Amy's Blog

Yes you can!

 Don't tell Evelyn Brown she can't do something. She doesn't like that. Some ladies at the place where she works out in Gallatin told her recently she'd never be able to walk seven miles again, like she did when she was thinner.  She says she will and as long as she sets realistic goals, and takes her time, she will get back to walking that far.  You see, Evelyn lost more than two hundred pounds back in the late '90's when the scales couldn't even read her initial weight. She told me she weighed more than 400 pounds.  But Evelyn got down to 175 pounds through eating better and exercise.  

 Since 1998, Evelyn, now 54 years old, has been going to the Heart Healthy cooking classes at Saint Thomas Hospital in Nashville. Being in a group and sharing with others made the difference for her.  She now has compiled three folders full of heart healthy recipes that her entire family enjoys, even her two grandkids!  Evelyn hasn't missed many classes except during the time she was helping to care for her sick parents and other family members. She had gained some of her weight back then and decided in July of this year she was ready to tackle her weight again. She knew that she did it once and could lose the weight again if she set goals, took it slow, and asked God to help her.

  Because of her experience with the cooking classes and what she had learned from her doctor, Evelyn decided to start doing some classes in her own home, so that friends who can't make it to Nashville can benefit from what she's learned. She even has a licensed nurse practitioner come to answer questions, since she is really just trying to motivate others and share the recipes for the food prepared by nutritionist Kitty Fawaz at Saint Thomas. The women determine what kind of exercise they want to do. For Evelyn it's either walking, or swimming, and I mean serious time in the pool!  She usually stays in the water a minimum of 2 hours....now that's dedication!

   I hope hearing about Evelyn gives you hope that you, too, can find a way to live a healthier life. Maybe it's trying a cooking class at Saint Thomas to get started. Maybe you'll meet Evelyn, and besides making a new friend, you'll be on your way to losing weight, swimming some laps and savoring the healthy flavors that you didn't know came in a heart healthy package. 

   For more information on future heart healthy cooking school classes in your community and to register, just call 1-800-588-3270. The classes are free!

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