Congratulations BetterU Participants!

Thanks to all the participants in the Westchester BetterU Challenge! Congratulations on your personal achievements, large and small, and for making a commitment to a healthier life and a Better YOU!

And many thanks to our program sponsor, White Plains  Hospital and to the staff at Will2Lose for all their contributions to the program. Thanks to Shop Rite and Bloomingdales for their support!

You Have Arrived at the Beginning!

Congratulations everyone!  You have arrived...at the beginning!  But isn't this the end?  Nope.  THIS IS THE BEGINNING! 

Now, it's up to you to stick to a lifetime of  healthier living.

Remember, none of us are perfect at all this.  Think small changes, big results. 

We at AHA are so proud of each of you!  We wish you a healthier life, free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke!

Visit often:  www.heart.org  Work with your healthcare provider to create a plan, know your numbers, stay physically active, make good food choices. 

You are a BetterU!

Thank you to everyone who has made this exerience so worthwhile-AHA,WP Hospital, W2Lose and all the wonderful participants who inspired me every day.  It was awesome!

ShopRite last night

Thanks to Stacey, the dietician at White Plains ShopRite, and her intern, for taking us around the store, offering samples, and guiding us on good choices at the store.

Closing Events!

Thanks to the women who attended our Shop Rite nutrition event, last night. 

For those attending, today, when you arrive at Bloomingdale's at 1 p.m., please go to the cosmetics counter on the main floor.  You can ask for Lorna (cosmetics manager) or Denise. 

Bloomingdale's anticipates you will all be finished by 3 p.m.--ample time to arrive at WPH by 4 p.m.

 

Have a wonderful time!

Best,
April Dawn

Got my numbers today

Weight loss barely 5#, which means BMI barely moved as well. Since I didn't have the "before" BP,I don't know if that changed. But what did change was/is my attitude. My back is currently wrenched, so I'm taking slow walks - anything to keep moving:) And I'm tolerating hunger pangs a little longer so that I can make it to a meal without snacking! I joined a gym close by, and love the classes. And I know that challenge brings change, and that change is a challenge! I had a fantasy of who I would be at the end of the 3 months:) The reality is that I accept who I am today, and I could not have done that without W2L - thank you!

You've arrived!

Here we are at the final week of BetterU--and it seems like we just got started!

And, you HAVE just gotten started.  BetterU is simply the start of many healthier moments for each of you--moments we hope you'll enjoy for a long lifetime.

We hope as many folks as possible will get their final #'s today at WPH.  If you don't make it today, we encourage you to work with your healthcare provider to learn your #'s (see my recent post about MyLifeCheck). 

Congratulations...we are looking forward to celebrating all of the "you's" in BetterU, Westchester, later this week! 

where DID the time go?

Looking forward to seeing everyone on the 2nd!  I can't believe that the program is winding down.  It has been an interesting journey.  Glad I had the opportunity to participate.

Life's Simple 7 Materials: Small Changes, Big Impact

Thanks to the women who joined me for our Life's Simple 7 presentation last week.  I want to share with all the AHA materirals provided.  I think you will find the simple concept of small changes that lead to big impact will serve you well in the months ahead, as you "graduate" from the BetterU program.

http://mylifecheck.heart.org/ Is our website dedicated to lifestyle changes that improve heart health.

The Simple 7 are the 7 areas where you can make a huge impact with small efforts:
http://mylifecheck.heart.org/Multitab.aspx?NavID=3&CultureCode=en-US

You can create an action plan--along with your healthcare providers--and take our MyLifeCheck Assessment.  http://mylifecheck.heart.org/PledgePage.aspx?NavID=5&CultureCode=en-US

You can complete the assessment initially without knowing all of your health #'s, but it is a great idea to work with your health care provider and get as much of the following information as you can to input into the confidential, private assessment tool:

Total cholesterol
LDL cholesterol
HDL cholesterol
Triglycerides
Blood sugar
Blood pressure

After you've plugged in information about your #'s, your lifestyle, and your family history, you'll get a heart health score and great information about how to move toward more ideal cardiovascular health.

You can also pay it forward using the My Life Check resources page:
http://mylifecheck.heart.org/Resources.aspx?NavID=563&CultureCode=en-US

Our www.heart.org website is something I encourage you to explore in an ongoing way.  Some highlights:

The "Getting Healthy" area gives you TONS of information about nutrition, physical activity, etc.
http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/GettingHealthy/GettingHealthy_UCM_001078_SubHomePage.jsp

Under "Conditions" you can find information on specific needs like controlling high BP or cholesterol:
http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/Conditions_UCM_001087_SubHomePage.jsp

Here are our cholesterol tools and resources, for example:  http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/Cholesterol/CholesterolToolsResources/Cholesterol-Tools-and-Resources_UCM_001216_Article.jsp

We hope that you've had a wonderful journey toward better health, via BetterU.  But you are just getting started!  Use the resources above as a jumping off point to be your own best health advocate, work with your healthcare providers to create a concrete plan that will help you stay on the good health path. 

Cheers to your heart-healthy life!

We Need to Hear From You

Good morning,

With our closing programs coming up this week, if you haven't already contacted Julia Moran (julia.moran@heart.org) with your RSVP information, please do so.

Ladies, we'd like to see the strongest turnout possible on 5/2 so that we can show our appreciation for Will2Lose and White Plains Hospital.  We also need to let Shop Rite know a final headcount for our 5/1 grocery shopping trip program.  Again, please let Julia know if you plan to attend, ASAP.

We also need as many participants as possible to get their final numbers checked this Monday at WPH.  Please call Kristine Sposato at WPH and schedule a time for Monday 4/29.  Her number is 914-681-2563.  They will get your final, Height, Weight, BMI and Blood Pressure numbers for our presentation on May 2^nd.

Thanks,
April Dawn

ch ch ch changes!

Getting ready for a transition away from BetterU, and on my own. Trying to work walks and hikes into my pal time, instead of lunch. Norma suggested more greens in my diet, so I juice a quart of parsley, cukes, celery etc mixed with zero cal coconut water for breakfast. Deelish - not at all like the kale experiment from a month ago!

Reminder, TONIGHT at 6:30 p.m. Life's Simple 7 at WPH Auditorium

Good morning!

I hope to see many of you this evening at White Plains Hospital.  If you didn't RSVP, you can still show up.

We'll learn simple, practical ways you can improve your cardiovascular health--and how you can keep track with a private, personal health assessment...and all of it is free!

http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/More/MyHeartandStrokeNews/Getting-Heart-Healthy-One-Simple-Step-at-a-Time_UCM_447728_Article.jsp