Many women spend years prioritizing the needs of others, but when it comes time to refill their own cups, they often find there is little left. In the process, their own health and well-being slip further down the list of priorities. Jill Zahm, MSN, RN, AHN-BC, Her Heart Challenge program coordinator, Parkview Heart Institute, has seen it time and time again.
"A lot of the women that come to us are the ones that have kind of been through life," she explains. They all of a sudden realize that they've worked really hard on maintaining a home, raising children, building that career, and didn't pay any attention to themselves."
Wake-up call
Eventually, the urgency to prioritize their well-being becomes undeniable, and neglecting themselves is no longer a viable option. For some, this realization is sparked by a health scare or simply a desire to feel better.
A coworker who had previously graduated from the Her Heart Challenge in 2019 encouraged Erica Downing to apply. "The turning point for me to make a change was I am a relatively young person, and I just had no motivation to go out. I didn't like the way I felt about myself; I didn't like the way I looked," Erica said.
For Nan DiGangi, the decision came as she approached a new decade of life. "I was turning 60. I thought, ‘It's time to start getting serious.’ My father passed away when he was 51 of a heart attack," Nan shared. "I don't want to do that. I have my grandkids, and they mean the world to me. So, I was like, ‘I'm going to do it for me.’ I wanted to put myself first for once."
Inside the challenge
With only 25 openings each year, Jill is intentional about selecting participants who are in the right frame of mind to fully engage with the program. "I'm looking to see that they are really ready to embrace change. And is it feasible in your life right now?" she said, emphasizing the importance of mindset and timing.
For those who are motivated but managing too many competing responsibilities, Jill encourages them to apply for a later session and guides them to the Her Heart Support Network in the meantime. This year-round community also offers peer support and education to women of all ages who have survived a heart-related event or been diagnosed with heart disease.
"There's a lot of tears in the interview process. Sometimes, I ask the question, "Tell me why you took the time to apply." And the tears start flowing. And for those women, I'm like, yeah, I think you're probably ready."
The 12-week journey begins with a retreat, which includes opportunities for the women to get to know each other and the program." We go through each woman's story, and when they share that, the bonds they develop are just amazing," Jill said. "And to see them come to class every week and ask each other, ‘Hey, how is that going for you? You talked about that at the retreat. How are things going?’ That's what it's all about."
In the weeks that follow, the cohort meets on Wednesday evenings for educational sessions led by Parkview experts. Each session covers a different topic related to holistic health practices. These conversations focus on stress management, self-image, better sleep, movement and goal setting.
"My biggest goal for the challenge was to lose weight, and I was able to do that," Erica shared. "I've lost 70 pounds since June of last year. I feel better about the way I look and about the way I feel. I invested in myself, and I've done this for myself, and it has impacted the way I perceive a lot of other things."
Finding your people
Each woman has her own goals for achieving overall wellness and heart health. However, having a group of uplifting women is essential to this program. The group provides the encouragement they need so they don't have to go through the journey alone.
That sense of support became especially meaningful to Nan, Jean Kinduell, and Gretchen Weerts, who have continued to show up for one another even after the challenge has ended.
"The most important part of having these girls has been getting me involved in some things that I hadn't done before," Jean said. "We learned how to play pickleball, and we went hiking in the winter when it was snowy and icy. I would not have done that if I didn't have a core group of friends."
Beyond new adventures, Gretchen appreciates being able to speak candidly with her new friends about their shared health challenges.
"To take an injectable is very different than other medicines, so it was a big help to say, 'How do you administer that? Because I'm struggling,'" she said. "They were really great about saying, 'There are lots of different options out there. Be sure that you don't, you know, give up after the first try'."
"The way we're going to keep it going is I think if we need something, I know they got my back, and I've got theirs," Nan said.
Ready for change?
The Her Heart Challenge is all about instilling the need for self-care. Jill said that in her experience when participants embrace that piece of the program, all those other numbers and metrics they're worried about tend to fall into place. "They realize, ‘I'm worth taking care of me.’"
Applications are open year-round online. Do a little self-reflection, and if you feel ready to change, join us. The next session will begin in July 2025, and will include:
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Health information and support at weekly evening meetings held on the Parkview Regional Medical Center campus.
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Lab work.
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Opportunities for physical activity.
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Access to health experts, including physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, dietitians, exercise physiologists, behavioral therapists and much more.
To learn more about the Her Heart Challenge or program application requirements, visit our website here.
