“I
didn’t know that my lifestyle and the way I thought about
my health would be dramatically changed with one photo shoot,” states
professional photographer Bruce Challgren. “Seeing and hearing
about the HiTECH Heart gave me the nudge I needed to get
me on my way to a heart-healthy lifestyle.”
Bruce, a freelance and part-time staff photographer at the
Bakken Museum in Minneapolis, was documenting their Family
Science Saturday theme called “The Electric Heart” in February
of 2004. One of the interactive displays at the museum that
day was the HiTECH Heart. “I recall the health educator showing
the kids test tubes full of white ‘gunk,’
which represented how much fat was in various food items,
the sodium content, and sugar levels. That really made an
impact on me. It was from that point forward that I made
a conscious decision to fight what genetics had doled out
for me.”
Bruce had already begun investigating his family history
for heart disease. His father had a heart attack and his
grandfather died of coronary artery disease at age 80. His
grandmother lived to the age of 99 with the assistance of
a pacemaker… and walking everyday! “I knew there was something
to this watching what you eat and exercising equation. Each
year I photograph the finish line at the Twin Cities Marathon,
where I witness dedicated souls finishing – or nearly finishing,
the race. I catch their energy through my lens, which inspires
me to at least make myself walk around the lake.” But Bruce
does more exercising these days than just walking around
the lake. He has it timed to a brisk 55 minutes of walking
daily or at least every other day. He started swimming again
and also participates in yoga.
“The greatest challenge for me, however, was changing my
diet. I used to wake up in the morning and fry my eggs in
olive oil, because I had heard olive oil was good for you.
It really de-energized me. I was tired – and got tired of
it.” Stopping with the fried eggs was just the beginning.
Bruce got online and found a list comprised by Dr. Andrew
Weil of “good” and “not so good” foods. “I went through the
list and put a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ by each item. Now, when I shop
or am hungry for a snack, I refer to my list and stick to
it. I used to love to grill hamburgers. I can’t tell you
the last time I’ve had one!”
Bruce is also a firm believer in using flax seed and cod
liver oil. His life-choice habits are also influencing other
family members. “I asked mom ‘do you want to live to eat
or eat to live?’ I guess it made her think about it as she
recently made a bean dish for the first time without bacon!”
And what benefits has Bruce achieved through his on-going
efforts? “The reward has been I feel much better. I have
more energy in the morning and sustained energy throughout
the day. I’ve lost 20 pounds in a short time span and have
been able to keep the weight off. People comment to me that
I look great! My life is now as ‘in focus’ as my photography
work!”
