I have been working out daily as usual. Doing my somewhat new routine. What was a few weeks back new exercises have now become a daily routine. Still around 1 hour 15 minutes total workout time. I may add a couple more strength machine exercises I had stopped doing when my trainer told me they were building my shoulder muscles and could effect my posture. Cindy and I have began to occasionally walk late in the evening before dark. There is a city park a short drive from our home. It has a .6 mile paved trail around a lake that we enjoy walking. A couple of times around the lake, after the heat of the day is beginning to cool off, is a nice way to exercise. You'll sometimes see deer beginning to come out, ducks swimming up to see if you are going to throw them something to eat. Several young families with children out walking, or enjoying a picnic. We are not doing this often currently because of the summer heat, even late in the day the temperatures are still in the 90's.
As I mentioned in the last posting, my blood pressure has remained pretty much constant in the 112/60 range. Walking and exercise have done a lot to get my blood pressure in the normal range. This goes to show even after the heart, lung problems, and heart surgery, you can take control to regain your health. And at worst, get yourself as healthy as possible through diet, exercise, and proper medication. According to Webmd.com some of the causes of high blood pressure are "smoking, being overweight, lack of physical activity, too much salt, drinking too much alcohol, stress, older age, and eating fatty foods." Mayoclinic.com lists several ways you can lower your blood pressure. "Stop smoking, reduce caffeine, regularly monitor your blood pressure, reduce stress, lose weight, exercise, eat healthy foods, and reduce your sodium intake."
Some days, not all but some, later after working out I'm walking around the neighborhood where I live. I've worked out a 1 mile route and normally I will do 2 loops on that route. I'm doing this sometime around mid-day or early afternoon after lunch. As I said this is not an every day thing, just when I feel the need to do it. And the heat is making it impossible for me to do it as often as I would like. It sure is nicer walking this route or the park trail than the 30 - 45 minutes I do on a treadmill each morning. To think before heart surgery and the first month afterwards, how I would huff and puff taking even slow paced short walks. I have come a long ways back in strengthening myself. I am now quite sure my stamina will never be as before. I really think I had unusually good stamina for my age and I miss it. Cindy thinks as much medication as I now take has to do with not feeling great every day, and tiring more easily. Maybe she is right.
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Working Out To Be Healthy #27
Recently I am feeling much better about recovery from the health aspects associated with having a heart attack. My cholesterol, good and bad, remains headed in the right direction. My eating habits are good, and I have developed a formula of healthy foods to eat that works for me. My weight is also consistent and under control and I feel good about where my weight is. I no longer feel like I am constantly struggling not to gain weight. I am exercising more and in better shape than I have been in more than 20 years. My blood pressure is no longer all over the place. I range well within normal blood pressure for a healthy person. You're thinking, so what is he saying or is he just tooting his own horn. Well, I feel good about myself for putting 3 important factors together and staying committed to them to get my health back. Healthy diet, exercise, and weight control.
If you had known me 3 years ago, you would have said, this guy eats terribly, is over weight, out of shape, and needs to exercise. His blood pressure gets so high his vision gets fuzzy, and his heart pounds like a diesel pump if he walks up an incline. He doesn't eat breakfast or lunch. He says he doesn't understand why he is not losing weight and he snacks on Twinkies, honey buns, and chips until dinner time. He works 13 hour days, and says he thrives on pressure and stress. If someone continues these habits and health life style long enough you know what is going to happen. Sooner or later they are going to be risking having serious cardiovascular problems. But you can change. It is not as difficult as you may think. Once committed and dedicated to become healthier, you begin to feel better about yourself.
If you're already having heart problems, as a lot of us have had, it is still not too late to change. Or you can leave your health entirely in the hands of doctors and medications. There is only so much, in my opinion, they can do for you. What is the point of doctors giving you medications for blood pressure, and cholesterol, and you're still eating foods high in fat, remaining overweight, and are not exercising? You're working against the full benefits you should be getting from the medications. At best they are maybe offsetting the negatives you are doing. I know some of you are uncomfortable at this moment. I am not a doctor hiding behind this blog trying to lecture you for not doing what your doctor is asking you to do. I want to impress on you that you can do what the rest of us have done. We were doing all the things not good for us too. Not only do we feel better, we feel better about ourselves.
I personally do not go around telling people about having a heart attack, losing weight and exercising my way back to good health. Most people I'm around, particularly at my fitness center, just think I'm an older guy who has kept himself in good shape. That is so far from where I was 23 months ago. I not advocating we become bodybuilders, just be fit and heart healthy. A while back I was working out and a lady (in her 30's) was on a weight machine next to me and was with a trainer. She leaned over and said "when I get to be your age I hope to be in as good of fitness condition as you". I smiled and thought lady if you only knew........
If you had known me 3 years ago, you would have said, this guy eats terribly, is over weight, out of shape, and needs to exercise. His blood pressure gets so high his vision gets fuzzy, and his heart pounds like a diesel pump if he walks up an incline. He doesn't eat breakfast or lunch. He says he doesn't understand why he is not losing weight and he snacks on Twinkies, honey buns, and chips until dinner time. He works 13 hour days, and says he thrives on pressure and stress. If someone continues these habits and health life style long enough you know what is going to happen. Sooner or later they are going to be risking having serious cardiovascular problems. But you can change. It is not as difficult as you may think. Once committed and dedicated to become healthier, you begin to feel better about yourself.
If you're already having heart problems, as a lot of us have had, it is still not too late to change. Or you can leave your health entirely in the hands of doctors and medications. There is only so much, in my opinion, they can do for you. What is the point of doctors giving you medications for blood pressure, and cholesterol, and you're still eating foods high in fat, remaining overweight, and are not exercising? You're working against the full benefits you should be getting from the medications. At best they are maybe offsetting the negatives you are doing. I know some of you are uncomfortable at this moment. I am not a doctor hiding behind this blog trying to lecture you for not doing what your doctor is asking you to do. I want to impress on you that you can do what the rest of us have done. We were doing all the things not good for us too. Not only do we feel better, we feel better about ourselves.
I personally do not go around telling people about having a heart attack, losing weight and exercising my way back to good health. Most people I'm around, particularly at my fitness center, just think I'm an older guy who has kept himself in good shape. That is so far from where I was 23 months ago. I not advocating we become bodybuilders, just be fit and heart healthy. A while back I was working out and a lady (in her 30's) was on a weight machine next to me and was with a trainer. She leaned over and said "when I get to be your age I hope to be in as good of fitness condition as you". I smiled and thought lady if you only knew........
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Haagen-Dazs, and Baby Ruth #26
This week is the first after the July 4th holiday. The fitness center has really been busy since the 4th. I guess people coming back from vacation week, celebrating the 4th, cookouts, eating out, everyone is looking to get back into their workout routines and work off some of those extra calories. I really enjoy doing the pull ups I was telling you about. Not that they are easy, it's just that I can already feel a positive difference they are having on my back and posture. Sometimes in the mornings it was difficult for me to stand completely erect. My lower back seemed not to want to co-operate until I was up and walking for a few minutes. Then it would "loosen up" and standing erect was no problem. Now that problem is not near as severe and I feel certain the new exercises have helped. I am also doing an exercise on a floor stand which I am not sure of the name. It is at an angle to the floor. Comes up to your waist line. Is padded so you bend over towards the floor with your arms folded and held against your chest. You bend over facing the floor and return slowly to the start position. This also is designed to exercise your lower back and waist line muscles.
Cindy has begun exercising again. She is wanting to get back into a regular workout routine. We do a lot of things together. Workouts are not one of them...... I think if she can put together a couple of weeks of regular workout times she can get back in a regular routine.
We were talking one night after dinner and Cindy ask something about if I missed eating steak, or ribs at the Rendezvous. It is almost 2 years since I eliminated most of the red meat I was eating. Not once have I wanted a steak or a rib. Or anything like that and I told her. What I have craved are some things I did not eat very often. Candy bars and ice cream. I told her I have been wanting butter pecan ice cream, and about any kind of candy bars made. I promise you, I'll bet I use to not eat 6 candy bars a year. And ice cream only at a grandchild's birthday party. Well, a couple of nights later, after dinner, Cindy comes in with a surprise for me. A pint carton of Haagen-Dazs butter pecan ice cream. Remember what I told you about don't offend your wife, there are unpleasant consequences. Well, I used that as an excuse to eat some of the ice cream straight from the carton. And I dared not to look at the side of the carton too see how many calories, sugar, or fat content. Why torture myself. I ate two spoonfuls and put the remainder in the freezer for another day. It was absolutely delicious. I had not had any ice cream in over 2 years. I told you in the last post, my will power over food is not strong, and I knew that Haagen-Dazs was waiting on me in the freezer. Then I thought about my heart surgeon with his cowboy boots on and what he would say about butter pecan ice cream and coronary arteries. A couple of nights later I quietly took the Haagen-Dazs out of the freezer and sent it down the disposal. I knew if I didn't, I would have ended up eating more.
I am kind of hoping tonight, after dinner, Cindy shows up with a super-sized Baby Ruth candy bar. Can't offend my wife you know.
Next Day;
Well, no Baby Ruth candy bar after dinner last night. Cindy did tell me how proud she was of my will power to resist eating ice cream, candy bars and of my dedication to eating healthy only. You know, I could have sworn as she was telling me how proud she was of my will power, that I saw a few tiny little specks of chocolate and peanuts on her face around her lips and mouth.........
Cindy has begun exercising again. She is wanting to get back into a regular workout routine. We do a lot of things together. Workouts are not one of them...... I think if she can put together a couple of weeks of regular workout times she can get back in a regular routine.
We were talking one night after dinner and Cindy ask something about if I missed eating steak, or ribs at the Rendezvous. It is almost 2 years since I eliminated most of the red meat I was eating. Not once have I wanted a steak or a rib. Or anything like that and I told her. What I have craved are some things I did not eat very often. Candy bars and ice cream. I told her I have been wanting butter pecan ice cream, and about any kind of candy bars made. I promise you, I'll bet I use to not eat 6 candy bars a year. And ice cream only at a grandchild's birthday party. Well, a couple of nights later, after dinner, Cindy comes in with a surprise for me. A pint carton of Haagen-Dazs butter pecan ice cream. Remember what I told you about don't offend your wife, there are unpleasant consequences. Well, I used that as an excuse to eat some of the ice cream straight from the carton. And I dared not to look at the side of the carton too see how many calories, sugar, or fat content. Why torture myself. I ate two spoonfuls and put the remainder in the freezer for another day. It was absolutely delicious. I had not had any ice cream in over 2 years. I told you in the last post, my will power over food is not strong, and I knew that Haagen-Dazs was waiting on me in the freezer. Then I thought about my heart surgeon with his cowboy boots on and what he would say about butter pecan ice cream and coronary arteries. A couple of nights later I quietly took the Haagen-Dazs out of the freezer and sent it down the disposal. I knew if I didn't, I would have ended up eating more.
I am kind of hoping tonight, after dinner, Cindy shows up with a super-sized Baby Ruth candy bar. Can't offend my wife you know.
Next Day;
Well, no Baby Ruth candy bar after dinner last night. Cindy did tell me how proud she was of my will power to resist eating ice cream, candy bars and of my dedication to eating healthy only. You know, I could have sworn as she was telling me how proud she was of my will power, that I saw a few tiny little specks of chocolate and peanuts on her face around her lips and mouth.........
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Pig And Waffle At A Wedding #25
Continuing to eat healthy and avoiding reverting back to the old eating habits were the closing themes of the last post. I wanted to discuss those a little further. I guess committing yourself to a change of healthy life style is a way to avoid the pitfalls of going on a diet, losing a lot of weight, and then fighting the battle to keep it off. What normally would happen to me is, now remember many posts ago I pointed out the difference between dieting to lose weight, and eating healthy to lose weight. What would happen to me is after losing the weight, I would continue eating the same foods as before, except in lesser portions, and maybe not as often. Eventually, slowly but surely, I would end up back where I started. Same old eating habits and putting weight back on. You know how I know I would do that? Because I have already done that a few times over the years. Most of you have too. Getting older, concerns of heart health and living out an active life lead me to changing for the better. The heart attack 6 weeks into the change was not part of my plan. Continuing to eat healthy will always be part of your recovery and remaining heart healthy. I know, in my case, eating oatmeal and fruits have been important in my getting my cholesterol to the levels of a healthy young man.
A few weeks back my wife and I went out of town to attend a family wedding. We were around friends and family we had not seen often since I had changed to healthier habits. The reception was centered around the favorite homeland foods of the bride and groom. The bride being from another country, and the groom's homeland being Arkansas Razorback. The reception was out of doors and there were several separate serving areas. Each having different foods to offer. Foods such as Waffle House favorites, burritos, tacos, a whole grilled pig, and bar-b-que. Various chicken and beef dishes of the bride's homeland were popular. Apparently, seafood was not a favorite of the couple. I looked high and low for fish or shrimp and did not find anything to eat that lived in the ocean. Oh yes, you're wondering about why the Waffle House food? The groom had just graduated from college and had developed a 4 year addiction to waffles while away at school. So Waffle House was one of the caterers. I found a serving table full of fruit at the waffle tent so I had plenty to eat. We sat with a large table of family and I got the feeling everyone was waiting to see if my eating fruit was for real or for show. You know what I mean? They were like, what's up with the fruit thing, when is he going in for the taco waffle roasted pig combo sandwich, with chocolate cake on the side? They all remembered me from the before heart attack days.
The following day we were still with family and visited the Clinton Presidential Library in Little Rock. It was really interesting and a lot of fun to do. I guess family wanted to test me again, so we all went to a Sunday brunch before the Library tour. It was sort of like the reception, a lot of most anything you would want to eat. This time I found the seafood, so I had that along with fruit. That really freaked them out.....
A few weeks back my wife and I went out of town to attend a family wedding. We were around friends and family we had not seen often since I had changed to healthier habits. The reception was centered around the favorite homeland foods of the bride and groom. The bride being from another country, and the groom's homeland being Arkansas Razorback. The reception was out of doors and there were several separate serving areas. Each having different foods to offer. Foods such as Waffle House favorites, burritos, tacos, a whole grilled pig, and bar-b-que. Various chicken and beef dishes of the bride's homeland were popular. Apparently, seafood was not a favorite of the couple. I looked high and low for fish or shrimp and did not find anything to eat that lived in the ocean. Oh yes, you're wondering about why the Waffle House food? The groom had just graduated from college and had developed a 4 year addiction to waffles while away at school. So Waffle House was one of the caterers. I found a serving table full of fruit at the waffle tent so I had plenty to eat. We sat with a large table of family and I got the feeling everyone was waiting to see if my eating fruit was for real or for show. You know what I mean? They were like, what's up with the fruit thing, when is he going in for the taco waffle roasted pig combo sandwich, with chocolate cake on the side? They all remembered me from the before heart attack days.
The following day we were still with family and visited the Clinton Presidential Library in Little Rock. It was really interesting and a lot of fun to do. I guess family wanted to test me again, so we all went to a Sunday brunch before the Library tour. It was sort of like the reception, a lot of most anything you would want to eat. This time I found the seafood, so I had that along with fruit. That really freaked them out.....
Monday, July 11, 2011
You Can Have My Prime Rib #24
Guess what? You remember me telling you about the Levaquin. The prescribing doctor, one I didn't see very often, and the doctor didn't change the Levaquin prescription as agreed during hours. How Cindy went through a commotion to get the after hours on call doctor to call in a change. Well ,we went to Walgreens last night to pick up a prescription for Cindy and the pharmacist had a medication for me on "alert hold drug conflict." Seems my Levaquin prescribing doctor's office did call in an alternative. We are not sure when it was called in, or which doctor. Could have been the on call doctor or the doctor who saw me in the office. The drug called in was Clarithromycin which is a major conflict with Zocor, which I take for cholesterol. I had given the doctor's office a current list of medications and dosage I take that day before they wrote the prescription. At least the doctor on call would not prescribe medication for me until I provided him with that information. He then gave me a medication for the infection. Walgreens was pretty much on top of this. Their computer software flagged the Clarithromycin when it cross referenced I was taking Zocor, and would not authorize it's release to me. I'm not going back to that doctor.
I have been trying to decide if I have been eating too many peanuts. The more I read about eating them, the more convinced I am about peanut's nutritional and health values. They are an excellent source of monounsaturated fats. According to The World's Healthiest Foods, peanuts contain the same healthy fats as found in olive oil. Various studies have shown "eating peanuts can reduce the risk of cardio disease by 21%." I should mention articles I have found,indicate eating roasted in the shell peanuts, with skin. No mention of raw, boiled, or otherwise. I eat roasted unsalted in shell. They are rated with strawberries and blackberries in antioxidant content and total health value. The downside is they are high in calorie content. I don't know about you, but once I start eating a handful of peanuts, I've gone through half a bag and want more. I think eating a couple of handfuls 3 or 4 times a week is very beneficial in helping to control your cholesterol. You're wondering why am I concerned about eating too many peanuts? Well, I had gotten to where I was eating them daily and probably 5 or 6 handfuls, so I stopped eating them completely. But the more I read about their health benefits, it was clear they would be good for my cholesterol control.
I have told you that my cholesterol has remained low and HDL is improving. I am now only needing to go to my cardiologist on 6 month intervals, which to me is very encouraging. I am soon to stop taking Plavix, a blood thinner, and hopefully if my health continues to improve at some point my cardiologist may be able to reduce other medications. That is all great, but you know one thing I think about and use it as motivation to stay on course? What if I gain all of that weight back? What if I go back to eating all of that bad for you, good to eat, stuff? How much longer can I work out regularly? Answer...I think of how disappointed I would be of myself. I still consider food being like the most desirable drug is to an addict. I have no real will power. There is no going back just once for that big slab of prime rib. That would be the end of my healthy eating. I think as long as I can admit, to myself, I couldn't control going back to the old ways just once in a while I'll be okay.
Plus, I just bought a really nice suit that fits well and looks pretty good on me.
I have been trying to decide if I have been eating too many peanuts. The more I read about eating them, the more convinced I am about peanut's nutritional and health values. They are an excellent source of monounsaturated fats. According to The World's Healthiest Foods, peanuts contain the same healthy fats as found in olive oil. Various studies have shown "eating peanuts can reduce the risk of cardio disease by 21%." I should mention articles I have found,indicate eating roasted in the shell peanuts, with skin. No mention of raw, boiled, or otherwise. I eat roasted unsalted in shell. They are rated with strawberries and blackberries in antioxidant content and total health value. The downside is they are high in calorie content. I don't know about you, but once I start eating a handful of peanuts, I've gone through half a bag and want more. I think eating a couple of handfuls 3 or 4 times a week is very beneficial in helping to control your cholesterol. You're wondering why am I concerned about eating too many peanuts? Well, I had gotten to where I was eating them daily and probably 5 or 6 handfuls, so I stopped eating them completely. But the more I read about their health benefits, it was clear they would be good for my cholesterol control.
I have told you that my cholesterol has remained low and HDL is improving. I am now only needing to go to my cardiologist on 6 month intervals, which to me is very encouraging. I am soon to stop taking Plavix, a blood thinner, and hopefully if my health continues to improve at some point my cardiologist may be able to reduce other medications. That is all great, but you know one thing I think about and use it as motivation to stay on course? What if I gain all of that weight back? What if I go back to eating all of that bad for you, good to eat, stuff? How much longer can I work out regularly? Answer...I think of how disappointed I would be of myself. I still consider food being like the most desirable drug is to an addict. I have no real will power. There is no going back just once for that big slab of prime rib. That would be the end of my healthy eating. I think as long as I can admit, to myself, I couldn't control going back to the old ways just once in a while I'll be okay.
Plus, I just bought a really nice suit that fits well and looks pretty good on me.
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Chin Up, Chest Out #23
My fitness club offers a lot of family oriented amenities in addition to the work out and training center. There is a child care center for parents who are working out. A couple of basketball courts, rock wall climbing, an indoor lap pool, family pool, and spa. And of course an outdoor lap pool, family pool, and spa. They offer classes and training covering most things you would associate with health and fitness, yoga, cardio health workouts, nutrition and so forth. Cindy and I have been using the pool (outdoor) quite a lot. We enjoy taking our grandchildren, or just getting some sun and cooling off in the pool. I work out most Saturdays. I don't consider that part of my normal Monday through Friday routine, it's a plus day for me. We usually do the pool afternoons and Sundays. My daughter Michelle has really gotten into lap swimming and training. It is excellent exercise, good training, and is competitive. She trains with a couple of friends, works a lot with a trainer and has began to enter some local triathlons that include running and cycling. I can tell from her appearance it has really toned her muscles and given her a new sleek look. She seems to enjoy the training for swimming and the cycling equally well. I thought about getting a bicycle, as it would give me an opportunity to work out with her and her husband. I am quite sure I couldn't maintain their cycling pace for long. Plus those bicycles are pretty expensive. They are not the basic you ride around the block models. You need to be wearing a uniform with a number on it to ride one of those.
Michelle and her husband compete in some of the same triathlon events. You know there are a ladie's class and men's class within the same events. I know they enjoy competing with each other. Her husband is a very good athlete, plays basketball, cycles, runs, and works out. He and Michelle are at the same fitness center as I. I know several of the guys he plays basketball with and they too play to stay in good shape. I guess playing basketball for over an hour 3 or 4 times a week is great exercise. And they are intense when they play. No casual game atmosphere, I mean they are there for the competition and exercise. They start around 6:00 a.m. play for an hour or so, shower, change, get dressed and they're off to the office.
I have been using a workout machine, a Precor Ab-X. The purpose is to exercise your stomach muscles. After years of being overweight and out of shape, if you lose much weight, there is more to do. It means you've got lots of what use to be muscle to be tightened up. Unfortunately, walking will not do that as well. Walking sure will help get rid of weight but building some muscles involves more exercises. When I started doing pull ups, 10 was my limit and 8, 9 and 10 were a real struggle. I'm now proudly up to 30. The pull ups are part of the new exercises I'm doing to improve my posture. They are not the typical pull ups, or chin ups as some would call them. You begin by using an adjustable horizontal bar used for normal pull ups. You lower the horizontal bar to a height of 45" my preference. You then angle your body by having your feet on the floor out in front of the bar. Imagine a side view you would see someone with their chin touching the bar, with their body at a 45 degree angle with their feet touching the floor 3 or 4 feet in front of the bar. Your head is kept aligned with your body looking straight up when you do your pull ups, touching your chin or chest on the bar. Looks goofy but this is one of the exercises I got from working with a trainer to help the posture.
Try it, see how it works for you.
Michelle and her husband compete in some of the same triathlon events. You know there are a ladie's class and men's class within the same events. I know they enjoy competing with each other. Her husband is a very good athlete, plays basketball, cycles, runs, and works out. He and Michelle are at the same fitness center as I. I know several of the guys he plays basketball with and they too play to stay in good shape. I guess playing basketball for over an hour 3 or 4 times a week is great exercise. And they are intense when they play. No casual game atmosphere, I mean they are there for the competition and exercise. They start around 6:00 a.m. play for an hour or so, shower, change, get dressed and they're off to the office.
I have been using a workout machine, a Precor Ab-X. The purpose is to exercise your stomach muscles. After years of being overweight and out of shape, if you lose much weight, there is more to do. It means you've got lots of what use to be muscle to be tightened up. Unfortunately, walking will not do that as well. Walking sure will help get rid of weight but building some muscles involves more exercises. When I started doing pull ups, 10 was my limit and 8, 9 and 10 were a real struggle. I'm now proudly up to 30. The pull ups are part of the new exercises I'm doing to improve my posture. They are not the typical pull ups, or chin ups as some would call them. You begin by using an adjustable horizontal bar used for normal pull ups. You lower the horizontal bar to a height of 45" my preference. You then angle your body by having your feet on the floor out in front of the bar. Imagine a side view you would see someone with their chin touching the bar, with their body at a 45 degree angle with their feet touching the floor 3 or 4 feet in front of the bar. Your head is kept aligned with your body looking straight up when you do your pull ups, touching your chin or chest on the bar. Looks goofy but this is one of the exercises I got from working with a trainer to help the posture.
Try it, see how it works for you.
Sunday, July 3, 2011
What If's.......................#22
I do not go back later and read everything that I have posted, so occasionally I may repeat some details. I write quite a bit about exercising and most of you know how important, I feel, exercise was in my recovery and returning to good health. Many times I think about how different things could have been if I had changed my health lifestyle 20 years ago. If I had exercised regularly and had eaten healthy, I could very well have avoided all of my heart problems. I know one thing for sure, I would have been healthier, and enjoyed the benefits of such. I have had friends and relatives ask me about what kind of diet I went on and how did I lose the weight? Almost all are my age, and were mostly fitter and healthier looking than me. Like me as they got older they have found how much more difficult it is to control your weight, and began to think more about having serious health problems, and needing to take better care of yourself. That is why I write and speak out so often about exercising and how important it is in your getting into a healthy lifestyle. I'm motivated to write this blog to tell other heart attack survivors my story, and encourage them about health lifestyle changes at a late age in life.
I have a friend, my age, (business friend) not a close friend but someone I have known and been in contact with for 35 years. I had not seen him in over 4 years and about 7 months into my rehab, I ran into him my first few weeks at the fitness center. This guy was a collegiate athlete and for a long period of time, had stayed physically fit and in good shape. We had not seen each other in a few years and I told him about having a heart attack, surgery, weight loss, and working out to get back to healthy. He was very inquisitive about me having a heart attack, the symptoms and such. More so about before the heart attack than my recovery. I could sense he was concerned about his cardio health from the questions he ask me. He had gained a lot of weight and was not the same athletic looking guy as before. I ask about his workout routine and he told me he stayed busy in his work and tried to get to the fitness center once a week, sometimes not that often. We started talking and I told him about my routine, going regularly, being consistent, about eating healthy and all of that sort of thing. As I said, he was genuinely interested in how I had changed my health lifestyle. You know, he said he didn't see how I could work out the first thing in the mornings. Well guess who now shows up usually before me, and 5 days a week. Yep, he got his routine going several months ago, he has lost weight and has changed his eating habits. He told me a couple of days ago how much better he feels, and by working out before work each day, how much easier it is to stay in a regular exercise routine. Any time is better than not at all. For those who go early, trying to go after a busy daily schedule there can be too many things that can happen to change their plans. Feeling tired, long day at the office, being out of sorts, so many things can make it too easy not to go to the fitness center for a workout. For some, after work is good, others go mid-day, the point being finding the right time for you is the key. That can make working out easier to do consistently.
During the week I was sick with a sinus and ear infection, I missed working out four consecutive mornings. I have not missed that many days in one week since I started working out, and each morning I regretted not going in, and being out of my routine. Every day not there, I felt like I was missing out on something. It sure was nice getting back into my daily routine.
I have a friend, my age, (business friend) not a close friend but someone I have known and been in contact with for 35 years. I had not seen him in over 4 years and about 7 months into my rehab, I ran into him my first few weeks at the fitness center. This guy was a collegiate athlete and for a long period of time, had stayed physically fit and in good shape. We had not seen each other in a few years and I told him about having a heart attack, surgery, weight loss, and working out to get back to healthy. He was very inquisitive about me having a heart attack, the symptoms and such. More so about before the heart attack than my recovery. I could sense he was concerned about his cardio health from the questions he ask me. He had gained a lot of weight and was not the same athletic looking guy as before. I ask about his workout routine and he told me he stayed busy in his work and tried to get to the fitness center once a week, sometimes not that often. We started talking and I told him about my routine, going regularly, being consistent, about eating healthy and all of that sort of thing. As I said, he was genuinely interested in how I had changed my health lifestyle. You know, he said he didn't see how I could work out the first thing in the mornings. Well guess who now shows up usually before me, and 5 days a week. Yep, he got his routine going several months ago, he has lost weight and has changed his eating habits. He told me a couple of days ago how much better he feels, and by working out before work each day, how much easier it is to stay in a regular exercise routine. Any time is better than not at all. For those who go early, trying to go after a busy daily schedule there can be too many things that can happen to change their plans. Feeling tired, long day at the office, being out of sorts, so many things can make it too easy not to go to the fitness center for a workout. For some, after work is good, others go mid-day, the point being finding the right time for you is the key. That can make working out easier to do consistently.
During the week I was sick with a sinus and ear infection, I missed working out four consecutive mornings. I have not missed that many days in one week since I started working out, and each morning I regretted not going in, and being out of my routine. Every day not there, I felt like I was missing out on something. It sure was nice getting back into my daily routine.
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