It's not a diet it's a lifestyle!

This is just my opinion but I'm a semi expert on the subject. I've heard the rants from my heart buddies and I have my own. Who can a heart patient have a happy meal with? Only other heart patients. Since we live in a country obsessed with food, having a normal, healthy meal outside of our homes is darn near impossible. We have a major battle in front of us and it gets downright tiring to deal with it several times a day. As a baby heart patient, I (hopefully) have decades of dealing with this. Lovely. Well, the problem is the people around us! Most likely you love us right? Lets be honest here.See the food in the picture? It doesn't look THAT bad right? Why is everyone so upset then? I'm getting picked on! As far as I can tell there are 2 types of concerned loved ones.

Type One - The Nazi. We have to police our own diets. If we're doing a good job we know just how much fat and sodium we can have and how much wiggle room there is in a day for a treat. We DO NOT need someone to give us stink eye because we ate a cookie. No, I will never again eat the chips and salsa at a Mexican restaurant. One bite size Snickers isn't going to do me in. The can you have that question is just rude. Would you ask anyone else that? Please don't make a heart patient feel guilty for eating. It just makes for defensive, defiant dinnertimes.

Type two - Baked with love. We know it is and we love you for it. Just don't help us! Ordering a salad is not a sin! Instead of pointing out our weight loss or something else on the menu just order your own meal! I know I'm itty bitty. I also know that I have a condition that can take my life if I don't do my best. After 6 months without alfredo sauce I'm actually scared of what that would do to my stomach. I'm soooo not eating that. Ever. While our diets may seem abnormal to you, your diet is now abnormal to us. A healthy heart patient eats 5 or 6 times a day and they eat food loaded in the "good stuff." This means that we're likely eating more then you! No, we don't have an eating disorder. We're healthy. So healthy that the food you would rather us eat would make us sick. I have never in my life encouraged someone to order something else in a restaurant. I promise not to pick on your choices if you don't pick on mine. If anything ask for some pointers! We're absolutely brimming with healthy recipes and secrets. This is weight loss gold people! It's not a punishment but a gift! We've got the tips and tricks to get that pair of skinny jeans!

Now it's not all your fault! Unfortunately, not all heart patients make the right choices. I've met a few of them to. They either don't care or don't believe they will get sick and die from heart disease. I have one thing to say to these fellow heart buddies. Shame on you for eating cheesecake in front of the person that sat by your hospital bed. The agony you give them is not worth the pound of fat you're stuffing in your face. Yes, it's your life, and yes, they look at your salad funny. They don't deserve to bury you. At least try. If not for you, for them.

So there you go! Can you tell it's a bit of a sore subject? Everything is different for heart patients. The lean, little person is mighty! The big guy is weak. Go figure. I'm 5'2 and at my last weigh in I was 108 pounds. That's great! If anything I need a little more muscle mass. I'm not one of those patients that has to lose 50 pounds. Right out of the gate I was a lap ahead. It's a good thing. Now if I could juuuuust convince everyone else!

Oh! On a side note, I'm going to the cardiologist today! Hopefully we'll figure out why my heart has a bad attitude and keeps landing me in the hospital. I'm guessing my medication will be adjusted or he'll send me to a specialist. Cross some fingers and toes for me! I would really, really like to figure out this fatigue thing. I'm tired of being tired! Check back tomorrow! Maybe I'll learn something useful I can pass on.