Sharmila Melnychuck took the stairs two at a time at Tamarack Beach in Carlsbad. She will participate in the Cardiovascular Disease Foundation's 5 K Walk for Life.

Three years ago I was carrying around extra weight. While I meant to exercise, something always came up and I could never find the time. My schedule and hectic lifestyle remained very full and demanding while raising my two children.

Then my mother became chronically ill and was in and out of hospitals. A year later, my father had quintuple bypass surgery. As if a lead brick hit me, I realized once you lose your health it's hard to get it back.

At 45, I have now established a health and wellness business that I manage from my home. I exercise five days a week by walking the beach and lifting weights. I drink mostly water and only eat fresh foods. In addition to losing the extra pounds, I feel completely reenergized. To me health is everything. If you don't have it, you can't live life and enjoy it. All the money in the world won't give that back to you.

I have developed a passion for establishing good healthy habits early in life and to raise awareness about the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle. In February, I participate in the Cardiovascular Disease Foundation's annual 5K Walk for Life. In order to help fight childhood obesity, I support the foundation's Healthy Habits, Healthy Kids program and the Coalition on Children and Weight San Diego, by arranging lectures and distributing nutritional information to parents and families.

It makes me very sad to see people who are losing their health. Twenty percent of your health is determined by your genes; 80 percent is your lifestyle. That's a fact. It has been well-researched. There is something you can do. It's a choice.