Better Than Before Breast Cancer with The Breast Cancer Recovery Coach

#63 How Living an Intentional Life Supports Healing and Happiness Nov 13, 2019

Show notes

Living an intentional life isn't just about setting goals or keeping a perfectly organized schedule. In fact, intentional living goes deeper—it's about aligning your life with authenticity, purpose, and gratitude, especially after a life-altering experience like breast cancer.

In this episode of Better Than Before Breast Cancer, you'll hear the difference between goals and intentions, and how shifting your focus from achievement to awareness can help you release the feeling of struggle and start living more fully and peacefully.

You'll learn how to:

Set intentions that reflect your true self, not just external expectations
Create space for meaning and joy—even if you're not chasing traditional goals
Cultivate daily practices that help you stay grounded in authenticity
Use intention to support your emotional healing and rediscover what really matters

This episode is for you if:

You're feeling disconnected or unsure of what life should look like post-treatment
You've tried setting goals, but still feel unfulfilled or stuck
You want to live more meaningfully, with less pressure and more self-compassion
You're ready to embrace intention as a tool for healing and personal growth

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Fast Your Way to Wellness Program Valter Longo on fasting, longevity and disease Prolon: Fast Mimicking Diet

#62 How Intermittent Fasting Supports Weight Loss and Disease Prevention-Part 2 Nov 07, 2019

Show notes

In Part 1, I shared my personal journey with intermittent fasting—including how it helped me lose weight, stabilize blood sugar, and improve digestion. In Part 2 of this special series on Better Than Before Breast Cancer, we take a deeper dive into the science behind intermittent fasting and explore why this dietary strategy is producing such powerful results.

You'll learn how intermittent fasting differs from traditional calorie-restricted diets, why it's not the same as starvation, and what clinical studies are revealing about its impact on weight loss, insulin resistance, metabolic health, and even cancer prevention.

We'll also explore:

The difference between when you eat vs. what you eat
How intermittent fasting targets stored fat (including organ fat)
Practical ways to integrate fasting into your life with minimal discomfort
Tips to manage hunger, timing, and lifestyle challenges

This episode is for you if:

You want to understand how intermittent fasting works biologically
You're looking for sustainable, science-based ways to manage weight and blood sugar
You've struggled with traditional dieting and want a strategy that fits your life
You're interested in non-toxic, natural tools to reduce inflammation and support cancer prevention

Resources:

Studies:

Fasting and Caloric Restriction in Cancer Prevention and Treatment

Prevention of Tamoxifen-related Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Breast Cancer Patients RCT of Caloric Restriction vs. Alternate-Day Fasting in Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Books:

The Obesity Code - Unlocking the Secrets of Weight Loss (Book 1) (The Code Series, 1)

Fast Your Way to Wellness: Supercharged Food

The Longevity Diet: Slow Aging, Fight Disease, Optimize Weight

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Fast Your Way to Wellness Program

#61 How Intermittent Fasting Supports Weight Loss and Disease Prevention Oct 30, 2019

Show notes

Intermittent fasting is quickly becoming one of the most talked-about strategies in nutrition—and for good reason. It's simple, flexible, and when done correctly, can lead to remarkable health improvements, especially for breast cancer survivors working to manage weight, blood sugar, and long-term wellness.

In Part 1 of this two-part series on Better Than Before Breast Cancer, I'm sharing my personal journey with intermittent fasting—why I decided to try it, how I lost 20 pounds in under two months, and the exact strategy and resources that helped me along the way.

As breast cancer survivors, managing weight is more than just a number—it's about lowering inflammation, reducing recurrence risk, and improving treatment outcomes. Intermittent fasting offers a science-backed way to support these goals naturally, without counting calories or cutting out entire food groups.

This episode is for you if:

You're struggling with post-treatment weight gain or metabolic changes
You're curious about intermittent fasting but don't know where to begin
You want a free, flexible tool that fits your life—not the other way around
You're ready to feel empowered and in control of your health again

Resources:

The Fasting Method

Books:

The Obesity Code - Unlocking the Secrets of Weight Loss (Book 1) (The Code Series, 1)

Fast Your Way to Wellness: Supercharged Food

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Girl, Wash Your Face: Stop Believing the Lies About Who You Are So You Can Become Who You Were Meant to Be

#60 Why We Seek Validation & How to Stop Oct 22, 2019

Show notes

When you listen closely to the voices of other breast cancer survivors, there's a shared theme that resonates deeply—the need to be heard, understood, and validated. Whether it's justifying your lifestyle choices, explaining side effects that others dismiss, or trying to articulate the long-term emotional and physical toll of treatment, the desire for others to get it runs deep.

In this episode of Better Than Before Breast Cancer, we explore why that need for validation is so strong, what it means to feel unheard, and how that can affect your healing journey. More importantly, you'll learn a powerful self-reflection exercise that can help you connect with your own truth—so you can begin to feel grounded and understood from within, even when the world doesn't quite catch up.

This episode is for you if:

You feel frustrated when people don't understand what you're going through
You often find yourself overexplaining or justifying your health choices
You're emotionally drained from trying to get others to recognize your experience
You're ready to find peace and confidence in your own truth—without needing outside approval

Resources:

Information on Life Interrupted

Girl, Stop Apologizing: A Shame-Free Plan for Embracing and Achieving Your Goals

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https://climbforacure.net/

#59 Living With Metastatic Breast Cancer While Climbing for a Cure Oct 09, 2019

Show notes

When it comes to breast cancer, few words strike fear more deeply than metastatic disease. But what if the story doesn't end there? What if it becomes the beginning of something powerful?

In this episode of Better Than Before Breast Cancer, you'll meet Lesley Glenn, a metastatic breast cancer survivor who has not only defied the odds but is living her dream life seven years after her diagnosis. Alongside co-founder Marissa Garavito, Lesley created Climb for a Cure—a growing annual event in Diamond Bar, California dedicated to raising funds for metastatic breast cancer research and spreading hope for a better future.

You'll hear:

How Lesley moved from fear to purpose after her metastatic diagnosis
The origin story of Climb for a Cure and how it continues to grow and impact lives
Marissa's personal insight into what it's like to support someone with metastatic disease
How you can join this empowering event on October 26, 2019, and support this vital cause

This episode is for you if:

You want real-life inspiration from a metastatic breast cancer survivor
You're looking for ways to support research and raise awareness for metastatic disease
You're curious about how to turn a diagnosis into a mission that impacts thousands
You're ready to connect with a cause that's rooted in love, purpose, and fierce advocacy

Follow Marissa:

Email: marissa@makemoves.fitWebsite: www.MakeMoves.fitIG: https://www.instagram.com/makemoves.fit/

Follow Lesley:

On instagram: @livingauthenticallylesley Blog: www.livingauthenticallylesley.com Contact her: lesley@climbforacure.net

Resources:

Everything Is Figureoutable

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There's No Good Card for That from Everything Happens with Kate Bowler in Podcasts

#58 Managing Chemo Brain as a Speech Language Pathologist Oct 01, 2019

Show notes

In this episode of Better Than Before Breast Cancer, we're joined by Mary Ann Eller, breast cancer survivor and Clinical Services Coordinator for Speech-Language Pathology at Duke Regional Hospital. Mary Ann shares her personal journey through chemo brain, including how it affected her professionally and emotionally—and what she's doing to adapt, manage, and even thrive despite its ongoing challenges.

You'll learn:

What chemo brain really is, and how it shows up in day-to-day life
The strategies Mary Ann uses to support her memory and communication
How to talk with your doctor about cognitive changes after treatment
Resources from ASHA and beyond to support brain health during recovery

This episode is for you if:

You've noticed cognitive changes like forgetfulness or brain fog after chemo
You want practical tips to manage mental fatigue and memory lapses
You're looking for validation that what you're going through is real—and manageable
You want to feel more confident in your ability to communicate and function clearly after cancer

Resources:

Mary Ann's article

Emily McDowell website

There Is No Good Card for This: What To Say and Do When Life Is Scary, Awful, and Unfair to People You Love

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PSTD Can Hit Women With Breast Cancer Years After Diagnosis

#57 Healing Your Mind & Body With the Power of Mantra Sep 26, 2019

Show notes

The mind-body connection is incredibly powerful—but it's easy to underestimate, especially after a breast cancer diagnosis. The emotional toll of treatment, recovery, and the search for a "new normal" can be just as challenging as the physical journey. And if your mind is working against you, healing can feel even more overwhelming.

In this episode of Better Than Before Breast Cancer, you'll learn how one simple yet powerful tool—mantras—can help you quiet mental noise, reduce stress, and reconnect with peace and presence. We'll talk about what mantras actually are, what the science says about their effect on the brain, and how you can use them to gently steer your thoughts toward healing instead of fear.

I'll also share my personal mantra practice, how it's helped me through some of the hardest moments of my journey, and how you can start using mantras to bring more calm, clarity, and self-compassion into your life.

This episode is for you if:

You struggle with racing thoughts or emotional overwhelm after breast cancer treatment
You're curious about the mind-body connection and how to support healing from within
You want simple, practical ways to reduce anxiety, stress, or mental fatigue
You're looking for emotional tools that are free, accessible, and truly transformative

Resources:

Studies:

Depression in Women with Breast Cancer: A Systematic Review of Cross-Sectional Studies in Iran

Depression and anxiety in long-term cancer survivors compared with spouses and healthy controls: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Transcendental meditation for veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder.

How Mantras Calm Your Mind

Harvard neuroscientist: Meditation not only reduces stress, here's how it changes your brain

Websites:

Chopra Center Meditation

Movie:

The Connection

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#56 Inspiration to Create Your Most Spectacular Life Sep 17, 2019

Show notes

Sometimes you need science. Sometimes you need strategy. And sometimes… you just need to feel good.

In this episode of Better Than Before Breast Cancer, we take a break from the research and recommendations to bring you something different—a little joy, a little peace, and a lot of inspiration. This episode is here to help you pause, breathe, and reconnect with the beauty and possibility already present in your life.

Whether you're in the thick of recovery or simply caught up in the busyness of everyday life, this is your invitation to step back from the grind and remember that you have the power to create joy, meaning, and the spectacular—any time you choose.

This episode is for you if:

You've been feeling heavy, overwhelmed, or disconnected
You're craving a reminder of the beauty and goodness in your life
You want to feel inspired, hopeful, and more grounded in the present moment
You need a gentle, loving nudge to see yourself and your life through a softer, more joyful lens

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Lisa Nicols on relationships

#55 Do Relationships and Life Events Happen for a Reason? Sep 09, 2019

Show notes

Relationships can be a source of deep joy—and deep pain. And when life throws something as life-altering as a cancer diagnosis your way, the people around you don't always respond how you expect. Some relationships grow stronger. Others fade, fracture, or fall away entirely.

In this episode of Better Than Before Breast Cancer, I share one of my favorite perspectives on relationships, inspired by motivational speaker Lisa Nichols. Her beautiful insights have helped me—and so many others—find peace and let go of the guilt, sadness, or confusion that can come when relationships shift or end.

We'll talk about how to reframe the way you view relationships, the role they've played in your life, and why it's okay (and even healthy) to outgrow certain connections. This applies to romantic partners, friends, coworkers, and more—because survivorship often means seeing life, and the people in it, through a new lens.

This episode is for you if:

You've felt disappointed by how someone responded during or after your cancer journey
You're grieving the end of a friendship, partnership, or connection
You want to feel more empowered and less guilty about the changing dynamics in your relationships
You're looking for a healing, grounded perspective that supports your emotional growth as a survivor

Resources:

Books:

13 Things Mentally Strong Women Don't Do: Own Your Power, Channel Your Confidence, and Find Your Authentic Voice for a Life of Meaning and Joy

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