Greater Washington Region Start! Campaign

Love Your Heart: Tips for Daily Living

2010-01-26T11:30:00.000-08:00

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

Addie's Story

2009-11-09T08:03:00.001-08:00

Approximately 5 years ago Addison Allway was born with aortic stenosis, a narrowing or obstruction of the heart's aortic valve, and cardiomyopathy, a disease in which the heart muscle becomes inflamed and doesn't work as well as it should. Addison had angioplasty less than twenty-four hours after her arrival. It was only a few days later that she was taken off the ventilator and breathing on her own. She was one strong little girl that pulled through. Ten days in the NICU and she was home. Today she is a strong and healthy little girl despite the fact that she still has aortic stenosis. Her prognosis is much better than the first few days of her life. With the care of her pediatric cardiologist and heart medication she willingly takes three times a day, it will buy her some time before her next heart procedure. Her aortic valve will need to be surgically improved over time. It is exciting to know that money is being raised to improve her future.

The Allway Family

You Gotta Be In It to Win It!

2009-11-02T05:19:00.000-08:00

1, 2, 3 Challenges
November 2 - 6
You Gotta Be In It to Win It!

1. Raise the most money from November 2 – 6 and you will win 2 tickets to a Washington Wizards game courtesy of SunTrust Bank.

2. Everyday this week you could win $25 gift card and you are entered into an opportunity drawing. How? Raise $25 or send 25 emails. Each day one winner picked at random.

3. Add three walkers to your team and raise $250 as a team … YOU WIN hot breakfast at Heart Walk for your team.

THRILLING THURSDAY - FUN FRIDAY CHALLENGES ... SIX CHANCES TO WIN!

2009-10-29T06:25:00.000-07:00

This Thursday and Friday you could win a $25 visa gift card. Here's how:

1. Thursday and Friday send the most emails from your Heart Walk website that day and you win.

2. Thursday and Friday raise the most money online that day and you win.

3. Thursday and/or Friday send 15 emails from your Heart Walk website and you will be entered into a drawing for a $25 gift card. (One winner chosen at random)

4. Thursday and/or Friday raise $25 from your Heart Walk website and you will be entered into a drawing for a $25 gift card. One entry for each $25 raised. (One winner chosen at random).

Four-Winners, Fun, Friday Challenge

2009-10-23T05:54:00.000-07:00

We are less than $25,000 away from $1.2 million raised. Help us get there by raising or donating $25 today as part of our Fun-Friday-Challenge.

You could win a $25 CVS gift card today. Four winners will be chosen at random from everyone raising $25 today. If you haven't started your fundraising effforts yet, make today the day by donating $25 to yourself. If you donate or raise more than $25 you will receive multiple entries in the drawing. If everyone registered raises $25 we will raise over $150,000 today! The easiest way to raise money is to make sure to send emails for donations from your Heart Walk website. For every 10 donation emails you send you should raise from $60-$100. Make this is a Fun-Friday by raising funds today!

How your donation can make a difference!

2009-10-15T08:33:00.000-07:00

Wondering what happens when you donate to the Start! Heart Walk or any other American Heart Association cause?! Well here is a break down of what your gift could do for others...

$15
Make available the newest CPR Guidelines to an emergency care provider, giving them the most effective skills when treating a patient in cardiac arrest

$20
Teach up to 50 people how to assess their risk of cardiovascular diseases and stroke and provide the steps for them to identify and reduce their risk.

$30
Provide one pediatrician, nurse, or emergency healthcare provider with the specialized training to recognize and treat cardiovascular diseases in infants and children

$40 a month/year
Send a doctor or scientist to the International Stroke Conference, where they will be introduced to the latest advancements in the treatment and prevention of stroke

$50
Provide an early career scientist with the opportunity to participate with peers in the latest cardiovascular diseases and stroke research through a one year professional
membership with the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association

$100
Equip one hospital or health department with American Stroke Association resources to educate patients, the public and health professionals on stroke prevention and life after stroke – the #3 cause of death and leading cause of disability

$200
Teach 50 people in your community the connection between good food and good health by showing them heart-healthy ways to prepare food using the Recipes for the Heart cookbook

$300
Distribute the innovative CPR Anytime to 10 community members, who can then train 2 to 3 friends or loved ones – providing the community with more than 30 people with essential CPR skills

$500
Teach more than 1,200 children how to avoid obesity and live longer, stronger lives through our nutrition and exercise materials for kids

$1000
Introduce 500 women to our Go Red For Women movement and empower them to take charge of their heart health with a red dress pin, cholesterol/blood pressure/weight tracker and other health information

$1500
Send a heart disease or stroke survivor to our annual Heart and Stroke Lobby Day in Washington, D.C. to educate decision-makers about issues that affect the nation’s cardiovascular health. Recent successes include funding for and placement of portable defibrillators in crowded cities and rural areas.

$5000
Enable our cultural health program, Search Your Heart, to reach 10 African-American or Latino/Hispanic places of worship, reaching 3,000 people with heart disease and stroke prevention information. Since 1996, Search Your Heart has touched over 300,000 African Americans, Hispanic/Latinos or other groups through 15,000 faith-based organizations across the U.S.

$10,000
Enable 10 hospitals to implement our Get With The Guidelines quality improvement program designed to improve outcomes for cardiac and stroke patients

$25,000
Fund a one-year Pre-doctoral Fellowship to help a medical student begin a career in heart or stroke research. Research is the starting point for all scientific advances. Pacemakers, new forms of surgery and lifesaving drugs could not have been developed without thousands of hours and thousands of dollars first spent in research. The American Heart Association is proud to have funded research which has led to these and other important breakthroughs.

2009 Start! GWR Heart Walk Event Information

2009-10-05T06:29:00.000-07:00

Here is some basic information for the upcoming walk on November 14th as well as the route map for the walk. Hope to see you all there!

8:30 am - Start! Heart Walk Festivities begin. There are informational tents, health screenings, refreshments and entertainment.

9:30 am - join event Chair and President and CEO of CACI Paul Cofoni for a special program.

10:00 am - The walk steps off!

2009 Start! GWR Heart Walk Map

For more information please contact TJ Gioconda by email at tj.gioconda@heart.org or call at(703)248-1715

Start! Eating Healthy on a Budget

2009-09-15T08:37:00.000-07:00

Making healthy food choices can be difficult. But making healthy choices becomes increasingly difficult when money is tight. To help people stick to their eating plan without breaking the bank, frugal living expert Jonni McCoy has provided the following tips for eating healthy on a budget.

Plan your meals each week. By planning ahead, you can check the nutrition facts of a meal before you decide to make it and create a detailed grocery list for easy shopping. Planning also helps avoid impulse shopping.
Shop for seasonal produce – fruits and veggies are less expensive during their peak growing times, and they’re also tastier!
Look for the generic brands. The ingredients are usually the same as the brand name versions, but they’re much more affordable.
Avoid eating out, as most restaurants come with extra large portions and extra large price tags. And options at fast food restaurants are typically loaded with excess fat, salt and sugar.
Eat before you go shopping. Going to the grocery store on an empty stomach will leave you more likely to buy on impulse.
Frozen vegetables and fruit are just as satisfying, and typically just as healthy, as fresh produce. Just make sure to check the nutrition facts to confirm that no extra sugar or salt was added.
Limit red meat in favor of healthier and less expensive sources of protein. Fish, like tuna, has omega 3 fatty acids that are good for the heart. Nuts and beans have a lot of protein also, but make sure you review the salt content and eat appropriate portions since nuts tend to be high in fat.
Scout your local newspaper for coupons before you go shopping. It may cost $1-2 to purchase the Sunday paper, but your savings will likely exceed this amount.
Make your own pre-packaged snacks by buying a large container of raisins, nuts or pretzels and separating them into individual portions yourself. By checking the nutrition facts, you can gauge how many to eat at one time based on the fat, salt, and sugar content.
Grow a garden! Not only will you save on vegetables like cucumbers and tomatoes, but you’ll stay active with this new hobby. And regular exercise is another important part of managing heart disease.

Start! is the American Heart Association’s national cause campaign that calls on Americans and their employers to create a culture of physical activity and health to live longer, stronger, heart-healthier lives. Start! is sponsored nationally by SUBWAY® Restaurants, Healthy Choice® and AstraZeneca.

For more information call 1-800-AHA-USA1 or visit heart.org/start.

Jonni McCoy is a nationally recognized frugal living expert and the founder of MiserlyMoms.com. She is the author of the best-selling Miserly Moms: Living on Less in a Tough Economy and the cookbook Healthy Meals for Less, and she has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Good Housekeeping, Woman’s Day, Family Circle, Family Fun, Dr. Laura, Oprah.com and The Gayle King Show. Jonni has partnered with the American Heart Association’s The Heart of Diabetes program to educate people with type 2 diabetes on ways to eat healthy on a budget.

Samy K at the National Start Walking Day Rally

2009-04-16T13:55:00.000-07:00

National Start! Walking Day is Tomorrow! Are you going to walk?!

2009-04-07T07:29:00.000-07:00

Hosting a Successful National Start! Walking Day

2009-03-18T10:52:00.000-07:00

National Start! Walking Day is a call-to-action for Americans to adopt a healthy lifestyle. When your company and your employees take the first step in becoming more active by participating, you’ll join thousands across the nation as they wear their sneakers to work onApril 8, 2009, and pledge to start a healthier lifestyle. Below are some resources to get your National Start! Walking Day off on the right foot!

Click here and follow this checklist to organize your National Start! Walking Day

Click here to get National Start! Walking Day Materials

If you need help you can also call us at (703) 248-1719 or email us at startwalk.wdc@heart.org

New Start! Heart Walk Facebook Application!!!

2009-03-17T07:55:00.000-07:00

Are you registered for this year's....

Are you on....

Well now you can link the two and show a fundraising thermometer on your facebook profile that links to your Start! Fundraising page!

1. Click here to join facebook

2. Click here to sign up for the 2009 Start! Heart Walk

3. Click here to go to the facebook application page

Also don't forget to become a fan of us on facebook as well!

Getting the right walking shoes for you!

2009-03-06T07:05:00.000-08:00

As National Start Walking Day quickly approaches and I am sure many of you are out there getting healthy and eating right, but are you wearing the right shoes?

Walking just like any other activity can put strain on your feet and it is important to know how to take care of your feet while walking.

So Start! out on the right foot and click here to learn more!

National Start Walking Day is April 8th!

2009-02-19T06:16:00.000-08:00

Start! Walking Arlington:

National Start! Walking Day is April 8

April 8 is the American Heart Association’s National Start! Walking Day. The call to action is simple: Americans should fit 30 minutes of walking into their workday.

Studies reveal that American jobs have become more sedentary and that employees are working 164 more hours a year than they did 20 years ago. The Start! movement works with employers and the 142 million Americans in the workplace to create a culture of walking before, during or after work.

Companies across the country and throughout Arlington are celebrating National Start! Walking Day by hosting fitness rallies, establishing walking routes and encouraging employees to wear walking shoes to work on Wednesday, April 8.

Ballston events include a daytime walking rally. More details will be announced in the near future. The American Heart Association is calling on all businesses in Ballston to join the rally. There will be display and promotional opportunities. Please call Patty MacEwan at 703-248-1719 or visit http://www.startgreaterwashington.org/ for more information.

Sincerely,

Your Start! GWR blogger

GWR Start! General Health Tips

2009-02-18T13:18:00.000-08:00

40 to 45% of Americans make one or more New Year resolutions each year. One of the most popular is the one to get healthy and lose weight. However as the months go on less than half will keep their promise to themselves (46%). Below are helpful tips to continue to stay on track with your healthy promises to yourself!

General Health Tips

Walking is good medicine for your heart. In fact
it’s great medicine. Did you know that for every hour of regular, vigorous exercise we do, like brisk walking, we can live two hours longer?
Walking has the lowest dropout rate of any physical activity, and is the simplest positive change individuals can make to effectively improve their heart health.
Research has shown that the benefits of walking and moderate physical activity for at least 30 minutes most days of the week or every day can help you:

Improve blood pressure and blood sugar levels
Improve blood lipid profile
Maintain body weight and lower the risk of obesity
Enhance mental well being
Reduce the risk of osteoporosis
Reduce the risk of breast and colon cancer
Reduce the risk of non insulin dependent (type 2) diabetes
Exercise Tips to Help Avoid Injury
Reduce the risk of coronary heart disease

Listen to your body — monitor your level of fatigue, heart rate and physical discomfort.
Be aware of the signs of overexertion. Breathlessness and muscle soreness could be danger signs.
Be aware of the warning signs and signals of a heart attack, such as sweating, chest and arm pain, dizziness and light headedness.
Use appropriate equipment and clothing for the activity.
Take 3–5 minutes at the beginning of any physical activity to properly warm up your muscles through increasingly intense activity.
As you near the end of the activity, cool down by decreasing the intensity. (For example, before jogging, walk for 3–5 minutes increasing your pace to a brisk walk. After jogging, walk briskly, decreasing your pace to a slow walk over 3–5 minutes. Finish by stretching the muscles you used – in this case primarily the muscles of the legs.)
Start at an easy pace — increase time or distance gradually.
Drink plenty of water throughout the day to replace lost fluids (i.e., at least eight to ten 8-oz. cups per day). Drink a glass of water before you get moving, and drink another half cup for every 15 minutes that you remain active.

It is also important to couple good exercise practices with good eating ones. Click here for fun, tasty, and HEALTHY foods that can give you that one-two punch to help you stay fit and healthy for years to come!

Sincerely,

Your GWR Start! Blogger