It's not what you think...

When Chuck received his Congestive Heart Failure diagnosis, we were very overwhelmed and not sure where to begin. Honestly, I didn't really think that our way of living was all too bad. Until we sat down and started to list the foods we were eating and how many times a week we were going out to eat at a restaurant or fast food. I was shocked!

His cardiologist suggested to focus how much sodium he was taking in. I learned to read labels and it was evident I was completely clueless about the contents of our "boxed" meals. I am not creative in the kitchen so our meals are pretty simple and straight forward. I don't stray far from the conventional, everyday meals. Chuck is a pretty picky eater, so thankfully that works for us.

Fast forward about 10 years later and Chuck had already had several procedures and many changes to his medication, but one thing had not changed, and that was the stress from his job. Stress was definitely something we talked about but he handles things really well and we didn't consider the affects of the busy demands of his job. However, the day came that he finally decided after 25 years in the same industry, it was time to do something different.

His first week off from his job he lost a significant amount of weight. In the past, he retained a lot of water due to the function of his heart and he had to take medication for it. We noticed that the change in his daily routine and the lack of the demands from his job was making a big difference in his health. The difficult decision to leave a job he loved was actually a blessing in disguise.

So, what was making the difference? Was eating healthy and getting plenty of exercise not enough for us to live a healthy lifestyle? In the beginning, we thought it was. We were beginning to realize that there was so much more to living a heart healthy lifestyle.

I have been advocating for heart health even before Chuck's diagnosis. In fact, the advocating was what saved his life because the knowledge gained from those experiences is how we recognized his symptoms. Our story has grown from nutrition to exercise, to the addition of making changes to relieve the stresses of our daily lives. We believe that a heart healthy lifestyle is a total package. Mind, Body, Soul - A Love Project is about setting boundaries and loving who we are, where we are in this moment. Taking time to relax, destress, and slow down for a moment. We often feel like busyness equals success and accomplishment. I am a busy body so I can totally relate to that, however, we need to be able to slow down and allow the body to recuperate from a busy schedule.

Mental and spiritual health are just as important as eating healthy and exercising. We must be good stewards to what God has given us and take care of our body. After all, it is the only one we will ever have. Learn to set healthy boundaries for yourself. Learn to say no when necessary. Take a vacation with your family. It is OK to take some time for yourself. Self care is NOT selfish. When you are at your best, then everyone around you benefits. Give them your best, not what is left.

Take the time today to think about your life and see if there is just one thing you could change for the better. Focus on that one thing. When you feel like you're ready, take on another lifestyle change. It may be as simple as committing to going to bed earlier, allowing yourself one lazy day or just making sure you get to enjoy an evening stroll on the weekends. If it helps you to relax and destress, it is totally worth it. Before you know it, you will be making all kinds of changes that will help you to live a healthier life.