After shedding over 60 pounds to reinvent herself and her health, Carole Carson inspired a weight loss mass movement in her hometown. Now, she's trying to encourage women around the world to lose weight and reduce their risk of breast cancer and other diseases. Here, she explains the link between breast cancer and excess weight, and the weight loss tips that finally helped her go from "fat to fit" after 40 years of failed attempts.
Q: What was your motivation for getting in shape and how did you accomplish it?
A: I stepped on the scale and it broke, taking with it my elaborate system of denial. My 5-foot-2-inch frame had reached 183 pounds. When the scale broke, I was forced to acknowledge that I wasn't simply pudgy or stocky as I'd told myself -- I was fat. In that moment of epiphany, I decided to get fit and lose weight. Equally important, I decided I wasn't going to diet but rather adopt a new lifestyle -- one I could sustain indefinitely.
I wrote about my makeover -- from butterball to butterfly -- in the local newspaper of my small town in northern California. Later, I invited friends and neighbours to join me in getting fit. Over 1,000 people showed up for the Nevada County Meltdown. During the next eight weeks, over 206 teams lost nearly four tons of excess weight. To encourage others to follow our example, I condensed what I had learned on this remarkable journey in a book, From Fat to Fit: Turn Yourself into a Weapon of Mass Reduction.
Q: What is the connection between weight and breast cancer risk?
A: The link between breast cancer and excess weight is fairly well established. Being overweight increases the risk of breast cancer and its recurrence, according to Dr. Marisa Weiss, founder of BreastCancer.org. But although the link between the breast cancer and obesity is well known, only recently have researchers begun to understand how the dynamic works. Experiments on mice suggest that cancer cells use fat molecules as "signaling" tools. With fat molecules present, cancer cells signal each other to grow larger and more dangerous. Fat also collects pesticides and other potentially unhealthy substances, and some of these chemicals can cause cancer.
Q: Can you outline your tips for reducing breast cancer risk?
A: Becoming more fit (and losing weight as a by-product) is a solid strategy for reducing breast cancer risk. As an added bonus and incentive, the strategy also reduces the risk for other kinds of cancer and life-threatening medical conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease and stroke. Moreover, being fit and managing weight reduces the risk of dementia and Alzheimer's disease, and may even improve memory.
Achieving and maintaining fitness is a lifelong process. To succeed, essential elements must be present. Success begins with an authentic, heartfelt decision to get fit and a willingness to share that commitment with teammates who can provide support. Articulating specific goals and designing a nutritional and exercise regimen that meets your body's unique requirements are the next steps. A way to hold yourself accountable must also be present; otherwise, backsliding is too easy. Discovering and experimenting with different foods and ways of exercising remain a continuing part of the process. And promoting fitness and encouraging friends, family and colleagues to adopt more healthful habits reinforce your own commitment.
Q: If you had just one piece of advice for readers, what would it be?
A: For 40 years, I tried to lose weight and failed to do so. Looking back, I can see the cause of my failure. I approached the task with grimness, I adopted others' ideas rather than my own, and I tried to get in shape alone.
In light of my experience, I offer a single piece of advice: memorize the "FIT formula" so that you can use the concepts throughout your day:
F--Fun: Find food you can eat without piling on pounds and exercise you love to do -- exercise that makes you feel like a kid again.
I--Individuality: Innovate a fitness program that works for your unique body. Design an eating and exercise regimen that takes into account your age, level of conditioning, preferences, physical limitations, if any, and budget.
T--Togetherness: Team up with others. To succeed, you'll need support. You may need the expertise of your physician, the advice of a dietitian or the emotional support of your spouse or best friend. Form your own team.
Q: How has your life changed since you got fit?
A: My health improved dramatically. When I began my makeover, I was in the 90th percentile for risk of heart disease, cancer, diabetes and stroke. Today my risk is normal.
Besides extending the length of my life, getting fit also improved the quality of my life. When I lost 62 pounds of fat, I also lost 62 pounds of chains that were holding me back. How ironic that the less of me there is physically, the more of "me" shows up in my daily life. Feeling good about myself gave me the confidence to step out in the world.
Since my makeover, I've authored four books and written over 300 articles on fitness. Most recently, I've become the coach for the AARP Fat 2 Fit online community. And I enthusiastically encourage your readers to join this wonderful group of friends and neighbours. The program is free to everyone, regardless of where he or she lives, and we welcome all ages. For those seeking to become more fit, the site is a great source for information, inspiration and support.
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