How I found my happy heart (guest post)

Heart disease is the number one cause of death in North America:  according to the CDC in 2008, 616,000 people died as a result – meaning that 1 in 4 deaths could be attributed to heart disease. The stats surrounding heart health can be staggering, and we are inundated with this type of information everyday.

But what do you really think of when you think of heart disease? Probably an older man? You might picture him overweight? Hair greying and thinning from many stress filled years? Maybe not leading the healthiest lifestyle? Possibly a smoker?

I can pretty much guarantee that you didn’t picture me. A 27 year old healthy living blogger who is gearing up to train for her first marathon. Am I right?

MizFit note: I love my Darwinian Fail.

But the truth is I am one of the faces of heart disease and I have been battling my heart condition and my body for the last decade.

I was just 17 when I was diagnosed with my arrhythmia – Long QT Syndrome. And I was just 18 when I was outfitted with my very first pacemaker/defibrillator.

Yep, it’s me and the Oldie-Goldies just kicking it at the cardio clinic. Robot hearts are where it’s at these days. Cyborg powers activate! What?! What?! But I digress. Because while I am very proud to say that I am now a healthy happy 20-something, it was a long road back from the brink.

For me, obviously, a happy healthy heart doesn’t come naturally. It is something I have had to work at. And while I whole-heartedly give an insane amount of credit to my doctors, the advances in medical science, and my whole cardio team – just the medical intervention alone wasn’t enough. I still had a LOT of rough days, especially early on in my diagnosis.

My health definitely improved, but “bad days” were a norm in my world. Those bad days meant I just couldn’t get started. My body was already exhausted from battling my unruly ticker, and I was unable to do much else. I struggled with my energy levels and some days could not even bring myself to venture beyond the comforts of my bed.

And I don’t know about you guys, but I’ve got a lot of living to do! So I couldn’t afford to be spending so much time down and out.

I needed to get going.

So that is how Operation Happy Heart began.

I found myself losing faith in my body’s ability to work for me, instead of against me. I felt myself losing hope with each “bad day” that past. And I felt my resolve and drive being swallowed up by my diagnosis.

My health wasn’t mine anymore. My body and what it could do was ruled by how happy my heart was that day, and I no longer felt like I controlled that.

It was frustrating and absolutely terrifying, but I turned up at my cardiologists door asking for my body back. I wanted my life back. I wanted to be in control of my health again.

So we started slow.

Just eating more vegetables. Skip the all-night parties – which is easier said than done for student away at university.

Trying to make movement part the regular routine – walk more, maybe even try yoga. These were all manageable changes that I gradually incorporated into my day-to-day life, and the change in my body was profound.

I started keeping a running tally of my good days vs. bad. What was different? What was different from one day to the next? What could I do the help to make these bad days fewer and farther between? The solution made itself clear in a hurry once I started to give it some thought.

If I take care of my body, then my body will take care of me.

Krysten blogs at Darwinian Fail  Her genetics may have “doomed” her according to Darwin, but she believes fitness is also defined by adaptability, perseverance, and strength. She’s chosen *her* definition over Darwin’s.

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Baby on the Beach!

I have a handful of a cute baby on the beach photos I just need to share.

We had a BLAST today! It was a boogie boarding, wave diving, hole digging, arcade playing, board walking, fabulous day!

Little Bean was loving it.

It may look like I was blessed with 2 water babies but Bean needed some coaxing. Over the winter I took him to some Mommy and Me swimming classes and he really warmed up to the water. I mean look at him now!

Our only issue with him on the beach was sand eating.

I can’t believe it didn’t bother him at all. I’m grossed out just thinking about it.

Here we are walking to and from the water.

Now, you may be wondering where my other baby is? Well, I didn’t seem him for the first hour because he was boogie boarding with Dad. However, a beach day would not be complete without someone being buried.

After the beach it was pizza time!

Look at that thing. It’s a monstrosity! But I’m so proud of myself. I had 1/2 a slice which is really a regular sized slice because their slices are so big they literally take 2 paper plates to hold. This may not seem like big deal but for a pizza addict like me it’s HUGE! I mean seriously, I used to easily eat 2 humongous slices in a sitting and then wash it down with an ice cream, fried dough and nonpareils.

I have a belly ache just thinking about it.

The rest of the day I didn’t have my camera but we went out to dinner, walked the boards and hit the arcade. Now I’m watching The Newsroom. Time to cuddle. :)

A few sips of blueberry odwalla juice and 2 eggs I split with The Baby. Breakfast at the beach post run. I wasn’t really hungry but I didn’t want to be starving on the beach. I had a few while washing them for the house. Note: we froze half for a treat later. :)Beach snack. My stomach was growlingWe couldn’t resist the guy walking down the beachSeared Scallops, 2 wings, 1/2 of a portabello sandwich, 1/2 of my sweet potato fries + 1 diet cosmopolitan Dinner out at the beach. I took the rest home for tomorrow’s dinner. We all did! SO proud of us. The boys had ice cream I stuck with my polish ice. I didn’t want the heaviness of the ice cream anyway. Nibbles while watching TV with the husband. I stocked some good stuff to ward off the Dorritos. ;)3 miles run + lots of walking!Never as good as it can be at the beach but I also don’t want to be running to the bathroom all the time.

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Game: Yum Yucky Mad Libs For Greedy People

Nope. It’s not official Mad Libs. I created this one up all by myself. Kinda corny? Yes. But I still laughed pretty good once the blanks were filled in.

If you remember Mad Libs as a kid, but sure to follow the rules: Print out the page and do this with a friend, or print and fill it in yourself, but don’t you dare read the story until after you fill in the blanks. hehehehe

CLICK HERE TO PRINT THE PAGE

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From The Beach!

The last 2 days have been a blur. I don’t even know where to begin. That project I was working on is over, I cleaned like a mad woman, The Husband came home from his business trip, we packed, and then it was off to the beach!

Every year we spend a week at the Jersey shore. This is my 17th year visiting Seaside Heights and, honestly, there is nothing I look forward to more. The beach, the boardwalk, the mini-golf, the rides (oh! the rides! — more on that later) it’s my favorite vacation. We literally park the car and don’t touch it for a week.

However, I can’t stay away from the internet. Well, I can, I just don’t want to. I like you guys too much. :) However, it took me two days to get the tethering on my Droid to work. Hence my short hiatus.

Anyway, I’m here and I want to stay somewhat accountable and sharing my favorite week of the year.

Here are few pictures from our arrival and first day.

Look at my BABY! What the heck happened? (Click here to see how he looked last year – I was wearing him for Pete’s Sake!)

My other BABY!

Looking at the ocean with Grandma.

It’s Grandma’s Birthday!

I LOVE this shot!

And this one.

Dad’s with strollers melt my heart.

Little Bean was wired but oh so fascinated by all the lights.

We did go one a few rides and, well, I think I’m done with them. I never thought I’d be anti-ride but the older I get the less fun they become. Why is that?

This one spun me into insanity. I was just ecstatic I survived.

Today (Sunday) we are all about the Beach! I already went for my run and made breakfast. I’m going to try and strike the balance between vacation indulgence and healthy choices. I’ll post a few Food Journals along they way and be back with more beach memories.

Side note: If I was a truly evil Mom I’d share the video of the 7 year old jamming out to Nicki Minaj in the car but you’ll have to form your own mental picture of that one. ;)

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I Tried…

…but I just could NOT get us all in the shot and looking at the same time.

Those are some of the only photos I took today. I decided to leave the camera at home and take a break. It’s exhausting being the family photographer. I much rather swim in the ocean and nap on the beach which is exactly what I did!

I also rocked rocked the food journal. My goal of balancing healthy food choices with vacation indulgences is in full swing!

Right now I’m fighting some cravings for cupcakes my mom brought but now that I posted, the kitchen is closed. :)

2 egg omelet with 1 slice of bacon, onion and zucchiniTrying hard to start my day right even on vacation.Laughing cow smeared on cucumber slices with turkey pepperoniMorning snack before the beach. The boys had crackers I’m staying away. Starting to like the cucumber "cracker" even better anyway. It’s one of those giant slices but I split it with the baby. 1/2 Portabello sandwich and friesLeftovers from dinner last night – Saved calories and money! After dinner dessert at the houseEvening snack after we put the kids to bed. 1 hour morning walk with Little Bean in the strollerNever as good as it can be at the beach but I also don’t want to be running to the bathroom all the time.

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The Beach Boys

Another great day at the beach! I don’t mean to rub it in but honestly, every day the water is getting better than the last. It’s 74 degrees and clearer than I’ve ever seen it. I’m either diving in waves with the 7 year old or playing in the surf with the 1 year old.

It really doesn’t get better than this. It just doesn’t.

Today, after the beach, I took the family on a 3 mile walk. It was my way of making up for missing my run this morning. I slept in instead. Hey, it is vacation after all.

I’m going to give it a go again tomorrow but there’s no alarm setting at the beach. :)

No food journal today. Not because I went crazy, just because there were a few more random nibbles and I don’t think I can recap it correctly. We did eat dinner at Surf Taco. I had a burrito bowl with brown rice, chicken and portobello mushrooms. Delicious! For dessert 1 scoop of chocolate chip mint ice cream that I shared with The Baby.

I love sharing things with The Baby. It’s one thing I know I’m going to miss when my boys are both grown.

I’m nibbling on strawberries now and watching Real Sports with the Husband. It’s time to chill.

Hope you had a great day!

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Bitch, pleeeeze……

Don’t you go bullshitting for, like, 15 damn years to “make it” at what you said you were gonna. You say you want it? Aspire to have it? Then move your ass and get it to.

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