The sight of the falling of the beautifully coloured leaves, the bugling of the geese high up in the sky as they commence on their flight plan to warmer climates, turns our thoughts to the resumption of winter activities.
Activities in your repertoire might include bowling, curling, hockey, or education classes. But what about your personal goals for your own good health? Have you given any thought or taken any time to think just about you and how you can begin a journey to a more productive healthier lifestyle? If you think that the support or the infrastructure is not present in our rural communities, let's take a moment to contemplate your personal wishes and goals together with an assessment of the community support that is already present to help you to achieve success. You may be pleasantly surprised just as we were.
Recently, the members of the Lakeland Community Health Advisory Committee completed an inventory of services and infrastructures present that promoted and contributed to a healthier lifestyle in the communities of St. Walburg, Edam and Turtleford. They looked at services that aid in the goals of weight reduction, facilities, both indoor and outdoor, to address physical education and fitness in addition to educational programs that promote good nutrition and health that also include the cessation of smoking.
In all three communities, there is a rather comprehensive but varied network of good health related support. For supportive weight reduction, there is Weight Watchers, TOPS as well as informal groups of individuals who meet on a regular basis. They share ideas for calorie reduced but nutritious recipes that can and should be incorporated into everyday menu choices for all. The groups also promote physical fitness to augment not only weight reduction but achieving a level of well being. They all encourage and cheer each other on to become healthier by way of responsible lifestyle choices and our health care centers are visited by a nutritionist. Please contact the clinics for further information or to make an appointment.
The provision, and in some cases the motivation, to become more active in our daily lives was evident also in all three communities. There are privately owned gyms whose owners have invested wisely in equipment that accommodates both aerobic and strength training. Check these businesses out - you will find they are great! As an added bonus to your body becoming toned and conditioned is the feeling of mental well being with the increased production of serotonin. Schools in some of the communities are opening for walking groups to utilize before classes commence. There are beautiful walking trails, some equipped with park benches for those needing to stop for a rest. There are yoga classes, belly dancing, tae kwon doe, adult skating and curling as well as bowling and golfing facilities. Or just getting together with a friend or two to walk on a regular basis is a wonderful way to obtain exercise and increase sociability. Perhaps you have a busy schedule that does not afford the time to go to these functions or facilities. In that case, perhaps investing in some fitness equipment for your home or setting aside time to walk by yourself is also beneficial.
The most important message our members would like to communicate is that we all must take responsibility for our own health and well being and become the "best we can be." Check out what is available to help you in your community. To maintain good health, we must not only work with health professionals but practise on our own, good daily living habits. These include controlling our weight - watching what we eat as well as controlling the quantity, dedicating and committing to a regular fitness plan designed for our age and ability and making the lifestyle changes that removes smoking and eating junk food from our choices. In our daily living habits, only we can make the necessary changes that will result in healthier living.
Our health professionals are not magicians. While they can greatly aid in addressing our health challenges, they need us to cooperate to do our very personal best to make the responsible choices.
CHAN members encourage everyone to take the initiative that will enable each of us to make the changes and choices that ultimately result in "being the very best we can be." The old saying, "if this is to be, it must be up to me," really applies to setting good healthy lifestyles goals. Take your health and well being seriously and not at all for granted for, as we all know, our good fortune can run out. Good luck and our best to you.
