Melancholy Baby

While I'm so happy to have participated in the 2011 Indianapolis BetterU challenge, tonight my heart is not only healthier, it is heavy. I'm simply sad to have this wonderful program end. I've learned so much from the St. Vincent dietitians and received words of encouragement from the medical staff. I've learned the power of strength training from Cody at Lifetime Fitness. I've made friends with Peggy, Natale and Carla as we've made this journey together. I've come to know and respect the American Heart Association staff for all that they do every day! Terrific tips, wonderful people and a purposeful cause will be a part of my heart forever.

Final Week

It's amazing how quickly 12 weeks can pass. We kicked off the BetterU Challenge in early March on the heels of the Go Red For Women Luncheon.

The ladies have been very dedicated in making the most of the challenge. They started with a visit with Dr. Nancy Branyas, a cardiologist who gave them an idea of what to prioritize in their journey to better health.

They've also met with dietician Melissa Wrin, and you've read numerous posts about their visits to LifeTime Fitness.

The challengers are looking better on the outside and feeling better on the inside. The next time you see them they'll be looking even better on the outside. Thanks to Nicole Bryan Salon each of our challengers is going to get a complimentary cut and color treatment.

A heartfelt thanks to the salon and everyone else who has supported the BetterU program this year.

Week 12: Pledge for a Healthy Future

Can you believe that we’re in the final week of our BetterU program? Time flies when you’re having fun and I had a blast. I truly enjoyed getting to know the Fab Four -- Annette, Carla, Natale and Peggy. And I truly enjoyed getting to know the BetterU Committee -- Amy, Bobbi, Kim, Margie, Marla, Michelle, Nancy, Pam and Tim. I don’t want it to end. Hopefully, we can all stay in touch.

Annette, Carla, Natale and Peggy: Over the past 12 weeks, you have taken meaningful steps to makeover your hearts. You should feel good about the progress you made and celebrate your successes. Please do not beat yourself about any setbacks you may have experienced. That is just being human. No one is perfect. Two steps forward -- one step back. It’s a journey and we’re all in this together.

In the last week of the program, we are reminded that, as we continue our journey to lifelong heart health, we should stop if we’re tempted to make a choice that may not support our commitment to an active lifestyle and healthy eating habits. We should think about our progress during the Go Red BetterU program and the personal benefits we are enjoying from new healthy habits. We should remind ourselves why our eating and physical activity choices are important to us. We should choose the best solutions after weighing the benefits and barriers for our options.

I am sure that not all the skills and strategies in the BetterU program were beneficial to you. You should identify the ones that were and use them to form your heart healthy habits. Now that you’re on the path toward a heart-healthy lifestyle, the real fun begins. It’s time for you to reach out and help others do the same. Share your successes and struggles and reach out to others so they can start their path toward a heart-healthy lifestyle. It’s time to let your little light shine!!! I love you guys!!! Sandy F.

oops I did it again...

Well ladies, I have to admit I am disappointed with my behavior lately. (First off that I have not taken the time to post!) I apologize in my lack of blogging as of late! I would think every night, I need to post, oohh that would be good, etc etc.

So oops I did it again...I have had a difficult time keeping up at the gym. I have been working a lot of extra hours at work, traveling, working in the yard, therefore, I have seemed to come up with a million excuses to not make it to my workouts! Furthermore, I haven't seen my trainer for 2 WEEKS due to both of our schedules! My stress level is thru the roof right now, and my favorite med is FOOD! Not healthy food either, JUNK! So I eat it and feel like JUNK! So the I did it again refers to falling off the band wagon yet again!

I am starting to absolve that this being healthy thing will be a challenge for me the rest of my life. I have always KNOWN this, but in my heart I am starting to accept that reality. And my mental health about myself is improving because of this realization. I don't progress anymore to be a size 2 or have the tightest abs. I want to progress to continue to prepare my body for a baby, and to be a healthy me. That's it. I am liking this person in the mirror a little more each day, which has made me more encouraging to others to do the same!

So for a funny...
I have been changing the red mulch and garden beds around with new flowers and black mulch for several weeks now. I get a good workout from all the digging out of bushes, lifting mulch bags and such. I have a little hornet friend who likes to pester me. I have ANXIETY issues with bugs, all bugs, esp ones that inflict pain. So while I mulch I have to monitor what this little booger is doing. Well he (of course it is a HE) was flying close to me and I would sprint to the front door! EVVERYTIME, I would sprint! SO, not only did I get a few miles in of interval training, before my workouts and this program I probably wouldn't have been able to run so fast!

Week 11: Live Smoke Free

I am so grateful that I never picked up the habit of smoking. With my addictive personality, I’m sure I’d be smoking at least five packs per day. Thank you, God! I did try when I was 20 years old because I always heard that when people stop smoking, they gain weight. I assumed that if you start smoking, you’d lose weight. I just could not get the hang of it. I tried three cigarettes and I was coughing and choking like an idiot. I gave away the rest of the cigarettes and never smoked again. Now, if I cold only do that with chocolate and ice cream. Wow, life would be so easy.

I had a blast at our Get Active event at the U of Indy. We got quite the workout by doing Jazzercise. And boy, did we work out, thanks to our vivacious leader, Latesha. I loved it and I can’t wait to try it again. I’ve done almost every kind of exercise out there, but somehow I skipped Jazzercise. Now I can add that to my repertoire and I plan to really get into it soon. Latesha owns the Jazzercise located at the Performing Arts Center, 575 W. Carmel Drive, Carmel, Indiana. You will have so much fun working out that you won’t realize you’re working out. Try it, you’ll like it. Thank you soooo much, Latesha!!!!

Kudos to our very own Dr. Peggy Averitte. I cut out the article from yesterday’s Indianapolis Star and it’s hanging on my bulletin board. You are my inspiration. Way to go, Peggy!!!

I hope to see everyone at our walking event at the White River Park Visitors Center, 801 W. Washington Street on Saturday, May 21st at 10:00 a.m. Be there or be square! Sandy F.

Week 10: It’s All in the Family (History)

We can’t control our G’s (genes), but we sure can control our H’s (habits). We can make choices for a healthy future for ourselves and our families. In this week’s program, it suggests that we put our own health first. Many women put the needs of their family first without realizing that they cannot take care of others without taking care of themselves. We should all be role models. This week, my goal is to be an American Heart Association BetterU role model. Everyone who knows me knows that I’m taking the BetterU Challenge right along with the Fab Four and they also know that I have not been as successful as I would like. Well, I just had my AHA moment. I saw that on a commercial and I really thought they were talking about the American Heart Association until I realized that they were talking about “the moment of clarity” or “the moment a solution to a problem becomes crystal clear.” I like using it as my American Heart Association moment – the moment I decided that I will become healthier and stop farting around with all my millions of excuses. In my quest to become a BetterMe, I am going to involve my family and friends so they can each become a BetterU. We’re all in this together. I am also very interested in helping the AHA in their efforts to combat childhood obesity. I plan to learn more about the Alliance for a Healthier Generation and the EmpowerME program to help kids and families get healthy. Sandy F.

I'm back!

Sorry, I've been away for awhile. Positive things are afoot! I fear I am behind my schedule for weight loss. But that's okay. For the first time in 16 years, I ran! Mind you, in my eight years of track and field running was never my forte. Nevertheless, I picked one foot up and then the other in rapid secession. It was quite a breakthrough as up to this point, my legs felt like molten lead.

I was sorry to miss the fitness demonstration but was attending Becoming an Outdoor Woman (BOW). It's a great program to introduce women to outdoor activities. My most eventful session was the canoe. My adventures there resulted in me being crowned Ms. Tippecanoe...

To B12 or Not to B12? That is the question....

OK, so I've had a hard time getting my mojo on since this challenge started...fatigue, lethargy, getting lightheaded while working out...just general blahs. Having a history of anemia, I asked the doctor for a general blood workup. Well, my hemoglobin count was OK, so no anemia there. But my B12 levels were way deficient! Symptoms include light headedness, fatigue, inability to concentrate....Wow, that's me!
Sources of B12 include meat, fish, eggs, dairy...all things I was trying to watch for my cholesterol count....ugh!
So I'm hoping my mojo returns now that I'm getting B12 again.
By the way, mania and psychoses are also effects of low B12....so watch out for my mood swings!