Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Longevity.
How to Get Back on Track. Top Story - August 2018.
Hello my little lovelies! So two weeks ago I went to see my husband in Connecticut and I had a wonderful time seeing him. It was great seeing him after two months without personally seeing each other. With that being said, being healthy wasn't exactly in the books. We ate anything and everything we could get our hands on and when we went to Mystic, Connecticut we had a nice non-healthy dinner and also noshed on a few treats from the local bakery. With that being said, when I came back home the first thing I did was weigh myself. It wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be, but it was pretty bad that I went into shock for a minute.
By Alix Nicole7 years ago in Longevity
A Diet That Works
Are you looking to lose weight? Maybe you’ve been working out, but haven’t perfected your diet yet? You may be reading this because, like me, you suffer from an autoimmune disorder and need guidance. If you are any of these three people, you’ve come to the right place!
By Kylie Jane7 years ago in Longevity
App Review: Sweatcoin
When I had first heard about Sweatcoin, funny enough it wasn't through somewhere like Fitbit, or any sort of fitness related thing. It was actually through a time-monitoring app for my phone, which allowed you to take a look at other stats that users had willingly allowed them to post about, and that's when I saw the name.
By Such A Geek7 years ago in Longevity
Best iPhone Armbands for Exercise
iPhone armbands are a fantastic invention. They can enable you to enjoy hands-free use of the device whether you're just reclining on the sofa, walking to work, doing chores, or working out. Yet, as is the case with almost any product in the world, not all are alike or ideal for your needs. In this review, we are going to consider the best iPhone armbands for exercise, but one of the biggest factors for you (as the consumer) to realize, is that the pros and cons need to be applied to your scenario.
By Alicia Springer7 years ago in Longevity
My Battle...
Things I have learned over the worst year of my life… If you find a lump, and it doesn’t go away, go to the doctor to have it checked out. Your best friend and your husband will totally agree with this. When the doctor, or in some cases, nurse tells you “you’re too young for this to be anything, but I will send you for a mammogram anyways” don’t believe them. Cancer has no age restrictions. Mammograms aren’t so bad. The squeezing was rough but a little squeezing can be tolerated for the time it takes to get one done. If you haven’t had one, please get one, especially if you feel a lump. The bad part of the day I had my mammogram was when they had to do an immediate ultrasound. To see the big, black spot on the screen was a little ominous. It’s not fun at all for the radiologist to come in and tell you they now need to do a biopsy of the big, black spot. That was scary, but the nurses were nice and comforting. Biopsies suck. They hurt and they leave a giant bruise, but they are necessary to help detect the evil that may or may not be lurking within you. Then there is the waiting. Waiting and not knowing. Not knowing what was in store. Not wanting to tell people what was going on in your head. The absolute worst day of my life was March 17, 2014. I went to work, in green for the St. Patrick’s Holiday, and worked until I had to go to the doctors. I kept telling myself, “I am too young, this is nothing, I will be ok.” Never in a million years would I have thought the words “It's cancer” would come across the doctor’s lips and into my ears. I was completely lost. I sobbed, Matt cried, and he comforted me, like he would continue to do. Leaving the doctor's office, I couldn’t drive. I was so upset. I am grateful that I have family and friends so close to me. That they were able to comfort me, and go have a drink with me, and help me process the whole thing. It's important to surround yourself with positive, loving, caring people. I have that, still, and have gained even more because they care. Deciding whether or not to make your diagnoses public (i.e.- on social media) is a tough decision. It took me a few days to do it because I know once I let it out there, the world would know. In the grand scheme of things, I am glad I did because it helped those that aren't near me see how I was doing, and it also allowed my story to be seen by a lot of different people. Another decision that was hard was deciding to take control and chop my hair off. It was a very poignant moment in my life. I had been trying to grow my hair longer. I think I donated around 13-14 inches when it was all said and done. I had my hairdresser style my new do with pink and it was funky, just like me. I am grateful for her, and for Matt and my momma for going with me on this day, as it was hard on me. Ports are a blessing and a curse all at once. I am quite positive that I was put in some crazy positions in order to get this thing in, and that makes me worry a little about how they will get the sucker out. I hurt for a while after it was put in, but didn't have time to really heal because my next step was coming... CHEMO. Things they tell you about chemo but I am not sure they truly allow people to grasp is that it causes you to be sick, like really, really sick, and regardless of which type of chemo you have, you will be sick in one way or another. I have never in my life felt like I was dying more so than when I was going through my rough weeks of chemo. I am sure everyone has different experiences with it, and this is basically just my opinion, but it truly sucks the life out of you (or pukes, poops, snots, or any other bodily fluid you can think of). You can’t eat, you can’t sleep, you can’t go out in public (eww germs), you can’t swim, and you can’t do anything. They pump you full of poison and send you on your way for you to suffer. I guess it's a necessary evil, and don't get me wrong, I am grateful to have done it and had a positive result because I know that things could have turned out differently. But it sucked, except the sweet nurses in the infusion center, and the cookie lady on Fridays—they were nice. I hate that I still have to have some chemo, albeit not a "bad" one, but still have to go get hooked up every three weeks until July. Blood Transfusions and hospital stays. When you're sick and you feel like no one is listening to you, don't tell your husband that, just don't. He took me to the emergency room, it was bad, and I don't think I had eaten in a week or so. I couldn't eat—the chemo made me that sick. The bad part wasn't him taking me; it was being there in the hospital, with all those other sickly people. I ended up with more issues than I had when I got there. And I had a rude nurse, just one. The others were excellent, but just the one tainted my experience. I had to have two blood transfusions while I was there. Now, if you know me, you know I am a vampire-o-holic, but this, this getting someone else's blood, it was too much for me. It completely grossed me out, completely. I don't think it helped that I could see the blood creeping up the IV into my port. And then to find out the blood I got only really elevates my white blood cell levels like two points just didn't even seem like enough. I did name the bags Frank and Mary (ha-ha, Bloody Mary). They will forever be in my heart, literally. Vacations are tough when you are going through chemo. They are really almost non-existent. I did get to go camping, and by camping I mean we rented a cabin with A/C and a bathroom. I feel sorry for my boys, though, as this really ruined their summer, but I don't think they ever complained (at least not to me). If they did complain I can claim “Chemo Brain” made me forget, 'cause that is a real thing. Telling your doctor you are going to refuse treatment because you are done with being so sick is ok. I did it, I told him no. He told me he would change the dosage to see if that would help me cope better, and it did. We compromised, him and I, and low and behold it was for the best. He pushed me to finish at least one full cycle of one type of chemo, in this case the red devil. I am so glad I did. I wasn't happy at the time, but today I am glad I did. Surgeries, and losing your boobs… It's one thing to be told you have cancer, and another to go through treatment, but it’s a whole new world when you lose your breasts. I have always been well endowed in the boob department, but I had to decide how to chop them off, whether it be a lumpectomy, unilateral mastectomy, or bilateral mastectomy. I debated for a long time, but ultimately decided that bilateral was the path I would take, and in order to get even slightly close to what I had, the plastic surgeon suggested Lat Flap with implants. Sounds easy, but it's not. I now have a scar that almost goes completely around my body, like parenthesis. The recovery was hard, the limitations on my movements are still there, it hurts all the time, but I am so very glad that I did it because in doing the bilateral, I saved myself having to go through radiation treatments. Now, post surgery for me has been the most emotional part of my battle. It’s very hard to look in the mirror, to see the scars, to see my port, to know I survived, but at what cost? I am not me anymore; I am a new version of myself. Some days I don’t like the new me, some days I do. Some days are good, the foobies don’t hurt as bad, and the scars don’t feel like they’re stretching. I almost feel normal. But there are days when everything hurts, everything feels broken, and I just lose myself in the dark parts of my head. I don’t like those days, at all. I try to give myself pep talks on those days, but most times I just grin and bare it because that’s what I am supposed to do. Emotionally the battle is still raging within me, and I have to work on that every single day. Blood Clots, ahhhh. It seems like every time I get to feeling “normal,” something happens. I woke up to a swollen arm and hand, thinking, “Hmm this isn’t right.” Went to work, as normal Katy would do, had a doctor’s appointment for my Herceptin so I figured I would ask the doc what’s up with my hand. Now, I had been dealing with the crud that is going around, already completed a round of antibiotics for a cold, so I figured it was probably nothing major. Well, when the nurse drew fluid from my vein instead of blood, and then proceeded to tell me not to “Freak Out,” I did what any sane/crazy person would do. I freaked the freak out. They still accessed my port, still gave me my Herceptin, but sent me to the vascular radiologist to get it checked out. Oh, and just as a precaution, they went ahead and started me on a blood thinner. Now I am taking blood thinners for 21 days and have to go back at the end of the month to be reevaluated. I hate cancer. Really, I do. The forbidden topic of Death. No one talks to you about it, but it’s a lingering notion in your mind when going through this. It is definitely the cause of many of my sleepless nights. I worry, still, that I am not ready to die. I don’t have my sh*t together. I need to be here for my boys and my husband. But I know that I don’t get to choose when I go, that is not my decision to make. I believe that I am here for a reason. I am not quite sure what that reason is, but obviously God has something planned for me.
By Katy Jones7 years ago in Longevity
Spirit Companions Fact Sheet
Spirit keeping is an old art, but a lot has changed in recent years. Some spirit keepers still follow the arcane practice of binding spirits against their will and using them as slaves, but many diviners have learned that an equal relationship is more beneficial, and ethical.
By Felecia Burgett7 years ago in Longevity
Interesting F#*king Facts About Tourettes!
In my life, so many times when I have told people I have Tourette Syndrome, they either don't know what it is exactly or only know one version of it... (the swearing kind.) I have lived with this condition for almost 6 years now. Not many people in my life know this, as my type is easier to hide... here are some lesser-known facts for people who are either facing a diagnosis of TS or are just interested in the syndrome.
By Adele cast7 years ago in Longevity
How to See the Aura
Back in college, I’d walk at night on 19th avenue in San Francisco. I’d open my auric sight if it was dark enough, and I could see the whole street awash in astral colors coming from every person on the road, even those on the light rail. Every person on this planet can do what I can do. Nobody is exempt from this ability, it’s just that some people are born with it shut off, while I was born with all my abilities turned on since birth.
By Iria Vasquez-Paez7 years ago in Longevity
How I Went from Chubby to Hubby
Summer 2010, I was at school and after getting my heart broken I left home crying to my mom telling her about Jacqueline. A girl who rejected me for not being her "type." I was so tired of always feeling so much for a girl and always end up broken hearted. Was love not meant for me? After a few hours of talking to my mom (My loyal partner thru this whole process) I had decided to start a diet plan. God I hated eating healthy, uhhh sometimes I felt like maybe I was wishing for too much. Week number one was the hardest one. Week one is when your body realizes that your daily dose of food is not the same and it feels like hell. After week one I had already left most of the bad carbohydrates that I would usually consume (Sugar cookies, Donuts, and anything sweet). My body was not hurting anymore; it felt like my body was actually grateful for what I was doing. After the first month I remember people telling me that I looked different. I would just pretend they were imagining things, after all I let them down so many times, I was not even sure of myself enough for me to let them know that it had already been a month since I started eating healthy. One day a cousin from New York (I lived in Los Angeles) called me saying that he was in Miami and his wife was in New York was alone and very sick. He offered me literally a job to take care of her while he was away and at the same time keep her a little company, I sed yes and I flew for the first time to New York. This was back in 2010 I come from a humble family so I had no camera phone or camera on the computers I would use, so people back home had no way of knowing if I had kept my dieting or not. I remember staying four months in New York, I loved it. The time for me to go back home had come and after four months of strict dieting and living in New York I knew everyone would not believe this new Javier they were about to see. In New York I had lost a total of 40 kilograms, adding to the 10 kilograms I lost back home before my trip, that's a total of 50 lost kilograms. I went from size 46 pants to size 38 and from size XXL t-shirt to size large. One of my oldest sisters decided to go pick me up at the airport. When she got there she called me and said: Javier I have passed about three times at the spot you told me you were standing but I see no one except a guy with a backpack and a handbag, Now tell me exactly where you are?! I laughed and asked her to turn around, look I am waving my arm up. When she turned around she just screamed and went crazy. She looked at me, kept on touching my face and said: You made it! After all you made it. Look at yourself you are a whole different person. Back at the house everyone was waiting for me and they all just went nuts. Some said I looked amazing, some said I looked too skinny but my mom just looked at me and said: You finally did it against all odds and smiled. People in the neighborhood looked at me and didn't realize it was me. One day a neighbor came to me and asked me to help him lose weight, he had seen my transformation and knew I was the right one to help him out. I remember that all I did was to give him the advice that helped me through this whole process and that I knew no trainer would know unless they experienced the whole weight loss process. After a few months of him joining my gym and spending most of the day with me, he lost a total of 40 kilograms. He up to today thanks me for what I did for him. The change I helped Miguel get, changed me completely. I kept on thinking to myself: What if you keep on helping people out? What if you change people's life by telling them your story?! That very moment was when I decided to become a personal trainer. The resumes a bit of my life. I am now a pretty known personal trainer in Mexico. I have never wanted to be better than any other trainer all I wanted was to be the trainer I never had in my process.
By Javier Prussing7 years ago in Longevity
How to 'Cheat' on Your Non-Cheat Days
Hello, my little lovelies! So I know there are days when we're supposed to be healthy, but we just can't help those cravings that we get for delicious, unhealthy foods that we are supposed to avoid. I have found some ways to go around that still satisfy the craving but won't completely derail you so bad that you want to give up.
By Alix Nicole7 years ago in Longevity
This Is How Many Calories You Burn Doing Everyday Things
If you are trying to diet, then you are probably curious about caloric burn. In order to lose weight, you are going to need to burn more calories than you take in. That's the simplest explanation on how to lose weight, and why learning portion control is so important while you're trying to shed weight.
By Ossiana Tepfenhart7 years ago in Longevity
