This Summer I have been serving as the Ambassador for the American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women BetterU Program. A twelve week online course to help me be better by becoming better acquainted with my own body, and how to get it to properly function. I essentially started the program just after I turned 40 in May, and now, 12 weeks later, I have reached the end. It’s really hard to believe. What a journey! Week 12 is all about reflection and review. I need to go back over the key lessons of the program and remind myself of why they are so important in my continued journey to be better. [Read more...]
Miss Lori Go Red BetterU Week 12; Exercise your heart with joy
August 19, 2010 By 1 Comment
Miss Lori’s Go Red BetterU Week 11; quit smoking so we won’t die
August 13, 2010 By Leave a Comment
I just got back from Blogher, the premier blogging conference that was held in New York City. I had such a lovely time talking to women and men about the American Heart Association BetterU program at the Go Red For Women booth on the expo floor. As the Summer Ambassador for the program, my pitch was simple: Get better so you don’t die. That’s what it breaks down to for me. And week 11 is a big piece of that surviving puzzle for me, because week 11 is all about cigarette smoke. (Or evil in a cloud as I refer to it.) I have never smoked and I never will, because if I were to do so I most assuredly would stop breathing. No, I’m not just being dramatic. I have always had trouble with cigarette smoke. Being around it makes my lungs tight. Too much exposure makes me profoundly ill. [Read more...]
Miss Lori Go Red BetterU week 10: know your history, know your choices
July 30, 2010 By Leave a Comment
I have a question for all of you parents out there. Please raise your hands all of you who hope your children will grow up and put themselves last on the priority list regarding health. Go ahead, don’t be shy. What? No hands? Oh, you think I’m being ridiculous? But wait a minute, that’s exactly what we’ve been doing by running around at wit’s end ignoring our health, skipping checkups, avoiding yearly screenings. We are teaching our children that it’s not possible to grow up and take care of yourself and your family at the same time. The moral of this little exercise, if we want to be good parents we have to be good to ourselves.
So guilt aside how do we do that? Well that’s exactly what we’ve been working on. This Summer I am serving as the Ambassador for the American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women BetterU 12 week program. Everything that I have done this Summer, every step that I have taken, both literally and figuratively, I have done so in the presence of my children. They are my support team, but they are also very much my audience, watching and internalizing the choices that I am making, whether I or they like it or not. What can I learn from that? Well, first and foremost I can learn that I am not alone. [Read more...]
Miss Lori Go Red BetterU week 9 Giveaway: Diabetes, what to know to stay healthy.
July 24, 2010 By 32 Comments
Diabetes. What is it exactly? When I was growing up, all I knew about diabetes was that Mary Tyler Moore had it. She used to do PSA’s on television that would come on between my shows. Then when I was pregnant, diabetes came up because I had to do the glucose test that required me to fast. That was memorable because fasting while pregnant is a nightmare of hunger. Last year, my youngest daughter was found to have an enlarged pancreas, which is extremely rare in children. The first thing they tested for was diabetes. Though they haven’t figured out what to diagnose her with, they have ruled out diabetes. Earlier this year, diabetes came up at my check up, when my doctor expressed concerns about a my weight and the potential of a pre-diabetic state. Say What!? Now, I don’t have diabetes. I’m not in any pre-diabetic state, but just the thought that I could be made me stand up and take notice. [Read more...]
Miss Lori Go Red BetterU Week 8: Down with stress, up with life
July 16, 2010 By 1 Comment
This Summer I am serving as the Ambassador for the American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women BetterU Program. It’s a 12 week program designed to help U be Better, especially where your heart is concerned. Week 8 is all about blood pressure and keeping it normal. Now I am a lucky person, I know, because I have always had very even, very normal blood pressure. 110 over 80. That’s what it has been for as long as I can remember. And that is within the recommended guidelines.
Optimal = below 120/80 mmHg
Prehypertension = 120-139/ 80-89 mmHg
Elevated = 140/ 90 mmHg or higher
I know that because I know my numbers. (Which is the first step towards being better.) Now even though I have never experienced a problem, I might be playing Russian roulette here. How will I know? Well I have to rate my risk. Your risk for high blood pressure is calculated by several factors- some that you can control and others that you can’t. [Read more...]
Miss Lori Go Red BetterU week 7; Your numbers are your friend
July 9, 2010 By 1 Comment
Your numbers are your friend, That is the overall lesson that I am trying to teach myself during my summer’s journey as an ambassador for the American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women BetterU Program. Since I was a child, when someone has said “know your numbers” they have been referring to the numbers on the scale. And most of my life those “numbers” have not felt very friendly, particularly since the birth of my third child. But at age 40, the numbers that I need to be concerned about aren’t just restricted to the scale. As I learned in week 2 of the BetterU program, it’s important to know your cholesterol, blood pressure and body mass index. These numbers aren’t your enemy. Quite the contrary. They are your friend, even when they are off the mark. Why? Because knowing your numbers helps you be better, live better, and feel better. If you don’t know your numbers, you don’t know what you need to work on, or maintain.
When I had my heart screening earlier this month I found out my all-important numbers. (Unfortunately, I also found out my weight, even though I had my eyes closed and asked not to be told. UGH). The news was good regarding my cholesterol and my blood pressure. I’m managing fairly well in those arenas. But my BMI, (Body Mass Index), was a different story. Which wasn’t surprising to me. Even though I closed my eyes on the scale at the doctor’s office, I am well aware that I am carrying around extra “me” that I don’t need to. Which translates into a high BMI. That was one of the principal reasons that I embarked upon this journey to be BETTER. I don’t just want a Body Mass Index. I want a BETTER Mass Index! [Read more...]
Miss Lori week 6 Go Red BetterU Program: Dressed for spontaneous exercise
July 2, 2010 By 1 Comment
This Summer I am serving as the Ambassador for the American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women BetterU program. It just so happens that week 6 of the BetterU program is all about activity. I’m sitting on the floor of the University of Illinois Chicago gym with my notebook computer in my lap typing this post. My 9 year old daughter is here to participate in a volleyball clinic for the next two hours, and I am sitting on my butt typing on the computer. When did my World switch from active to inactive? When did my hands switch with my feet for most activated appendage?
Miss Lori week 5 Go Red BetterU Program: an apple in the hand is worth pounds on the scale
June 25, 2010 By Leave a Comment
As you all know, this Summer I am the Ambassador for the American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women BetterU Program. I started the program just after my 40th birthday in May. It’s been going well, this journey of enlightenment. It’s a literal journey because I have been traveling so much since I started this program. In fact I am on my fourth city this month alone this week. Which actually has been great for my pedometer. (Airports really help you rack up the steps). But traveling messes around with your internal clock and it doesn’t afford you the best food options when you are trying to optimize your health. That’s a nice way of saying traveling makes you chunky. [Read more...]
Miss Lori week 4 Go Red BetterU Program; Go Team!
June 18, 2010 By 5 Comments
Do you have a team? I have a soccer team that I coach. I have a PR team that I work with on ambassadorships. I have a Green Team song.… But apparently what I really need is a Better team. A BetterU team to be exact. This Summer I am serving as the Ambassador for the American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women BetterU Program. I am spending twelve weeks evaluating my health, and then making key changes to my habits. Some big. Some little. But all of them important. According to week four of the Go Red BetterU Program this week I need to assemble my healthy support team. It stands to reason though, don’t you think? There is strength in numbers. When you feel accountable to someone you’re more likely to stick to your plan. And then, when you feel encouraged, even celebrated, well, then you feel like there’s nothing you can’t do. Happiness is the fountain of youth for the heart, don’t you think? (Well, I’m sure my doctor would quickly point out to me that my heart needs exercise, and nutritious, low fat food amongst other things to remain youthful, but you get the idea.) Nobody’s ever said, “Oh, she died from a happy heart!” [Read more...]
Miss Lori, week 3 Go Red BetterU Program; just WALK
June 10, 2010 By 3 Comments
Walking. That’s all you have to do. It’s really that simple. That’s what I am learning this week in the American Heart Association Go Red For Women BetterU Program. This summer I am serving as their Ambassador. Having turned 40 last month my health is at the forefront of my mind. Now, with the help of the BetterU program it is also the forefront of my priority list. Which hasn’t been the case for a looooong time. (Come on, you know you are the same way!) Ok, so back to walking. According to my BetterU Program quiz this week all you need is 10 minutes of walking to begin to make a difference in your health.10 minutes! Hey, that’s not so scary. It’s actually doable. [Read more...]
