Member Profiles
SIMONSEZ
First, let me start by saying that I knew I would probably have some sort of
heart problems. My grandfather, who I never knew, died of a heart attack when he
was in his early 50s. My father had the first of 8 heart attacks when he was 42.
His sister suffered from angina for as long as I could remember. Did I do
anything about my risks. Sometimes. When I was in college I was a vegetarian for
awhile. No, there wasn't a woman involved, I just wanted to eat healthy. But,
being an American Male who grew up being part of a beef family (I have cousins
who own one of the largest mail order meat companies in the country), I couldn't
stick with the program. So, I bought a bike and for about 4 years rode
everywhere. I lost weight, felt good, then I moved to the mountains (before
mountain bikes were popular). It hurt too much to ride, so I quit. My weight
would creep up, then I would join a health club and my weight would creep back
down. For years I didn't think about my heart health all that much. I ate what I
wanted when I wanted. My weight expanded, sometimes contracted, but mostly
expanded. When I had my angina attack I weighted about 240 lbs. After getting
out of the cath lab, where I was given a stent in one artery, I was told that I
would have to lose about 55 lbs. The most amazing thing happened. I quit the
fried and fast foods. I started eating healthy foods and fresh foods. I cut red
meat down to about one meal every 10 days or so. I didn't actually count
calories, but I did follow the recommendations of the dieticians at cardiac
rehab and watched portion sizes. I was always going to the gym--about 4 times a
week and doing about 20 minutes of cardio with weight training. I was back in
the gym in about 3 weeks and started working on my stamina. I'm now up to 40
minutes of cardio in "the zone," which as it turned out I was missing before.
I'm up to 5 days a week at the gym, filling out the other days with a elliptical
trainer at home for about 30 minutes. With the increase in exercise and the
change in diet I lost 30 pounds in about 6 weeks. It was a rapid weight loss,
but obviously my body didn't mind. My cardiologist wasn't concerned, anyway. I
have since lost another 10 pounds and need to lose between five and ten pounds
more. I am fortunate in the fact that I am motivated to stay healthy. My father,
as you remember, had 8 heart attacks. In his later years he also had quadruple
bypass surgery. The last year of his life was lived in his youth. It was all he
could remember. He couldn't remember me at all. I've decided I don't want to be
that burden on my family. My event happened on September 1st, 2005. I plan on
not having another one, ever. My motivation. Hopefully you have your motivation
that keeps you from saying yes to that box of donuts your co-worker brought in
Monday morning. Your motivation makes your order the fish instead of the filet
mignon. Your motivation steers you away from the fries and to the green salad.
Your motivation keeps you exercising nearly every day. And hopefully, you have
friends and family that care enough about you to ask you every day, "how are
you?" That is the one thing I am fortunate in having is a spouse that is
supportive and willing to put up with eating in instead of out. And friends and
co-workers who ask me about my health nearly every day.
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