Chicarra Jones- How I’m Winning The Fight Against Heart Disease
Chicarra Jones is 35 years old and a mother of two - Morghan and Paul. She is originally from Dayton, Ohio but relocated to Charlotte, North Carolina in 2007 after completing her bachelor’s degree from Central State University. She moved to Columbia, SC in 2012 after meeting her Husband, and has been working with AHA since 2015 as a volunteer. She is a member of the 2016-17 Go Red For Women class of Real Women, a group of survivors and caregivers who act as national spokespeople and advocates for issues related to women and cardiovascular disease.
My journey with the American Heart Association began in 2015, several months after losing my mother, Betty Jones, to heart disease. I was chosen as one of five local Real Women that had been affected by heart disease in Columbia, South Carolina. Out of those five women, I was selected for one of 11 spots to represent the national Go Red for Women campaign. After witnessing how heart disease could destroy a family, it became my mission to advocate and become a voice for those living with heart disease.
I decided that I didn’t want my children to experience what I had endured losing my mother at such a young age, so I avidly overhauled my family’s lifestyle. Being a busy mother of two young children, we would often have to eat on the go, which didn’t always include healthy choices. I decided it was time get serious not only about my health but my family’s health as well. I slowly made changes to our diet and exercise regime, which is still a bit of a challenge especially having young children, but as time passed it has become second nature to us.
My advice is: don’t feel overwhelmed with making changes. Start out slow, implementing healthy choices into your diet and exercise routine. Begin with walks to get your blood flowing and heart pumping and gauge from there how far you can go. As for diet changes, I found ways to still enjoy our favorite meals just healthier versions. For example, my children love tacos so instead of using ground beef, which has a high fat content, I substitute it with ground lean chicken. I want others to know that you are not alone with this battle you can prevail, all it takes is a little dedication and determination to win the fight.
My journey with the American Heart Association began in 2015, several months after losing my mother, Betty Jones, to heart disease. I was chosen as one of five local Real Women that had been affected by heart disease in Columbia, South Carolina. Out of those five women, I was selected for one of 11 spots to represent the national Go Red for Women campaign. After witnessing how heart disease could destroy a family, it became my mission to advocate and become a voice for those living with heart disease.
I decided that I didn’t want my children to experience what I had endured losing my mother at such a young age, so I avidly overhauled my family’s lifestyle. Being a busy mother of two young children, we would often have to eat on the go, which didn’t always include healthy choices. I decided it was time get serious not only about my health but my family’s health as well. I slowly made changes to our diet and exercise regime, which is still a bit of a challenge especially having young children, but as time passed it has become second nature to us.
My advice is: don’t feel overwhelmed with making changes. Start out slow, implementing healthy choices into your diet and exercise routine. Begin with walks to get your blood flowing and heart pumping and gauge from there how far you can go. As for diet changes, I found ways to still enjoy our favorite meals just healthier versions. For example, my children love tacos so instead of using ground beef, which has a high fat content, I substitute it with ground lean chicken. I want others to know that you are not alone with this battle you can prevail, all it takes is a little dedication and determination to win the fight.
