A few weeks back, a group of 25 determined women gathered at Don Hall’s Guest House to commit to lifestyle changes to live healthier, live happier and live longer by accepting the Her Heart Challenge. They shared the stories that brought them to this point and spent the weekend discovering simple self-care activities, receiving an in-depth explanation of their personal lab values and risk factors for heart disease, defining their “why” – their personal reason for change – and developing meaningful goals that will carry them through the next 12 weeks of this program and beyond. Jill Zahm, MSN, RN, AHN-BC, program coordinator, Parkview Heart Institute, tells us more.
What makes this program different
These women began this journey by submitting an application and answering essay questions months ago. We asked them to tell us why they want to make changes and what this program would mean to them. The Her Heart Challenge committee received nearly 100 applications for the 25 available spots. The committee interviewed the applicants we felt were most poised to participate, which is difficult, as so many deserved a spot.
The candidates chosen to participate completed lab work and biometric measurements to discern their personal risk factors and establish baselines for their goals.
The kickoff
As they gathered at the Guest House, the women, ranging in age from their 30s through their 70s, most of whom had never met, shared their stories with open hearts. Tears, hugs and laughter were abundant as the ladies shared stories and found common bonds, encouraging new friendships to blossom.
As women, we tend to tear ourselves down. We nurture others before ourselves. The intention of this program is to allow the participants to see the value of self-care and making their health a priority.
Meet the Class of 2019
