I’m sharing about Go Red, Get Fit with American Heart Association as a partnership, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
All Photos From – Go Red Get Fit
I should already know how important heart health is as my mom was the director of the cardiac rehab here in our area for 30 years, but sometimes we all get a wake up call, right? A few years ago, my dear friend passed away instantly due to a heart attack and that was quite a shock to me. She was just 40 years old and it was sudden, she didn’t know there was any issue before it happened. That can happen…to any of us! Every single year 1 in 3 women die of heart disease and/or stroke. It’s a BIG deal!
This past year, I decided that I didn’t want to be a statistic, I have genetically high cholesterol that I’m now managing with my doctor’s help, but I also had to get my diet and exercise in check. I joined a gym back in December and have successfully stayed consistent by working out daily. I also started counting calories and taking a deeper look at what types of foods I was consuming. I was surprised to find how many unhealthy foods I was actually eating. Just making these changes within a few months I dropped 25 pounds. I had been working out on and off before and never could loose weight, then I put everything together and stayed consistent. My motivation? It was my family! I want to be there 100% for my husband and kids, and I have control of my health. It’s my decision and I want to be sure I make the best decision for them.
A huge part of my motivation was a fitness challenge with friends that I did for the first few months of the year, that’s a great way to get a jump start. I also met with a trainer for a few months until I could get a good idea of what and how to workout on my own. Then, it’s recommended that you get 10,000 steps in a day. There are so many ways to track steps these days, my son was a good motivator for that. He loved to check and be sure I was getting my steps in and that really helped to encourage us to go on family walks in the evenings too. There are so many fun ways to stay active.
Now, I have my cholesterol in check and my weight is on the way down and getting back to the healthy range. I also have a consistent routine and finally feel comfortable in my own skin. The most important thing though is I’m taking control of my health and being sure that I give my best self to my family and to myself.
Right now, I’m happy to share that Go Red for Women has a great initiative called #GoRedGetFit. This is a quarterly health and fitness challenge that combines nationally-known celebrity fitness trainers and women just like us to partner together, plus you can win lots of prizes too, courtesy of Macy’s. They have a group put together on Facebook, click to join, and it’s a great way to gain support from others. I’m in the group, and I think you should join me!
This is a great way to stay on track with your goals and be your best self!
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