Thursday, February 16, 2012
Make Death Wait - Celebrate Heart Month with the Heart & Stroke Foundation { Giveaway }
Got Valentine's Day out of the way? Great, because February is not just about hearts and flowers, it's also about the health of your heart. To help commemorate Heart Month, The Heart and Stroke Foundation wants Canadians to help them to reach their goal -- one million actions to Make Death Wait.
This is a cause that is near and dear to my heart. Over a year ago now my dad had a stroke. A few months later my mother in law also had a stroke. These were life changing events for everyone involved. We were lucky in that both of them are still here today.
As I'm writing this we're halfway through the month of February, and the Heart and Stroke Foundation is about halfway to it's goal of a million actions against death. Do your part, help spread the word and for your own sake - take a healthy action to help make death wait. I urge you to sign up now to access your personalized action page, where you can:
For each person that takes the heart and stroke risk assessment during the month of February, Desjardins Financial is donating $1 to the Heart and Stroke Foundation. I took the assessment and was happy to find that I was "in the green". However, it did show areas that I could improve in. Back in November I discovered that I have high cholesterol, so I've been following a low cholesterol diet, more or less. According to the risk assessment test, I still need to work on eating more fruits and vegetables. I also need to lose weight and I need to become more physically active.
Apparently it's not just how much you weigh, but WHERE the extra weight is. Studies have shown that extra weight around the waistline is more dangerous to the heart than extra weight that is on the hips and thighs. This was news to me. I really appreciated the extra info on a healthy waist size, and how to take a proper waist measurement (here's a hint, it has nothing to do with pants size). It's something I didn't have a clue how to do, so the instructional video was quite helpful. Check out the HSF page on healthy waists to learn more.
I have been trying my darnedest with this low cholesterol diet thing. I've put the salt-shaker in the back of the cupboard and gone low-sodium on everything. I've cut out eggs, butter, full-fat cheese and dairy, and I'm sticking to fish, chicken and the occasional lean cuts of red meat. I'm not doing bad at feeding myself, but I've been at a bit of a loss as to what to cook for family meals. I'm just having a hard time bringing it all together. I know what not make...but not what to make, if that makes sense. So I was really happy to see the Heart and Stroke Foundation has a large selection of heart-healthy recipes, which have all been reviewed and approved by dietitians, and are high in fibre and low in saturated fat, cholesterol and salt. I am browsing through the list and picking a handful to try out, as I make next weeks grocery list. They have everything here from Shepherd's Pie and Honey Garlic Pork Roast to Egg White Souffle and Mini Breakfast Burritos. Yum.
Again, I urge you to go check out the Make Death Wait website, take the Heart & Stroke assessment test, and make an action against death. If the idea of prolonging your life isn't incentive enough, I've got a lovely bribe which the HSF has provided. A $150 prize pack to give away to one lucky Maple Leaf Mommy reader.
To enter simply Register at the HSF's Make Death Wait website, then come back here and leave a comment telling me what you personally are doing to help Make Death Wait. I want to hear what heart healthy action you've decided to take on. Let's help inspire on another. I know I need to get more physically active, so my first heart healthy action: 30 minutes of dancing with my kids. Healthy hearts and smiles all around.
The HSF also has some awesome online tools to help with weight loss or blood pressure management. Multi-Testing Mommy has been posting a weekly series, blogging about her weight loss journey while using the healthy weight action plan. Check out her Let's Get Healthy Together series, it's inspiring stuff.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Disclosure: I am sharing this with you because it is a cause I believe in supporting. I received no compensation for this post.
A recent Heart and Stroke Foundation survey, that revealed Canadians aren’t making time for healthy choices, which is contributing to the fact that heart disease and stroke is the #1 killer of women, and the cause of 1 in 3 deaths in this country.
Ok, this bears repeating. See that stat up there? Heart disease and stroke is the #1 killer of women in North America. This short video clip puts it's across well. Death loves women. He loves how we put our families first...
This is a cause that is near and dear to my heart. Over a year ago now my dad had a stroke. A few months later my mother in law also had a stroke. These were life changing events for everyone involved. We were lucky in that both of them are still here today.
- Take a free Heart&Stroke Risk Assessment
- Try a heart-healthy recipe
- Discover new physical activities to try
- Read stories of real people who have experienced heart disease or stroke
- Download the HSF Facebook app and find out who's at risk in your network
For each person that takes the heart and stroke risk assessment during the month of February, Desjardins Financial is donating $1 to the Heart and Stroke Foundation. I took the assessment and was happy to find that I was "in the green". However, it did show areas that I could improve in. Back in November I discovered that I have high cholesterol, so I've been following a low cholesterol diet, more or less. According to the risk assessment test, I still need to work on eating more fruits and vegetables. I also need to lose weight and I need to become more physically active.
Apparently it's not just how much you weigh, but WHERE the extra weight is. Studies have shown that extra weight around the waistline is more dangerous to the heart than extra weight that is on the hips and thighs. This was news to me. I really appreciated the extra info on a healthy waist size, and how to take a proper waist measurement (here's a hint, it has nothing to do with pants size). It's something I didn't have a clue how to do, so the instructional video was quite helpful. Check out the HSF page on healthy waists to learn more.
I have been trying my darnedest with this low cholesterol diet thing. I've put the salt-shaker in the back of the cupboard and gone low-sodium on everything. I've cut out eggs, butter, full-fat cheese and dairy, and I'm sticking to fish, chicken and the occasional lean cuts of red meat. I'm not doing bad at feeding myself, but I've been at a bit of a loss as to what to cook for family meals. I'm just having a hard time bringing it all together. I know what not make...but not what to make, if that makes sense. So I was really happy to see the Heart and Stroke Foundation has a large selection of heart-healthy recipes, which have all been reviewed and approved by dietitians, and are high in fibre and low in saturated fat, cholesterol and salt. I am browsing through the list and picking a handful to try out, as I make next weeks grocery list. They have everything here from Shepherd's Pie and Honey Garlic Pork Roast to Egg White Souffle and Mini Breakfast Burritos. Yum.
Again, I urge you to go check out the Make Death Wait website, take the Heart & Stroke assessment test, and make an action against death. If the idea of prolonging your life isn't incentive enough, I've got a lovely bribe which the HSF has provided. A $150 prize pack to give away to one lucky Maple Leaf Mommy reader.
To enter simply Register at the HSF's Make Death Wait website, then come back here and leave a comment telling me what you personally are doing to help Make Death Wait. I want to hear what heart healthy action you've decided to take on. Let's help inspire on another. I know I need to get more physically active, so my first heart healthy action: 30 minutes of dancing with my kids. Healthy hearts and smiles all around.
The HSF also has some awesome online tools to help with weight loss or blood pressure management. Multi-Testing Mommy has been posting a weekly series, blogging about her weight loss journey while using the healthy weight action plan. Check out her Let's Get Healthy Together series, it's inspiring stuff.
WIN IT
Valued at over $150, the Heart and Stroke Foundation prize pack includes:
- A live or virtual nutrition counselling session with a HSF registered dietitian,
- heart-healthy cookbook,
- pedometer,
- measuring spoons,
- water bottle, and
- reusable HSF bag.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Disclosure: I am sharing this with you because it is a cause I believe in supporting. I received no compensation for this post.
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