The Elephant in the room

[Jolt]

Thanks, Roadie Gal, for the article. Too bad they had to stop the study because of recruitment problems, hopefully somebody else can do something similar and have better luck. This has a lot of potential in terms of improving outcomes and reducing costs, if the exercise program is confirmed to have equal or better results than angioplasty for stable angina.

As for "how I learned", that's kind of hard to answer. I was always an active kid (often too much so!), so I think that part came pretty naturally. I enjoyed riding my bike (including on a paper route at one point) and rollerblading as well as other outside activities. My sisters and I were on swim teams for a number of years, which is what really got me into the habit of working out on a daily basis; the running was something I took up in college and found I liked once I learned to pace myself and started to develop endurance. After college, I decided to buy a used bike to ride on errands etc. to save on gas and incorporate some of my exercise into trips I would have to do anyway; besides, being stuck in the car drives me nuts! As far as the healthy eating, I didn't really learn that at home--we did have our share of junk food growing up although my mom did and does cook from scratch the majority of the time and she taught me to know my way around the kitchen. I think that came more from having always had an interest in health, deciding to go into health care, and realizing that it is much better to prevent illness when possible rather than waiting to treat it after it happens. Being out on my own and doing my own grocery shopping helped too, and then I moved into my current apartment (in a three-decker) where there are pear trees and a vegetable garden in the yard that I got involved in helping with.

[Crankin]

I learned most of my cooking skills from my mom, who only cooked from scratch. We did eat things that would be considered unhealthy, but hey, everyone else ate raspberry danish and frosted flakes for breakfast in the 50's and 60's! I was an active kid, always outdoors and spent a considerable time on my bike. That ended when we moved to Florida, I got my license, and never walked anywhere. After college I gained a lot of weight. The sedentary life style caught up with me, along with my love of food. I studied a lot on my own, became a vegetarian, and started exercising (walking, aerobics). Although I started eating meat again after a year or so, I lost the weight and have never gained it back.
The ignorance of people about health and fitness amazes me. I have a very good friend who has been overweight for years. She lost 30 pounds by eating grapes and nothing else until dinner time...

[Medianox]

"How I learned..."
I'm not really sure. I'm the only person in my immediate family that has never smoked. Grew up in a household where both parents smoked heavily (mom still does), drank more than casually and potato chips (and junk food in general) were a food group. In my family, no one has ever intentionally been physically active or worked out or exercized for fun, or been involved in a sport beyond being an observer.
In high school, I would get up very early, pack a light breakfast (granola bar and an apple) and hike in the woods/fields near my house until it was time for school, then I walked to the bus stop. I played tennis (not competively) every summer, swam often and rode my bike everywhere.
About nutrition....to my mom, it had to be store-bought or packaged to be any good. I was a throwback *hippie* kind of kid and was always trying to make stuff from scratch, bake my own bread, etc. Now, at age 70 my mom calls me and tells me about the bread she is baking herself so I guess it finally caught on-lol! I'm still trying to get her to quit smoking though.
Then I went to nursing school, and formally learned about nutrition science and realized I was pretty much on the right path all along.
I was living in a small town and literally walked everywhere (a bike would have been a luxury!) and was in great shape...it never occurred to me to get a car....
Anyway, I was always the oddball and I can't say for sure where I learned positive habits-I just gravitated towards them naturally. Not perfect but...better than my family's habits for sure.