regan moves

About Regan

Regan Birr is a Mechanical Engineer and patent agent. She is a certified Fitness Trainer through the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America. She has served on the boards of the Lupus Foundation of Northern California and Colorado, and is a healthy lupus patient living well. She makes her home in Minnesota, and teaches her classes there.

Regan enjoys advocating for lupus awareness. She lobbies for research funding and medical student lupus educational programs on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. She works with the Lupus Research Institute and Canadian and other U.S. national organizations. Regan is a speaker for lupus events and symposiums and formed a music advocacy site at www.beatlupus.com.

Regan's story began when she was diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus causing WHO Class IV diffuse proliferative glomerulonephritis - kidney lupus. She was technically put into remission soon after starting her treatment. The treatment consisted of a two-and-a-half year regimen of cyclophosphamide, or cytoxan, a breast cancer chemotherapy. The cytoxan was used to reduce the overactive nature of her immune system. However, she continued to struggle with clinical symptoms. Her joint pain at times precluded her from walking even short distances, and she had no stamina. Her fatigue level was such that walking was challenging; she had to stop and take a break after taking only a few steps. Holding conversations became difficult, and she struggled with weight - in part due to prednisone usage, and also due to inactivity. After having to purchase a cane to climb the stairs, Regan decided she had to make a change.

She began following a diet that changed her life. The diet's purpose was to aid in the reduction of inflammation. Regan started this program and the most shocking thing she could have ever imagined occurred: her joint pain greatly went down, and her energy level went up.

The science behind the diet relates to the reduction of inflammation in the body's systems and tissues. As such, it is common-sensical to eat foods that are low in the glycemic index, and, many organizations, including the Arthritis Society, recommend that we eat foods that will not exacerbate the inflammation already present in our bodies.

Regan's nutritional guide shows how one can follow a low-glycemic index diet. See the Nutrition tab for more information.

It is really very simple to follow. As Regan continues to use this diet, she feels wonderful every day.

The diet reduced those up-and-down energy dips during the day.

She was therefore able to endure regular exercise, including core work and walking (very slowly, to start with) on the treadmill. Soon she wanted to try lifting weights to increase her muscle strength and stamina, and created Regan MOVES, the program that allows her to safely lift weights and perform aerobic exercise. Her unique aerobic exercises, including specialized "modified jacks", (where the feet need not actually leave the ground), get her heart rate up into fat-burning mode. The result is a trim body, a fun 1000-calorie workout, and the ability to do toe-pushups, chin-ups, and participate in the Olympic ice sport of curling.

Her exercise program does not include any activities that pose risk or impact to the knees. The beauty of the program is that it has allowed her to take part in everyday activities, including ice skating, and even - yes - jogging, when the need arises. Note that Regan can also show you ways of reducing impact during jogging. Regan MOVES technology also incorporates safe ways of opening jars to loading the trunk of your car. You'll learn a lot and enjoy thinking about movement in new ways.

Regan enjoys singing the American and Canadian National Anthems at the largest stadiums in the country. She has performed for the San Francisco Giants, the Oakland A's, the Colorado Rockies, the NHL, NBA, and Harlem Globetrotters. She had the honor of singing both national anthems at the Olympic Women's Hockey exhibition game, the Curling Olympic Trials in 2009 and 2014, and has performed at the Governor's Mansion of Colorado. You can see Regan perform at Regan's YouTube Channel.

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