What to eat the day before a colonoscopy… March is Colon Cancer Awareness Month!

March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness month. As the CDC says below… if everyone who is 50 years old or older were screened regularly, as many as 60% of deaths from this cancer could be avoided.

Getting a colonoscopy really isn’t a big deal. You have an appointmet and talk to the doctor that will be performing the procedure. He will ask if you’re taking medication (vitamins/supplements included, tell them everything you take) and assorted other questions, then they will schedule an appointment, tell you what you can drink/eat. What your prep will be (there are many variations), what time you can no longer have liquids or anything else… then it’s a quick procedure. Mine was twilight, meaning I wasn’t put all the way under, which is nice because you wake up fast. It’s the best 15 minute sleep of your life! You don’t feel any different, you have no idea you even had it done.

I know. Fun fun. This past year Fred and I both turned 50, we celebrated (woohoo) by getting colonoscopies. Now we’re set for another 10 years. Thank God. For me, the actual prep part of it wasn’t so bad (the part you drink that “makes things happen”) it was NO FOOD the day before. Holy cow. No real solid food. No cheese. No cream in coffee? We work hard to not eat much sugar, we don’t drink soda, so to go from a pretty un-sweet existence to a sugar loaded day creeped me out.  BUT, if I bought the diet stuff, no calories and I could fall over from starvation. Believe me, this was a serious concern, ha ha… Basically, you’re on a liquid diet the day before (check with a doctor, I’m not one, I do not perform colonoscopies or have above average knowledge about them… check. check. check. This post is about what I did (what I was told to do)… and I’m happy to say I’m alive to talk about it!

I basically had jello (made three different kinds… breakfast, lunch and dinner, ugh), Gatorade (or other sports drink) which to me is loaded with sugar and other “stuff”, but it’s important to stay hydrated. If you don’t you get dehydrated which leaves to horrible side affects. So DRINK. DRINK. DRINK. (And not alcohol…). Clear, non pulp juices like white grape and apple are also options, for soda I opted for ginger ale in case I got nauseous from no food (I think that’s what I drank towards the end of the day). Hot tea (or coffee, but with no cream, no powdered cream, etc.). Chicken Boullion, but NOT the brand I bought here. I didn’t drink it, but when it came time for Fred’s colonoscopy prep day, he had to work, had a big meeting. Fun times. So I packed him his lunch (oh, how I felt for him that day), he called me and asked if it was OK if there were “green things” in the bouillon… AHHH, NO GREEN THINGS! While we’re on the topic of color NO RED, NO PINK, NO PURPLE of any kind in any form… it shows up like somethings wrong in your colon, and you don’t want to repeat this for at least 10 years. Popsicles were another thing you could eat, but NOT FRUIT POPS (pulp). So you have to eat the sugar laden ones, but none with RED, PINK or PURPLE! I was getting worried that mixing my Jello (lemon, lime, and orange would some how mix together, kind of like mixing paint, and turn red/pink/purple, ha… I was fine).

Fred’s lunch… heavy sigh… Again… NOT THIS BRAND OF BOULLION… it has “green stuff” (flavoring) in it. I was quite happy how I packed his Jello, hee…

Fred’s lunch on prep day!

Some really informative information found at COLONSCOPY FOR DUMMIES… there is a great PDF you can download. FULL of wonderful information!

Here is some valuable information from CDC.GOV

March Is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month

Colorectal cancer screening saves lives. If everyone who is 50 years old or older were screened regularly, as many as 60% of deaths from this cancer could be avoided.

Among cancers that affect both men and women, colorectal cancer (cancer of the colon or rectum) is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States. Every year, about 140,000 Americans are diagnosed with colorectal cancer, and more than 50,000 people die from it.

How Can You Reduce Your Risk?

The risk of getting colorectal cancer increases with age. More than 90% of cases occur in people who are 50 years old or older. Colorectal cancer screening saves lives, but many people are not being screened according to national guidelines.

If you’re 50 years old or older, getting a screening test for colorectal cancer could save your life. Here’s how—

• Colorectal cancer screening tests can find precancerous polyps so they can be removed before they turn into cancer. In this way, colorectal cancer is prevented.
• Screening tests also can find colorectal cancer early, when treatment often leads to a cure.

What Are the Symptoms of Colorectal Cancer?

Precancerous polyps and colorectal cancer don’t always cause symptoms, especially at first. You could have polyps or colorectal cancer and not know it. That is why having a screening test is so important. Symptoms for colorectal cancer may include—

• Blood in or on the stool (bowel movement).
• Stomach pain, aches, or cramps that do not go away.
• Losing weight and you don’t know why.

These symptoms may be caused by something other than cancer. If you’re having any of these symptoms, the only way to know what is causing them is to see your doctor.

When Should You Begin to Get Screened?

You should begin screening for colorectal cancer soon after turning 50, then keep getting screened regularly until the age of 75. Ask your doctor if you should be screened if you’re older than 75.

Some people are at a higher risk than others for developing colorectal cancer. Having any of these things may increase your risk—

• Inflammatory bowel disease.
• A personal or family history of colorectal polyps or colorectal cancer.
• Genetic syndromes, like familial adenomatous polyposis or hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (also known as Lynch syndrome).

If you think you may be at high risk for colorectal cancer, talk to your doctor about when and how often to get tested.

Catch you back here tomorrow!

National WEAR RED day! Go Red for Women

Orange Red Orange by Mark Rothko / Image: Galerie-Mikel.fr

I normally feature an artist today, BUT since this is a pretty important subject, I think Mark Rothko’s “Orange Red Orange” ties in quite nicely with the WEAR RED FOR WOMEN theme, don’t you? I love his work!

Today is National Wear Red day to help raise awareness of heart disease in women. Did you know that heart disease was the #1 killer of women? Do you know the signs? There’s a great little video, reminds me of the show Modern Family in a way… it’s funny, but so true at the same time, shows you the signs of “Just a Little Heart Attack“! Symptoms in women are different than they are in men, so it’s worth knowing what to do!

Here’s a blip from the GOREDFORWOMEN.ORG website:

Symptoms of a heart attack:

• Uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain in the center of your chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or goes away and comes back.

• Pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.

• Shortness of breath, with or without chest discomfort.

• Other signs such as breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness.

As with men, the most common heart attack symptom in women is chest pain or discomfort. But it’s important to note that women are more likely to experience the other common symptoms, particularly shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting and back or jaw pain.

What to do during a heart attack

If you experience any of these signs or symptoms:

• Do not wait to call for help. Dial 9-1-1, make sure to follow the operator’s instructions and get to a hospital right away.
• Do not drive yourself or have someone drive you to the hospital unless you have no other choice.
• Try to stay as calm as possible and take deep, slow breaths while you wait for the emergency responders.

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All too often we don’t want to “bother” emergency folks with our aches and pains, but time is of the essence… you have a good outcome you have got to react quickly. So read up on it, be aware, and if you’re body is telling you something is wrong… listen!

Remember, if you have symptoms CALL 9-1-1 FIRST. Then if they tell you to take an aspirin, do so, it can be of great benefit (if no aspirin allergy, etc.), they will tell you whether or not to take one. I’ve heard from Dr. Oz that you should CHEW it so it gets into your bloodstream quickly. Also, unlock your door (after you call 9-1-1)… so they can get in to help you!

If you see someone having a heart attack and they need CPR, this is a great little blip from the goredforwomen.org website:

Research shows that Hands-Only CPR (without mouth-to-mouth breaths) performed by a bystander is just as effective in the first few minutes of sudden cardiac arrest in an out-of-hospital setting. Here’s how to do it.

“Stayin’ Alive” in two easy steps

No matter where you are, if you witness a teen or an adult suddenly collapse, you need to act fast – a delay of just a few minutes could be the difference between life and death. So check out this video from The American Heart Association, and remember these two easy steps:

1. Call 9-1-1, or have someone else call immediately
2. Push down hard and fast in the center of the chest to the beat of the Bee Gees’ disco hit “Stayin’ Alive”

Hopefully, you’ll never have to use Hands-Only CPR, but in the event of an emergency, your preparedness could save a life. Learn more about Hands-Only CPR and read these true survivor stories for inspiration.

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Oh! Wear red today if you can, spread the word!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

 

Dr. Oz: 5 Step Plan to Prevent Alzheimer’s!

Everyone hates to hear those dreaded words… Alzheimer’s Disease. UGH. You would make a few changes in your life to help prevent it, wouldn’t you? Well, the infamous Doctor Oz has a five step plan that certainly can’t hurt!

Read the full article from DoctorOz.com :

I will give you a quick summary, but you WILL want to read the entire article, it’s not too long, and explanations help you understand HOW important these five steps truly are!

STEP 1: DHA 600MG:  Studies show that 600mg of DHA (an Omega-3) for 6 months boosts your brain so much that it functions as though it were 3 years younger! So, if you are taking fish oil, read the back of your supplement, see the DHA amount listed? You want to get 600mg a day!

STEP 2: Brain Boosting Switch ups: The older we get the more we do things the same. We eat, write, dial, hold a coffee cup, all with the same hand. If right handed start using your left hand for periods of time (and if you’re left handed use your right hand), you will be amazed how your brain actually needs to process what you’re doing… it’s not as quick and easy as with your dominant hand! Write words backwards, that’s another challenge!

STEP 3: BREATH! The 7-7-7-Stress Busting Breath: Stress is deadly for your brain… it’s like poison for the part of your brain responsible for memory. Stress can lead to high cortisol levels which can cause brain cell dysfunction, kill brain cells and make the brain actually shrink. Don’t roll your eyes dad… everyone should do this, whether you feel stress or not, spend some time each day doing the 7-7-7 breathing… Stress is like poison for your hippocampus – the part of brain responsible for memory – as it leads to chronically high levels of the hormone cortisol. High cortisol levels can cause brain cell dysfunction, kill brain cells, and cause atrophy of the brain.

STEP 4: Tease your memory: Did you realize you have the ability to memorize 20-30 items on a list? Start making a list and try to memorize…

STEP 5: Brain push ups: 7 push ups a day will help stimulate blood flow to your brain and generate new brain cells. 7 PUSHUPS A DAY. I say you hop up and give me 7! Hee…

Read the entire article it’s short and to the point, THANK YOU DOCTOR OZ!

I would like to thank Bobbie Stroud for forwarding me this Dr. Oz email… you are now a contributing editor, hee hee… Catch you back here tomorrow!

Bacon, egg and cheese breakfast sandwich that is HEALTHY? Whoa!

Are you looking for something quick and easy, tasty and delicious, that will keep you feeling full longer? Look no further… after reading a blip out of the THE LEAN BELLY PRESCRIPTION book by Travis Stork, MD, this was one of his suggestions for breafast… Breakfast truly is the most important meal of the day. It’s the meal that should be the biggest, lunch a bit smaller and dinner the lightest meal of the day. Not easy in this society, but worth trying when you can!

His suggestion (one of so many great ones): a fried egg on a toasted English muffin, with a slice of Canadian bacon and a slice of swiss cheese.

My version… I used a whole wheat english muffin (called “British Muffins” at Trader Joe’s, thank you TJ for carrying products without soy!! THE ONLY ENGLISH MUFFIN I CAN FIND WITHOUT IT!), one fried egg, 2% extra sharp grated (if you grate it you don’t use as much, but any low fat cheese would be great). I forgot to get Canadian bacon, so I used one slice of (Trader Joe’s nitrate free) bacon.

Toast the English muffin, while bacon and egg cook. Have cheese grated. When egg and bacon are done, get the hot English muffin out of the toaster, slap the egg on one half, top with a sprinkle of cheese, one slice of Canadian bacon or/bacon broken in half, and the top of the English muffin.

YOU WON’T BELIEVE HOW GOOD IT IS! I have a feeling you’re going to be thanking me… sending me cards, flowers, chocolate, WAIT… chocolates? Hmmmm…. ahhhh the pressure!

This is an awesome book, I highly suggest it! It’s easy reading and explains the WHY behind eating well for your health. Click HERE to see it on Amazon.com where you can click to see inside…

HERE is a great review of the book from WEBMD.com, it sums it up.

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Trifexis Toxicity in Dogs – Charlie had a scare!

Charlie… our beast!

We had a scare this past week. It was time for Charlie’s Trifexis dose, a combination heart worm and flea preventative. I gave him food, then the pill and as usual he didn’t feel too good during the day. Normal, it can cause stomach upset, vomiting, etc. I always time the dose so I make sure he makes it past the one hour point without vomiting. He did. Whew, I thought, coast is clear. Not. About six hours later he started to stumble. He was disoriented. He was stretching his neck back and his eyes were partly closed. He had tremors. I felt his heart. Not knowing what “normal” was I did know that his chest felt quite like an explosion over and over. We took him to an emergency vet clinic in Mount Pleasant, SC called Veterinary Specialty Care. These people were nothing short of amazing. They acted promptly. They took him in the back to be seen by the doctor. Then we were called into a room where the doctor told us that his heart rate was dangerously high, 220. After trying to rule out everything in the world, his diagnosis, as she suspected was Trifexis toxicity. Trifexis works on fleas by messing with their neurological system. Sometimes it can do the same in dogs which would explain the odd behavior, the tremors… he stayed overnight so that he could be monitored, he was sedated so he could sleep through this reaction. They’ve seen it many times. UGH! Ever since Sentinel disappeared off the market we’ve all been steered toward Trifexis, in part because the darn fleas have gotten clever and are starting to not respond to the older meds. I can tell you it was a scary time. It took a few days before he was fully himself again, now he’s left with nothing but a shaved leg – so he’s fine, and all is well! We did take him to our regular vet for a follow up, and this was the second Trifexis Toxicity case in three days… I don’t want to alarm you, I just want to make you aware.

If you have any questions about giving Trifexis I would research it thoroughly, I thought I did, but…

IF YOUR DOG IS HAVING ANY OF THESE SYMPTOMS, (not acting normally, arching head up oddly, difficulty walking, stumbling, if their heart rate feels strangely fast, drooling (other than normal), tremors, vomiting and more…) GET THEM TO THE VET OR EMERGENCY VET IF YOU CAN. 

UPDATE: Charlie’s new regimen is Program and Capstar for fleas (Capstar only once a week for first six weeks) and Heartgard for heart worm…  read more HERE!

This is from the Trifexis website:

For technical assistance or to report a suspected adverse drug reaction, contact Elanco Animal Health at 1-888-545-5973. Additional information can be found at www.trifexis.com. Alternatively, suspected adverse drug reactions may be reported to FDA at 1-888-FDA-VETS or http://www.fda.gov/AnimalVeterinary/SafetyHealth/ReportaProblem/ucm055305.htm    

Thank you to my many Facebook friends who sent well wishes and prayers, it made all the difference! Catch you back here tomorrow!

Purity… you just may not have found the right one yet…

Philosophy PURITY MADE SIMPLE

Image: Nordstrom

If you don’t absolutely LOVE your facial cleanser have I got news for you! A while back I bought the small sample size cleanser by Philosophy called PURITY. I had read a lot of great things about it, it consistently got 4.5-5 stars on every site I checked. How could that many people be wrong? They weren’t, and that’s why I’m a big fan of researching things before I buy. I read the reviews and if they seem pretty consistent I’ll give it a shot, and am I glad I ever did!

Here’s a blip about the cleanser from the Philosophy website:

our award-winning daily facial skin cleanser is formulated to gently cleanse, tone and melt away all face and eye makeup in one simple step, while lightly hydrating the skin.

features & benefits

• deep cleans pores and eliminates makeup build-up
• natural oil extracts help condition skin
• fragrance-free formula

I have to agree, it removes makeup effortlessly and when you’re done your face doesn’t feel tight or dry. It’s perfect! It says fragrance free formula, but there are natural oil extracts that have a clean fresh smell that I absolutely love. Also… you only need a small amount, so it will last a while! Share this with anyone you know of who may not be too happy with their current product. This stuff is awesome. If you don’t have a store close by, you can order from Nordstrom.com and it’s FREE shipping… you just can’t beat that!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Wonderful art… great cause… this is the perfect time to buy!

I wanted to share with you an email that I received from the owners of Smith Killian Gallery in Charleston, SC. This is a fundraiser for a good cause. If you love art as much as I do maybe you’ll consider bidding on one of these pieces? I will let the email speak for itself… think about it…

In support of our gallery director Leigh Limehouse and her husband, Seph, we have put together a fundraiser featuring artwork by each of our Smith Killian artists.

Leigh and Seph, who is 36, recently found out that his cancer has returned and metastasized to his abdominal lymph nodes.  Seph was first diagnosed with Colorectal Cancer in the fall of 2009, while Leigh was pregnant with their daughter, Ellen.  After extensive surgeries, chemotherapy and radiation treatments at MUSC Seph was declared cancer free in 2011.The return of this cancer is devastating news for all of us, and we want to try and help with medical, travel, childcare and other expenses.

 

At the recommendation of his doctors at MUSC and MD Anderson in Houston, they will begin chemotherapy at Hollings Cancer Center in Charleston and will then return to Texas for surgery to remove the affected nodes.

Each gallery artist has generously donated a piece of their artwork for a Sealed Bid Auction.  Bids may be placed by email or by filling out a form and placing it in the sealed box in the gallery. Minimum bid is $300 and each bid will be kept secret until July 31st when the bids will be read. The highest bidder will receive the artwork.

100% of the proceeds will help Leigh and Seph.
We thank you for your continued support and your kind thoughts and prayers.

To keep updated on Seph’s progress you can click on the link below.

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/SephLimehouse/guestbook

Many thanks,

Betty and Hume

To place a bid via email (note: email the gallery at info@smithkillian.com ) please include

Title, artist, name, phone and bid.

Donated pieces:

Betty Anglin Smith

Island Lagoon

30 x 30

$5700

Kim English

Taos

15 x 17 framed

$2500

Shannon Smith

Pink Boat on Folly

29 x 35 framed

$4600

Darrell David

Three Deep

Bronze

13″ tall

$1100

Jennifer Smith Rogers

Out on Folly

31 x 37 framed

$5100

Carl Plansky

Donated by Larry Elder of Elder Gallery

Ira Sitting

30 x 22

$4300

Felice Killian

Fire Bead Tulip Necklace

$196

Minimum bid ($50)

Felice Designs

Hope a piece of this art “speaks” to you! Remember, it’s for a great cause! Catch you back here tomorrow!

All images via Smith Killian Gallery

Should you be worried about Genetically Modified Foods (GMO) especially when they’re in 80% of processed foods…

Just go ahead and try to keep up with what we should or shouldn’t eat. It’s a full time job… I’m here to tell you I read all the articles, listen to Dr. Oz, The Doctors, friends and neighbors and I feel like I’m swirling around in a circle. I know how to eat healthy… but with the advent of GMO (genetic modified organisms), and with the FDA not requiring any type of labeling so that YOU, the consumer can choose whether or not you want to eat GMO. It’s frustrating. We all need to stand up and let them know we need to know WHAT’S IN OUR FOOD as well as if it has been altered IN ANY WAY. Fair is fair. If we start dropping like flies but we knew the consequences, then so be it. However, to make us think we’re consuming something healthy (in a few cases) only to have it NOT be healthy, is WRONG.

I’ve read a lot about GMO over the past year or two. I have signed a petition to require labeling on those products, currently is not mandatory. HEAVY sigh… There is a fabulous article by PREVENTION MAGAZINE that helps to explain what this is all about. I urge you to read it. As always Prevention is chock full of great health information you can trust. The article was in the April 2012 issue of Prevention “As Nature Made Them”. Click the link to read the story… (Thank you Prevention for the article and for the above image)!

Let’s start with WHAT IS A GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISM. First of all, organism, ewwww. I don’t like that word used in describing food I’m buying. But here are some excerpts from the magazine article, again, I urge you to read it in it’s entirety:

They’re called genetically modified organisms (GMOs), and they’re in 80% of the processed food on grocery store shelves—and a handful of whole foods as well, with perhaps more on the way soon.

A genetically modified food is one that has had lab-replicated genes from other plants, animals, and even viruses added to it in order to give it new characteristics—a resistance to insects, say, or to extreme heat and drought–that provide it an advantage in terms of hardy growth. Today, 91% of soy produced in the United States is genetically modified, as is 85% of corn and 88% of cottonseed, to name a few examples. Most GM crops are grown on large industrial farms and then processed into hundreds of other ingredients that show up in our food as corn syrup, soy lecithin, canola oil, cottonseed oil, or the sweeteners used in soups, spreads, and sauces–even infant formula. So ubiquitous have GMOs become, in fact, that unless a packaged food is certified organic or specifically labeled non-GMO, chances are it contains modified ingredients.

And it’s not just processed foods. Hawaiian papaya, certain varieties of summer squash, and, as recently as last December, drought-resistant corn on the cob have also joined the list of crops that the Food and Drug Administration has reviewed for genetic modification in the United States. Pushing the envelope even further, the agency is now considering green-lighting genetically altered salmon, which would be bred with DNA that makes it grow to full size twice as fast as wild salmon.

The controversy over GM food safety has swirled since the first altered foods were introduced in the early 1990s. Many scientists insist there’s no proof that genetically modified food can harm human health; their opponents counter that such claims cannot be responsibly made because there simply hasn’t been enough research conducted—and there ought to be before consumers can buy them. Such arguments have persuaded 30 countries—including Japan, Australia, and the entire European Union—to ban or severely restrict GM crops. But the United States hasn’t been persuaded.

Obligatory labeling that indicates the presence of GMOs by food manufacturers strikes many as a prudent first step. Last fall, a coalition that now includes more than 480 groups—including Physicians for Social Responsibility and the Ocean Conservancy—launched the Just Label It campaign, asking the federal government to require labeling of GM foods. The FDA has until mid-April to respond to the petition, which has so far amassed 560,000 signatures. In a separate effort, California is working to collect enough signatures to put the question of GM food labeling on its ballot in November.

And some final great thoughts from Prevention…

How To Avoid GM Foods:

Stay Away From The Top 8
The eight GM food crops are corn, soybeans, canola, cottonseed, sugar beets, Hawaiian papaya, and some zucchini and yellow squash.

Go Organic
Certified organic food cannot intentionally include GM ingredients.

Look For The “Non-GMO Project” Seal
This means the products have been independently tested and verified by the Non-GMO Project.

Use The Non-GMO Shopping Guide
This easy-to-use online guide and free phone app takes the guesswork out of grocery shopping.

Shop With GM-Free Retailers
Two large chains, Whole Foods Market and Trader Joe’s, have banned GM ingredients from their house brands.

One note… locally, EarthFare can be added to the list of no GMO foods… thankfully!

Well, whaddyathink about that? Exhausting, eh? To keep up with things you can join the NON GMO PROJECT Facebook page…

If you would like to see food labeled so that you know if it’s GMO, sign the petition, this one is going to the White House…

Let me know what YOU think. Google GMO. There is so much to read…

Catch you back here tomorrow!

The Charleston Farmers Market starts TOMORROW! Saturday, April 7, 2012!

Yippee! Tomorrow (Saturday) starts the Charleston Farmers Market. Located in Marion Square each Saturday from 8AM – 2PM. (Image from last year). I am thrilled! The market will go on through December. There is NOTHING like fresh fruits and vegetables, gorgeous flowers, tasty treats, and all kinds of artistic finds… we are so fortunate to have such a fabulous farmers market!

Last year we were listed as having the fifth best farmers market in the NATION! Whoa! Here’s a blip from the Charleston Arts website:

Charleston Farmers Market

 

April 7 – December 23, 2012
Marion Square, Downtown Charleston

The Charleston Farmers Market is available each Saturday from 8am-2pm in the beautiful Marion Square, between King and Meeting Streets at the edge of Calhoun Street in the Upper King Street Design District. The park at Marion Square has long been the center of festive activities and is the perfect tranquil setting for the Farmers Market. Nestled beneath beautiful trees with plenty of room for families to gather and children to play, the Farmers Market comes to life each Saturday morning and offers an abundance of the freshest local produce, shrimp, plants, herbs and cut flowers. While strolling the Charleston Farmers Market, a delicious breakfast, brunch or lunches are available while listening to a variety of live entertainment. The Farmers Market also offers an amazing assortment of juried arts and crafts, providing the best selection and most talented local artisans.

Catch you back here tomorrow! Maybe I’ll see you at the Farmers Market?

Cooper River Bridge Run… March 31, 2012. Inspiration and Registration… (& Bridge Run RESULTS!)

Bridge Run 2011 {Image}

Hello again… Here’s an update to this post… the bridge run is over… click HERE to get the results. It’s a searchable site, so you don’t have to scroll through 43,00+++++++ names!  Just click whether you want to see the wheelchair results or the Searchable site to check results… Great job everyone!

Yes. The March 31, 2012 Bridge Run in Charleston, SC IS. SOLD. OUT. Well… almost… you still have a chance for a ticket, but it’ll cost you! The flip side of that is that it’s for a good cause… the money goes to charity. This year they capped the regular registration at 43,000 people (good grief that’s a lot of people!), it sold out 23 days before the race (according to an article in the Post and Courier). I went to the Bridge Run’s website and indeed they have sold out, BUT for $150 (that you can raise for a charity) you can buy a Charity Connection Registration (mail/fax or in person only). There is a cap on the number of Charity Connection Registrations, it’s set at 1200! So it’s still possible to participate! From the BridgeRun.com website… this is the info on the Charity Connection Registration:

Charity Connection 

Along with registration, the Bridge Run offers participants the opportunity to help raise money for 12 charities.  It can be scary choosing a charity to donate to.  In this economy, every dollar counts. You want to be sure your hard earned donations are going to the cause described, and not squandered.  The bridge run has done the research for you.  We’ve found, among many, 12 well deserving charities.  Along with the larger, more reputable non-profits, we’ve found other smaller less exposed ones, that also, need and deserve your help. Just one dollar can make a difference!  What do you get with your donation, large or small?  Each participant who donates to one of our charities receives an additional, specialized bib, showing your support, of a good cause. Here’s how… click HERE for a list of charities, visit the Bridge Run website for details…

• Now, you can leverage your run to raise money via crowdrise.  It’s super easy to join and all the money you raise will contribute the charity.
• Choose your donation amount with regular registration. Register online or via paper registration, for $30 (before 2/01/12) and donate any amount from $1 up.  You may also donate separate amounts to multiple charities. For example, you may choose to donate $1 to charity x, and $20 to charity y. 
• Register through a specific charity, for $150, set fee.   When donating $150 or more to the Charity of your choice you will not only get the delight of making an impact, but you will also receive a specialized Cooper River Bridge Run Charity Bib, free entry into the Race, and free packet mailing before 2/23/12.

 There was another article in the Post and Courier (newspaper) that told an inspirational story of two men who lost weight the hard way. Exercise and healthy eating. It’s a must read, if that won’t get you off your duff nothing will! These two guys are doing the bridge run… Clinton Terrill who started at 500 pounds and is now down to 238 (and still dropping) and Bryan Ganey who started at 577 pounds and is at 287 and still dropping… KUDOS TO YOU GUYS! If nothing else the bridge and the bridge run inspires people to M O V E! You’ve got to admire hard work!

Catch you back here tomorrow!