Susan Antalek Pagones lost her mother to heart disease when her mother was 57. Susan was just 31 and had two small children, who were used to seeing their grandmother regularly.

Today, Susan is 52 and it only just hit her that she is almost the same age as her mother when she died.

As many Beaconites know, Susan and her insurance firm Antalek & Moore are deeply committed to and involved in the community. As such, Susan had signed on to the leadership team for Go Red, an initiative from the American Heart Association. Not only that, she was accepted into the BetterU program, an intense fitness program based in education to improve heart health.

Susan will speak about her BetterU experience at the 2019 Dutchess-Ulster Go Red For Women Luncheon this Friday, November 8, 2019. Tickets are still available, and you’re invited! The keynote speaker is Mara Schiavocampo, a correspondent on Dr. Oz, who will speak about her heart-healthy changes after the birth of her first child.

ALBB: What has been your biggest takeaway thus far from the BetterU program?

Susan:

“It could happen to me. Until I was asked to be on the leadership team for Go Red, I never thought about this happening to me. Now I am four years away from the age my mother was when she passed. The BetterU program is a jump start to push me in the right direction to become heart-healthy.

“You have to commit to at least three times a week working out, but they give you a gym membership plus small group training so you can meet the others who are participating and have company at the gym.”

ALBB: Walk us through a workout at Golds Gym.

Susan:

“Once a week I have a private lesson with a trainer. Once a week I have small-group training with other participants to work out. Then I sign up for other classes offered at the gym or I just go and do my workout on my own. The personal trainer knows issues with me, my limitations etc. He right now knows we only have three weeks left, so yesterday he kicked my ass. 😊 Tonight I was going to do a workout on my own, but think I will go to the track instead.”

ALBB: Walk us through the Heart Healthy Meeting. What are they teaching you?

Susan:

“Once a week, the BetterU participants meet in some way. We have met at Adams to do a walk-around and look at healthy foods. We met one night at Essies in Poughkeepsie, where the chef let us in his kitchen and taught us how to cook healthy meals.

“We met in Poughkeepsie at a studio and had a class doing yoga. We have met with doctors to learn about healthy numbers. This week we are meeting with a nutritionist. Last week we met to discuss psychosocial approaches to a healthy heart (meditation, etc).”

ALBB: What are some new awarenesses you have about heart health and your life?

Susan:

“I guess I never really sat and thought about how EVERYTHING ties into healthy living. Food, exercise, stress, all parts of your body etc. How the mind can really play a role in this. Right down to how and where you eat your food. If you are sitting at a table with no distractions eating ice cream, you will enjoy it more because you are focusing on what you are eating, vs. you sitting in the dark on the couch watching TV and eating it. Your satisfaction is different, as your mind is not just focusing on the ice cream, but all other things around you.

“I have learned not to make excuses, but really take some time out for me. I have attended every seminar offered so far. I put it on my calendar. I have started to put a workout on my calendar so I have no excuse not to go.”

ALBB: Regarding your mother: did you see early warnings signs?

Susan:

“My mother did not have many warning signs. If she did, she was not educated to know what they meant.

“That is the true message I am trying to get out there. My mom was tired. She also started to have heartburn. These are warning signs that I am not sure we in this day and age would still associate with having heart disease.

“BUT if we start to take the time out more, eat healthy, have regular doctor appointments and not cheat ourselves, maybe, just maybe we can avoid any serious issues. I am looking at this as a proactive approach, not reactive. I still can turn my life around and take control; I am here and my mom is not. I am now her voice to advocate and educate.”

ALBB: Tell us about the lunch on November 8 - what can we expect if we go?

Susan:

“There is a great speaker and all the participants will be there wearing red!! There will be two personal speakers to give their story. One is the Pawenski family. They will show a video of their story. The other is myself speaking about my mom and her story.

“There is a “Personality” auction. Bags are donated which are filled with the personally of the person who has donated the bags. I know last year there were some Michael Kors bags filled with goodies. I am going to donate a bag filled with yarn, embroidery, etc and will give a lesson if wanted.

“Like I said, until I was asked to be on the committee, I did not realize how close I was to the age of my mom when she died. I actually said, ‘Oh shit!’ - really. I better stop and think about myself while I can. This is starting to become a passion in my life for my Mom - to advocate and educate.”

Learn More About The November 8 Lunch

You can learn more about the lunch here at this link. The lunch, which is a fundraiser for the American Heart Association, is on Friday, November 8, 2019, at the The Grandview, 176 Rinaldi Blvd., Poughkeepsie, NY. You can purchase tickets here.

Editorial Note: This article was sponsored by Susan Antalek Pagones of Antalek & Moore Insurance Agency. She is committed to getting the word out. Thank you for supporting businesses and individuals who support us.