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'You Just Have To Do The Best You Can'

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Published: December 6, 2008

Gina Stiles, 32, St. Petersburg

Goal: To quit smoking and become healthier overall, including losing weight

Why I did it: As director of marketing and public relations at the Tampa Bay Heart Institute, I see firsthand the negative effects that smoking and an unhealthy lifestyle can have. I decided to decrease what risks I could to avoid any of those scenarios. I also have a family history of heart disease and wanted to take action now while I could still reverse or avoid some of the damage.

My final straw for quitting smoking was a culmination of seeing a patient trying to climb stairs with oxygen, being in the catheterization lab and seeing open-heart surgeries.

I was also inspired by the cardiologists at the Tampa Bay Heart Institute after attending their community lectures on heart disease. No matter what the topic was, whether heart attack or vascular disease, the risk factors were always smoking and unhealthy eating habits with no cardiovascular exercise.

After attending lecture after lecture, the ramifications of smoking became clear. It affected things I didn't even think about, such as vascular disease. No matter the topic, from heart attack warning signs to peripheral vascular disease, the No. 1 risk factor was smoking. That information, and my experience seeing a patient struggling to climb the stairs with an oxygen tank, pushed me to make the change I knew had to be done.

How I did it: Quitting smoking was the first step. Seven months ago, I kicked a habit I had since the age of 14. At the time I was smoking almost one pack of cigarettes a day. I took Chantix a non-nicotine prescription medicine.

Quitting was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do in my life. The first two days were the hardest, but each day after that got a little easier. It's still hard to this day, seven months later, but I feel so much better and know I'm doing the right thing for my health. It took a couple of months before I felt I had "quit."

As soon as I did quit, I began to exercise as a distraction. I do cardio and weight training four to five days a week for about 1.5 hours at a time. The more progress I made, the better I felt physically. And I push myself more at the gym as I've gotten in better shape.

I increased other regular activity by taking the stairs, walking to the grocery store and parking farther away.

The exercise also encouraged better eating habits. I started to eat more protein, and even drink protein powder. My diet consists mainly of protein, vegetables, nuts and complex carbohydrates. I cut back on sodium and salty foods.

I also stopped eating out so much, and when I did eat out, I made sure to make healthy selections, such as choosing oil and vinegar as dressing for salads and asking for no oil or butter. I also eat throughout the day instead of big meals.

Since January 2007, I have lost 60 pounds through diet and exercise.

Hurdles: Quitting smoking was very challenging, even to this day. Other than trading cigarettes for lollipops, I just try to take things one day at a time. I know if I have an urge to smoke, it will pass and I need to focus on something else.

It's also important to try to avoid the behaviors that will trigger the urge, although that's not always possible. You just have to do the best you can and realize that your personal health is more important.

Going the distance: I've discovered that the benefits of exercise extend beyond weight loss. I feel great now and have loads of energy, and exercise is a great stress relief. Shopping for a whole new wardrobe is a strong motivator for keeping up with my fitness regime.

I also appreciate the fact that I don't smell like smoke, which I can now smell on other people. I've lost my smoker's cough, been able to stop taking my asthma medication, and have already improved my lung function by more than 10 percent.

Best advice: Eat smart, eat less and move more. And quit smoking! It's hard to do, but if I can do it, anyone can.

Keyword: Made It, to tell us about a personal fitness goal you have reached and how you accomplished it. Or send your story to mshedden@tampatrib.com or Mary Shedden, The Tampa Tribune, 200 S. Parker St., Tampa FL 33606.

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