http://choosetomoveblog.com/vernita/ en Copyright 2009 Sat, 26 Jul 2008 11:54:55 -0600 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/ http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Cousin Marilyn, Coordinator, DFST Health & Wellness Fair; Cousin James Chairperson, DFST Family Reunion; and me, Asst. Coordinator, DFST Health & Wellness Fair. Choose To Mover Kathleen volunteered at the American Heart Association Booth. Kathleen shared information on the Choose To Move Program, Power To End Stroke, Go Red For Women, and Advocacy Plus-You're The Cure. The Demery-Farley-Syas-Taylor (DFST) Family Reunion Health & Wellness Fair was held in Houston, Texas, at the Hilton Houston Post Oak Hotel on Thursday, July 17, 2008, 10am-4pm. Los Angeles DFST Cousins will host the next reunion in 2010. The following screenings were available at the DFST Health & Wellness Fair: * Blood Pressure * Body Mass Index (BMI) * Blood Glucose/Blood Sugar * Blood Cholesterol * Vision * Foot Approximately 1 out of every 3 health & wellness fair participants received ALL of the screenings offered at the DFST Health & Wellness Fair. DFST Health & Wellness Fair Sponsors and Volunteers were: LifeScan, Inc., a Johnson & Johnson Co.–AALC Group American Heart Association John B. Coleman Health Sciences College – Nursing Program University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston Louisiana Public Health Institute – Steps Program CVS Pharmacy – Pharmacy Intern Program Greater Houston Dental Hygienists’ Society Johnson & Johnson Consumer Products Prairie View A&M – Nursing Program American Diabetes Association Prevent Blindness of America United Supermarkets.]]> http://choosetomoveblog.com/vernita/2008/07/demeryfarleysyastaylor_family_1.php http://choosetomoveblog.com/vernita/2008/07/demeryfarleysyastaylor_family_1.php Sat, 26 Jul 2008 11:54:55 -0600 On July 6th, I celebrated my 40th birthday--yeah, I'm 20 again. Or is it 30? I have been working in New Orleans this summer and have been very sporadic with consistent exercise and heart-health eating. New Orleans is still recovering from the vices of the hurricanes and the levee; however, progress is being made. And the food...the food is still unbelievably the BEST! It's a challenge that I welcome, though. I can put the tools that I have gained since I began Choose To Move to the test...and even with my not-so-routine exercise schedule, I have still been able to maintain. The picture below was taken on my birthday at the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association booth at the Essence Festival. From L to R: Rosda, Echelle, me, and Mia. Today I am headed to the Demery-Farley-Syas-Taylor (DFST) Family Reunion in Houston, Texas. Tomorrow I will be assisting Cousin Marilyn with coordinating the DFST Health & Wellness Fair and Choose To Mover Kathleen will also be on hand to help with the fair. Family members will have the opportunity to get their blood pressure, blood sugar, and blood cholesterol checked. I hope to squeeze in some time and take advantage of the health screenings and educational health information being provided. I have met many people who are afraid of getting screened. I think of screenings as paying my electric bill before the electricity gets cut off! You can download a Free Family Reunion Toolkit from the American Heart Association website. View More Pictures From the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association booth at the Essence Festival. ]]> http://choosetomoveblog.com/vernita/2008/07/summertime_full_of_many_hearth.php http://choosetomoveblog.com/vernita/2008/07/summertime_full_of_many_hearth.php Wed, 16 Jul 2008 05:58:46 -0600 jazzercise class. Cousin Joyce, who will be 60 this year, is wearing the blue warm-up pants. It finally happened…I hit the Relapse Stage. In other words, I traded my sports car in for a stage coach, and oh what a ride…]]> http://choosetomoveblog.com/vernita/2008/04/no_joking_matter_1.php http://choosetomoveblog.com/vernita/2008/04/no_joking_matter_1.php Sat, 05 Apr 2008 14:04:01 -0600 Go Red For Women Luncheon in New York City at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel. l to r, Sophie Pachella, Dr. Jennifer Mieres, and me. During a pre-session educational workshop sponsored by Merck entitled, "Get Your Engine Going--Choose to Move", Dr. Jennifer Mieres, co-author of Heart Smart for Black Women and Latinas, presented a historical overview on the impact of the Go Red For Women campaign, Sophie Pachella, founder of EatStrong, offered nutritional advice on foods that compliment the body, and I shared my Choose To Move journey. At the luncheon, Yvette Fields, a heart disease survivor, told "her story" about suffering from a stroke at the early age of 42 in addition to being diagnosed with diabetes at 21. The National Sponsors of the event were Merck and Macy's and the Local Sponsor was NYU Cardiac & Vascular Institute. More pics follow...]]> http://choosetomoveblog.com/vernita/2008/03/happy_anniversary_choose_to_mo.php http://choosetomoveblog.com/vernita/2008/03/happy_anniversary_choose_to_mo.php Tue, 04 Mar 2008 21:56:56 -0600 Jennifer is the AHA Marketing Director in Cedar Rapids and Lyn is an AHA Volunteer. One of the events planned by the American Heart Association (Cedar Rapids, IA Branch) in celebration of Heart Month was the Go Red For Women - Heart Health Day which was held on Saturday, February 2, 2008 at Lindale Mall in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The events for the day included free health screenings, heart-health informational booths, free CPR Anytime Training Sessions provided by CR Heart, Go Red For Women registration, and Go Red Survivor Fashion Show. In the picture on the left I am administering CPR (Cardiopulmonary resuscitation) to my inflatable CPR manikin, “Mini Anne.” Each participant received a free Family & Friends CPR Anytime Kit. The CPR Anytime Training Sessions were provided by CR Heart. Click here to find Heart Month and Go Red For Women events in your area. ~ Vernita ]]> http://choosetomoveblog.com/vernita/2008/02/heart_month_1.php http://choosetomoveblog.com/vernita/2008/02/heart_month_1.php Sun, 17 Feb 2008 20:00:41 -0600 Negative seven degrees (-7)...this morning’s temperature when I went to the gym. My original plan was to workout at home but I needed a serious “pick me up” to get me back on track. You see, I just returned from my 4 week fall semester break visiting my family and friends in Louisiana. This blog is appropriately named “Sliding Scale” because my weight “shifted” from... ]]> http://choosetomoveblog.com/vernita/2008/01/sliding_scale.php http://choosetomoveblog.com/vernita/2008/01/sliding_scale.php Sat, 19 Jan 2008 10:29:29 -0600 EXERCISE a heart-healthy lifestyle. I'm in Natchitoches, Louisiana, visiting my parents and what to my wondering eyes did appear upon my arrival but a basket full of fruit -n- nuts, and a scattering of peppermints. I pray that you and your family have a Blessed Christmas and Healthy New Year! ~Vernita ]]> http://choosetomoveblog.com/vernita/2007/12/have_a_blessed_christmas_and_h_1.php http://choosetomoveblog.com/vernita/2007/12/have_a_blessed_christmas_and_h_1.php Tue, 25 Dec 2007 13:50:32 -0600 Pictured left to right are: Health Iowa employees, Kathy and Amy, and the DDC Walking Team (Marsha, Margaret, Tina, and Vernita). Monique, DDC satellite team member, is not pictured. On Monday, December 3, 2007, the DDC Walking Team met with Amy, ACSM-certified Fitness Specialist, and Kathy, Registered and Licensed Dietitian. In the workshop Amy and Kathy discussed the benefits of sustaining a physical activity program and maintaining healthy eating habits. The information that we "walked" away with was so invaluable that the DDC Walking Team collectively put together the following list of tips that we found to be most helpful in hopes that you will also experience positive benefits: ]]> http://choosetomoveblog.com/vernita/2007/12/pictured_left_to_right_are_1.php http://choosetomoveblog.com/vernita/2007/12/pictured_left_to_right_are_1.php Sun, 09 Dec 2007 22:23:29 -0600 There've been times that I've thought I couldn't last for long But now I think I'm able to carry on It's been a long time coming But I know a change is gonna come from "A Change Is Gonna Come" by Sam Cooke Time and patience ...patience and time…by putting into practice discipline, perseverance, consistency, and a positive attitude, a change will eventually come. One of my personal goals has finally been realized. For over fifteen years I have wanted to get certified to teach a water-focused exercise class and on Tuesday, November 13, 2007, I successfully completed the requirements for obtaining my certification as an Aquatics Leader through the Arthritis Foundation Aquatics Program (AFAP). I am slowly checking off those written goals that I set for myself back in 1990. IT’S NEVER TOO LATE TO CHANGE! Me and Carol, my AFAP mentor. (This picture was taken following the last required class I had to teach to obtain AFAP Certification.) ]]> http://choosetomoveblog.com/vernita/2007/11/a_change_is_gonna_come.php http://choosetomoveblog.com/vernita/2007/11/a_change_is_gonna_come.php Wed, 21 Nov 2007 07:55:59 -0600 THEN (Feb/March 2007) & NOW (November 9, 2007) As the time for holiday feasts quickly approaches, we all need to PLAN & PRIORITIZE our strategy. Let's try incorporating at least 30 minutes of exercise into our schedule most days of the week. NO EXCUSES, Please (remember, you're preaching to the choir here...been there-done that-and still doing it at times...so NO EXCUSES). Choose To Move For You! ~Vernita ]]> http://choosetomoveblog.com/vernita/2007/11/now_begins_the_challenge.php http://choosetomoveblog.com/vernita/2007/11/now_begins_the_challenge.php Sat, 10 Nov 2007 21:00:04 -0600 ]]> http://choosetomoveblog.com/vernita/2007/10/jump_start_again_1.php http://choosetomoveblog.com/vernita/2007/10/jump_start_again_1.php Fri, 26 Oct 2007 12:52:17 -0600 how helpful family and friends have been to me on this journey in helping me to stay motivated and focused. When I find myself falling asleep at the wheel and swirving toward the median, my family and friends, in the form of angels, knudge me out of my slumber allowing me to quickly manuever the vehicle back on the road toward my destination. Meet Warren Meet Margaret, Tina, and Marsha ~Vernita]]> http://choosetomoveblog.com/vernita/2007/10/the_challenges_of_staying_on_c_1.php http://choosetomoveblog.com/vernita/2007/10/the_challenges_of_staying_on_c_1.php Tue, 16 Oct 2007 10:10:17 -0600 The DDC Walking Team l to r, Vernita, Margaret, Tina, and Marsha This week marks the one month anniversary that the DDC (Decided, Determined, and Committed) Walking Team has been actively engaged in Choosing to Move for 30 minutes during the lunchtime hour, three to four days a week. After we began walking as a team I asked Margaret, Tina, and Marsha what name should we give to ourselves and Marsha came up with the name Decided, Determined, and Committed. She said that they were lyrics in Smokie Norful's song, "Run 'til I'm Finished," and was appropriate for our group name and the lives of the participants in our group. While planning this blog, I asked the DDCs to reply to two questions: 1) Why are you walking/exercising? 2) What do you hope to accomplish by Choosing To Move? Their responses follow… ]]> http://choosetomoveblog.com/vernita/2007/10/decided_determined_and_committ.php http://choosetomoveblog.com/vernita/2007/10/decided_determined_and_committ.php Mon, 15 Oct 2007 17:46:36 -0600 I met Warren at the gym when I began Choose To Move in March 2007. Warren retired a few years ago but agreed to work part-time at the gym during the a.m. hours for the semester. Following my workouts we would often chat about the challenges and benefits of exercise, eating heart-healthy foods, and current events. At the end of the semester when Warren informed me that he would not be working at the gym during the summer months (and the Fall semester) but would be fishing in Lake Michigan (as he does every summer) I couldn't help but to ask him if he ever caught any salmon during his fishing escapades. He told me that he always caught a "boat load" of salmon. How do you think I responded to his reply? What do you think was my next question? Bullseye! Enroute from Michigan while heading to visit his son and daughter in Colorado, Warren stopped in Iowa and surprised me with some salmon. I even took a picture of the King Salmon that Warren caught in Lake Michigan near the city of Manistee, MI. ~Vernita ]]> http://choosetomoveblog.com/vernita/2007/10/more_salmon_please_1.php http://choosetomoveblog.com/vernita/2007/10/more_salmon_please_1.php Mon, 15 Oct 2007 17:44:57 -0600 Solid Support System, eating Heart-healthy foods, Choosing To Move, Getting Back Up after I Fall, and maintaining Focus and Consistency have all played key roles in this journey. October 5, 2007 - 197.6 lbs March 5, 2007 - 250 lbs Since the beginning of my journey 7 months ago and not less than 90% of the time, I have been in the company of Genevieve and Albert during my 6:00 A.M. workout at the gym. ]]> http://choosetomoveblog.com/vernita/2007/10/7_month_anniversary.php http://choosetomoveblog.com/vernita/2007/10/7_month_anniversary.php Fri, 05 Oct 2007 18:46:48 -0600