Time to Step up the Game

During the past ten months I have made several major changes in my life.

I quit smoking on Christmas Eve last year. I began clearing all processed foods from the house and making more foods from scratch.

Green smoothies became a daily habit in March, as did having more meatless meals. 

The fridge overflowed with vegetables and fruits, bought by several trips every month on my Schwinn to the local store. In fact, the bike became a vital part of my life, used almost daily for errands, appointments or just for fun.

My youngest son and I began a major backyard renovation this spring also that involved LOTS of digging, raking and screening of loam....not to mention moving about a gazillion little stones from place to place! 

He began joking that once the grass came in he wouldn't be surprised to find me in the backyard grazing, that's how noticeable my cravings for leafy vegetables had become!

I was losing weight, sleeping great, had more energy than I could use up and for the first time in almost a year was not suffering from daily charlie horses in my legs, feet, arms in fact, there wasn't a single body part that I didn't get cramps in.

I thought I was doing a fairly decent job of living a healthier lifestyle, so imagine my shock when I was rushed to the hospital on Sept. 20 because I was having a mild heart attack! 

WHAT!?!?!?

I admit that I slid back to some old habits during the two weeks before that, my stress levels had skyrocketed and I began seeking out the old comfort foods, even had a couple of cigarettes that I begged from a neighbor, but it was only two weeks of *garbage* in a ten month period!

Anyhow, a week later, 2 new stents, 5 new prescriptions and two hospital stays later (Yes, I was admitted again the day after I was released for a possible second heart attack!) I am more determined than ever to get myself in shape.

This was a wake up call that scared the heck out of me. Hearing the tears in my 28 year old daughter's voice over the phone, listening to my 29 year old son who has Down Syndrome begging me over Skype to come home, seeing my 23 year old son, who has Asperger's Syndrome,  struggling to appear brave while I KNEW that inside he was panicking, watching my 10 year old grandson cry as the EMTs took me out of the house the second time...and being so afraid that I would never be able to see or hug any of them again...well if that wasn't a big enough kick in the butt to get my attention then I don't know what would be.

At this time I can't do much of anything. I have to do a lot of resting until I get the okay from the Drs, and for once in my life I am doing exactly what I am told to do.  

My family needs me for one thing, but mostly, because I want to live. I want to be here as long as I can, I want to share as much of their lives with them as possible. I CAN do this and I WILL!

While I am by no means an expert at this, I would be very happy to help anyone that also wishes to change their eating and lifestyle choices to healthier ones. If nothing else we can cheer each other on!