This year is alot different as far as health goes than in years past.
This year I started with my exercise routine instead of procrastinating about what to do until the end of Feburary.
This year I still gained a few pounds over the holidays but down overall for the year.
This year I'm ready to invigorate my healthy eating lifestyle instead of continuing to eat holiday style until Valentine's Day.
This year because my endurance in walking has improved I am adding bursts of jogging into the mix.
I owe my healthy exercise habits to CTM. 12 weeks really can form a habit if you let it.
This year I am starting the year healthier than probably since I was in my 20's.
My changes are slow but noticeable and very obvious to me.
The biggest change I have felt is after working a 12 hour shift at the hospital. Before last March I would wear support stockings and still my knees would hurt and my legs would just ache at the end of the shift. No more support hose, no more pain in the knees, no more aching legs.
I used to quietly scoff at the Drs. who would suggest losing some weight would improve the pain in my knees. "That's their answer to everything", I would think to myself. Well maybe it is the answer- incorporating exercise into my life has been the answer for me.
Overall my goal to be in good shape as I move into my senior years and to be healthy and able to keep up with my grandchildren when they come along has been fulfilled.
My goal for 2008 is to maintain and improve on what I've accomplished. With the skills and habits learned from CTM I am very confident of my success. Thank you American Heart Association and CTM program. 2007 was a great year and 2008 can only be better.
Posts
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.
My total chol. is 184
HDL is 46
LDL is 106
Trig. is 184
I have been on a low fat, low carb diet since Sept (NutriSystem). Should I be concerm about my Trig?
Comment by on February 12, 2008 2:54 PMDr. Mieres,
I'm very much an internet girl. As soon as I found out I had high blood pressure, I found this site. After going through all the 'choose to move' selectees, I chose Vervita, for the reason that she update often and replied to those that posted comments.
Well here we are, 6 months later, most of those chosen have yet to update.
Considering these are all busy and accomplished women, perhaps some slack should be cut. Ok.
The forums are worse. I have had to hunt and peck to find true posts, some of which should be answered by a professional, not a jr. high social studies teacher.
I'm sorry to be so negative. In truth, AHA diet and recipes have made it possible that I may be coming off meds next week. My diet plan has been based on your cookbooks.
When I called in my numbers today, to get a refill, the office called me back and said the doctor said when I want, to stop meds for 4 days and make an appointment for the 5th. If bp is in the 100-120 range, we'll stop the meds. Woo hoo! Diet and exercise may pay off!
Comment by on June 12, 2008 8:17 PMDr. Mieres,
I'm very much an internet girl. As soon as I found out I had high blood pressure, I found this site. After going through all the 'choose to move' selectees, I chose Vervita, for the reason that she update often and replied to those that posted comments.
Well here we are, 6 months later, most of those chosen have yet to update.
Considering these are all busy and accomplished women, perhaps some slack should be cut. Ok.
The forums are worse. I have had to hunt and peck to find true posts, some of which should be answered by a professional, not a jr. high social studies teacher.
I'm sorry to be so negative. In truth, AHA diet and recipes have made it possible that I may be coming off meds next week. My diet plan has been based on your cookbooks.
When I called in my numbers today, to get a refill, the office called me back and said the doctor said when I want, to stop meds for 4 days and make an appointment for the 5th. If bp is in the 100-120 range, we'll stop the meds. Woo hoo! Diet and exercise may pay off!
Comment by on June 12, 2008 8:17 PM
Comments
Jan 10 | Faith said …
Your story is very incouraging. I have set my goals once more for the new year and so far with my daily reminders from CTM I am moving Forward.
Jan 10 | Faith said …
Kathleen, what are METS?
Jan 11 | kathleen said …
Faith, New Year is a great time to come back and hopefully with the CTM program next New Year you will be maintaining and not be starting over. But starting over is better than not working on your health at all. I can hardly count the times I started over before it hit me that this is a lifestyle change and not a temporary fix that I can't maintain. Be encouraged by even the very little changes and don't be discouraged by slow changes. When you are exerciseing and turning fat into muscle it seems to take forever to see change on the scale. Look for other signs of encouragement like inches. Mets are a measure of how well your body uses oxygen during exercise and shows essentially how healthy you are related to exercising. It can only be measured in an exercise lab with several machines, but you can tell your own tolerance to exercise depending on your exercise heartrate and how fast it goes back to resting heartrate and of course how short of breath you get when exercising and how that improves with continued exercise.Good luck and give yourself the gift of sticking to it for the 12 weeks, it can really become a habit that will change your life.
Jan 17 | Ann said …
Today I met with my doctor because of the results on my cholesterol test. I asked what my count was. I was shocked to hear it was 276. Starting tomorrow, I will be on medication and taking the 81 mg of aspirin. My family history includes strokes and heart disease. The shock that I felt was enough to want me to choose to move. HELP!
Jan 17 | kathleen said …
Ann, Unfortunately sometimes it takes bad news to get us into action. Fortunately your problems can be improved by exercise which is shown by the results accomplished by myself and the other ladies in the CTM program. Give yourself the gift of finishing the 12 week CTM program and you will be on your way to a healthier you in 2008.
Jan 28 | Marsha said …
Dear Kathleen & CTM Friends,
A few months ago my Mother had 3 strokes and doctors also found out she has heart problems along with high blood pressure. She also has a history of Breast Cancer. This all led me to get a complete check-up and at 53, overweight, with high Cholesterol and high TSH I need help! I am now on thyroid and cholesterol medication and decided that I would begin my healthy lifestyle today since it's my Son's 28th Birthday. I went to my PC to find help, read my email from the American Heart Association and here I am! What a blessing! Thank you for your support!
Jan 28 | kathleen said …
Marsha, I too was led to a healthier lifestyle by seeing the health problems of my mother. Hopefully the changes we make will influence our own children in a healthy way and when they are in their 50's they will already be leading a healthy life. What a great gift for them. For now I am glad you have given yourself this gift of beginning. The 12 weeks in the CTM program can be frustrating and difficult at times but following through will be worth it. Good luck and we are all supporting you.
Jan 31 | Patricia said …
Kathleen:
I had a mild heart attack Aug.15th.2007 this was stress induced,and a wake up call. I got a little lazy over the holidays,and found this web site so I am ready to get serious again. Thank you for your inspiration
Feb 01 | kathleen said …
Patricia, Wake up calls are blessings and so is the Choose to Move Web site. Give yourself a twelve week gift and change your life. When ever you feel frustrated or tempted to quit remember your wake up call and all the reasons you have to live a long and healthy life and keep on going with the program. We support you.
Feb 02 | Kathleen B. said …
Kathleen, I'm Kathleen too!I saw Marie Osmand on the Today Show,and thought I'd check "Choose to Move"out. But when I saw you...and read your comments I found my answer! I signed up right away and got busy.I am also a nurse that works crazy hours and the rest of my time is busy with family. My goals are about the same too.And I love the clock reminding me to hang in there.
Thanks for the inspiration!
Feb 04 | kathleen said …
Kathleen, Glad to be of help. Why is it so many of our fellow nurses are in an unhealthy state when we see the results everyday? We are just to busy to put us first. I'm gald you are doing that for yourself now. Take it from me it feels great and amazingly enough I still have time to do all the other stuff but I feel better doing it. Keep up the good work.
Feb 05 | Donna Wheeler said …
I am not overweight but am intermittent risk for stroke and I do have a couple leaking valves. I am early 50's also.
Donna
Feb 06 | kathleen said …
Donna, That is the thing that surprises most people. Being overweight is what is associated with stroke and heart disease but there are many slim people walking around at risk and unaware. With your medical problems you definetely need to check with your Dr before starting an exercise program but in most every case exercise can decrease your risk for stroke and heart disease. Take those steps and improve your life.
Feb 10 | Donna said …
Thank-you Kathleen for sharing your story. I know I need to get moving, and feel inspired by your comments.
Feb 11 | kathleen said …
Donna, I know exercising can be a daunting task to take on. I avoided in for decades. I hope you will give yourself the gift to try,you will be greatly rewarded. It can seem so overwhelming when you think about where you would like to be. Small steps and the time limit is your own. Time will pass whether you do nothing or you do something.Better to be working on your goal next year than to be looking back and wishing you had started this year. Take that inspiration and run with it.
Feb 16 | Diane said …
Kathleen,
I've been trying to get started with CTM for 3 weeks.. and am not doing well. Today is the 1st time I've read your blog. I also am a nurse.. and we are the last to receive the care and compassion we hand out everyday. Not only am I a nurse, I'm a cardiac rehab nurse. I see heart disease everyday and that should be motivation enough to make me move. I'm hoping getting involved in CTM will help. I'm trying to get up the courage to challenge my patients to challenge me. But honestly, I'm embarrassed by how little exercise / activity I get. Please help.
Feb 17 | said …
Diane, Isn't it surprising how the ones who see the results of bad behaviors can't be motivated by it? Maybe its the emotional distance we have to put between us and our patients in order to do the job we do day after day. I understand completely about the motivation problem it wasn't until my mother began having problems due to her cardiac history and my daughter's got old enough to have babies of their own that the past and the future kind of colided for me. I do not want to be where my mother is and I was headed that way for sure. I want to enjoy my grandchildren when they come and my daughters even though they are older are not done with asking for advice from their old mother in fact they ask for it more and take it, how enjoyable is that. Everyone has to find their own motivation and when you do you will find the time you need to get exercise. I always said I had no time, my schedule is no less full today and yet the time is there. I pray you find your motivation as I did, I think it is the key to success.
Feb 19 | Ann Marie McIlhenny said …
Kathleen,
I went to the doctor this morning for the results of my blood work. They were not good. He is giving me one more chance before he increases my cholesterol medication AGAIN! I am 52 and about 50 pounds over weight! There has always been a reason why I can't exercise - its easier to work than to actually get up and exercise! I need to change and make time for myself. I've recently seen pictures of myself and am horrified that I look the way I do! I'm hoping this is my wake up call to do something positive for myself.
Thank you.
Ann Marie
Feb 19 | kathleen said …
Ann Marie, It is definitely time to think of yourself. Otherwise you won't be around to think of others that you care about. I empathize with the exercise problem. I said the same myself for years and believed it but now have carved out 30 min per day for almost a year. I still do not like exercise but definitely understand the need and really like the results, and the results have kept me going. Exercise and diet can change your cholesterol. My cholesterol improved in the 12 weeks we started the CTM program. The most significant cholesterol change was by Vernita, check out her blogs. She also added oatmeal(any hi-fiber cereal will do, I like the fiber one raisen crunch or the fiber one bars) spinach and salmon. Three foods that really pack a punch in lowering cholesterol. Give yourself a twelve week gift of the CTM program it will last you a lifetime.
Feb 27 | laurie jennings said …
ladies was moved n actual got a little teary eyed n commend you ladies that give all of that hard work being nurses. i am a 46 year old female an well be 47 in may.
and always thought that i was healthy, an in 2005 was riding my bike 68 miles a day for 6 months. and dropped 3 pants sizes n waist sizes an it felt good but also had to bust my butt doing this. and cannot tell you how much well power it took to train my self to eat nothing but chicken,salads without dressings,turkey, and fish sometimes. an drink 5 gallons of water a day to get there.while doing without sugars,caffein,staches, and anything like that.
and now i have found out back in 2007 that i have a stretched n enlarged heart and that my heart did not develop properly. and i had to have my first stent put in my heart and it was so damn hard to deal with and still having problems coping n dealin with this daily and wondering why still it happened to me and feelin so selfish.but made it through it .
and now only been home once in the last two weeks b/c i had to get rushed to the hospital again n this time had a mild heart attack and had to get 4 more stents put into my heart and i was catheried, and this was after going to my grandmothers gravesite services n losing my cat.and got home for one day only to have to go back to the hospital b/c of a uninery tract infection.and then this old heart started acting up. so again another heart cath to be sure these stents were open and to my relieve thank god they were open but what you have to go through to make sure you are alright, is a living hell and do not wish this on my worst enemy.but all of this after having 10 stomach surgeries n 8 foot surgeries and still needing another hernia surgery before it straggles my intestines and i die from this , and in need of another foot surgery on the balls of my foot.
and for you ladies that are not nurses you do know that a sign of heart attacks are upper back pain, shoulder pain as well as jaw n tooth pain n ear aches as well also, right ?
needing to lose n drop about 70 pounds as soon as possible . gained 30 lbs from not smoking an quitting cold turkey and any help you all could give are suggest would be great to hear from you all on how to put together these meals which i have not yet figured out how to do like the hospitals give you that are so healthy for you ,alright ? god bless you all n hoping you all still remain just fine n are well.
laurie jennings
Mar 02 | said …
Laurie, You have survived more in your short lifetime than most people, more than most entire families. You don't do this without being a strong person and without a strong will to live. With the strength it took you to undertake the bike riding that you did I know that you have it in you to exercise at a more modest rate as your doctors perscribe.As far as the healthy eating goes, you had it part right when you talked about chicken salad, turkey and fish. All you have to do is add vegetables, fruit and some healthy breads to that protein and you have a healthy meal. I wish you all the success in your pursuit of health.
Apr 15 | deb said …
HI KATHLEEN,
I AM A NEWBIE HERE...I AM 57 YEARS OLD, STILL CAN'T BELIEVE IT! THE LAST 12 YEARS HAVE BEEN TOUGH ALONG WITH THE PASSAGE OF MENOPAUSE. I AM NOW CONSIDERED EXTREME OBESE WHICH SADDENS ME GREATLY. I USE TO BE VERY ACTIVE AND THEN PRETTY MUCH CAME TO A SHARP HALT. I NEVER RETURNED TO ANY OF THESE ACTIVITIES LIKE BOWLING,TENNIS,WALKING,AND EXERCISING AT A CLUB. I KNOW I AM NOT WELL, BUT LIKE SO MANY, WE THINK WE WILL KEEP GETTING MORE CHANCES TO CHANGE, AND THEN DON'T. I AM LOOKING AT THIS CTM CHALLENGE AND WILL BE SEEING A DOCTOR AS SOON AS THEY CAN SEE ME.
HMMM...CAN THIS BE LIKE A DIARY OR NO?
deb
Apr 15 | kathleen said …
Hi Deb, Yes this can be like a diary. It can even be like a diary that talks back to you, how cool is that. They say that people that track their feelings, their exercise and their diet while trying to lose weight are more successful with the process. You can also do your own blog/diary and recieve comments on the Choose to Move Community site of Revolution Health. See the connection to that site from the CTM home page. You are taking the right steps down the right road, its all one foot in front of the other. Just remember when getting discouraged, and we know it will come and need to be overcome, that even when things are going slow or seem to be not going at all that you are still in a better place than not trying at all and gaining weight. Hang in there and keep writing.
Jul 04 | Pat said …
Kathleen, Thanks for sharing your information with us on the CTM program. I'm 58, probably about 35 lbs overweight, High Blood Pressure, on statins for choloestrol for quite a few years. My Mom died last July after years of strokes and heart problems.
41 days ago, I stopped smoking during a flu-like eposode,and was told that I needed meds for COPD. and I decided that it was time to quit for good. I'm gaining weight, and the Doc told me that I needed to exercise 60 mins. per day. I work long hours, and will have to really work hard to fit it into my schedule, but I'm enthusiast that I've found this program.
Jul 05 | said …
Dear Pat, I'm glad you found this website too. The C2M program really works, of course it is not easy but it is worth it and it can turn you health life around. That Dr was being a little outlandish to have you start from nothing to 60 minutes a day. Take the steps in C2M and work up to it gradually, and you don't have to do it all at once. I wish you good luck and good health, hang in there.
Jul 07 | Pat said …
Thanks Kathleen.
I thought that my Dr. was a bit agressive, but I have walked for at least 45 minutes each day for the last 5 days. I've also contacted the local senior services organization here to request info on some of the exercise programs that they have available.
Pat
Jul 11 | said …
Pat, sounds like you are doing all the right things. You have to be proactive, find out all the options you have because of course not all will work for you, weed out the ones that don't and stick with the thngs you find that will accomodate your life and schedule, good luck and good life.
Jul 12 | Pat said …
Hi Kathleen,
This week, I went to the Senior Center to check into their programs, and learned that the time schedule, location of the classes and the lack of any kind of shower facilities may not work out for me. Getting there for the one class they offer, participting in it and then back home to shower and dress for work is not very workable. In the Fall, classes of Yoga and Tai-Chi will be offered, and I will take a look at the schedule to see if that might be more workable for me.
I decided however to purchase one of the inflatable workout balls, and resistance bands to use here at home. I'm sitting on the ball while working at my computer which was a suggestion from a friends personal trainer. I've continued to walk every day for at least 45 minutes and I'm walking between 1.5 to 2.75 miles depending on the terrain. (Walking the wooded trails behind my house, and up and down hills give me a challenge on the days I walk there instead of on the road.)
This week I want to learn the best way to use the resistance bands, and watch the video that came with the exercise ball.
Jul 12 | kathleen said …
Hi Pat, I found it difficult to schedule things with the Y were I workout also, what works best for me is to go immediately after work and use their machines and then home to shower and collapse, but its a good kind of collapse. You should get a podometer to check out how many steps you are taking with all that walking. 10,000 steps a day is sure weight loss. You are doing great. Keep up the good work.
Aug 25 | DIANNE said …
I DON'T KNOW WHY I PICKED KATHLEEN OVER THE OTHERS AS THEY ARE ALL AN INSPIRATION BUT SOMEHOW I JUST SEEMED DRAWN TO HER. I HAVE SIGNED UP FOR THE PROGRAM AND WANT TO THANK YOU FOR BEING THERE. I JUSTED TURNED 64 AM OVERWEIGHT AND MY MOTHER'S FAMILY HAVE A HISTORY OF HEART DISEASE AND DIABETES. I HAVE HAD BOTH KNEES REPLACED AND ONE HAD SURGERY AGAIN AND THEY STILL DON'T BEND WELL AT ALL. SO I NEED A PROGRAM OR AT LEAST A PLACE TO START AND THIS ONE SOUNDED GOOD TO ME. I HOPE WITH ALL MY PROBLEMS I CAN HANG IN THERE AND BE ABLE TO DO WHAT IS NECESSARY. THANKS AGAIN FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT. I KNOW ITS LATE IN THE YEAR BUT I FIGURED LATE IS BETTER THAN NEVER.
SINCERELY,
DIANNE
Aug 26 | kathleen said …
Dianne, Its never too late and as long as you can walk you can succeed on this program. I was really surprised when I lost just 10 lbs how much difference it made to my knees. I never really believed the Drs who told me " if you lose some weight your knees will be better" , but darn it they were right. Follow the program and be honest with yourself and you will succeed.
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