March 16, 2007, Angela Kubisky, 41, woke up with severe chest pain and extreme exhaustion. Recognizing these symptoms as possibly heart-related, she immediately hailed her husband to take her to the emergency room. Two days in the hospital and numerous tests later, her physician informed her she did not have a heart attack rather she was suffering from stress, a muscle strain in the chest, and all the side effects of being over weight. At 5 foot 1, Angela weighed in at 163 pounds.

“I was transitioning in my career and working long hours to take care of many important things, except for one - ME.” This heart scare prompted Angela to make major lifestyle changes. She began planning all of her meals and scheduling her exercise routine as if it were an appointment.

Angela is now 20 pounds lighter. She no longer measures her self-worth by her professional achievements. And she knows how lucky she is to be alive and not a statistic. According to the National Institutes of Health, over 500,000 women die each year from heart disease and the death rate in younger women under age 45 is on the rise.“ I had a wake-up call and I want to inspire others. I joined the Women’s Heart Foundation in this fight against heart disease in women, which is so tied to an unhealthy lifestyle. Together, we will win.”