My mind would not accept it! Could this be true? How does someone get to 1000 lbs?

Listening to the story, you find that he consumes 30,000 calories a day in Junk Food/Fast Food!

Why would he continue to do this? He cant help himself? Well I believe it is a form of suicide then. How about the accomplice? The man cannot get out of bed, so you have (loved ones?) running out and providing the food for him. If he dies, I think it should be grounds for Man Slaughter. Too harsh? Let me tell you, it this was someone I loved, I wouldn't be providing him with 30,000 calories on McDonald's!!!

This gets me so angry!!!! Is obesity a disease? Yes its like Alcoholism. People get addicted to food, but whatever happened to intervention? I think when someone gets to the point where you cant walk, someone should step in!!

Most of us struggle with weight issues. But really! Most of us keep from getting morbidly obese.

America is the problem! Our foods are so nutritionally bankrupt that we don't get the nutrients we need! So once we eat; an hour later our mouths fly open because the body is still starving!!! 85 % of the population is overweight and 35% of them are obese. And this is rising!!! Our children now are being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes! An adult onset disease! It's because of Fast Foods and all the chemicals, pesticides, herbicides, antibiotics and hormones that our in our food. Our bodies just don't have a fighting chance.

Add all that to just plain ignorance and we have people breaking down the side of a house to get a man out of bed!!!

Joanne Calvacca
Plane Healthy

Is Childhood Obesity Child Abuse?

2009-09-06T10:31:00.000-07:00

It is disturbing to me when I see an overweight child. But I have to say every time I see an obese child the parents are obese. So it is a dysfunction that's handed down to the next generation.

In America 85% of the population is overweight. 25% percent of that 85% are obese. Between 5-25 percent of children and teenagers in the United States are obese!

This is a true health crisis! Children are facing two enormous challenges today. Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes. A rising number of children are being diagnosed with ADD and ADHD.

Childhood obesity and sickness most likely results from a combination of nutritional ignorance within the family compound, psychological issues in which I believe are caused by our over processed, nutritional bankrupt food supply, and monetary status. Although I've seen obesity in children in homes with a six figure a year income.

We have major challenges facing us today. Our food supply, which is nutritionally bankrupt and genetically altered. And the lure of the fast food to our working mothers. Its easier to pick up some McDonald's in between Job 1 and Job 2 than it is to cook a healthy meal.

Obesity used to be a sign of wealth, today it is a sign of poverty.

But when a child is overweight, or worse yet obese, shouldn't a parent take action to make a change?

Is this the new form of Child Abuse? Born not out of intent but ignorance and laziness.

Joanne Calvacca
Plane Healthy

About Me

2009-09-02T10:15:00.000-07:00

**Feel Free to edit this post and add in the information about yourself that you'd like!**