melanie
lisa
kara
kathleen
mieres
zulema
ruann
vernita

How To Tell If You Are Really Committed To A Healthy Heart

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Part 2 of 3.

You surround yourself with motivating information and/or people. I signed up for email newsletters from several sites and get one at least weekly that gives me ideas regarding exercise, nutrittion or other health information. This keeps your focus and ideas fresh. No internet, then subscribe to a health and fitness magazine, check out the local library. There is so much informatin you are always learning something new. Now you can't possilbly use all this information but when you get so much there is always one or two tidbits you can use and new healthy recipes to try that may fit your tastes.Some websites that have newsletters are: http://www.nubella.com; http://www.calorie-count.com; http://www.realage.com; and http://www.qualityhealth.com.

You are always searching for new recipes or adapting old favorites. Most families eat the same foods or recipes over and over. they find things they like and stick with them. This usually is an evolving kind of thing. You try something new and its added to the mix or replaces some other recipe that you are tired of. This is ongoing and usually takes newlyweds or new families years to have a large list of favorites to choose from. Usually you have winter and summer favorites and your tastes change as you have children in the house and again when they move out. When you decide to eat healthy some old favorites can be adapted but the search for new favorites will take awhile. Remember if you are just eating chicken and tuna this is not a lifestyle change, you are just on a diet. Think long-term, if its going to last it has to taste good.

Stay positive.



Comments

Cooking I love. We had a stir fry of snap peas, green beans, yellow squash from the garden, onion, olive oil and basil & of course pepper, tonight. I am also so inspired to eat seasonal and fresh stuff by Barbara Kingsolver's book "Animal Vegtable, Miracle; A Year of Food." She is my kind of gal! In case I sound too good, my great grandchild and I made popcorn, peanut & marshmallow balls this afternoon. Very yum! PS I am 159 on my scales now and am so proud. Waist is 33". Thank you, thank you, thank you, C2M, Kathleen and Ladies of the Blogs! Love, Joan


So true. I love all the places we can find information. I only need to apply a couple of new things to add variety and changes into our life.
Cindy


We have 2 email addresses so I'm not sure if this is the one used with C2M. I've just spent over 1/2 hour fighting with pop ups and virus threats and hardly know my own name! But I did want to comment on recipes,etc.There always seems to be a new good one in the paper or hospital supplement or magazine, so I do clip and try. I have liked the Heart Healthy ones and now own the AHA new cook book. You are right, the tried and true ones are often what we fall back on. I am a believer in making pies and cakes from scratch and that saves us from a lot of additives. I also don't bake as much anymore to my Hubby's dismay! I can do a very good oil crust for pies and that oil right now is canola. I do most sauteing in olive oil. At the wedding last Sunday I took only the things I like, small (but not a teaspoon, Kathy!) tablespoon portions and believe it or not NO CAKE. Beautiful Bulgarian Orthodox ceremony with loads of music. We waved bubble wands at the departing couple. Sigh. It was lovely. I walked 40 minutes 2 of the 3 days there in gorgeous Cazenovia, NY and had quality time with my 87 year old sister who rode up with me. Gab, gab, gab!
Happy cooking. Love, Joan


I forgot something. My food inspiration these days is largely focused on a book I am reading. It's Barbara Kingsolver's "Animal Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life" and at the very beginning we learn that she and her family are eating only what is in season for a year. Powerful and skillfuly written. Super recipes too. An excellent read. Good night. Joan


I am really enjoying your series! I am having a food and exercise challenge while on vacation, but I know it's possible to eat right and exercise wherever we are :D


you are so right kathy! "if you are just eating chicken and tuna this is not a lifestyle change, you are just on a diet." it's truly about looking at ALL the options and choosing wisely. I've been looking at online recipes and finding different ways to prepare old favorites. :-) keep looking good!


Joan, I am so proud of you. And you waist is 33, that is great, great, great. You deserve a popcorn ball. I think I try your stirfry though as I am not quite to 33. I was on vacation this last week at the beach. I did go walking every morning and evening except once when it rained. Your still moving pal.


Cindy, You are right varity is what keeps us going and keeps us on track.


Joan, You are better than me, I can never turn down wedding cake. Is you 87 year old sister on the healthy bandwagon as you are? I am going to look up that book you mentioned. We generally tend to eat the fruits and vegetable that are in season, we shop at a farmers market. As I have said before you are my inspiration.


Melanie, I've been on vacation all week and I know what you mean, you get used to doing certain things and when you can't do that particular thing its easy to not look to hard for a substitute, guess thats why its good to cultivate lots of activity in our lives.


Hi Zulema, How's that pool? To bad this has been such a rainy July.


Hi Kathleen
I am totally new at THE AHA AND CTM WEB SITES. My biggest health challenge which Christ is to be praised for, is to quit smoking! I smoked for 30 years and was near to three packs a day by that time. I am grateful to be here!
What i need to understand is the comment policy of off-topic comments. Silly as this sounds could you be more specific?


Hi Deb, You have come to the right place,the policy for off topic comments relates to such things as people advertising or comments so unrelated as to be weird. I have gotten a few comments advertising a certain drug and just don't allow them to be posted. Congratulations on the success of the stop smoking habit. Now you should have some healthy lungs to get going with the increase in activity. Stay committed it is as healthy to keep moving as it is to stop smoking.


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Choose To Move: A Community, A Way of Life

At the end of any journey, it’s always nice to reflect on the experience and enjoy the exhilaration that comes with accomplishment. During the past 12 weeks, seven real women have opened their hearts and minds to women across the country. They’ve revealed struggles, shared empowering messages, offered valuable tips and served as genuine advocates for this program.

During the Choose To Move challenge, these women not only engaged in physical activity, they discovered a community of women who share a common goal – increase physical activity in order to develop a healthier lifestyle. Their success is a direct result of determination, commitment and the support they received from those in the Choose To Move community.

From a mom with three kids to a full-time college student to women in the workplace, our real women take on many important roles. And as women juggling multiple responsibilities, we want to be the best we can be - a common thread among women in America. However, in order to be the best for our families, we must do what’s best for ourselves. Our seven real women did exactly that! Each woman, in her own way, learned how to make time for physical activity and develop better eating habits!

For Ruann, Kara, Lisa, Melanie, Vernita, Kathleen and Zulema, the 12-week challenge has come to an end. However, the ultimate reality is that their life-long journey to maintain a healthy lifestyle has only begun. No matter where you are in this journey, I encourage you to rely on women in the Choose To Move community, as well as those around you. Take advantage of the Choose To Move program and turn this challenge into a way of life.


Recent Comments

Dear Dr. Mieres:

About the only time I can find to walk is during my lunch break. Is it better to eat prior to or following a vigerous walk?

Thank you,
Ruth

Comment by on September 29, 2008 12:05 PM

Dr. Mieres,

I saw you on TV several months ago and while the face has changed some, the name surely was very familiar. I finally found out that you are a native of Trinidad and just wanted to tell you how proud I am of you and the great job you are doing.

I believe we attended the same high school in Curepe, Trinidad, SAGHS.

Keep up the good work.

Denise Baptiste formerly Charles
(Math Teacher/College Instructor)

Comment by on January 25, 2009 9:10 AM

Dr. Mieres,

I saw you on TV several months ago and while the face has changed some, the name surely was very familiar. I finally found out that you are a native of Trinidad and just wanted to tell you how proud I am of you and the great job you are doing.

I believe we attended the same high school in Curepe, Trinidad, SAGHS.

Keep up the good work.

Denise Baptiste formerly Charles
(Math Teacher/College Instructor)

Comment by on January 25, 2009 9:10 AM