These are the TOP 5 things I have learned in the BetterU program.

#5 Get out of the rut of living your whole life in a hurry. Take each minute of each day and enjoy it, don't get stressed. If you do get stressed, get some exercise. Always remember each day is a gift.

#4 Begin eating "heart healthy" by getting educated. Do this by attending "heart healthy" cooking classes with Toni at Alegent Health. There's one coming up on Oct. 14Th at Lakeside. Learn how to make heart healthy soups and pizza from the chef at the Market Basket.

#3 Know your numbers. Blood pressure, cholesterol-LDL, HDL, and total, glucose level , waist circumference, weight, and BMI. This will give you a place to start. It will let you know if you are in a healthy range or not.

#2 Work exercise into you daily schedule. Keep track of your steps with a pedometer. Make sure your workout varies between cardio and resistance. Change it up for your body every now and then. Join the Heart and Sole Walking program through Alegent Health. Get to know Stacey and Maggie from Alegent.

#1 Surround yourself with supportive people. Start with your family, friends, and coworkers. I would also include the Bloggers and friends at the American Heart Association.

Take these five important steps and you can be successful like I was. I had a "heart check-up" at Alegent on Saturday. And the results were:

My cholesterol stayed about the same. My blood pressure stayed the same.

I lost 12 pounds and 4 1/2 inches from my waist. This put my BMI into the normal range.

In the fitness area :
At the beginning I did 13 squats in 30 sec., this time I did 23.5 in 30 sec.
At the beginning I did 11 laps in 6 minutes, this time I did 16 laps in 6 minutes and I ran the last minute and 45 seconds of it.
At the beginning I did 15 crunches in 30 sec., this time I did 31 in 30 sec.

How did I do it? I ate "heart healthy" and walked 6 days a week and did resistance about once a week.

Does it sound like something you can do? I know you can.

Blessings,
Laurie