HeartSmarts Program Testimony

“I Can Do All Things Through Christ Who Strengthens Me”

Proverbs 14:30 – A Heart at Peace gives Life to the Body! 

I want to Thank our Wonderful Instructor, Dr. Cheryl James, Ambassador & Facilitator for the Heart Smarts Education Program for bringing us this great workshop. We have all heard the information before…but it’s so much better with an instructor to guide us, inform us, answer our questions, share and to interact with us. Dr James helps to bring it all together! I also thank all our participants, especially my fellow Wonders of Wisdom Retirees Ministry (WOW) who gave up our time slot to learn this valuable information. 

So, like in previous years about this time, I continue eating the holiday goodies & treats, slowly feeling the calories increase and the doldrums begin. I start exercising, but still eat & eat & eat! Got to lose that weight! I was very excited about starting the Heart Smarts Program in September as I knew it would give me a headstart to losing all the weight I needed to lose and look svelte, curvy & Great by January, my birth month! The education I received was more than about just losing weight! The program is a trusty guide, a supplement, a tool that I can rely on towards a healthy nutritious lifestyle change! From week to week I listened and realized that I should think more about what I am putting into my mouth! Read the Food Labels! Be physically active! Make Colorful Food presentations on my plate (I learned from Mom)! Less Sugar! Less Salt/Sodium, Less Fat! Know My Numbers! More Veggies/Fruit! Less Meat! Make Better Food Choices! I loved the simple tips & suggestions (boiled parsley, ginger/garlic, lemon, etc.) offered by Dr. James. This program is Spiritually Based for we need to be informed as to what God said if we are under His authority. I need to take care of my body with good nutrition, so I can go out and Do God’s work! My doctor was so impressed when I spoke to her about this program. I am gradually educating her about a few things. I will no longer accept from her, “Your lab work is good.” I will say to her, “What ARE my numbers.” And the best part I am proud to say is that from now on, I Will Know My Numbers! My family history includes, Hypertension, Diabetes & High Cholesterol! A Heart Attack claimed my father at age 51! That is too young to die! I did lose a few pounds and a few inches off the waist!  I am here to proudly say because of my participation in the Heart Smarts Education Program, my posttest readings & all my lab work were normal or near desirable! What a Wonderful Testimony! 

So now, let us continue to share this valuable information we all learned in the past 12 weeks! Just as we continue to grow in our relationship with God, we must also equip ourselves with knowledge & skills to live our BEST Life! 

Thank You, Gayle Simmons, First Lady, St Albans Congregational Church, December 11, 2019.

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