How to Celebrate (Feb) Heart Month: Fun, Exercise, Chocolate with Someone You Love
Posted: Monday, January 25, 2010
by Fran Larson
http://www.franniesquotes.com/
Our National Awareness calendar shows February as a very busy month. Just a few of the days are National Time Management Month, Library Lovers Month, National Youth Leadership Month and Aggressive Driving Month.
However, my two favorite days in February are Valentines Day and American Heart Month. Research shows that heart disease is still the leading cause of death in the United States for both men and women, with women accounting for nearly half of those deaths.
I propose that you have a celebration on Valentines Day that will also give your heart a healthy boost.
Here are my suggestions:
1. Begin the day with someone you love and take a long walk with them.
Your walking companion could even be your dog. It could also be your best friend, your Mom or your sweetheart. Walk with purpose and speed and your heart will say thank you. You will feel good all day.
2. Eat a healthy meal with someone you love
There are so many healthy recipes on the Internet. Healthy can also be delicious. Find a recipe that you really like and usually you can figure out how to make a "light" version of it.
For meal suggestions, counting calories and fat intake information,click this great interactive meal planner that is really excellent. This meal planner is from the American Heart Association.
3. Take this quick Learn and Life Quiz.
It won't even take 3 minutes to take this quiz and it could save your life. At the end of the quiz it will give you information on how to live a stronger, longer life, as well as questions to ask your doctor. (For example, my quiz showed my body mass index to be 26.5 and it shouldn't be more than 24.9. However, my doctor knows my weight and she said I have more muscle than most people my age.) The quiz results also revealed I need to exercise more.
Here is the quiz: Learn and Life Quiz
4. Make these wonderful, crisp, yummy (shhh don't tell anyone this is a low-calorie recipe) easy chocolate cookies with someone you love:
Fiber One Fudge Cookies
(From the kitchen of SUGARPLUM73501
Ingredients
1 box reduced sugar fudge brownie mix
2 cups Fiber One cereal
1/3-cup water
1 egg (or eggbeaters)
1 tbsp vegetable oil
2 tsp vanilla
1/8 tsp cinnamon
Instructions
Heat over to 350. Spray cookie sheet with cooking spray. Mix all ingredients together and drop by serving spoons on cookie sheet (24 spoonfuls). Bake 10-12 minutes or until set. Let cool.
5. Enjoy a sweet "feel good: movie at home with someone you love while munching on your chocolate cookies.
Don't tell me you are not seeing anyone right now. How about your pet? (Don't give Fido chocolate, though.)
In conclusion, please take care of your heart. Suggestions have been given on how to have a healthy heart but emotionally, take care of your heart, also. Love others and be loved for a long, healthy life!
P.S. do you think all men know how to love? See my article, Recognize Real Love: Men Who Can't Love-Why?
This Article has been viewed 231 times. (Not updated in real-time.)
Top-level comments on this article: (4 total)Fran, Fran, Fran...You've really done it now. You have enticed me through this great article and triggered my wonderful chocolate addiction. Now, I'm going to have to go find some chocolate in the kitchen.By the way, I heard chocolate is good for the heart. In more than one way.Loved your article. Needed that information too!Best Wishes,Mark
Hey there. Nice article for sure. Now I want some fudge cookies! lol
Cool recipe! My wife and I are experimenting with Bison meat at the moment! ;)
Hi Fran.I love your 5th suggestion -- feel good movie and chocolate cookies, great combination. Thanks for sharing this well-written article.All the best to you and yours,Nenita
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