Tonight Chris and I are watching a Barbara Walters special about some famous people that have had open heart surgery. It reminded me that February is Heart Health Awareness Month! It also reminds me of the very real statistic that heart disease is the number 1 killer of women. Below is a post I did about this time last year:
So I may not be an uber health freak but one health issue I always keep on my mind is heart disease. A couple of years ago my Granny Lila went in for a simple procedure that turned into quad-bypass that later resulted in her passing away.
The kicker about my Granny Lila dying of heart disease was that on the outside you would never guess she had a heart issue. She was a picture of health for a woman in her seventies. You never know who could have heart problems.
The website that has the most heart information is http://www.americanheart.org/. It is the American Heart Association's website.
Last year I attempted to post something everyday about heart health. Pretty sure I won't be doing that this year but it is no reason at all you can't look into some things on your own. For example, the symptoms women have with heart disease is different than men. Most women never have the infamous chest pains. But they will experience fatigue and breathlessness. I know, what woman is not tired at the end of the day. In my, non-medical background, opinion when women go in for their normal yearly exams they should go ahead and have a physical done. Most insurance companies will pay for a physical. And if heart disease runs in your family paying for a physical is always cheaper than paying for bypass surgery.
Showing posts with label heart health. Show all posts
Showing posts with label heart health. Show all posts
Friday, February 4, 2011
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Is This The End?
NO! Say it ain't so! The end of Heart Awareness Month is today! What are some things to remember?
Fiber is your friend.
Losing just 10 pounds can make a huge difference on your health numbers.
Heart disease is everywhere. Anyone can have it.
You can modify your favorite recipes instead of giving them up all together.
Happy Living!
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Six Weeks to a Better Heart
A couple of years ago (probably after my granny passed away) I bought this tiny book about heart health published by the American Heart Association. The book breaks down your health goals in six weeks. Thus, accurately titled, "6 Weeks to Get Out the Fat."
Week 1: Cut down on the easy things (high fat dairy, high calorie bread products, high fat meat, etc)
Week 2: Watch your portions-learn what a serving is. That means you might have to actually read the label of the food you eat.
Week 3: Add some variety to your diet. If you eat the same thing every day your are more likely to get burned out and go back to eating fast food.
Week 4: Cook with your heart in mind. Find out what your health numbers are and be aware of good fats, bad fats, etc.
Week 5: Learn how to "cheat" the healthy way. Find a wonderful recipe filled with fruit! I bet if you look you will find one.
Week 6: Make it last. Learn to eat at restaurants without totally blowing your heart health. There will come a day when you will hav to go out and you need to learn what to eat.
Week 1: Cut down on the easy things (high fat dairy, high calorie bread products, high fat meat, etc)
Week 2: Watch your portions-learn what a serving is. That means you might have to actually read the label of the food you eat.
Week 3: Add some variety to your diet. If you eat the same thing every day your are more likely to get burned out and go back to eating fast food.
Week 4: Cook with your heart in mind. Find out what your health numbers are and be aware of good fats, bad fats, etc.
Week 5: Learn how to "cheat" the healthy way. Find a wonderful recipe filled with fruit! I bet if you look you will find one.
Week 6: Make it last. Learn to eat at restaurants without totally blowing your heart health. There will come a day when you will hav to go out and you need to learn what to eat.
More Ways to Fit Exercise into Your Day
It occurred to me yesterday after my post that there are more ways to fit exercise into your life and most of them I actually try to do. You know, since my running plan bombed.
1. If you want to pull muscles you never knew you had search for Tracy Anderson on YouTube. She is the trainer that used to work with Madonna and currently still works with Gwyneth Paltrow.
2. If you are a member of Netflix you can watch 10 Minute Solution work out videos instantly or add them to your queue. I do have the luxury of having an infant that still takes several naps a day so I can usually fit one of these into my day.
3. Any workout videos. I am a fan of these because they are cheap and you can do them at home. My first experience with workout videos was the original Billy Blanks Taebo on, oh yes, VHS.
4. Play with your kids. I play as much as you can play with a 3 1/2 month old and he likes it. I heard Heidi Klum say, in an interview, the other day that one way she exercises is to jump on the trampoline with her kids. I know when I used to baby sit we would jump on the trampoline all day long, it seemed like.
5. And of course, the things you hear all the time: Park in the back of the parking lot, take stairs instead of elevators, etc.
1. If you want to pull muscles you never knew you had search for Tracy Anderson on YouTube. She is the trainer that used to work with Madonna and currently still works with Gwyneth Paltrow.
2. If you are a member of Netflix you can watch 10 Minute Solution work out videos instantly or add them to your queue. I do have the luxury of having an infant that still takes several naps a day so I can usually fit one of these into my day.
3. Any workout videos. I am a fan of these because they are cheap and you can do them at home. My first experience with workout videos was the original Billy Blanks Taebo on, oh yes, VHS.
4. Play with your kids. I play as much as you can play with a 3 1/2 month old and he likes it. I heard Heidi Klum say, in an interview, the other day that one way she exercises is to jump on the trampoline with her kids. I know when I used to baby sit we would jump on the trampoline all day long, it seemed like.
5. And of course, the things you hear all the time: Park in the back of the parking lot, take stairs instead of elevators, etc.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
I Love It...No Wait, I Hate It
If you've read this blog in the past you know my love-hate relationship with running and exercise in general. Don't worry, I'm still there. I had this grand plan and schedule, of course, of how I was going to fit running into my life because occassionally I do enjoy it. That plan bombed, to the say the least. I know there are ways I could fit running into my life but clearly I'm not dedicated to wake up before my child. If Eli sleeps until 8:00 I am one happy mama. I don't want to wake up at 6:30 and run or exercise in any form actually. And when Chris gets home I don't want to exercise either. I want to be with my husband and talk to an adult instead of the dog or Eli.
With this in mind I saw Bob Greene on Rachel Ray a couple of weeks ago. You know Bob Greene. He's Oprah's fitness guru. Well, he informed Rachel that you can exercise any where. He demonstrated in Rachel's kitchen saying you could do squats while waiting for water to boil, to leg kicks or raises while loading or unloading the dishwasher. I know what you are doing. You are picturing what it would look like to do squats in your kitchen aren't you? Don't worry, I was too. Next time you're in the kitchen really freak your husband out by doing some leg kicks in the kitchen. Just see what happens.
Now, I know you need some cardio in your life too and unless you plan to jog in place while cooking (Bob Greene would be proud) you need something else. Well, one day I did spend quite a long time on the elliptical and I thought I would share my running playlist with you:
The title of my playlist is Movin Music.
Tonight's the Night by Black Eyed Peas
High of 75 by Relient K
Klap Ya Hands by BB Jay
Me and My Gang by Rascal Flatts
New Way to be Human by Switchfoot
Black Horse and the Cherry Tree by KT Tunstall
What's the Use by Jamie Lidell
Love Me Like You by The Magic Numbers
Unwritten by Natasha Bedingfield
Ooh La La by Goldfrapp
Jessie's Girl by Rick Springfield
I know some of you are laughing because you know when some of those songs came out! That's okay, laugh it up.
With this in mind I saw Bob Greene on Rachel Ray a couple of weeks ago. You know Bob Greene. He's Oprah's fitness guru. Well, he informed Rachel that you can exercise any where. He demonstrated in Rachel's kitchen saying you could do squats while waiting for water to boil, to leg kicks or raises while loading or unloading the dishwasher. I know what you are doing. You are picturing what it would look like to do squats in your kitchen aren't you? Don't worry, I was too. Next time you're in the kitchen really freak your husband out by doing some leg kicks in the kitchen. Just see what happens.
Now, I know you need some cardio in your life too and unless you plan to jog in place while cooking (Bob Greene would be proud) you need something else. Well, one day I did spend quite a long time on the elliptical and I thought I would share my running playlist with you:
The title of my playlist is Movin Music.
Tonight's the Night by Black Eyed Peas
High of 75 by Relient K
Klap Ya Hands by BB Jay
Me and My Gang by Rascal Flatts
New Way to be Human by Switchfoot
Black Horse and the Cherry Tree by KT Tunstall
What's the Use by Jamie Lidell
Love Me Like You by The Magic Numbers
Unwritten by Natasha Bedingfield
Ooh La La by Goldfrapp
Jessie's Girl by Rick Springfield
I know some of you are laughing because you know when some of those songs came out! That's okay, laugh it up.
Monday, February 8, 2010
Healthy Eating for Women
Article from eatingright.org
A well-balanced diet is a cornerstone of health. Women, like men, should enjoy a variety of foods, such as whole grains, fruits, vegetables, healthy fats, low-fat dairy and lean protein. But women also have special nutrient needs and during each stage of a women’s life, these needs change.
Eating Right
Nutrient-rich foods provide energy for women’s busy lives and help to prevent disease. A healthy daily diet includes:
At least three 1-ounce servings of whole grains such as whole-grain bread, cereal, pasta, brown rice or oats.
3 servings of low-fat or fat-free dairy products such as low-fat or fat-free milk, yogurt or cheese. 5 to 6 ounces of protein such as lean meat, chicken, turkey, fish, beans, beans, lentils or peas.
2 cups of fruit such as apples, blueberries, melon, oranges, bananas and pears.
2 ½ cups of vegetables such as leafy greens, pumpkin, bell peppers, onions, broccoli, mushrooms and carrots.
Iron-Rich Foods
Iron is one of the keys to good health and energy levels in women. Low iron levels can be caused by a women’s menstrual cycle or a problem with iron absorption. Iron-rich food sources include red meat, chicken, turkey, pork, fish, kale, spinach, beans, lentils and fortified breads and cereals. Plant-based sources of iron are more easily absorbed by your body when eaten with vitamin C-rich foods. So eat fortified cereal with strawberries on top, spinach salad with mandarin orange slices or add tomatoes to lentil soup.
Folic Acid During the Reproductive Years
When women reach childbearing age, you need to eat enough folic acid to decrease risk of birth defects. The requirement is at least 400 micrograms of folic acid a day. Be sure to consume adequate amounts of folic acid daily from fortified foods or supplements, in addition to food forms of folate from a varied diet. Citrus fruits, leafy greens, dry beans and peas naturally contain folate. In addition, there are many folic acid fortified foods like cereals, rice, breads and pizza crust.
Daily Calcium Requirements
For healthy bones and teeth, women need to eat a variety of calcium-rich foods every day. Calcium keeps bones strong and prevents osteoporosis, a bone disease in which the bones become weak and break easily. Some high calcium foods include low-fat milk, yogurt, cheese, sardines, tofu (if made with calcium sulfate) and calcium-fortified foods like juices and cereals.
Foods to Limit
To keep weight in check at any age, women should avoid a lot of excess calories from added sugars, fat and alcohol.
Limit regular soft drinks, sugar-sweetened beverages, candy, baked goods and fried foods.
Limit alcohol intake to one drink per day.
Opt for low-fat dairy and meat products instead of their full-fat counterparts.
Saturated fat – the kind found in meat, cheese and full-fat dairy products –is a culprit in heart disease. Watch how much saturated fat you eat, as heart disease is the leading cause of death in American women.
Balancing Calories with Activity
Since women typically have less muscle, more fat and are smaller than men, you need fewer calories to maintain a healthy body weight and activity level. Moderately active women need 1,800 to 2,200 calories a day. Women who are more physically active may require more calories. Exercise is an important part of a women’s health. Regular daily activity helps with weight control, muscle strength and stress management.
A well-balanced diet is a cornerstone of health. Women, like men, should enjoy a variety of foods, such as whole grains, fruits, vegetables, healthy fats, low-fat dairy and lean protein. But women also have special nutrient needs and during each stage of a women’s life, these needs change.
Eating Right
Nutrient-rich foods provide energy for women’s busy lives and help to prevent disease. A healthy daily diet includes:
At least three 1-ounce servings of whole grains such as whole-grain bread, cereal, pasta, brown rice or oats.
3 servings of low-fat or fat-free dairy products such as low-fat or fat-free milk, yogurt or cheese. 5 to 6 ounces of protein such as lean meat, chicken, turkey, fish, beans, beans, lentils or peas.
2 cups of fruit such as apples, blueberries, melon, oranges, bananas and pears.
2 ½ cups of vegetables such as leafy greens, pumpkin, bell peppers, onions, broccoli, mushrooms and carrots.
Iron-Rich Foods
Iron is one of the keys to good health and energy levels in women. Low iron levels can be caused by a women’s menstrual cycle or a problem with iron absorption. Iron-rich food sources include red meat, chicken, turkey, pork, fish, kale, spinach, beans, lentils and fortified breads and cereals. Plant-based sources of iron are more easily absorbed by your body when eaten with vitamin C-rich foods. So eat fortified cereal with strawberries on top, spinach salad with mandarin orange slices or add tomatoes to lentil soup.
Folic Acid During the Reproductive Years
When women reach childbearing age, you need to eat enough folic acid to decrease risk of birth defects. The requirement is at least 400 micrograms of folic acid a day. Be sure to consume adequate amounts of folic acid daily from fortified foods or supplements, in addition to food forms of folate from a varied diet. Citrus fruits, leafy greens, dry beans and peas naturally contain folate. In addition, there are many folic acid fortified foods like cereals, rice, breads and pizza crust.
Daily Calcium Requirements
For healthy bones and teeth, women need to eat a variety of calcium-rich foods every day. Calcium keeps bones strong and prevents osteoporosis, a bone disease in which the bones become weak and break easily. Some high calcium foods include low-fat milk, yogurt, cheese, sardines, tofu (if made with calcium sulfate) and calcium-fortified foods like juices and cereals.
Foods to Limit
To keep weight in check at any age, women should avoid a lot of excess calories from added sugars, fat and alcohol.
Limit regular soft drinks, sugar-sweetened beverages, candy, baked goods and fried foods.
Limit alcohol intake to one drink per day.
Opt for low-fat dairy and meat products instead of their full-fat counterparts.
Saturated fat – the kind found in meat, cheese and full-fat dairy products –is a culprit in heart disease. Watch how much saturated fat you eat, as heart disease is the leading cause of death in American women.
Balancing Calories with Activity
Since women typically have less muscle, more fat and are smaller than men, you need fewer calories to maintain a healthy body weight and activity level. Moderately active women need 1,800 to 2,200 calories a day. Women who are more physically active may require more calories. Exercise is an important part of a women’s health. Regular daily activity helps with weight control, muscle strength and stress management.
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Women & Heart Disease Fact Sheet
An estimated 42 million American women live with cardiovascular disease, but too many are unaware of the threat they face. The following illustrates the urgent need for greater awareness of heart disease in women and for immediate efforts to eliminate the disparities in women’s heart care.
More common than you may think
More than 42 million women are currently living with some form of cardiovascular disease.[1] More than 8 million women have a history of heart attack and/or angina.[1]
Five and a half million women will suffer angina.[1]
More fatal than any other disease
Heart disease is the leading cause of death of American women, killing more than a third of them.[1]
35.3% of deaths in American women over the age of 20, or more than 432,000, are caused by cardiovascular disease each year.[1]
More than 200,000 women die each year from heart attacks- five times as many women as breast cancer.[1]
More than 159,000 women die each year of congestive heart failure, accounting for 56.3% of all heart failure deaths.[1]
Who is at-risk?
Cigarette smoking results in a 2-3 times increased risk of dying from heart disease.[1]
48% of adult women have a total cholesterol of at least 200mg/dL.[1]
50% of Caucasian women, 64% of African-American women, 60% of Hispanic women, and 53% of Asian/Pacific Islander women are sedentary and get no leisure time physical activity.[1]
58% of Caucasian women, 80% of African-American women, and 74% Hispanic-American women are overweight or obese.[1]
Women with diabetes are 2.5 times more likely to have heart attacks.[1]
Affects more women than men
More women than men die of heart disease each year.[1]
23% of women and 18% of men will die within one year of a first recognized heart attack; 22-32% of women and 15-27% of men heart attack survivors will die within five years.[1]
12-25% of women and 7-22% of men heart attack survivors will be diagnosed with heart failure within five years.[1]
Women are less likely than men to receive appropriate treatment after a heart attack.[1]
Women comprise only 27% of participants in all heart-related research studies.[2]
Heart disease is preventable.
Many women can significantly reduce their risk of heart disease if they have the information they need, know the questions to ask their health providers and receive the support to make heart-smart changes in their lives. Visit our Prevention and Early Detection section to learn more.
[1]Lloyd-Jones D, Adams R, Brown T,. et al. Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics 2010 Update: A Report from the American Heart Assocaition Statistics Committee and Stroke Statistics Subcomittee. Circulation. 2010; 121:e1-e170.
[2] Johnson SM, Karvonen CA, Phelps CL, Set al. Assessment of Analysis by Gender in the Cochrane Reviews as Related to Treatment of Cardiovascular Disease. J Women’s Health. June 1, 2003, 12(5):449-457.
Article from womenheart.org
More common than you may think
More than 42 million women are currently living with some form of cardiovascular disease.[1] More than 8 million women have a history of heart attack and/or angina.[1]
Five and a half million women will suffer angina.[1]
More fatal than any other disease
Heart disease is the leading cause of death of American women, killing more than a third of them.[1]
35.3% of deaths in American women over the age of 20, or more than 432,000, are caused by cardiovascular disease each year.[1]
More than 200,000 women die each year from heart attacks- five times as many women as breast cancer.[1]
More than 159,000 women die each year of congestive heart failure, accounting for 56.3% of all heart failure deaths.[1]
Who is at-risk?
Cigarette smoking results in a 2-3 times increased risk of dying from heart disease.[1]
48% of adult women have a total cholesterol of at least 200mg/dL.[1]
50% of Caucasian women, 64% of African-American women, 60% of Hispanic women, and 53% of Asian/Pacific Islander women are sedentary and get no leisure time physical activity.[1]
58% of Caucasian women, 80% of African-American women, and 74% Hispanic-American women are overweight or obese.[1]
Women with diabetes are 2.5 times more likely to have heart attacks.[1]
Affects more women than men
More women than men die of heart disease each year.[1]
23% of women and 18% of men will die within one year of a first recognized heart attack; 22-32% of women and 15-27% of men heart attack survivors will die within five years.[1]
12-25% of women and 7-22% of men heart attack survivors will be diagnosed with heart failure within five years.[1]
Women are less likely than men to receive appropriate treatment after a heart attack.[1]
Women comprise only 27% of participants in all heart-related research studies.[2]
Heart disease is preventable.
Many women can significantly reduce their risk of heart disease if they have the information they need, know the questions to ask their health providers and receive the support to make heart-smart changes in their lives. Visit our Prevention and Early Detection section to learn more.
[1]Lloyd-Jones D, Adams R, Brown T,. et al. Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics 2010 Update: A Report from the American Heart Assocaition Statistics Committee and Stroke Statistics Subcomittee. Circulation. 2010; 121:e1-e170.
[2] Johnson SM, Karvonen CA, Phelps CL, Set al. Assessment of Analysis by Gender in the Cochrane Reviews as Related to Treatment of Cardiovascular Disease. J Women’s Health. June 1, 2003, 12(5):449-457.
Article from womenheart.org
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Fiber is Your Friend
The below article is from the americanheart.org website:
Dietary Fiber
Dietary fiber is the term for several materials that make up the parts of plants your body can't digest. Fiber is classified as soluble or insoluble.
When eaten regularly as part of a diet low in saturated fat, trans fat and cholesterol, soluble fiber has been associated with increased diet quality and decreased risk of cardiovascular disease. Soluble or viscous fibers modestly reduce LDL (“bad”) cholesterol beyond levels achieved by a diet low in saturated and trans fats and cholesterol alone. Oats have the highest proportion of soluble fiber of any grain. Foods high in soluble fiber include oat bran, oatmeal, beans, peas, rice bran, barley, citrus fruits, strawberries and apple pulp.
Insoluble fiber has been associated with decreased cardiovascular risk and slower progression of cardiovascular disease in high-risk individuals. Dietary fiber can make you feel full, so you may eat fewer calories. Foods high in insoluble fiber include whole-wheat breads, wheat cereals, wheat bran, rye, rice, barley, most other grains, cabbage, beets, carrots, Brussels sprouts, turnips, cauliflower and apple skin.
Many commercial oat bran and wheat bran products (muffins, chips, waffles) contain very little bran. They also may be high in sodium, total fat and saturated fat. Read labels carefully.
Getting the right amount countsThe number of servings of grains that you need each day depends upon your age, gender and calorie needs. The recommended amount of grains that a particular person should consume daily is expressed in terms of “ounce-equivalents” but is commonly referred to as “ounces” (or servings) of grains.
A person who needs 2,000 calories each day to maintain a healthy body weight could eat 6 to 8 servings of grains (at least half of the servings should be whole-grain foods) and 8 to 10 servings total of vegetables and fruits (about ½ cup counts as a serving).
We recommend obtaining fiber from foods rather than from fiber supplements. Check the Nutrition Facts label on food packages to find foods with a higher amount of fiber. Try to get about 25 grams of fiber each day.
The following count as 1 ounce-equivalent (or 1 serving) of grains:
Whole-grain choices
1 slice whole-grain bread (such as 100% whole-wheat bread)
1 ounce ready-to-eat, whole-grain cereal (about 1 cup wheat flakes)
1⁄2 cup cooked whole-grain cereal, brown rice, or whole-wheat pasta
5 whole-grain crackers
3 cups popped popcorn
Enriched choices
1 slice white bread
1 small white roll
1 ounce ready-to-eat cereal (about 1 cup corn flakes)
1⁄2 cup cooked cereal, white rice, or pasta
9 mini 3-ring pretzels
1 4.5 -inch pancake
1 6-inch flour or corn tortilla
On a personal note if you are just starting to increase your fiber you would want to increase fiber slowly and not just decide one day that you are going to have 30 grams of fiber. Trust me.
Dietary Fiber
Dietary fiber is the term for several materials that make up the parts of plants your body can't digest. Fiber is classified as soluble or insoluble.
When eaten regularly as part of a diet low in saturated fat, trans fat and cholesterol, soluble fiber has been associated with increased diet quality and decreased risk of cardiovascular disease. Soluble or viscous fibers modestly reduce LDL (“bad”) cholesterol beyond levels achieved by a diet low in saturated and trans fats and cholesterol alone. Oats have the highest proportion of soluble fiber of any grain. Foods high in soluble fiber include oat bran, oatmeal, beans, peas, rice bran, barley, citrus fruits, strawberries and apple pulp.
Insoluble fiber has been associated with decreased cardiovascular risk and slower progression of cardiovascular disease in high-risk individuals. Dietary fiber can make you feel full, so you may eat fewer calories. Foods high in insoluble fiber include whole-wheat breads, wheat cereals, wheat bran, rye, rice, barley, most other grains, cabbage, beets, carrots, Brussels sprouts, turnips, cauliflower and apple skin.
Many commercial oat bran and wheat bran products (muffins, chips, waffles) contain very little bran. They also may be high in sodium, total fat and saturated fat. Read labels carefully.
Getting the right amount countsThe number of servings of grains that you need each day depends upon your age, gender and calorie needs. The recommended amount of grains that a particular person should consume daily is expressed in terms of “ounce-equivalents” but is commonly referred to as “ounces” (or servings) of grains.
A person who needs 2,000 calories each day to maintain a healthy body weight could eat 6 to 8 servings of grains (at least half of the servings should be whole-grain foods) and 8 to 10 servings total of vegetables and fruits (about ½ cup counts as a serving).
We recommend obtaining fiber from foods rather than from fiber supplements. Check the Nutrition Facts label on food packages to find foods with a higher amount of fiber. Try to get about 25 grams of fiber each day.
The following count as 1 ounce-equivalent (or 1 serving) of grains:
Whole-grain choices
1 slice whole-grain bread (such as 100% whole-wheat bread)
1 ounce ready-to-eat, whole-grain cereal (about 1 cup wheat flakes)
1⁄2 cup cooked whole-grain cereal, brown rice, or whole-wheat pasta
5 whole-grain crackers
3 cups popped popcorn
Enriched choices
1 slice white bread
1 small white roll
1 ounce ready-to-eat cereal (about 1 cup corn flakes)
1⁄2 cup cooked cereal, white rice, or pasta
9 mini 3-ring pretzels
1 4.5 -inch pancake
1 6-inch flour or corn tortilla
On a personal note if you are just starting to increase your fiber you would want to increase fiber slowly and not just decide one day that you are going to have 30 grams of fiber. Trust me.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
10 is a Pretty Important Number
When it comes to your health the number 10 is pretty important. By losing just 10 pounds your risk factors for heart disease, stroke, cancer, and diabetes all go down! Research has said that when you set unrealistic expectations for yourself you are more likely to NOT follow through because you have set the standard so high. Most weight loss gurus suggest setting 10 lb goals instead of one massive goal of like 50 lbs. This way it seems less daunting when you are trying to lose weight.
If you think 10 lbs is not a big deal walk around the grocery store carrying a 10 lb bag of sugar and just think if you were 10 lbs lighter the weight that would be lifted off your body.
Now, if you are someone that just refuses to give into the whole 10 lbs at a time thing then think about 10% of your current weight and start there.
The American Heart Association has great FREE resources to help you get started. One that I just noticed on their website was Start! Walking. On this website you can track what you put in your mouth and the activities you do everyday. Once you get registered you can also view resources and let the website do the hard work for you.
It's never too late to start something new so start today!
If you think 10 lbs is not a big deal walk around the grocery store carrying a 10 lb bag of sugar and just think if you were 10 lbs lighter the weight that would be lifted off your body.
Now, if you are someone that just refuses to give into the whole 10 lbs at a time thing then think about 10% of your current weight and start there.
The American Heart Association has great FREE resources to help you get started. One that I just noticed on their website was Start! Walking. On this website you can track what you put in your mouth and the activities you do everyday. Once you get registered you can also view resources and let the website do the hard work for you.
It's never too late to start something new so start today!
Monday, February 1, 2010
February is American Heart Month
So I may not be an uber health freak but one health issue I always keep on my mind is heart disease. A couple of years ago my Granny Lila went in for a simple procedure that turned into quad-bypass that later resulted in her passing away.
The kicker about my Granny Lila dying of heart disease was that on the outside you would never guess she had a heart issue. She was a picture of health for a woman in her seventies. You never know who could have heart problems.
The website that has the most heart information is http://www.americanheart.org/. It is the American Heart Association's website. Below is the link for a life check that I would encourage you to take to check your heart health:
http://mylifecheck.heart.org/
All during the month of February I will be posting heart healthy tips on this blog! STAY TUNED!
The kicker about my Granny Lila dying of heart disease was that on the outside you would never guess she had a heart issue. She was a picture of health for a woman in her seventies. You never know who could have heart problems.
The website that has the most heart information is http://www.americanheart.org/. It is the American Heart Association's website. Below is the link for a life check that I would encourage you to take to check your heart health:
http://mylifecheck.heart.org/
All during the month of February I will be posting heart healthy tips on this blog! STAY TUNED!
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