Lifestyle strategies to care for your BRAIN. Easy, no cost/ low cost, and comfortable lifestyle changes that create health and longevity.
10/13/2025
š Glow Run reflections! š
This eveningās Abilene Glow Run 5K was made extra special by having my friend Jeanne Bayless join me. Thereās something truly energizing about sharing a run with someone who shares your valuesāespecially when it comes to investing in our health and independence.
Although my time and aerobic fitness were nearly identical to last year, I noticed a big difference in how strong my legs felt. That surprised meāand encouraged me! Strong legs aren't just about speed; theyāre about freedom. They help us move confidently, reduce the risk of falls, and even support heart health by boosting circulation.
Even more exciting, emerging research links leg strengthāparticularly in the calvesāto a reduced risk of cognitive decline and better blood sugar regulation. Thatās real motivation to keep moving!
Having a running buddy made it all the more fun. Whether itās the shared laughs, the encouragement, or simply knowing someoneās beside you on the journeyāit all adds up.
Hereās to strong legs, strong friendships, and a strong future! šāāļøšŖāØ
10/11/2025
From Frail to Fit: My Health Journey Since New Year's Eve 2022
On New Yearās Eve 2022, I saw a video of myself doing a tai chi form with a sparklerāand I was shocked. I looked so frail.
The next day, I stepped onto the InBody Scanner at Restore Wellness Center, where I work part-time as a neuro technician and brain health coach. The results were another wake-up call: I needed to gain 15 pounds of muscle.
Why does muscle matter so much? Without it, we struggle to regulate glucose. That leads to insulin resistance, which opens the door to diabetes, osteoporosis, and the slow loss of independence. I thought of my grandmother, who lived with Alzheimerās for 21 years. I knew I didnāt want that futureāfor myself or for my daughter.
šŖ I made a choice. Death is inevitableābut I believe we can create health and extend our healthspan through intentional living.
In January 2023, I started Zumba. I could barely make it through 20 minutes without needing a break to bring my heart rate down. I'd dance, then walk, then dance again. My stamina was gone.
Fast forward to today: I rarely need to stop to recover. During tonightās class, I spent just 4% of the session in peak heart rate, 22% in Zone 2 (112ā133 bpm), and 74% in moderate cardio. Iāve added resistance training and am just 3.2 pounds away from my muscle mass goal.
But beyond the physical progress, something beautiful happenedā¦
ā¤ļø I found community. Attending sessions regularly has connected me with a circle of familiar, supportive faces at the YMCA. Itās become something I truly look forward to.
If thereās one thing Iāve learned, itās this:
The best time to start is before your health declines.
But if you havenāt started yet, the next best time is right now.
Your health, your freedom, and your independence are worth it.
āØ Choose health today.
š§ šŖ You are more capable than you think.
09/22/2025
Please join me for the Glow Run 5K Sunday, October 12, downtown Abilene at 6 PM for the Pre-Run Party. Hope to see you soon
07/04/2025
I did the Firecracker 4 Miler this morning with my daughter and her best friend. After the 4 Miler last year, I set the goal to finish the 4 miler in less than one hour and to increase the time my time Zone 2 (112-133 bpm). Today, I was able to sustain Zone 2 57% of the time. We can improve our fitness at any age. Fitness is much more than muscle building. It is freedom, independence, and joy.
02/10/2025
This video ignites the fire in soul and the desire to keep dancing.
12/10/2024
Tonight will be introduction to Country Waltz
10/17/2024
Join me LIVE on Facebook on Sunday, October 27, when I talk about The Glucose Goddess Method: The 4-Week Guide to Cutting Cravings, Getting Your Energy Back, and Feeling Amazing.
Would you like to lose weight, feel happier, and have more energy without changing what you eat? Yes, without changing what you eat!
If that sounds impossibleābiochemist Jessie Inchauspe teaches us how we can do just that with four simple steps.
I had a great time this evening at the Glow Run 5K. I was able to maintain a 14:44 mile pace even though the last two months have been difficult. My inner child had a ball putting this flow in the dark costume together. I was the only 70 year old in the event.
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Science is changing so fast that what I write may seem radical. If you are curious or puzzled, please don't hesitate to contact me. You wonāt be bothering me as my passion is sharing what I learn about creating health.
My name is Diana-Liz Gallego. In August 2016 year, I retired from my position as the Dallas ISD Director of Dance and Theatre. I immediately began a new career as a Functional Medicine Coach specializing in brain health and Alzheimerās prevention. Yes, Alzheimerās and some 200 other inflammatory diseases are preventable through a healthy lifestyle.
A healthy lifestyle according the Institute of Functional Medicine (IFM) has five modifiable personal lifestyle factors: sleep & relaxation, exercise & movement, nutrition, stress reduction and relationships. I attempt to post interesting research empowering readers to take charge of their health. In my personal blogs, I write primarily from my personal experiences on how to implement new scientific knowledge.
Dance is āthe best activityā for neurogenesis (creating new brain cells). Research studies published in 2017 compared brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) the miracle grow in the brain following dance and fitness workouts. The dancers groupās had significantly higher levels of BDNF at 6 and 18 months . The dancerās group MRIs demonstrated visible changes in both grey and white matter. Rejuvenating Dance is founded in this science.
Stress reduction is essential for health. Recent research has demonstrated that meditation reduces stress and that it also produces brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). I am excited to share my experience with HeartMath, a simple secular form of meditation founded in science.
It is possible to beat your genetics, even if you have a a gene like the APOE4. If this topic is of interest to you please like and follow my blog.
Finally, I am a LifeVantage distributor of a new patented biotechnology that reduces oxidative stress. I researched the product on pubmed.gov reading all the peer reviewed studies. Unlike most supplements, there is peer reviewed science behind this product. Because it is not sold in stores (only through direct multi level sales) I chose to become a distributor after four months of use when my fibromyalgia disappeared. Ask me about Protandim, NrF1 and NrF2 products, a new biotechnology that relieves oxidative stress.
In addition to my blog and group dance sessions, I am available for individual dance, meditation and lifestyle coaching sessions. I welcome the opportunity to share my experiences with community and church groups.
