Three Tips for Showing Your Heart You Care
Our heart beats over 100,000 times every 24 hours, and unless we listen carefully, we won’t hear its message.
Why do we need to listen? Because every 34 seconds, someone dies from heart disease, the number one killer of both men and women in the United States.
If our hearts could speak, they’d tell us to take good care of our health not only during American Heart Month but throughout the year. Carole Carson—dubbed “An Apostle for Fitness” by the Wall Street Journal and the author of From Fat to Fit: Turn Yourself into a Weapon of Mass Reduction—says if you’re ready to listen, consider these three FIT tips to show your heart you care:
F: Find a way to make achieving your fitness goals fun. Create a positive, emotionally appealing image of your new self. Then begin to be that fun-loving fitness advocate today. Your attitude will shift from “I have to” to “I want to,” and you’ll be more willing to adopt and maintain your new heart-friendly habits.
I: Invent the future you want. Implement the changes you need to make and consider making them all at once. Contrary to popular belief, recent research confirms that people who bravely tackle all their changes together fare better than those who take a more gradual approach.
T: Tell everyone about the changes you are making, and ask friends and family for their encouragement. As social creatures, we are profoundly influenced by the behavior of everyone around us. Use this insight to create a support team and be a positive role model for others.
When Valentine’s Day comes, consider heart-friendly ways of celebrating. Instead of devouring a box of chocolates as you watch television, go for a walk with a loved one, or call a friend and let her know how much you appreciate her. If you give gifts, consider a pedometer or heart monitor. And while you’re at it, get one for yourself.
When we take care of our health and our heart, we set a powerful example for everyone around us. Most of all, we improve our chances for enjoying future Februarys with those we love.
