Thursday, October 9, 2008

HEARTfelt....

Over the weekend...we were blessed to see our sweet daughter. She flew in very briefly for her 10 year class reunion...YIKES...I have a daughter who has been out of high school for 10 years...GEEZ...I can remember my 10 year, 20 year...and not too long ago my 30 year reunion....kind of makes me feel old....Anyhoo...she was only here for what seemed like a minute...then she had to fly back home to Colorado! While she was here...she gave me this book that she compiled from information off the Internet, magazines and healthy heart articles. I know she worked very hard on this and it is a very comprehensive guide to living "heart" healthy! It is compiled of not only facts and articles for the mind, body and soul...but it is complete with wonderful heart healthy recipes, workouts and practical guides to living heart healthy! Folks...I nearly burst into tears when she gave it to me. I never expected anyone to do so much for me when it came to helping me figure out all this crazy heart healthy lifestyle, it's sometimes daunting or at least to me! (I've never had to really worry too much about my weight, in fact I was always told when I was younger that I was too skinny; even my husband thought I was way too thin when we first met, my how things can change!!...but skinny or fat has nothing to do with bad genes). I also think she was rather excited about it herself because she gave it to me the minute she got in our car to leave the airport (she's the one who can keep a secret forever, too)...and she should have been excited...it is absolutely GREAT! I love it... AND I love her for taking the time to compile it...I feel like the luckiest woman and mother on earth! It is divided into chapters and each is color coded...making it so easy to refer back to other articles and such. I have spent several hours reading over it, making lists, compiling new menus and basically learning a whole lot of things I should have listened to a long time ago. I've always thought of myself as someone who never really ate too badly (remember I was a child of the late 50's and told to always clean my plate and when it came to exercise we all got plenty by just being kids and playing hard), but with the issues I face now...I am not giving it a chance to get worse...I am going to stick to the healthiest possible way of eating for my heart for as long as I can. I am hoping at one point my levels will be so great (they aren't bad now for most folks...but need to be lower b/c of my family history) that I won't have to take statins or beta-blockers...but for now...I'll continue to take those 2 pills a day...eat healthy and start a better work out regimen.

THANKS JACKIE...you've made this a whole lot easier for me and I am so grateful to you for taking the time to do this for me...I think your love language must be "giving" or "quality time" b/c that is just what this is to me!!

Between Jackie keeping me on my toes with this book and Emily (my daughter-in-law) passing on more heart healthy eating lite recipes....I should be in great shape before next summer....hmmmm...maybe that would warrant another trip...somewhere...???? Costa Rica...maybe????

OH! and one more thing...Listen to Jack LaLane...and even Richard Simmons...ladies...they both tell of just shopping the parameter of your grocery store...that is the best way to shop for a healthier life style...b/c you don't get into the middle of the store where it is full of processed foods, junk and things that are not healthy! Makes for a faster trip, too...I've heard this for years...but never really took heed! It's funny how the words 75% blockage can cause you to get busy doing what is right for your health! I'm not going to hang my head and look back at things I could have done better b/c honestly I did not know I had a higher cholesterol than I should have had with the family history...b/c those things are in the past...but I will abide by the new rules as if my life depends on it...and I pray we will see a marked change in things...very soon!! I go to the cardiologists on Monday...have blood work drawn, tomorrow...so we should find out soon what is working and how well.


10 comments:

Unknown said...

Cute photo. My oldest daughter's been out of high school for 12 years now and it's been 34 years for me. Oh no that sounds just too old. LOL Hope you are doing well Teresa.

Lavender Chick said...

Good luck with your new lifestyle. You can do it, and boy do you have a lot of people worth doing it for! You are very loved by your family. Great post. Great daughter! She's so beautiful!

Justabeachkat said...

Jackie is gorgeous, just like her Mama! What a thoughtful loving gift! Maybe she should get it published so others could benefit from it too. I'm so glad you're doing okay. Please keep us posted. I've been thinking about you a lot.

Hugs sweet friend!
Kat

Sandi McBride said...

Hey, it brought you back into Blogville, so this must be a good book. But one thing I want you to know is don't treat yourself (or allow others to) like an invalid...because you're not...you're a healthy young woman who has just been "whipped into shape" and I know you're going to do wonderfully well!
hugs a bunch!!!
Sandi

Hill Country House Girl said...

What a sweet post! I thought I was the luckiest mom alive, but I guess there are two of us! Sounds like we are in the same time of life - I just have younger kids, which makes me an older mom! What ever happened with the house design project? I have been way, way,way out of touch!

Julie said...

Wow - she looks just like you!...and you do NOT look old enough to have a 28 year old daughter!!!

Julie said...

Your post on my blog was so sweet and you really must understand what I feel, because you described it to a tee!

My daughter Emily and her family are trying to get transferred back to Texas. I am biting all of my nails off just waiting for that time to come. I think it is easier when you have the next generation "under foot". It keeps you looking forward instead of back.

Tonja said...

What a gift FULL of love! I know you were excited! AND, I bet she got such joy by doing it for you!

Glad to hear you are taking care of yourself. I am slowing getting over the jet lag from my trip. All I want to do is sleep! However, we spent the morning at the Creek House. We finalized the plans for the deck and back yard and pool area. Such details! But, that is not complaining you hear coming from these lips. No Mam! Just the facts! Then a few more details to work out inside and little things to fix. Ohhh...it's getting close!

Unknown said...

So glad you got to spend time with Jackie! one day I hope to meet her! Hope you are feeling good. I have been keeping up with you via Laura!

Hugs!

Julie said...

Thank you so much!!!

Last last night my husband came home with the package you sent. He was on late shift - so he was the one that went to the post office to retrieve the package. He just stood back as I opened it. I LOVE LOVE LOVE the black cat fabric and it is such a nice heavy weight (not like the thin cheesy stuff you find at Walmart!) that I knew instantly I wanted to use it to make a jumper for Madison...but I think I am going to make it large so she can wear it next year. The kitchen towel made us both laugh out loud with its funny tail and I dug into that candy corn too, putting what was left into the little pumpkin containers.

You have no idea how much that brightened my day Teresa!!! Thank you again. I really needed a pick-me-up and the timing was just perfect!