Give the Gift of a Healthy Heart This Valentine's
Day
Winchester, VA (PRWEB) January 26, 2006 -- It’s 2006, but when it
comes to Valentine gift giving, many Americans are living in the past.
They still count on the old standbys: a heart-shaped box of chocolates,
a bouquet of flowers, some jewelry or an item of clothing. Now there are
better gifts to show one’s love for that special Valentine.
According to Ed Mayhew, author of Fitter for Life: The Secrets of 25 Masters
of Fitness, “The best gift in 2006, the year of healthy-heart living,
is not a heart-shaped box of chocolates, no matter how expensive, but
rather a healthy heart.” Mayhew explains, “We owe it to our
loved ones to take care of ourselves so we’ll be around to lavish
them with love and affection and gifts for decades to come.”
But how to package and wrap the gift of a healthy heart is the question.
Here are the answers – the best gifts for 2006:
1. A single red rose with a note – a written commitment
to walk, run, swim, bike, … on a regular basis with one’s
Valentine
When Fred and Sandy Kiddy were in their early thirties, they started taking
2-mile jogs to lose 30 to 35 pounds; over time those jogs evolved into
longer and longer runs. Now in their mid-sixties, they are still running,
and as a result, they enjoy the youthful, lithe bodies usually reserved
for much younger folks. From this humble beginning, Sandy went on to become
a champion ultra-marathon runner in her forties, setting 16 American Records
for races longer than marathon length.
Happy Valentine’s Day, Fred and Sandy
2. His-and-her membership to the local gym
Virginia’s Frank and Lynne Nelson liked to work out at the local
gym. Noticing Lynne’s exceptional strength, Frank encouraged his
40-year-old wife to compete as a powerlifter with his being her coach.
As a result , this full-time working mother of 2, at age 44, became the
AAU World Powerlifting Champion in the 148-pound class.
Happy Valentine’s Day, Frank and Lynne
3. A brochure or poster for a weekend getaway or special
outing to be enjoyed when Valentine has helped the giver lose 10 pounds
When a friend of Pennsylvania’s Jack Klein, 60, suddenly dropped
dead of a massive coronary, this was a wake-up call for Jack to take better
care of his heart. He started by forgoing the car as he took care of some
errands around town. Gradually he started walking farther and faster until
he had lost enough weight to run comfortably and safely. With the support
of his wife, Lynne, Jack went from an obese 235 pounds to a svelte 154
pounds, losing 81 heart-stressing pounds in about a year’s time.
Happy Valentine’s Day, Jack and Lynne
4. A heart-healthy cookbook and/or cooking class for
two
At age 64 Margery Meyer had a cholesterol reading of 385 mg/dl, arrhythmia
(an irregular heart beat), and no competitive swimming experience when
her daughter, Marguerite, talked her into taking up Masters swimming.
With a much-improved diet, a training program for competitive swimming,
and the love and support of her mountaineering husband, Bruce, Margery
was not only able to greatly improve her health and energy level, but
also, over the next 17 years, she set 50 age-group swimming World Records.
Happy Valentine’s Day, Bruce and Margery
5. Gift certificates for his-and-her massages redeemable
when Valentine has helped giver stay smoke-free for one week
In her mid-forties, Jacquie Core, RN, was a sedentary 2-pack-a-day smoker
with a 30-year habit and no interest or experience in the world of athletics
or exercise. With the encouragement and cheerleading of her sons (Andy,
Matt, and Jesse), by her fifties she had transformed herself into an Ironman
triathlete. In a few short years Jacquie had gone from someone who was
35 pounds overweight and struggling to jog just the length of a football
field to being a successful ultra-endurance athlete, swimming 2.4 miles,
biking 112 miles and running 26.2 miles – all in just under 16 hours.
Happy Valentine’s Day, Jacquie and sons
This Valentine’s Day give flowers or chocolates again or think outside
the box and give gifts that will keep giving for years to come –
the 2006 Healthy Heart Gifts.
For a dynamic discussion with author Ed Mayhew about what he has learned
from the Masters of Fitness about Healthy-Heart Living, call 540-662-8324
or visit – www.FitterForLife.com