E107 Ellyn Winters Being Fit Helped Me Fight Cancer
Let’s Be Well Together Podcast - Episode 107
Date: February 13, 2024
Participants: Noura Saad, Sheila Webster, John Webster, Cameron Earnshaw, Julie Wilson and Elise Seifert
Guest: Ellyn Winters
Start Times and Segments:
[0:00:16] What’s On Your Mind: We get to know Noura Saad better. She’s a self-professed podcast junkie who’s now a co-host on our show. She was born in Toronto, Canada, with heritage from Alexandria, Egypt. She’s lived in both countries. She studied social development studies at University of Waterloo. She works as a family court support worker with the Sexual Assault Centre Waterloo Region.
[0:0 7:24] Expanding Minds Interview: [Physical Wellness] We interview Ellyn Winters about how being physically fit helped her after being diagnosed with breast cancer, during treatment and recovery. Ellyn recommends to everybody that they be physically fit, because you don’t know when a life crisis will hit you. The healthier you are, the more you are prepared to handle that cancer diagnosis and whatever comes afterwards. Training and an exercise regime give you a mental resilience. You say to yourself, “I’m going to push through”, then you do that next set. That’s what you need to get through cancer diagnosis. She told herself when she was first diagnosed, “Ellyn, you just need to put your feet on the ground and keep going.” That’s the same mindset it takes to get through that next rep, or next push or next mile in a run. Being fit also helps with the physical strength needed to endure surgery and the various treatments that come after a cancer diagnosis. It’s a game changer.
[0:22:24] Adventures of the Starving Artist: It was a fun week that include an African drumming course and a group ukulele course.
[0:26:51] Move That Body: Pros and cons of morning versus evening workouts. In the end, the message it to workout when you can. The key is to move that body, whether early or later in the day.
[0:31:40] Running Popup: John keeps being reminded of the same lesson when it feels like he can’t achieve the workout he planned: doing something is better than doing nothing. Keep going even if it’s not the level he planned.
[0:34:08] Flipside of the Coin: We answer a “Hey Flipside” question: do issues arise because you’re both headstrong? Answer: Yes (he he)
Quotes and Take-Aways:
Ellyn – Exercise is important to me physically as well as mentally. I’ve exercised for about 30 years – a combination of strength building, cardio and more. I’ve engaged with it all. When I entered into my cancer diagnosis, I was probably one of the best conditions of my life.
Ellyn – I’m a power walker. Keep up with me. I’m the girl who walks almost at the pace of a run. I do the whole arm swinging, suck in the gut power walking.
Ellyn – People who are healthy get cancer. The more healthy you are, the more you are prepared to be able to handle that cancer diagnosis and whatever comes after that.
Ellyn – Training and an exercise regime give you a mental resilience. You say to yourself, “I’m going to push through”, then you do that next set. You say, “I’m going to push a little bit further”. That’s what you need to get through cancer diagnosis.
Ellyn – When I was first diagnosed with cancer I said to myself, “Ellyn, you just need to put your feet on the ground and keep going.” That’s the same mindset it takes to get through that next rep, or next push or next mile in a run.
Ellyn – Being physically fit helps with the physical strength needed to endure surgery and the various treatments that come after a cancer diagnosis. It helps to get up, to get past the exhaustion and to do what you need to do to get through the day. It’s a game changer.
Ellyn – A cancer diagnosis is like being on the world’s worst carnival ride. There’s no getting off the ride. You need to see it through to the end. That’s just how it goes. It’s like that moment in a marathon where you break. You must push through, because there’s no other choice. There’s nothing but the other end.
Ellyn –The list of symptoms they give you when you are in chemotherapy his hideous. There’s lot of empirical medical evidence that exercise during chemotherapy helps to offset the symptoms.
Ellyn – I would strongly recommend to everybody. Be physically fit, because you don’t know when a life crisis will hit you.
Bulletin Board Quote brought to you by Cameron: You wouldn’t like it if someone twisted your ears all over
Guest Information: Ellyn Winters-Robinson is a recent breast cancer survivor, co-creator of www.AskEllyn.ai - a breast cancer chatbot and the world's first conversational AI for those on the breast cancer journey. She is also the author of the bestselling book "Flat Please Hold the Shame," a girlfriend’s companion guide for those on the breast cancer journey, available for purchase on Amazon. For the last 15 years, Ellyn has been the co-founder and chief marketing officer of Ignition Communications, a boutique marketing communications firm, and a long-time mentor at The Accelerator Centre. Ellyn’s story has been featured on numerous podcasts, People Magazine, the Globe and Mail, CTV, and Global.
Ellyn’s Book: Flat Please Hold the Shame https://a.co/d/hFMGemm
AskEllyn Breast Cancer Chatbot https://www.askellyn.ai
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Thanks for joining us,
(-(-_(-_-)_-)-) Your wellness check-in team
John, Sammy, Cameron, Sheila, Elise, Isabelle, Noura and Julie