Great Heart Chat with Dr. Gregory D'Onofrio About Heart Disease in Women

Thanks to Dr. Gregory D'Onofrio, cardiologist from Stamford Hospital, for sharing his expertise with the Stamford BetterU participants last night! 

Dr. D'Onofrio discussed the importance of combining diet and exercise to improve cardiovascular health.  He focused on cholesterol levels, what the numbers actually mean, and the long term affects the have on our cardiovascular system.   He also answered several questions about statins, diabetes, and heredity from the BetterU participants.

More than 80% of heart disease in women can be prevented through simple lifestyle changes. That's what the BetterU program is all about. But knowing your own heart disease and stroke risk, knowing your family history and keeping track of your cholesterol and blood pressure can go a long way to avoiding heart disease and stroke.

Use the American Heart Association's Go Red Heart Checkup online tool take the to assess your main cardiovascular health risk factors. It only takes a few minutes and along with your results, you’ll receive a Personal Action Plan. Think of it as a customized guide to help you achieve your fitness and nutrition goals, live heart smart, and put an end to the No. 1 killer in women.

START THE HEART CHECKUP!

A poem about life

Life
~By: Julie Alswanger
Life is worth living.
Even when your down.
Life if worth living.
So lets turn it around.
Life is worth living.
So lets give it our all.
Life is worth living.
Even when we fall.
Life is worth living.
So lets get to work.
Life is worth living.
Even when it hurts.
My life is worth living.
So i will continue to strive.
Life is worth living.
So lets continue to shine.

Life changing

This program has changed my life. I have become more energetic, and I am not able to jog my laps instead of just walking them. This program has also helped me to realize that i am not alone, I am not the only person who is trying to become a better and healthier person. My Nutritionist, personal trainer and fellow better U members have been extremely supportive throughout the journey. I cant wait to see what the future hold for all of us, and to see how well we have all done once we reach the end of this program. I plan to keep exercising, and eating right after this program is over, and i encourage everyone in the better U program to do the same. Together we can change our lives, we can become healthier and help guide others to do the same.

Wonderful information

Although I was late I really enjoyed dr. Dnofrio's speak on heart disease.  We all can make little changes that in the end all add up to big changes. We are living longer as the doctor described tonight by just making small changes. We live in a society that wants instant gratification and we don't realize that if we take the time and put in the energy we will reap the benefits maybe not instantly but in time.  I was also excited to see the other women that are in the better u program as well. We all live busy lives and can't be together all the time so I really appreciate my time with these special women when we do get to be together. I hope to see more of us on Wednesday at Mill River. 

Better U "Babes" at the CT Food Bank Walk 4/27/14

As sometimes happens, several members of out team had changes in plans so the Better U "Babes" were just me and my husband Evan yesterday.  We managed to get a quick picture in the shirts Greg from the Heart Association was kind enough to provide but it was chilly so Evan has 3 layers on... The walk itself was 2.5 miles, all beachfront, really lovely.  Heading out for our sailing trip, back May 7th.  After we return, will see if anyone wants to do a team for the Hope in Motion Walk on June 1 as a sort of finale for our program.

Comprehensive Heart Disease Articles

Here's a link to this month's AARP Magazine, which has a comprehensive women's heart disease article (mentioning the Go Red campaign) and an article for men about atrial fibrillation:
http://pubs.aarp.org/aarptm/20140405_PR?folio=28#pg30

Keeping it all together

I am a very positive person, but recent events in my life personnel, financial and medical have derailed my efforts in this process.  It has kept me from excerising the last 2 weeks and also from counting calories daily.  I do have the mentality that there is always tomorrow and it is true. So I will try everyday to make a good effort to help myself on this journey.  I know we are half way thru and I am not anywhere weight wise that I thought I would be. But I also do realize that my journey is just that, MINE, no one elses. I cannot measure the small gains that I have learned up against others.  In the end of this journey, I will take away alot of new things and leave some old things behind.  Again I have to remember, this is not the biggest loser event, its a life changing event.