For Those Just Starting To Rehab #36

How many out there are just beginning recovery from a heart attack and surgery?  Wondering how you're going to get back to where ever it is you want to get to.  It all starts with your first few steps, and you just build from there.  A lot of us have been there and are continuing to build on and take more steps every day.  You've got 3 basic challenges you have to meet.  Diet, weight control, exercise.  Diet, not in the  common sense of eating more of some foods and less of others in order to lose weight. No, we are talking about in the sense of diet being the kinds of food you eat and what they do for your health.  That's the way the new you has to think now.  You can't stay with the old eating habits just because doctors cleared out those arteries, or went around them with some good strong clean new ones. You can't go on from here business as usual.  Nope that won't work.  You've just got lucky and beat the odds of surviving what most don't.  Surely you do not want to risk going through that again? Or worse putting your family through it again, or maybe you won't be as lucky next time.  Well, let's don't dwell on that any further, let's get on with the new you.

Your cardiologist will offer, or steer you in the right direction when you talk to him about diet, lowering your cholesterol, and exercising to get stronger.  That's part of his responsibility to you.  Now he is not going to do all the homework for you, but he will give you enough information to get you started. That is now your responsibility. From here on, where your health goes is in your hands, no one else.  Others can guide, but you're in control.  That's what this blog is about, sharing how to get and stay healthy.  Most of us are at an age where it is a challenge to do the healthy things we must do.  Look at Bill Clinton.  He had to change life style and deal with the same three challenges you must, to become and remain healthy.

You know, I heard from a business friend recently, and talking to him, I remembered a trade show he and I attended in Las Vegas a few years ago.  We had a dinner together in the Steakhouse dining room of the Las Vegas Hilton, which was the best steak dinner I have ever eaten.  I feel certain my friend would agree it was also one of his best.  I say this because as great as the food was, it is not something I am willing to go back to.   I feel too good about myself and my recovery.  You will feel the same way.  Most of us, like you, had a pretty good amount of weight to lose and we were not exercise and workout people. We lost the weight over time.  Consistently losing a little bit at a time, and you can too.  Eat the right foods, and begin a smart exercise program. Something as simple as walking, or maybe something your cardiologist knows of.  You'll be surprised at how quickly as weight goes down and exercise continues to grow, you will see benefits in lower blood pressure, cholesterol improving, and feeling a little stronger.  Working out and exercising has helped lower my blood pressure.   

Next time we will talk some more about exercise.  If there are any questions about my rehab and recovery, e-mail me and I will post something regarding your question.