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Kris Carr

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My Prevention Month 2013 Mission & Line-Up!

Hi Wellness Warriors,

It’s here! You might not have been anticipating the beginning of September as eagerly as I have, but let me tell you—this month was a long time coming. I couldn’t be more thrilled to debut KrisCarr.com’s Prevention Month 2013! Each week this month I’ll be featuring a fun new collection of accessible and easy ways to live healthier every day, including amazing information from some of the wellness world’s leading thinkers.

You may remember my Prevention Month from last year, but if not, let’s start with a little background info. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month (which I totally support)—but cue the tides of pink washing over everything from cocktails to unhealthy makeup to “Buckets for the Cure;” remember that debacle? Pretty sure my cure doesn’t come from Kentucky Fried Chicken! Even handguns. Yes, you read that correctly.

There are so many issues around the pinking—

Many pink ribbon products are loaded with chemicals linked to cancer; companies not disclosing how much of the money actually goes to research or charities; and on and on. As the brilliant Stacy Malkan, co-founder of the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, put it, “[These companies] want us to ‘hope for the cure’ rather than having a serious discussion about how to prevent cancer—because prevention requires changes to the status quo.”

Now, I’m not saying that we don’t need research, awareness and advances in medicine. We absolutely do! But what I am saying is that we also need to focus on NOT getting sick in the first place, and I’m not just referring to cancer, this is about all preventable chronic shit pickles. If, like me, you’re already facing a health challenge, prevention can mean becoming an active participant in your healing. Awareness of the problem is always a good thing to have, but what about awareness of how to avoid the problem from the get-go?

Yes, there are things that are out of our control when it comes to health. But that doesn’t make us powerless bystanders.

Taking the reins of our well-being is one of the most important choices we make on a daily basis. Prevention doesn’t just mean avoiding your germy co-workers when the seasonal flu goes around or standing five feet away from the microwave. Prevention means delving into each aspect of our lives and examining where we can make better choices (emotionally, physically, even spiritually). It’s putting ourselves—and our health—first. It means living like the special, supercharged, informed and passionate people we really are.

To me, prevention is more like an exhilarating party than a boring or fear-based way of living. And for many of us, prevention is also a shift in thinking. We move from feeling incapable, unlucky or unworthy of the effort, to knowing our value and believing that we can absolutely make a difference in our lives and the world around us. Now that’s some serious soul growth! This shift helped me to fall in love (with myself) and with discovering new ways to keep my little being happy and humming, and then sharing them with all of you! That’s why I’ve lined up a month of top-notch goodies that are going to rock your world, plus one extremely special giveaway.

I’ve also teamed up with the brilliant minds over at the Environmental Working Group to examine all the various ways we can take good care of ourselves from the inside out. Want some good news? Protecting our holy, hot bodies totally benefits the world around us, and vice versa. By taking care of yourself, you’re inadvertently bettering the planet. Big time score. Without further ado, here’s a peek at the fun that’s coming along this month.

 

My Prevention Month Line-Up

10 Ultimate Prevention Tips

We’re kicking off with a bang, friends! I’ll be asking some game-changing doctors, nutritionists and other amazing experts about their all-time top prevention tips. These are the people whom millions turn to for advice, and I’ll corral them right here to share their powerful prevention practices that you can easily start to implement over the course of the month.

The Crazy Sexy Guide to Organic Foods

Something that I hear time and time again from readers is that eating organic produce is prohibitively expensive. It’s so important that a healthy lifestyle is accessible to everyone if we want to see widespread improvement in our health. This week, we’re going to take a good hard look at why organics can be pricier, how to make them fit into your budget, and how we as consumers can shift the governmental policies that dictate what we buy at the market. Whew! Are you ready for a serving of education and action? Let’s do it!

Healthy Living Checklist

What’s lurking in your kitchen? Are there monsters in your medicine cabinet? A boogey-man in your bathtub? Together with EWG, we’ll go through your home using a downloadable PDF and make sure that you’re surrounded by healthy choices. Some of the results might surprise you, and that’s ok. We’ll look at where you might be able to make better choices on your next shopping trip. These small changes can yield big results.

Self-Care Planner

It’s great to think about wellness, talk about health, read about self-care, yadda yadda yadda. But what about actually making time for it? When you’re busy, taking care of yourself often gets shoved to the tail end of your priorities list. Outside stressors from work, family, hobbies and even your beloved pup (who ate the trash, again) can all knock your well-being from its rightful place—the top of your to-do’s! With this easy planning guide, delivered in a handy, downloadable PDF, I’ll show you how I fit self-care into my nutso schedule, and how you can, too.

I really can’t wait to dig in to prevention with you. It’s something near and dear to my heart and health, and sharing it with you is a privilege.

There you have it: my prevention mission. Let’s do this together. Start with yourself by looking at what you’d like to work on this month. Then, think of one special someone you want to share Crazy Sexy Prevention with. Maybe it’s your sister or your neighbor down the hall. Maybe your daughter is going through a rough spot and could use a little extra oomph.

Your turn: Pledge to rock prevention this month with me, by commenting below with your Prevention Month goal and/or your prevention buddy!

Peace & red hot prevention,

Add a comment
  1. Elizabeth says:

    Firstly, thanks Kris for being an amazing inspiration to so many people all over the world, you are an amazing person!!

    My prevention pledge for this month is to work on preventing stress in my life (or lowering the health impact it has on me). I aim to focus on building my yoga and meditation practice, cleaning up my diet, and spending more time with those I care about. I want to share this pledge with my mum – my wonderful wonderful mum! She needs to get a little less stressed as well and I hate to see her when she is frustrated or upset . . . so even though she is in Australia and I live in the UK, I believe we can still be prevention buddies and help each other to stay motivated and inspired.

    Elizabeth xx

  2. I will absolutely share!

    I soooooooooo agree with you that it starts with prevention (healthy organic food, exercise and positive thoughts is a great start…) and that we have to stop putting our health in the hands of our government (hell no!), pharmaceuticals companies (yikes, no freakin’ way!) or even doctors (GASP!)

    Let’s teach prevention in schools! I wish my teachers had told me my thoughts create my reality and that I get to create an amazing life if I choose so. Nonetheless, now I know and now I get to share my knowledge and empower women to create a life they love.

    You’re creating an amzing movement Kris!
    XO

  3. merrie.skaggs@gmail.com says:

    I love your saucy, sassy writing style that wraps up your good and caring heart. You care for yourself and us, too, and you model the importance of loving in that order. As the mother of four daughters and the granny of two granddaughters, my prevention goal is to take care of my health first during this prevention month of September. That translates into regularly exercising and juicing.

  4. Annie says:

    I pledge to incorporate more vegetarian and/or vegan recipes into my weekly meals. I’m not ready/willing to completely “give up” all meat, dairy & my lovely chocolate as that feels totally closed in & overwhelming to me. However, the idea of “adding in” more vegetarian & vegan foods/meals into my diet is EXCITING and enticing and doesn’t make me feel like I’m being pushed down into a box.

    Thanks for your leadership & inspiration!

  5. Tracy Hall says:

    I loved your post, Kris and am feeling jazzed to get my preventin’ on! My big commitment to prevention this month (apart from some sweet juicing and blending!) will be to seriously investigate ways to do away with some of the things causing the most stress and unhappiness in my life, especially the job that is out of alignment with how I want to live my life. It may take longer than a month to resolve but really, it gets moved to the next level from now.

    Although she doesnt know it yet, my wellness buddy is my awesome friend Vanessa. We help keep each other on track and want the very best for each other.

    Happy Prevention Month everyone!

    • Vanessa Burton says:

      Fantastic post Kris! I loved it!

      My big commitment to prevention this month is to work on some of the emotional stuff which keeps creating the space for me to get in my own way.

      I am super excited to be supported by and supporting my wellness buddy Tracy. We absolutly do want the best for each other.

      I’m looking forward to the months ahead.

      Xx

  6. Linda says:

    Thanks for calling out the manufactures Pink ribbon nonsense…. Capitalism needs to have high integrity.
    You go girl. You inspire . You are a true warrior friend to us all.
    I intend to increase my awareness. For me it’s digestion issues, keeping the gut flora balanced …, a challenge for a coffee drinker. Thanks, Kris , you are the best!!!

  7. Cristie Ritz says:

    Self-care. I preach it all the time but I’ve not been heeding my own advice for quite some time. I pledge to start now.

  8. Marnie Donovan says:

    I commit to transitioning into fall and all of the hectic activities that come with it with the same sense of control
    over my diet, exercise and self care plan that I have established so far this year.
    I commit to moving my body in some way, everyday.
    I commit to seeping my yoga and meditation practice. I commit to spending time everyday preparing fresh foods for
    me and my family.
    I commit to spending quality time with my husband, son and my furry boy Swell.
    I commit to giving my clients caring and professional service.
    I commit to serve my community and to keep a joyful heart everyday.
    Thank-you Kris, for all that you do!
    Marnie

  9. Jennifer Giuffre-Donohue says:

    I have a lot of goals that I need to work on, but I’ll take baby steps here so I don’t dump it all after the first week..LOL…My goal is to feel better and to start by getting more water and green juice in my diet. Thank you for Prevention Month. Can’t wait to spread the word!

  10. Wendy says:

    My goal is to learn more every day!

  11. Sheryl says:

    I’m in! Thank you for this, Kris! Prevention IS the best medicine and yes, has a positive impact on our world and those around us!
    I’ve never felt better in my life since being “forced on” (at first… I had no idea what I was missing!) a plant based diet and getting consistent, reasonable exercise (not GI Jane as you describe it so well)… I have more energy and clarity of mind at 47 with Stage IV cancer than I’ve ever had in my life before…
    My goal this month… to learn how to live with less stress in/on my body, of all kinds (emotional, mental, from foods, environment, etc…) to stop cancer in it’s tracks… I no longer need it (or the stress for that matter!) in my life, thank you very much! I’m told I’m “incurable”.. I beg to differ… xoxo

  12. Alicia says:

    Hello! My goal this month is to take my body back by juicing more and getting outside to move more. I have an 11 month old baby boy and had a really rough pregnancy that resulted in months of physical therapy and am now happily pain free, but way behind with my self care. I will be sharing this with and motivating my mom, who is pre-diabetic and having intestinal issues at the super young age of 53!
    We both first “met you” while watching a documentary called “hungry for change” on Netflix last winter, back when I was still in a world of hurt, and you helped spark my self healing approach that ultimately changed my way of living. Thank you 🙂

  13. Anne says:

    Love it!
    I am addicted to smoothies, have been for 15+ years, but wanna give juicing a go. You make it look amazing! I also need to remember to rest when I need it. I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia a few years ago and following my “fibro diet” {gluten free, dairy free, as much organic gmo free fruits n veggies as possible} has helped me immensely. Feeling so good I’m back to yoga recently!! My 17 year old daughter is my buddy, and we love what you’re doing, lady! Xx

  14. Jenn says:

    I’m pledging to be more consistent with self care practices. Thank you for doing what you do!!

  15. Heather says:

    I just finished my 15 month treatment plan for Melanoma and this prevention month couldn’t come at a better time! I’m 23 years old and need to regain my focus on healing (treatment can really screw with your brain). I need to de-cloud and focus on me and what I need to do for the rest of my life to maintain a balance.

  16. Kris, This is embarrasing but Ive managed to fall off my purple fitness pony for almost a year living in the shadows of pretzel twisting yoga jedi stretches, running 6 miles, and doing lunges while shopping in the mall. Now I feel defeated in fitness barely able to climb the steps to the vegan food cart let alone stradle my pony. But TODAY you’ve inspired me to love myself publicly to get back on and while a specific fitness goal would leave me running for hills of defeat I AM commiting to surrendering and ASKING FOR HELP from my peeps, my grateful lil viewers on my blog and social media sites. I can commit to asking for help in support for fitness to find my heart once again. Thank you for the inspiration to do that!

  17. Amanda says:

    I loved this post! How appropriate to consider prevention as we drift into autumn.

    My pledge is to continue my commitment to juicing daily, increase my yoga practice, start writing in my beautiful journal ( which I purchased some time ago ! – why am I hesitating here ?) and to persevere with meditation. Prevention makes so much sense …keeping prevention top of mind is the way to go .;-)

    My buddy will be my husband who has taken a liking to our morning juices and is even taking up yoga !

    Thanks Kris for your continued inspiration – you are remarkable and a great wellness leader.

  18. robyn k says:

    i love your stuff!! always inspirational and i have made sooo many adjustments and tweak in my own life… unless peeps who profess to own guns are pro-cancer don’t see how they can be against any of your positive, proven well thought out lessons xx fit and healthy and shooting paper targets x

  19. Jacquelyn says:

    Love you Kris! I pledge to finally take advantage of free yoga week this year, smile and laugh more with friends, infuse love into the foods I’m eating and love my body completely. Like your fellow Hay House writers Denise Linn & daughter Meadow Linn and Pam Grout say…when we infuse love into our food those loving vibrations enter our bodies helping us to heal. 🙂 Can’t wait for this Prevention Month – rock on Kris!

  20. Mandi says:

    This month I pledge to make time for myself and to make more healthy choices – looking forward to the blog this month!

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