Frank Mullen's Story

In matters of the heart, none of us can afford to ignore our family history. I should have been more conscious of mine. Both of my parents died young, so, like many others, I am at high risk of suffering a heart attack.

Eleven years ago, my GP instructed me to have an angiogram. There was a problem, but it was my good fortune to get it resolved by the insertion of two coronary stents, before I had the heart attack. I quit smoking at that time, but was reluctant to make any of the other lifestyle changes necessary to stay healthy.

Last year, my GP referred me to the ‘Croí MyAction’ programme. I spent 12 weeks on the programme, undergoing a controlled exercise routine, getting advice about diet, and having a weekly weigh in. I have no doubt that this programme gave me the road map to a healthier lifestyle. It wasn’t that I learned anything new, but the weekly repetition and reinforcement of the various messages was very valuable. Perhaps the greatest value of the ‘Croí MyAction’ programme is that it is delivered with good humour and understanding by the dedicated staff of Croí.

One year on from the programme, my regular diet is more focused on fruit and vegetables than before. I have not given up anything, but I now eat red meat less frequently. I have also learned to choose foods that are low in fat, low in salt and not fried. And, I am happy to say that I continue to enjoy a few pints, or the odd glass of wine, most weekends. On the exercise front, I now consciously walk as much as possible. The net result of these few lifestyle adjustments is that I have maintained a weight loss I achieved during the programme. And I now feel much fitter and healthier than I did this time last year.

Frank Mullen,
March 2011.