Joyce Moore lost her dad to heart disease and vowed to spare her daughters from the pain she experienced. But it wasn’t until she decided to get healthy for herself, rather than others, that she was able to make significant change.
Moore, who lives in Jessup, Georgia, motivates herself and inspires others with regular posts through Go Red Get Fit, a Facebook group-based, social media campaign by the American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women, designed to help women from diverse communities make health changes that become lifelong habits.
The yearlong campaign, nationally sponsored by Macy’s, launched in March, challenging women to log at least 10,000 steps a day and limit added sugar to 24 grams a day. Each quarter, new challenges were added, including adding 30 minutes of cardio at least five days a week; choosing water over sugary drinks; and limiting sodium to no more than 1,500 milligrams a day.
Beginning in December, participants are challenged to “Follow the Lead to Flawless,” committing to physical activity and limiting saturated fat consumption to 13 grams a day.
Moore was 21-years-old when she lost her mom to complications of Type 2 diabetes. Her mom was just 42 at the time and the memory of her in the hospital still brings Moore pain.
“I never wanted my children to see me like that,” she said.
At the time, Moore was an active member of the military and kept herself in good shape, even if she still enjoyed the rich foods she grew up with in New Orleans. After her dad died from a massive heart attack in 2004, she pledged to…