Women's Health - 'Choose To Move' Encourages Physical Activity and Heart-Healthy Eating

Main Category: Women's Health / Gynecology
Article Date: 20 Apr 2005 - 18:00 PST

email to a friend   printer friendly   opinions  

Between juggling work, family and other demands, many busy women find it hard to make healthy habits part of their daily routines -- although 76 percent of respondents in a recent American Heart Association survey said physical activity is important. Only 28 percent, however, said they get the recommended amount of physical activity each week.

Joan Lunden, award-winning television journalist, author and busy mother of seven children, understands the challenge and has signed up for the Choose To Move(SM) program.

"As a journalist I reported on health stories and certainly knew what I needed to do to be more fit and lower my risk of heart disease, but I wasn't incorporating it into my life," said Lunden. "The more I learned about eating healthy and staying fit, the better my life became."

Choose To Move is a free 12-week program to help women to increase physical activity and build healthy habits to lower their risk for heart disease and stroke. It's part of the American Heart Association's Go Red For Women movement to raise awareness that cardiovascular disease is the No. 1 killer of women and to help women take steps to prevent heart disease and stroke.

By increasing their physical activity level, women can reduce their risk for heart disease and stroke and lead a longer, healthier life. In addition, reducing calorie intake by 250 calories a day can increase weight loss by 0.5 pounds per week. By combining physical activity and a balanced diet, women can greatly reduce their risk for heart disease and stroke.

"Women know that physical activity is a key component of a healthy lifestyle, but our survey findings indicate that they struggle to incorporate it into their daily lives," said Rita F. Redberg, M.D., M.Sc., F.A.H.A., F.A.C.C., professor of medicine in the cardiology division at the University of California-San Francisco National Center of Excellence in Women's Health, and an American Heart Association volunteer.

"Choose To Move offers simple ways to get women back on track," she said. "That includes materials like an easy-to-follow handbook to increase physical activity, nutrition tips and recipes, weight management tips, newsletters, and relevant facts on heart disease and stroke."

Survey respondents said the most common barrier to adopting healthy eating habits is the need to plan ahead. Choose To Move helps eliminate barriers by offering simple nutrition tips and recipes to help participants eat healthy every day. Developed by the renowned Cooper Institute for Aerobics Research in Dallas, the program is available online or by mail. The handbook is free. In addition, for a limited time, women who enroll will receive the AHA's free Healthy Heart Walking CD, which features a simple walking program.

Joan's Do's and Don'ts:

-- Do be conscious about what you eat. If your tendency is to grab a candy bar on the run, plan ahead by carrying a healthy snack (a handful of roasted almonds, fruit, yogurt or homemade snack mix made with low- sodium seasonings).

-- Get your spouse and kids to go on a play date with you. It's great for family togetherness, while fitting in fitness.

-- When you get home from the grocery store, chop your fresh produce right away and store in airtight containers in the fridge. It eliminates prep work for the rest of the week and you'll be much more likely to use them.

-- Think about your childhood and what you enjoyed doing and bring that back into your life. I've found that there's more to exercising than just exercising -- play a little.

-- Do Choose To Move.

Choose To Move is sponsored by the Almond Board of California and the Mrs. Dash(R) brand. To register, visit http://www.americanheart.org/choosetomove or call 1-888-MY-HEART (1-888-694-3278).

Since 1924 the American Heart Association has helped protect people of all ages and ethnicities from the ravages of heart disease and stroke. These diseases, the nation's No. 1 and No. 3 killers, and other cardiovascular diseases, claim over 927,000 American lives a year. The association invested more than $439 million in fiscal year 2003-04 for research, professional and public education, and advocacy so people across America can live stronger, longer lives.

The Almond Board of California is a sponsor of the American Heart Association's Choose To Move program. The Board administers a grower-enacted Federal Marketing Order under the supervision of the United States Department of Agriculture. Established in 1950, its charge is to promote the best quality almonds, California's largest tree nut crop. For more information on the Almond Board of California or almonds, visit http://www.AlmondsAreIn.com.

The Mrs. Dash(R) brand is a sponsor of the American Heart Association's Choose To Move program. Every product from Mrs. Dash is made with a unique combination of 14 natural herbs and spices that is salt-free with no MSG. Mrs. Dash 10-Minute Marinades are the latest addition to the Mrs. Dash family of products. Visit http://www.mrsdash.com for hundreds of delicious low-salt recipes.

American Heart Association
http://www.americanheart.org

• Additional
• References
• Citations