For two months now, I've been thinking of Dr. Stacey-Ann Baugh, and her GET HEALTHY challenge. It fit right into what I needed to do as I continue to make the lifestyle changes that will, literally, lengthen my life.
My goal in the challenge was to continue to keep up an exercise regime after I graduated from the formal Cardiac Rehab that I was in following quadruple bypass surgery in October. As I explained at the start of the challenge, supporting my heart health was my primary concern, but losing weight is a component of that. I did lose a few additional pounds during the challenge.
I am now down 27 pounds from my heaviest weight, having lost some before surgery, during the hospital stay, and since surgery. I am bolstered every time someone remarks on my weight loss, but I am careful to always explain that I have worked at it. When people first started noticing my smaller size, they often worried that my recovery was not going well. I am not "wasting away." I am sweating it off!
During the two months in the challenge, I have been faithful to my exercise sessions, having only missed three times. I actually tried to make up one of those today, but found the gym closed for Easter Sunday. That is alright, because I will be back tomorrow, and I will pay my fee to stay in the program another month.
The challenge of being healthy continues and my mended heart is the best incentive I have (though it also is nice to hear people say that I'm looking great)...
(artwork is registered mark of Mended Hearts, an organization dedicated to helping patients recover from surgery, and I have benefited from their literature and meetings)
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Previous posts in this series:
Not just another New Year's resolution
I graduated from Cardiac Rehab, sort of
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