Embrace Your Heart Blog

Lance Armstrong Supports Breathe Free Wisconsin Act

Guess who is coming to Madison to help Wisconsin pass a statewide clean-indoor air act?

YES!  Lance Armstong!!!

“Smoking is the leading avoidable cause of cancer,” said Lance Armstrong, Founder and Chairman of the Lance Armstrong Foundation. “That’s why the Breathe Free Wisconsin Act is so important to the people of this great state.  I urge Wisconsin legislators to support the health of their voters and pass this life-saving bill.” 

While a majority of Wisconsin citizens support the Breathe Free Wisconsin Act, and Governor Doyle has been a strong supporter, the legislature has yet to send him a bill to sign.

On the Assembly side, a committee hearing tomorrow should be enough to send the bill to the floor for a vote.  However, even though the  Senate  Committee approved the bill, and there are enough votes to pass it, the Senate bill is being held hostage by Majority Leader Russ Decker, D-Weston.

Decker will not allow the bill to go to the floor for a vote unless it is changed to allow unacceptable compromises that would roll back local smoke-free ordinances. 

It is time to send a clear message to our legislators.  We want the Breathe Free Wisconsin Act passed before they end this session.

Please join me, and Lance, at the

Citizens for Smoke Free Air Rally
Tuesday, March 4th
10:30 - 12:00 Registration, Training & Box Lunch Pick up               
12:00pm-1:00 Rally at the Monona Terrace, One John Nolan Drive, Madison
1:00 - 3:00 Legislative Office Visits

Need a lift?  Free buses will depart from: LaCrosse, Eau Claire, Green Bay, Wausau & Milwaukee

To RSVP for the event and to reserve your free lunch, contact
Martha at (262) 523-5527 / e-mail [email protected]
or register on the web at www.itstimewisconsin.org

I hope to see you there!

Help Us Make A Difference

Celebrate Heart Month with a donation in honor of someone you love to the American Heart Association.

Our family is participating in Jump Rope for Heart at the girls' school.  Grace and Callie say it best...

The American Heart Association makes a difference everyday in the fight against heart disease.  You may have noticed changes in school lunches, the types of foods sold on campus and even what is in "kid" foods at the grocery store.  These changes are due to the work the AHA continues to do as part of the Collalition for a Healthier Generation.

Please help us make a difference by making a donation.  Our event is February 19th.  Thanks!

You're My Super Ball Contest

Celebrate that great friend who gives you so much energy by entering her in the You're My Super Ball Contest.

Watch Eliz explain the Super Ball...

Make a comment below by February 14th and include:
Your first name.
Your Super Ball's first name.
How she makes your life better.

The best stories will chosen by a crack panel of Super Ball experts (Patty & Eliz) on February 15th.

Winners and their Super Balls will receive a limited edition Embrace Your Heart Indulgence Kit with supplies for a candle-lit bubble bath and, of course, chocolate!

Celebrate your Super Ball!

Celebrate Your Super Balls!

Every woman needs a Super Ball!

The phone rings, you check the caller ID and smile.  It's her, the one friend you can count on to make you feel good, safe, valued, and you can't wait to begin.

Who is your Super Ball? 

In my program "Why Women Have Balls" I discuss the importance of nurturing your friendships.

Super Balls are  female friends who give back as much energy and enthusiasm as you give to them.  A study conducted at UCLA indicates women who maintain positive friendships live longer, are more healthy, and have better coping skills.

Celebrate the Super Balls in your life this month.  Call her up and make her day.  Thank her for all the ways she makes your life better.  Make some time to spend together.

Better yet, tell us about your Super Ball and perhaps win some great prizes for you both!  Give us one good example of how your Super Ball makes you a healthier, more well balanced person in the comment section of this post.

Don't have a Super Ball?  Look around, she's probably there, but your busy life got in the way.  Make time to reconnect with old friends or reach out to new ones.  Your heart will thank you!

Oh, and don't forget to be a Super Ball for your friends too!

Please add your suggestions or comments below!

Eliz Greene is a heart attack survivor, author and nationally known speaker on a mission to encourage women to recognize heart disease as their most serious health threat and provide down-to-earth strategies for active and healthy lives.  Learn more about Eliz and the Embrace Your Heart Wellness Initiative at www.EmbraceYourHeart.com

My Smoke Free Story

Wisconsin is in a fight for clean indoor air and our family is on the front lines.  Please visit MySmokeFreeStory.com to see the video about our second-hand smoke story, the stories of others and join the efforts to make our state the next to be smoke-free.

Thanks!

Please add your suggestions or comments below!

Eliz Greene is a heart attack survivor, author and nationally known speaker on a mission to encourage women to recognize heart disease as their most serious health threat and provide down-to-earth strategies for active and healthy lives.  Learn more about Eliz and the Embrace Your Heart Wellness Initiative at www.EmbraceYourHeart.com

Indulge Your Valentine

Give your Valentine a heart healthy gift.

 Your Valentine's heart yearns for indulgence.

Give your Valentine...

A Treat.
Indulge your Valentine with the
Wine and Chocolate Stress Remedy:
Select a small amount of decadent chocolate to savor slowly such as  such as the Valentines Day Selections from Woodhouse Chocolate.  We received a selection at Christmas and my mouth waters just thinking about it. Get comfy, enjoy some chocolate and some red wine. Unwind together, talk about what is good in your lives and breathe.

A Break.
Encourage your Valentine to take sometime to relax with something such as the Pamper Me Gift Set which includes supplies for a lovely bath and a deck of cards with 52 Ways to Pamper Yourself.

Sleep.
Give something cozy to relax in from Pajama Gram.  They come in a delightful hat box with a "Do Not Disturb" sign!  They have men's pajamas too which come in a travel case. 

Give your Valentine (or yourself) the gift of indulgence.

Please add your suggestions or comments below!

Eliz Greene is a heart attack survivor, author and nationally known speaker on a mission to encourage women to recognize heart disease as their most serious health threat and provide down-to-earth strategies for active and healthy lives.  Learn more about Eliz and the Embrace Your Heart Wellness Initiative at www.EmbraceYourHeart.com

Valentine Tips for Kids

Avoid the sugar overload!

For most people, Valentines Day brings up memories of candy hearts, chocolates and heart shaped cookies. 

While these treats are fun, indulging children (and ourselves) in all of them can be just too much. 

Choose one luscious treat and then use some of the tips below to make your kids' Valentines Day healthy and fun. 

Give non-food treats:
Stickers, pencils, erasers, friendship bracelets, or small craft projects can be fun alternatives.

Get them moving:
    Play some fun games such as:

Balloon relays with heart-shaped balloons
Pin the arrow on the heart
Beanbags tick tack toe with hugs (O's) and kisses (X's) 

Pack in some healthy treats:

Fruit - Strawberries and raspberries are especially festive
Heart-shaped cutout sandwiches: try peanut butter* or low-fat cheese
Pretzels, crackers or cereal - or make a snack mix and include some raisins

*Please be sure to check for food allergies and age appropriate foods

Skip the soda:

Make a festive beverage with 100% fruit juice and sparkling water, or try Izzy as a soda alternative.

Focus on fun rather than food and make this Valentines Day great!

Remember to give your heart (and your kids' heart) the gift of grow foods.

Please add your suggestions or comments below!

Eliz Greene is a heart attack survivor, author and nationally known speaker on a mission to encourage women to recognize heart disease as their most serious health threat and provide down-to-earth strategies for active and healthy lives.  Learn more about Eliz and the Embrace Your Heart Wellness Initiative at www.EmbraceYourHeart.com

Mmm..Mmm...Good, Campbells Goes Red!

                  

What a great combination -- Good food and a good cause!

Campbells is putting it's heart and soul into helping women lead healthier lives.

As part of their mission to nourish people's lives everywhere, every day, Campbell continues to offer a growing variety of heart-healthy products. In addition, They've pledged $1.8 million over 3 years to help the American Heart Association raise awareness about how heart disease affects women.

                  

 

I encourage everyone to visit the Campbells adDress Your Heart website and "Click with Your Heart"  for each click,  they're donating $1 to the Go Red For Women movement.

Forward this to friends and encourage them to click as well!

Lets all help the Go Red cause!

Please add your suggestions or comments below!

Eliz Greene is a heart attack survivor, author and nationally known speaker on a mission to encourage women to recognize heart disease as their most serious health threat and provide down-to-earth strategies for active and healthy lives.  Learn more about Eliz and the Embrace Your Heart Wellness Initiative at www.EmbraceYourHeart.com

                                  

Wear Red Day!

Happy National Wear Red Day!

As we officially kick off Heart Month, I hope you remembered to wear red and ask the women you cherish to take care of their hearts.

Many cities and landmarks, including the Washington Monument and Niagra Falls, are going red as well.  Check out these photos.

Make February a heart healthy month with tips for celebration in my article at MyHealthyHeartInfo.com

Have a great Heart Month!