Go Red Makeover Challenge

UW Health, in partnership with the American Heart Association, hosted the Go Red Makeover Challenge.

Three women from the greater Madison area - Amanda Frigge Ruplinger, Kathy Waters and Maria Torres - were selected to participate in a 12-week heart makeover.

Meet the participants and follow their journey in their own words on the Go Red Makeover Blog.

During the 12 weeks, the women participated in health assessments, and worked with a UW Health dietitian and exercise physiologist to establish lifelong habits for better heart health.

Mid-Point Check-in

Half way through the 12-week challenge, Amanda, Kathy and Maria meet with Vonda Shaw, MS, UW Health exercise physiologist, and Gail Underbakke, RD, MS, UW Health dietician to review their progress and identify ways they can continue to make improvements.

View a slideshow of the mid-point check-in

Heart-Healthy Eating

Amanda, Kathy and Maria came together for a number of educational opportunities to reinforce their new diet and exercise habits. UW Health dietitian Gail Underbakke took them on a grocery shopping tour, they dined at a local restaurant, and gathered together with Gail to prepare and enjoy a healthy meal together. As the women cooked their meal of pork tenderloin, four-grain rice pilaf, seasoned asparagus and blueberry cobbler with whole grain topping, they had fun and and learned some cooking tips along with more ways they could improve their health.

 Watch a video of the participants preparing their special meal

Recipes

Enjoy a heart-healthy meal of your own with these delicious recipes:

• Four grain pilaf
• Seasoned asparagus
• Fruit cobbler with whole grain topping