Biogenics: A course for the rest of my life

Hi Beth,
  Yesterday I received great news from the doctor. My heart looks "supberb."  That was his word.  I have 50% ejection fraction, which means that my heart is pumping the volume of blood equivalent to 50% of it's capacity.  When I started this healing journey in April, it was at 23%.  

   The doctor was clear that the rest regimen that got me this far is not the strengthening regimen that is needed now. The heart muscle needs to be built up again and the only way to do that is through exercise.  So, my "prescription" is cardiac rehab for at least 3 months.  Then, after that a life-style change for the long-term that focuses on prevention.

In my head, I see my healing in these three stages, rest, strength and prevention and, of course, I'm giving myself grades.  

I give myself an B+ for stage 1- Rest.  I would have earned an A but I have to take off points for walking the dog and then not having strength to walk home.  Luckily I had my phone and so I sat on the asphalt until help arrived. 

I'm in stage 2, Strengthening, right now. It is too early in the course to assign grades, but I am starting off strong with cardiac rehab and a commitment to exercise for at least  30 minutes 6 days per week- 3 days at Rehab and the other 3 with William.  Since my doctor won't release me to return to work until cardiac rehab has been completed, I now have an entire semester to devote to finishing this stage and beginning the hardest course of all, Prevention.

You are helping me with stage 3.   Prevention is hard because I'm not quite sure how to do it.  Had it been a regular heart attack, the prevention plan was to basically do what I was already doing. eat a healthy diet, exercise, get plenty of rest, meditate.  But how do you prevent emotional stress?  Especially when being stressed means being busy and being busy means being productive and being productive means being useful and being useful means being important.  I don't know how to NOT be stressed!

Which is why I so need this class. 

Although, this course is still being developed,  I do have a preliminary textbook-90 Days To Self-Health  by C.Noman Shealy, MD. On the cover is this claim "Biogenics: How to control all types of stress through a compete health program of auto-genics, diet, vitamins and exercise." I am now in day 3 of the 90 days.  The focus is on relaxation periods through-out the day.  The approach looks promising.

So, I am hopeful that I will make a complete life-style change in this course. I would consider myself a good candidate to pass the course with a good grade.  I have time to devote myself fully to this class. I am a highly motivated student because failure in this course  would have serious effects on my future (i.e another heart reboot!).  Finally, I am hopeful because I have you, my study partner.