Take Care of your Ticker

My office is having a “Lite-Hearted Rememberance Lunch” for our coworker that passed away a few months ago of a heart attack. I’m so happy that they are doing this in honor of him, and I think it’s a great idea to have our celebration focused on heart health – I think he would have enjoyed it.

We’re having a professor speak to us, who is also a fellow of the American Heart Association, so I am very excited to hear what he has to say. I think this will be a good time for everyone in our offices to spend time together and celebrate his life. Although I never hung out with this coworker after hours, he was definitely the goof ball in the office  – you could always count on him for a laugh, he was always in a good mood, and he was so kind to everyone. I miss seeing him in the office, I miss his contagious laugh that you could hear down the hallway. It is definitely not the same in here without him.

We were given the option of bringing a heart-healthy dish to share, so I made a couscous salad.

couscous

  • whole wheat couscous
  • chickpeas
  • black olives
  • tomatoes
  • fresh parsley
  • lemon juice
  • olive oil
  • red wine vinegar
  • salt
  • pepper
  • fat free feta

I am taking my camera, but I’m not sure what the mood will be like- I’m hoping I can at least document everything that happens at our celebration.

If you’ve been reading my blog, you know that heart health/heart disease is an issue that is very close to my heart and my family. I think sometimes that I am in the wrong profession after seeing and dealing with all the heart issues in my family in the past couple of years! I know so much more now than I did 3 years ago, and it really has changed my life for the better.

If you’d like to know more about heart health, here’s some links to the Heart Health series I did a few months ago, plus a link to the stories in my own family:

You Gotta Have Heart

What to Look For

Risk Factors

What To Eat 1

What To Eat 2

Activity

Know Your Numbers

My Family History
Heart attacks don’t only happen to overweight men in their 50’s.

It is now the number one killer of women in the US.

Nick’s dad looked perfectly healthy and fit from the outside when he had his heart attack and needed emergency open heart surgery.

My mom is the total opposite of all the “normal characteristics” of heart attack victims, and she now has 4 stents in her heart.

My grandfather passed away of a massive heart attack when he had no previous heart issues – totally out of nowhere.

You are the only one that can take care of your heart.

Cherish it, work it, feed it, stretch it, fill it, love it.

Don’t ever take it for granted.

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Here’s a little fun stuff to cheer up this post:

See you for a fun family dinner!

6 comments

  1. What a great way to honor your co-worker.
    Your couscous salad looks great.

  2. That’s great your office honored him that way. I liked reading the stories you posted, they are a great reminder that it can happen to anyone.

    I’m so trying that couscous salad sometime.

  3. This issue hits home for me too. Thank you for sharing – I look forward to reading whatever tips you pick up from the guest speaker and the heart healthy feast!

  4. What a nice idea! Stuff like this is SO important to bring to attention. And your couscous salad looks great!

  5. Thanks for focusing on this extremely important issue. I don’t know too many people who have not been affected by it in some way. I think this is a wonderful way to honor your coworker. Plus the dish you are bringing looks so yummy :)
    Love your blog!
    ~Kelly
    http://redsoxcap.blogspot.com

  6. Great idea for a remembrance lunch – your couscous salad looks delicious!

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