The Bowery Mission

My experience and journey through the HeartSmarts program was a unique  and  life altering journey. I felt the urge to attend the HeartSmarts   Ambassador training program when I first learned about in 2014 while   working as a counselor at The Bowery Mission Women’s Center. What   motivated me to attend was the fact that my father suffered a massive   heart attack and subsequently passed away in the summer of 2012. I saw   this opportunity as a wakeup call and an intervention to help me to  make  better choices to have a healthier heart. That is exactly what I  was  able to learn from this program. I learned the value of eating a   well-balanced and healthy diet along with daily exercises to combat   cardiovascular disease. I learned about some of the major risk factors   for heart disease and how that related to my family history, culture  and  lifestyle. I really valued and appreciated the incorporation of a  faith  based component to this training and the fact that I could  utilize  biblical scriptures along with this great information to  empower myself  and others to see change as not only a hope but a real  possibility.

Upon  completing the Heartsmarts Ambassador training, I was able to  teach  this incredible 10-week program to the students residing at the  Bowery  Mission Women’s Center residential recovery program. The students  were  able to receive this information in the form of a booklet that  they  were able to read, review and begin to implement this information  into  their daily lives. As we went through the program I could begin to  see  small but noticeable changes in the women from week 1 to week 10.  Some  of the women lost 2 or more dress sizes, many reduced their sugar  and  salt intake, and some chose to quit drinking coffee and soda, while   others chose to incorporate more daily exercises into their normal   routine. Some of the challenges faced by the students were the fact  that  many were restricted to the food provided to them by the program  which  was not always a well-balanced/healthy diet so their food options  were  somewhat limited. Other challenges included having enough time  and  access to incorporating daily exercises into their class schedules.  It’s  hard to say just how many changes were made collectively as many  of the  women have moved on from the program but they were able to take  this  valuable knowledge and information with them.

I  personally have lost over 50 pounds since starting this program and   continue to make strides towards a healthier lifestyle for myself and   my family. With the incorporation of a healthier balanced diet and   increased exercise my LDL levels have been lowered, my HDL has   increased, my blood pressure has lowered and my overall heart health is   much better. The HeartSmarts Program has had a profound impact on my   life personally and professionally. I hope that this life saving   information continues to be shared and taught to people around this   nation to help in combating the fight against heart disease.

Tanesha Hutton, MSW, CASAC-T