Week 12!

When I look at this photo I posted for Week 1, I realize how much has transpired in the past 12 weeks!

Based on my health check yesterday and the profound changes I have made in my daily routine, I have made great progress!

I automatically include vegetables and fruit in every meal and I have not skipped a meal for weeks. I also integrate at least 30 min of some type of exercise or movement into my daily schedule, often more. I lost a few pounds that had congregated around my mid-section. With all of this in place, managing unexpected stress is now key to reducing my risk of heart disease, and I have learned many tools which I practice every day. As I always say to my students, “life happens.”

One thing that has really helped me recently is cultivating my sense of humor. I  laughed so hard my eyes teared when I read this: “I learned about stress management from my kids. Every night after work, I drink some chocolate milk, eat sugary cereal straight from the box, then run around the house in my underwear like a monkey” (p. 238). {From Mastering Stress 101 – A Lifestyle Approach by Barlow, Rapee & Reisner}

On a more serious note, I also appreciate the wisdom from Dick Gregory in his autobiography: “If you walk through life showing the aggravation you’ve gone through, people will feel sorry for you, and they’ll never respect you. She {his Momma} taught us that {a wo}man has two ways out in life—laughing or crying. There’s more hope in laughing” (25).

I am grateful for the opportunity to serve as one of the spokeswomen for Go Red! this year with Provena and the American Heart Association. I hope to keep in contact with the great people I have met throughout this adventure.

I just purchased a Mother’s day gift online, and I look forward to attending the fabulous luncheon next Friday with one of the most important people in my life – my Mum :-).

Just in case – here is the link for further information. I hope to see everyone there!

I wish everyone many wonderful heart-healthy moments and just remember –

“This ain’t no place for the weary kind;
this ain’t no place to lose your mind.
This ain’t no place to fall behind –
pick up your crazy heart and give it one more try!”
– Lyrics sung by Bad Blake {Jeff Bridges} in Crazy Heart.

~Nina 😉