Miss Lori Go Red BetterU Week 8: Down with stress, up with life

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

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

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?

[Read more...]

Miss Lori week 5 Go Red BetterU Program: an apple in the hand is worth pounds on the scale

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!

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 is a Go Red For Women BetterU Program Ambassador this Summer

As many of you know I turned 40 two weeks ago. I was very excited to reach this milestone. For me 40 means the beginning of my true adulthood. Yes, I have technically been an adult for two decades now, but that was just a fact gathering phase. Now I’m ready to put all that I have learned through trial, error and exploration, to good use. I’m ready to be BETTER. A better mother, a better friend, a better daughter, BETTER. And I’m going to be a BetterME by utilizing the BetterU program.The American Heart Associations’ Go Red For Women BetterU Program to be precise.

This past year was quite an eye opener for me. After a few major things happened in my personal life I had a rude awakening, I was not the great mother that I had assumed myself to be. I thought that by making the sacrifices I was making with my time and my energy, being available to my children at every waking moment possible, attending to their needs in the immediate to the best of my ability, and sometimes to my own detriment, qualified me for a nomination for “Mother of the Year” quite frankly. But NOOOOO. What I realized was that if I am going to be a good mother, truly a good mother, than it is just as important for me to do for myself as it is for me to do for my children. Why? Because they are listening, watching and learning from my example, (whether they like it or not!). The way I live, the choices that I make in regards to myself, my happiness and most especially my health, is imprinting on them. So, I had to ask myself, “Self, is this the way you want your children to act when they grow up and become parents? Do you want them to ignore their health and happiness because they think that is the only way to parent successfully?” Goodness me, NO! Well then, be BETTER!

Let’s get to the heart of the matter… [Read more...]

Miss Lori is stepping into 40 on the right foot to ACTIVATE SUMMER

IN ONE WEEK I WILL TURN 40! I am really excited! No really, I am. I know a lot of people step into 40 with trepidation, but I plan to step into it with energy, purpose, and most importantly a PLAN! Friday May 14th will not only be my birthday it is the launch of my Activate Summer initiative. [Read more...]