Weight Loss, Exercise, and Heart Disease

In 2013, I found out that I had heart disease by way of a heart attack.

….yep, a good old fashion heart attack due to blockage.

I’d high a high cholesterol reading once, then it went down without meds and I thought all was well.

…it was not, apparently.

So, they went it, put in a stent, gave me a trillion meds to take, told me to lose weight, and sent me on my way.

That’s it.

I found a new cardiologist because the first one was trash. He wasn’t the same as the surgeon; he wasn’t trash.

OK, so I’m at the new cardiologist, I told him that I’d prefer not to take so many meds. It just seemed wrong. So, he ordered new blood tests, I got the results, my cholesterol was normal. We discussed a new treatment plan which primarily included, diet and exercise. We tried the lowest dosage of the recommended meds and that’s what I’ve been doing since 2013.

Meds working.

Diet and exercise, umm, well yeah, that’s what I’m here to discuss.

I love food and I love socializing over food, hence more weight gain but lots of enjoyment.

but y’all…

the extra weight just ain’t working, neither were the clogged arteries.

I’m not fond of statin type of drugs and I know lifestyle changes works wonders.

So, it’s weight loss and exercise to battle this heart disease.

Here’s where I am.

If you’re a low impact exerciser like me, or have to move a litter slower due to health ailments, here’s what I do.

• Leslie Sansone’s Walk Away the Pounds
• Outdoor walking through the neighborhood (mixed with flat surfaces and hills)
• treadmill walking: warm-up, 2.0 no incline, up to 3.8 and 3.0 incline, cool down, 1.8-2.0 no incline

Diet

• primarily low-carb
• more green vegetables (for me that means, broccoli, green beans, salads, and collard greens)
• minimize fried foods
• minimize dairy

Lifestyle

• I don’t smoke, never have
• I have wine every couple of years. If I never drank again, I wouldn’t miss it.
• Reduce stress (Girl, it’s hard, I’m working on it)

Please keep in mind, I am a PhD not MD, so take my words as inspiration and not medical advice. What I do works for me, probably other people too but you know a disclaimer is always needed in a litigious society.

Let’s walk.