Health | CURLY MARTIN

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October 2, 2017

National Work Life Week: 2nd – 6th October 2017

Tags: business coaches, life coaches, National Work Life Week, well-being, work-life balance Business, Coaching, Health, News

National Work Life Week 2nd to 6th October 2017 is great news for life coaches and business coaches as we concentrate on achievement with work-life balance. The week is all about employers and employees focussing on well-being at work and work-life balance. Employers are being urged to provide activities for staff, and to showcase their flexible working policies and practices this week. Employers who promote well-being and work-life balance will be augmenting their recruitment drives and speed up employing healthy, happy staff.

You can tweet @workingfamuk and join the conversation using #WorkLifeWeek

The week start with a National Work Life Week Conference this is on the first day of the week on Monday 2nd October and comprises the 2017 Top Employers award. The conference says that it will contain best practice examples and tools to take back to your workplace, be the first to find out the results of the annual best practice benchmarking survey. They will be announcing the Top 30 Employers for Working Families. If you are interested in finding the best companies to work for, ones which value you and your contribution join the chat.

curly

March 7, 2017

#Cancer-Free for 20 Years Excerpt

Tags: cancer, cancer book, cancer free, cancer journey, cancer survivor, Curly Martin, physical health Book Extracts, Cancer Free, Health, Tips, Uncategorized

Chapter Twenty Excerpt
Daily Dozen Number 2
There are certain things that I do on a regular basis and although I have shared most of them with you throughout the book I wanted to put the things which I think are important in the maintenance of my #health in one chapter so you can easily find them. The daily dozen is not the whole picture of how I dealt with the #cancer diagnosis – it is only the 12 things I do now on a regular basis, 23 years later. The order of the daily dozen is not significant for me; I just do them in no particular order of importance, every day or once a week. Here is number 2 in the daily dozen list
Vitamins and minerals – I supplement my diet with vitamins and minerals. I know there are scientific studies which say that if you eat a balanced diet you do not need them. The challenge is that I cannot be sure the food I eat has been grown in soil which has all the nutrients I need. There is a strong possibility my balanced diet will be lacking in something. So I take a multi vitamin/mineral supplement every day to act as a back-up to the food I eat.

At the same time I take a 1000 milligram tablet of Vitamin C. Vitamin C is a water soluble vitamin which the body does not store and cannot make. I have to consume it. It is essential for healing wounds, it is also an antioxidant, supporting my immune system, and it forms part of the absorption of iron facilitation within my body.

I also take selenium because, like Vitamin C, it is essential for my body and my body does not make it. There is a lot of scepticism about the benefits of taking selenium only the information I read stated that there was not sufficient selenium in soil these days and being a non-meat eater I would have less in my food. So I take tablets to supplement.

I take various other supplements depending on the changes of my state of health. I am at the time of writing this blog about #cancer reading a marvellous book Niacin The Real Story, Abram Hoffer PH.D.,Andrew W Saul PH.D, Harold D. Foster PH.D. I am finding it a fascinating read as niacin is vitamin B3 and this means it is also a soluble vitamin which is not stored in the body. The book explains the many ailments that taking niacin can remedy.

curly

February 8, 2017

Tags: health, life coaching, sleeping Health, Tips

Whilst running the Life Coaching Diploma course last weekend sleep deprivation was suffered by a third of the attendees. Sleep is important for many reasons with rejuvenation and concentration being part of the long list. If you are not sleeping well this affects all other areas in your life. There are many sites and blogs about sleeping which i recommend you look at if you are suffering. Here is my take on the subject. Prepare for sleep. This means treat sleeping as the second most important thing in a day. The first being awake.
If I have not slept well and awake early, rather than lying in bed frustrated about the fact that I have not slept, I get up and get going, knowing that the following night (or the one after) I will sleep because I am tired.
Some of the things I do and don’t do

Do’s
1. Treat my bed as a sanctuary from the daily demands
2. Calm my breathing and pay attention to relaxing
3. Remind myself that resting my body is part of the process
Don’ts
1. Eat or drink just before going to bed
2. Check my smart phone or tablet in bed
3. Worry about not sleeping – rest is the key

There are lots of really good blogs about healthy sleeping from experts on the topic – I have shared some of the things that have worked for me. Good luck.

curly

January 10, 2017

#Cancer-Free for 20 Years Excerpt

Tags: cancer, cancer book, cancer journey, exercise, gym, health, walking Book Extracts, Cancer Free, Health

Chapter Twenty Excerpt
Daily Dozen
There are certain things that I do on a regular basis and although I have shared most of them with you throughout the book I wanted to put the things which I think are important in the maintenance of my health in one chapter so you can easily find them. The daily dozen is not the whole picture of how I dealt with the #cancer diagnosis – it is only the 12 things I do now on a regular basis, 23 years later. The order of the daily dozen is not significant for me; I just do them in no particular order of importance, every day or once a week. Here is the first one on the list and i have started with number one; not because it is the normal rules to start at the beginning – my coaches will already know I do not follow rules – I chose this one because it is easy to do and will be a gentle start to your fitness programme.

1. Walking – every day I make sure I have done some form of exercise. During the week I walk about four to five miles a day around the country lanes. I power walk for the most part, excluding the hills where I generally slow down and take my time. When I say power walk, I think that is a bit of an exaggeration to be truthful because for some people a power walk is just below the speed of jogging and it causes breathlessness and sweating. I walk fast but not so fast that I am out of breath or break out in a sweat. I walk to maintain my health, not for any competitive reasons.

Monday to Friday I sit at a desk, sometimes for eight to ten hours, looking at a computer. I do get up every hour or less to grab a drink or visit the toilet to get rid of said drink. I know all this sitting is not good for my body, so come rain (and it does a lot of that in the West Country) or shine I go for my walk.

It is my belief that #cancer will have a harder time growing in a healthy body and part of being #healthy for me is to #exercise. NOT the sweaty #gym type of exercise (which is great for those who like that kind of thing – there is a horror story about gyms in the book, a must read if you are considering joining a gym) but just a gentle regular form of exercise. It needs to be easy to do, easy to maintain and increases health. Simple. If you look for a form of exercise which has these three things you will be able to keep going with your fitness way longer than you ever thought possible.

curly

November 8, 2016

#Cancer-Free for 20 Years Excerpt

Tags: cancer, cancer book, cancer journey, Curly Martin, health Book Extracts, Health

Cancer Free

Chapter Two Excerpt
Last will and testament
… Also as part of the preparation, I had planned to write my will before going into hospital. This part of the story might make you laugh; it always brings a smile to my face. Once I was registered at the hospital and I had unpacked, I realised I had forgotten to get a will made for me. Forgetfulness played a major part in my journey.

I panicked as I really wanted to leave everything in order in the event I did not survive the operation. I asked my nurse if I could pop out but she was not overly happy to let me out of the hospital because she had registered me. I explained that I had not written a will and needed to get a do-it-yourself will kit from the newsagents. The nurse was very understanding and gave me 30 minutes to undertake this task. On reflection, her understanding of my need to write a will could have meant many of her patients had needed one! Thankfully I did not make that connection.

I was really grateful to the nurse for bending the rules and I dashed out to the nearest newsagent, who seemed to have lots of these kits on sale, which was not reassuring. The question, ‘should I be worried about the easily accessible will kits?’ passed through my mind.

I bought a will kit and returned to the ward within the 30 minutes. I was sitting writing my will when this very handsome surgeon came along with 5 students. He asked me to pop on to the bed and then he noticed the partially written will sitting on the table. He declared ‘I had better do a good job as this lady seems to have a very low opinion of my skills!’ I was so embarrassed I could not find words to excuse myself. He laughed and saw the funny side of it.

Once he had moved on to the next patient I continued to sheepishly complete my will. The action of completing the will and putting ‘my house in order’ gave me peace of mind and I felt ready for the future, albeit with trepidation.

curly

October 4, 2016

Cancer Free For 20 Years – available in paperback and Ebook

Tags: cancer, cancer free, cancer journey, Coaching, Curly Martin, happiness, health, humour for health, mental health, physical health Book Extracts, Coaching, Health, Offers, Personal Success, Tips

New book now available as a paperback as well as an EPUB and MOBI and 50% discount on the website. ‘A very interesting, amusing, and thought provoking book. A good, easy read. I love the fact that the author did not accredit her health and recovery to any one thing – but all the ‘little steps.’ Jackie Hammans

Cancer Free

In 1992 I was told I had nine months left to live. Since my terminal diagnosis of breast cancer and an aggressive form of lymphatic cancer, I am now an international bestselling author, professional speaker and I have built a successful coaching business, I am married and living a happy and healthy life. None of this would have happened had I not been diagnosed with cancer. I am not saying this to impress you; I am saying this to impress upon you, that cancer can be the most powerful catalyst of change.

‘A lovely inspiring, uplifting and funny read. Reaffirms to seize the day, every day!’ Prue Gent

Throughout this book I will be telling you my story at each stage of my journey. What happened, how I handled it, the outcome (if applicable, or if it adds more information for you), what I was offered in the way of medical support, what I did, what extra things happened and any other titbits to inform and amuse you because as you will read here in the book, I believe humour is a great healer.

cancer free book back

curly

August 1, 2016

New Book! Achievement: Cancer Free for 20 Years

Tags: cancer, cancer book, cancer journey, health, MacMillan cancer survivor report, surviving cancer Book Extracts, Health, Personal Success

Finally my new book is now available on Amazon as a kindle book and the paperback version will soon be here.
Since my terminal diagnosis of breast cancer and an aggressive form of lymphatic cancer, over 23 years ago, I am now an international bestselling author, I have become the grandmother of life coach training, I have built a successful coaching business, I am married to a loving husband and we live in a fabulous house in the country. In 1992 I was told I had nine months left to live. This book is the story of my journey. I give you some of the strategies I used to overcome the cancer and how I created an outstanding life. None of this would have happened had I not been diagnosed with cancer. I am not saying this to impress you; I am saying this to impress upon you, that cancer can be the most powerful catalyst of change.

The book is written with a combination of storytelling and facts mingled together to entertain and educate at the same time. I understand this mingling of fact and fiction is now often known as a portmanteau edutainment. Whatever next? It makes the process sound like some syndrome, not the fun and excitement I like to combine.

If you are in the early stages of your cancer journey, you might find that the many things that happened to me, cause you alarm. Please do not be alarmed; not all the things that happened to me will happen to you. Probably not half of the things will happen to you, especially when you take into account the advances in cancer treatment which have been developed in the interim period. Remember, as you are reading, that I have written this book to reassure you that there can be a future beyond cancer and I hope that I also inspire you to live a full and varied life.

curly

June 2, 2016

New Book Imminent

Tags: cancer, health, new book, self-help Book Extracts, Health

I am pleased to be telling you about my fledgling new book which will be available in July.

“A lovely inspiring, uplifting and funny read. Reaffirms to seize the day, every day!” Prue Gent

This book is very different from my Coaching Handbook Series and yet it also has some familiar aspects, such as, a summary at the end of each chapter for quick reference.

The book provides a combination of storytelling and facts mingled together to entertain and educate at the same time. I understand this mingling of fact and fiction is now often known as a portmanteau edutainment. Whatever next? It makes the process sound like some syndrome, not the fun and excitement I like to combine.

In 1992 I was told I had breast cancer and an aggressive lymphatic cancer with nine months left to live. This book is the story of my journey. I give you some of the strategies I used to overcome the cancer and how I created an outstanding life. None of this would have happened had I not been diagnosed with cancer. I am not saying this to impress you; I am saying this to impress upon you, that cancer can be the most powerful catalyst of change.

If you want to register your interest or to pre-order your copy simply send me an email or visit http://www.achievementspecialists.co.uk/life_coaching/books fill in the information request form and I will let you know the moment I put the book up for sale.
“A very interesting, amusing, and thought provoking book. A good, easy read. I love the fact that the author did not accredit her health and recovery to any one thing – but all the ‘little steps.” Jackie Hammans

curly

December 22, 2015

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all my readers

Tags: Achievement Specialists, cancer, cancer book, cancer journey, Curly Martin, health Health, Uncategorized

I love this time of the year as for me it incorporates a review of the previous year and all the achievements, learning and challenges followed by the excitement of all the new ventures, goals and challenges I will face in the coming 12 months.
2016 has greater links with the previous year than any of the recent New Year periods. During 2015, I spent my free time writing a new book all about the 20 years plus of living since the cancer diagnosis. The book takes the reader from the moment of terminal diagnosis through the operation, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and the many alternative therapies which have helped me to survive and thrive since. There are some very funny bits in the book and as you will imagine because of Read More

curly

November 23, 2015

The More The Merrier!

Tags: belief change, Boots Health and Beauty magazine, Boots magazine, Christmas, Christmas stress, Curly Martin, Delegation, health, Heath and Beauty, Sarah Maber Health, Tips, Uncategorized

I was contacted by Sarah Maber a journalist as she was preparing an article for the Boots Health and Beauty magazine (November and December issue). The article is along the lines of how to reduce stress and delegate at Christmas and is called The More the Merrier!
Unfortunately, you cannot read the article on-line which means a trip to Boots to collect your copy. The good news is that the magazine is free.
In the article she says that you need to silence Read More