Tracey Tann Parker is busy! She is a full-time nurse in the coronary care unit of Beth Israel Medical Center and a part-time, dual-degree nursing and public health student at Hunter College. She found that getting healthy meant that she had way more energy!
Q: Have you noticed any differences in the way you feel after your lifestyle change?
Looking back, I was tired all the time. Now, I have a lot more energy and my step is a lot quicker. When I started school I had a suitcase on wheels that I carted my stuff around in. I remember in the beginning it was really hard for me to pull it. As the months went by, it got easier. I'm moving better, and other things are moving better, if you know what I'm saying (motioning to her stomach). I am able to sleep better now. I don't break out on my face as much as I used to. Before I changed my lifestyle, after walking up a flight of stairs I would feel short of breath-I don't have a problem with that anymore. Also, my blood pressure was borderline too high. There's a history of high blood pressure in my family and I was on the same path. My goal is to not take hypertensive medications-so far so good, but I came pretty close.