What can you crack in 2008?

The Blog would like to wish all of our visitors and BHF supporters a heart healthy New Year for 2008!

To help you prepare for the next 12 months we've put together our ten best New Year resolutions here

All you need to do is choose one of them to stick to in 2008 - and then, when you've got that cracked, simply choose another!

And before you know it, you might well have all ten sorted. But one thing at a time eh?!

See you again in the New Year...

Stuff and nonsense?

Is it really true that the average Christmas dinner comes to nearly 7,000 calories? Well sadly it can do.

Even a modest slice of Christmas pudding can be as much as 329 calories while four small roast potatoes come to a whopping 400 calories.

And as for the humble cheese straw - just two can add up to 100 calories.

Now you might be thinking at this point we're about to spoil the party and tell you to cancel Christmas.

But no. Our top nutritionists have come up with some very tasty ideas that mean you can enjoy the festivities and stay healthy.

See our top tips for a healthier Christmas lunch.

Enjoy!

A big heart

We're always grateful to everyone who donates time or money to the BHF.

We know that each individual has a very personal reason for doing so.

So it's great when you share your stories with us - and in the case of one of our supporters - the world.

Take a look at this YouTube video and see why one supporter chose the BHF.

A big thank you to our YouTube star.

Still not feeling very Christmassey?

Take a look at more wonderful footage of our festive fundraising BHF Santa Jogs, this time in Cardiff, from our colleagues at ITV Wales.

A very big "thank you" from the BHF to everyone who took part in this year's events.

A healthy winner

A few weeks back we wrote about Connect2, a project supported by the BHF to overcome the everyday barriers people face when they try to walk or cycle anywhere.

Connect2, launched by the transport campaign group Sustrans, was shortlisted for the Big Lottery Fund's The People's £50 Million Contest, and last night it won the top prize.

So well done to Connect2 and Sustrans, and thanks to everyone who voted for them, including we hope quite a few BHF supporters and blog readers.

Here's the verdict of our Policy Manager Steve Shaffelburg: "Connect2, with its emphasis on overcoming barriers to walking and cycling, will make a positive impact on the lives of millions of people on an almost daily basis.

"With physical inactivity being one of the major modifiable risk factors for heart disease, the BHF believes these innovative projects have the potential to improve the nation's heart health.

"Their impact will be felt not just by those who live today but by those who will live tomorrow."

From capital to coast...

Our most popular event of the year - in fact the most popular cycling event to be found anywhere in Europe - is the BHF London to Brighton Bike Ride.

Next year's Ride takes place on Sunday 15 June, and if you'd like to join more than 20,000 cyclists on the 56-mile journey from the capital to the coast, you can download an entry form now from the main BHF website

Hidden treasures, part one

Today we thought we'd start a new series called (something along the lines of) 'Bits of the BHF Website You May Not Have Seen Before'. We'll try and come up with a catchier title, but it'll do for now.

First up is a wonderful game which forms part of our new yheart website for teenagers - only we don't think you necessarily have to be a teenager to enjoy playing it.

It's called Circul8r (pictured above), and the general idea is that you are the pilot of a space ship which has been shrunk in order to travel through the blood vessels of the human body, collecting oxygen and destroying invaders.

Oh, and if you have speakers don't forget to turn them on. The game has a very groovy space-style soundtrack, a bit like Star Trek meets the Arctic Monkeys. Enjoy!

Poor cardiac rehab services in the news...

Our Cardiac Rehab Campaign - which last week featured the BHF's first ever political protest at Westminster - hit the headlines at the weekend.

BBC News featured the story of 49-year-old David Lamb (above) from south Wales, who was offered cardiac rehab after he suffered two heart attacks but attended just one session because he felt the service was so poor.

David's tale is a stark reminder of the "postcode lottery" of national cardiac rehab services which we are currently campaigning against. We believe everyone deserves the same adequate level of provision. You can read more about David's experience now on the BBC News website

Our most popular Publications

We recently promised you a full list of our current most popular BHF Publications, most of which are available to download from our website or order through the post from us.

Well, we've finished compiling and producing it now, so without further ado why not check it out on the main BHF website

The list has been split into core subjects - such as Living With Heart Conditions, Healthy Eating and Risk Factors - so we hope it's much easier to find what you're looking for.

Getting help starts here

Our Heart Help Line provides wonderful information on heart health matters. To enhance our service we've teamed up with another great information service, StartHere

The service covers a broad range of issues, including health, caring, families, education, employment and welfare rights.

Select your topic and and you'll get a brief summary with links to national organisations, most of whom provide free services.

So what ever your concern, we hope our new partnership means you can find help quickly and simply.

The BHF gets political

Ruairi O'Connor, our Public Affairs Manager, reports from today's Cardiac Rehab Rally - our first ever political protest...
"What do you think is the NHS’ best kept secret? We think its cardiac rehabilitation, which can make a massive difference in helping heart patients recover and can save the NHS money, as patients who receive it are less likely to go back to hospital.

But many heart patients aren’t getting it…and many are getting angry.

Over 60 heart patients and health professionals (pictured) descended on Westminster to ask their local MPs to put more money into cardiac rehab. One patient showed his commitment by travelling down all the way from Berwick-on-Tweed – a 600 mile round trip!

Most campaigners managed to bend the ears of their MPs and we expect to see real progress in Westminster (and in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland as campaign work is rolled out there).

I was asked in a radio interview yesterday to name a song title that sums up the issue. How about “What becomes of the broken hearted”? Any other ideas?"

Don't join the flock

Here's an interesting fact - 44% of UK shoppers will buy a Christmas gift online this year.

If you were on a high street at the weekend you'll know why - you may be feeling a little sheepish now.

So can we suggest you rest your sharp elbows by a keyboard and browse the great selection of seasonal gifts we have in our Online Shop

If you're looking for something that won't disappoint why not purchase one of our virtual gifts and help fund our life saving research

It really is the baa..st way to shop this Christmas.

Do try this at home...

It's 40 years today since surgeons performed the first heart transplant operation in South Africa.

And since that momentous day, 5,328 heart transplants have been carried out in the UK.

Well now how about trying out this life saving surgery for yourself - on our newly launched yheart.net website for teenagers.

Even if you don't have a steady hand, there's a virtual team of surgeons to guide you through this and other heart operation games.

You can also find out more about heart transplants and get a list of useful organisations
on our main BHF site