Healthy Living looks at preparations for Cancer Walk 2014

The annual Cancer Awareness Walk from Ladyville to Belize City takes place this Saturday. The event has continued to attract thousands of Belizeans year after year to walk the almost ten mile journey. For all of us, every aching mile is worth it as we show our support for cancer survivors and in memory of loved ones who have lost the battle. Each year, Nutritionist and Fitness Instructor Karen Rosito, participates to warm up the mass gathering in an aim to prevent injuries. In tonight’s Healthy Living she offers some useful advice to prepare your body for the walk on Saturday.

Marleni Cuellar, Reporting
On Saturday, this quiet compound on Mercy Lane will welcome thousands of Belizeans, as it does annually, marking the end of the Cancer Awareness Walk.  For the participants, the early morning stroll is a minor sacrifice.  But- make no mistake- the annual cancer walk is no ‘walk in the park.’
Karen Rosito, Nutritionist & Fitness Coach

Karen Rosito

“It’s no easy feat walking ten miles when you are not prepared. The entire weight of the body will be on the hips and knees. If you’re overweight or obese, you’re putting that excess weight on your parts. So we know you’ll have aches and pains.”

Many of us can attest to the effects for the days that follow.  This is why nutritionist & fitness coach, Karen Rosito, says you should begin to prep your body for the journey before Saturday.

Karen Rosito

“You want to be prepared, so like today. You want to be hydrating. If possible drinking oral rehydration salts.   You want to start eating things your beans your rice, chicken breasts – non fatty things because today tomorrow you don’t want to eat anything like chow mein or fry chicken or anything with excess fat.   You eat well, you try eat your pasta, preferable with ground chicken or nothing; just a little bit of sauce and cheese. You try to eat by six that evening. You tossing and your turning cause your not use to getting up at three and you don’t want to be late./ you’ll get up and use the bathroom hopefully. To use the bathroom quickly you want to have just oatmeal room temperature or warm drinkable. You make it with milk.”

But if there is anything that will make you suffer many days following the walk; it would be the effects of using the improper gear. That’s right using the proper clothing from socks to underwear – really do matter.

Karen Rosito

“You wah look cute so you wah put on a nice bra and nice underwear and sexy shorts and hello you not even walk in that. You may be use  to them standing around but not walking. Long after the walk you’ll remember the walk because you got chaffed. You want to wear something that is spandex, lycra or a cotton blend, mid thigh or below the knee; something that won’t be pulling up. The most important thing, you’ll be walking. You’ll be pounding the pavement for two to three hours. You have to make sure you have a good pair of tennis shoes. Make sure that your big toes is not hitting the top of the tennis. Or you will end up without a nail or two.  All those pretty nails you take and you cut straight across and you file them down. You can literally lose a nail or two.  Make sure you get a nice pair of fitted socks. Meaning it fits like a glove to the feet, no bulking, not baggy or too big or you will get blisters.  It is important to wear an undergarment—a camisole or tank—something that fits to the body and clings so that can absorb the first sweat. That first sweat will dry by the time you reach Haulover and you don’t want to be sweaty and dry because your resistance will go down and you will catch a cold.”

Another reminder is to take protective gear for the early morning sun, a hat, a pair of shades and sun block will be necessary by six a.m. Before the take off from Ladyville, Rosito advises that you join in the warm-up session that starts at four-thirty.

Karen Rosito

“It’s important to get the heart rate up before you stretch pout. We’ll be doing a lot of static stretching. A lot of hamstring stretching to make sure you don’t cramp. The most important thing right now is to make sure you show up, joining us at Haulover, Bella Vista or even Belama but walking to make a difference.”