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Introduction Text 2021 Goals and Plan of Action Having come through 2020 and being able to log in here is a WIN!...Who would have imagine a year like 2020, if it were a movie we would probably thought it unbelievable. That said, I am not dwelling on the past year except to say I AM glad to have pressed on through it with most of my sanity intact and a stronger determination than ever to take charge of my health!!! A friend and I are teaming together to hold each other accountable to daily activities and positive steps towards our goals to regain/ improve our health in the year ahead! Our plan is to get back to the gym as allowed ( still threats to re-visit lockdowns) ...but if gym not available daily walks and challenges to remain active! 2021 goals... 1. Be ACTIVE in the 5% Winter challenge- Rowdy Rebels Rock! 2. Stick to recommended calorie range focusing on my overall goal to eat from a food plan that is at least 80% plant based! 3. Tame the sugar addiction once and for all!!! OCCASSIONAL limited 'added sugar sweets' only and then in small portions! 4. Watch water intake to limit fluid retention issues per DR orders. 5. Monitor B/P and track HR when exercising to stay within DR recommendation. 6. 5% winter Challenge goal * based on today's weight - may change before official start date TBD is 12 lbs in 8 weeks. 7. Log into sparks and record DAILY exercise and Living the Good life points .... Here's to a healthy, strong year ahead! ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- December 2020 Here we are! Made it to the end of 2020....through crazy conflicts, challenges and viruses. Sadly several close friends still struggling with covid related issues and prayers ongoing for them to regain strength and health SOON! Here on the home front ... I'm doing well. Blessed that although my kids/ grandkids had covid - they got through it fairly quickly with no lingering issues. My health is stable. Maintaining weight range which is a bit disappointing having finished up a 5% challenge without much progress. But then again, the challenge no doubt helped me maintain rather than show a huge gain in the past 8 weeks so there's that. I've done some fall cleaning inside and out and kept Thanksgiving food choices in line with overall meal plan so that was another victory! Christmas plan is to control portions but enjoy an occasional Christmas treat when out and resist the urge to bring home treat bags/ dishes afterwards. Looking forward to the 5% winter challenge and believing the New Year will be a little less stressful and crazy than 2020 has been! Here's to healthy and safe holidays and a bright and joyous New year ahead! --------------------------------------------------- September 2020 My birthday month. What a year it has been. Last year at this time, I was 1 day post -op with my triple heart bypass. The year went from there through several bumps in the road but overall BLESSED by the grace of God to still be here in this ADVENTURE called LIFE. Yes ... it is ALWAYS an adventure and as with any journey into the unknown full of surprises, some amazing and beautiful some bordering unbelievable for both good and bad reasons perhaps. Sept 6 2020 - I will be 65. some say 'officially a senior'....but I think that is mostly a matter of perspective. I mean,as a teen we thought senior age,was 45 right? Looking ahead to living an abundant life to the fullest facing whatever challenges the days may hold. I've survived 2 heart attacks and triple heart bypass and ( so far at least) Covid. I have God on my side as He has called me by name and says I am HIS! Together we can face anything! Looking to finish the year 2020 STRONG and Fearless and looking ahead to another 55 years because I've threatened my kids I'm sticking around to the age of 120 just to drive them and grands crazy!!!! March 23, 2020 Heart attack #2 --- surprised me on February 24, 2020 Wild enough after completing the last day of my 3 months of cardiac rehab where I had worked up to 1 full hour of non-stop cardiac exercise three times a week with no issues. Such is the way things go here lately. One month after, I'm ready to re-start cardiac rehab, and the therapy center is closed 'until further notice'...due to corona virus. Again, SERIOUSLY? OK. So, staying in bed under the covers may be great social distancing, but not an option. ( Use it or Lose it still applies after all). So, I am being cautious, maintaining the 6 ft precaution,plenty of hand washing and sanitizing but still getting up and 'doing life'! February 1 2020 Finally starting to feel like I am making progress 5 month post heart bypass. Actually was able to pick up one end of a large desk and help move it this week with no straining or shortness of breath. Stamina for exercise and everyday chore is increasing as well. While the weigh has been frustratingly slow in coming off. Several people have remarked that I look like I have lost 'a lot' of weight. Inches are coming off faster that pounds are reflecting it on the scales. Thankful for those non-scale victories. Now that weather is improving I am looking forward to getting back to twice daily outdoor walks on non-gym days and SWIMMING as soon as I am released from the monitored cardiac rehab program at the end of this month. So keeping on keeping on and looking hoping doctors will be pleased with my progress in March when I go in for my next followups ----------------------------------------------------------------- December 2019 .... moving ahead to a new year. 3 month post heart bypass and making progress,slower than I would like but progress! And I am still in the game of life so all is GOOD! Taking a deep breath and looking ahead to a great 2020! Have joined the In-Between Challenge with the Rowdy Rebels and working on getting the scales to consistently move in the right direction. Baby steps toward becoming stronger and healthier in the year ahead. Be bless and be good to yourself y'all.You are sooo worth it! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 5% Fall Challenge: A slow start ... and didn't make goal but in the game of life, so it is all good. This spring / summer I began experiencing several seemingly unrelated health issues and felt the need to drop out of the 5% challenge while I tried to sort it all out. Fatigue, on and off bouts of nausea and other things had my energy and focus completely drained. Really confusing and frustrating as I had made several lifestyle changes to pursue optimal health and had been seeing fairly decent progress until this downhill slide. July 4th while out shopping with my daughter and granddaughter, I suddenly felt ill. Still heat index was over 100 and I just blew it off to getting to hot and went home to rest. That night, just before midnight after not being able to get comfortable due to what felt like a 'gas bubble' between my shoulder blades, I called my daughter and she took me in her vehicle to the local ER. There my blood pressure was off the charts and within minutes I was told I was having a major heart attack, was being transferred 45 minutes away and would go directly from the ambulance to have an emergency stent placement. Doctor told my daughter after I made it to the cardiac ICU after the stent placement that at the time of admission my heart was 98% blocked and I should not have survived long enough to even have the procedure done. 4 days total in hospital and I came home to rest and await a Triple heart bypass with grafts. I had my Triple Heart bypass on August 30, 2019 and am currently in the recuperation process. Dr's orders are to walk daily using a walker with a seat so I can sit and take breaks as needed, but the goal is 'at least 2 miles a day'...FOR LIFE. I have met the 2 mile/ a day goal the past few days at a snails paces and frequent brief breaks to check blood pressure and pulse. I will be starting Cardiac Rehab mid-October and increasing exercise while being monitors at the therapy center. So here I am back at SparkPeople to rejoin my Rowdy Rebels team and look for the inspiration, motivation and encouragement I know I'll find here. Through it all God has been faithful to strength and surround me with a peace that passes all understanding! I am looking forward to amazing 5% Fall Challenge and getting reconnected to old friends and meeting new ones!!! To Blessed to be Stressed! Deborah

1. To optimize my health to the fullest extent possible 2. To stay away from the processed junks with the toxins they contain. 3. work on consistency with the choices that work when I work em.

*** Track foods *** Get Away from processed foods towards a 80-90% plant-based food choice ** Remain consistent with 60 minutes/ day of intentional exercise aiming towards optimal daily fitness.

65 year old - single 2 grown children 6 grandchildren Artist, gardener, Jesus loving pray-er

Have been becoming my own health advocate and discovering natural holistic approaches to supporting my wellness journey has been amazing! Better still is seeing the changes that I have been making spilling over and encouraging family and friends to also dig a bit deeper into what might be slowing or blocking their wellness goals in all areas of life. I encourage EVERYONE not to live life by default... but take charge of your wellness. Become your own health advocate. and Optin2Living with intent and purpose EVERY DAY! LIVE life don't simply survive it!!!

Add a Link Living Life with Intent & Purpose! Deborah Proud member of the 5% Challenge Rowdy Rebels Alabama, USA - CST https://www.facebook.com/debra.cornelius
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