Love Your Heart: Tips for Daily Living

Make Easy Lifestyle Changes. For Example:
Look for short breaks each day (approx. 10-30 minutes) to implement heart healthy activities such as walking or other types of enjoyable physical activity
Take the Go Red Heart Checkup at http://www.goredforwomen.org/ to learn your heart disease risk
Plan quick and simple healthy meals
Know your family heart health history

Tips for Women at Work:
Add extra walks to and from the water cooler
Take ten minute walks between meetings
Use the stairs instead of the elevator
Bring healthy snacks
Take time for lunch and eat at regular intervals versus skipping meals
Make time for physical activity – go to the gym and bring your favorite book or office materials to read or workout at home watching your favorite show

Tips for Moms on the Go:
Plan meals in advance – visit americanheart.org for recipes from a number of heart-healthy cookbooks and use the online grocery list builder to quickly identify heart-healthy products to add to your grocery list
Set up “physical activity time” on a daily basis
Walk around your neighborhood or in your office
Run up and down the stairs
Do an exercise video
Walk when doing errands and park farther from your destination
Take your kids to the park and identify play time activities that help keep you fit
Join a walking group or ask friends to join you in daily walking
Work out when your child is at practice or extra curricular activities
Exercise while watching your favorite TV show

Tips for Traveling for Work/Play:
Plan a physical activity routine
Airports and malls are great places to get in a brisk walk around the terminal or from one end of the mall to the other
Drink plenty of water
Take time to stretch while on the flight
Exercise in your hotel room – simple stretches or other exercise like sit ups and push ups
Take advantage of physical fitness facilities located in the hotel
Pack heart-healthy snacks, fruits, and know how to manage your snack triggers
Pack sneakers and comfortable clothes for working out
For frequent travel keep an extra pair of tennis shoes already packed in your bag

Love Your Heart: Relaxation Tips:
Keep a journal
Reduce stress: Plan a technology-free weekend balanced with active sports, swimming, skiing, horse-back riding, or other fun physical activity
Celebrate your successes with healthy rewards like a massage or facial
Read a book