马帮助她变得更健康

The first year Debby Rose rode in the 美国心脏协会 Beach Ride, she weighed 300 pounds and needed an extra-wide saddle.

那是2009年. At the event’s 40th anniversary in November, Debby’s saddle will be smaller; her weight right around 138.

“沙滩骑行救了我的命,黛比说, who lost her mother to a heart attack in 2014 and whose husband and father both have diabetes. “It keeps me focused on staying healthy.”

今年, Debby is part of the 40 Something Cowgirls Team, which is well on the way to meeting its $25,000年的目标.

“When I get a passion, I go all out,黛比说, a Lifestyle Change award winner.

Before making the nine-hour drive from her home in West Virginia to her first Beach Ride in South Carolina, 黛比已经开始减肥了. She had started learning about cardiovascular health, tracking her cholesterol and blood pressure numbers, 试着变得更积极. Being part of Beach Ride kicked that all into gear.

“That’s when I went in full-fledged,” Debby said. “I loved the Beach Ride and all it stood for. I loved the money raised; the technology it helps fund, whether you’re a newborn or not yet born or if you're 100. I met so many people I didn’t know were heart survivors until I opened my mouth and said I was raising money for the AHA.

“他们一直保密, and next thing I know they’re opening up their shirts and showing me their scars.”

When her mother died, Debby amped up her fundraising efforts. She called the Beach Ride organizers to see how much money she’d need to raise to be the No. 她被告知，第一次筹款:7000美元. Debby being Debby, she set her goal at $10,000.

“I literally went up and down streets, knocking on doors,”她说。. “At that time, I was driving a school bus. A lot of people knew me because of that. Every out-of-town ballgame I drove through, I’d go through neighborhoods and knock on those doors.”

She raised $7,400, but another man raised more.

“他赢了一个马鞍, 他把它给了我, 就在大家面前, 在沙滩骑行颁奖典礼上,”她说。. “这些人真是太慷慨了.”

这, 郑重声明, is spoken by the person who has adopted her two step-grandchildren, 5 - 8岁, the younger of whom has leukemia; whose husband, 乔, was diagnosed with breast cancer and almost died three times last year; who cares not only for her horse, 一种叫Splash的油漆, 同时也是一匹救援马.

“God keeps me going,黛比说, who also works full-time as a truck driver. “Things happen in life and you can be either negative or positive. I just keep putting one foot in front of the other. I talk to God and keep going with my exercises and helping at the Beach Ride and this or that.”

She doesn’t have much time these days for a set workout regimen but stays fit hoisting hay, 打扫马厩, lifting the saddle onto Splash’s back and riding (which has helped her core tremendously). She focuses on eating a lot of protein and vegetables and limiting carbohydrates.

最初, her husband wasn’t on board with her health habits: He weighed 400 pounds when they met, and many of his meals consisted of sugary snacks and drinks. His cancer led to a 100-pound weight loss because he simply couldn’t eat; he now follows Debby’s way of eating – for himself and the children, so they can develop healthy habits as well.

“我感觉棒极了，”黛比说. “With the weight off, I have a lot more confidence riding. Knowing how much healthier I am now, I get to spread the word. I try to tell people everything I can that I’ve learned.”