by kelsey | Jul 16, 2015 | Exercise, Family, Heart Health, Weight Management, Wellness/Health
Two weeks are already down with the Park and Rec’s Riding the Recreational Trail Activity! This is another great opportunity to get some activity while enjoying our beautiful trail system! There are three weeks left of this activity, so be sure to take advantage of it! Details are below!
Details: Five different nights with bike rides on different parts of the Recreational Trail. Designed for the recreational bike rider in mind. The only things you will have to have is a bike and a helmet which will be mandatory. Ride one or all the nights. No registration required just be ready to ride at 6 p.m. sharp at the starting location for that week. There is no cost to participate.
Dates:
July 22-McKinley Park to Eastwoods Park and back
(meet at the Horseshoe Courts) (8.44 miles)
August 5– Eastwoods Park to Redlin Art Center and back
(meet by the playground) (5.6 miles)
August 12—Around the Lake Ride-start and finish at City Park
(meet by Veterans Memorial) (13.92 Miles)
Time: 6pm sharp each week.
Fee: FREE!
by kelsey | Jul 7, 2015 | Exercise, Family, Heart Health, Weight Management, Wellness/Health
Another great opportunity to get some activity while enjoying our beautiful trail system starts tomorrow, Wednesday, July 8th!
Details: Five different nights with bike rides on different parts of the Recreational Trail. Designed for the recreational bike rider in mind. The only things you will have to have is a bike and a helmet which will be mandatory. Ride one or all the nights. No registration required just be ready to ride at 6 p.m. sharp at the starting location for that week. There is no cost to participate.
Dates:
July 8-McKinley Park to Jackson Park and back
(meet at the Horseshoe Courts) (6.72 miles)
July 15-McKinley Park to City Park and back
(meet at the Horseshoe Courts) (8.12 miles)
July 22-McKinley Park to Eastwoods Park and back
(meet at the Horseshoe Courts) (8.44 miles)
August 5– Eastwoods Park to Redlin Art Center and back
(meet by the playground) (5.6 miles)
August 12—Around the Lake Ride-start and finish at City Park
(meet by Veterans Memorial) (13.92 Miles)
Time: 6pm sharp each week.
Fee: FREE!
For more details contact:
Jeremy Herrboldt
Adult/Senior Activities Coordinator
Watertown Park and Rec.
882-6260
by kelsey | Jun 9, 2015 | Etc., Exercise, Family, Heart Health, Motivation, Weight Management, Wellness/Health
The first outdoor walking club get together was a success! This is a great way to get out and enjoy the beautiful trail system while getting some activity! Be sure to check out the next get together this Friday Stokes-Thomas City Park (at the Veterans Memorial)!
When: Each Friday morning at 9:00 a.m. for around an hour each week.
Cost: Free of charge
We will walk at a comfortable pace, so come and join the social aspect of being outside with friends and getting some exercise.
Dates:
June 12 Stokes-Thomas City Park (at the Veterans Memorial)
June 19 Mt. Hope Cemetary (by the front entrance)
June 26 Redlin Art Center (by the front entrance)
July 3 No Walk Scheduled
July 10 Joy Ranch (parking lot near SE side of Main St.)
July 17 Jackson Park (in the parking lot across from Cattail Crossing)
July 24 Bramble Park Zoo (by the picnic shelter)
July 31 Eastwoods Park (by the playground)
August 7 Slumberland Disc Golf Course (in the parking lot)
August 14 Stokes-Thomas City Park (at the Veterans Memorial)
For more information call Jeremy @ 882-6260
by kelsey | May 28, 2015 | Exercise, Family, Heart Health, Weight Management, Wellness/Health
As a reminder, the Park and Rec’s Trail Challenge is currently underway! Jeremy Herrboldt, adult and senior activities coordinator with the Watertown Park and Rec developed a really great program that is new this year. The details are below and it starts May 1st and runs through September 30th. Be sure to get a log sheet from the Park and Rec and give this new challenge a try! You can get signed up by contacting Jeremy at 882-6260.
Watertown Recreational Trail Challenge NEW!
Ever wonder how many miles you have biked, run or walked on the Watertown Recreational Trail? Well this summer we want you to keep track and participate in the Watertown Recreational Trail Challenge. Starting May 1 you can stop at the Park and Rec. Fieldhouse and pick up a tracking sheet that also has the mileage chart for the Recreational Trail on it. Keep track of how many miles you bike, run or walk, then at the end of summer by September 30 just turn your tracking sheets back in and we will tabulate who the three people are who have biked, walked or run the most miles and those three will be recognized later in the month as the ones who put on the most miles on our beautiful trail system.
Dates: May 1-September 30
Fee: Free
Location: All miles must be on the Watertown Recreational Trail
by kelsey | Apr 15, 2015 | Heart Health, Weight Management, Wellness/Health
There are many different kinds of multivitamins and it’s hard to know which one is best for you. We always prefer you to get the vitamins and minerals from real food over supplements, so striving for a well balanced diet that is rich in fruits and vegetables, whole grains, low fat dairy, and lean proteins is the first step. If you are cutting calories to lose weight, you have a health condition that needs additional vitamins or minerals, or you just want to stay healthy and aid in disease prevention, a MVI may be for you. There are two types of vitamins: fat soluble and water soluble. Fat soluble vitamins include vitamins A, D, E, and K and can be stored in our bodies. Water soluble vitamins such as the B vitamins and vitamin C cannot be stored in the body, which means we can only store so much and when excess is consumed, they are excreted out. This concept is very important to understand as often times, you may be wasting your money on a supplement if you are already getting adequate amounts through your diet.
Deidra Van Gilder, Pharm D discusses vitamins in our STRIVE lectures and here is her take on the various kinds:
- Basic: contains essential vitamins from vitamin A to Zinc
- Women’s- more Calcium and Vitamin D to help support breast and bone health
- Men’s- more Lycopene for prostate health
- Silver (50+)- Supports eye health, bone health, and B vitamins for energy…Deidra recommends the Centrum Silver as an excellent one for this population.
- Prenatal- More folic acid, iron, and DHA (omega-3) to help support child growth
- Performance/Energy/Metabolism- Contain some herbals thought to help increase energy as well as extra B vitamins…be sure to ask your health care team about these before taking them as they may interact with your meds or contain extra caffeine.
- Cholesterol/Cardio- Contain phytosterols to help lower cholesterol
** Vitamins vary in the levels of vitamins/minerals they contain
** Look at the amount of calcium and vitamin D in each vitamin
** Some multivitamins don’t contain iron
** Grocery store generic vitamins are ok to buy
As you can see there are many different types of vitamins. Overall, we recommend just a basic multivitamin such as One a Day or Centrum Silver to help fill the gaps that your diet is not fulfilling (a multivitamin should NEVER replace real food included in a well balanced diet!). If you have a specific health need such as a woman being pregnant or you are over the age of 50, then you can take that specific vitamin to fit your needs. The supplement industry is not regulated by the FDA like prescription drugs are…thus it is essential to consult your health care provider before taking supplements to ensure it is appropriate for you.
-Kelsey
by kelsey | Mar 24, 2015 | Cooking Tips, Diabetes, Diet, Food, Heart Health, Weight Management, Wellness/Health
I couldn’t let the month of March slip away before celebrating one of the best parts of it: it’s National Nutrition Month! National Nutrition month is an annual event that reinforces the importance of developing healthy and balanced eating and activity habits. This year’s theme for National Nutrition Month is “Bite into a Healthy Lifestyle” which encourages all to develop habits of healthy eating and physical activity plans focused on eating less calories by making wise food choices and getting daily activity to help achieve a healthy weight and overall health, while reducing risk for disease. Fruits and vegetables are a great way to promote health and wellness while preventing disease. You all know this, but the doing it part, ie-eating 5 servings/day is typically missed and the majority are falling short in this area. To celebrate national nutrition month, I have included 20 ways to add fruits and veggies to your diet. This is something we all have to work at, including myself, so pick a few of these suggestions and give them a try! Strive to get 5/day along with a balanced intake of lean meats, whole grains, low fat dairy, and healthy fats. Balance, portion control, and moderation are keys to a healthy and successful diet!
1. Variety abounds when using vegetables as pizza topping. Try broccoli, spinach, green peppers, tomatoes, mushrooms and zucchini.
2. Mix up a breakfast smoothie made with low-fat milk, frozen strawberries and a banana.
3. Make a veggie wrap with roasted vegetables and low-fat cheese rolled in a whole-wheat tortilla.
4. Try crunchy vegetables instead of chips with your favorite low-fat salad dressing for dipping.
5. Grill colorful vegetable kabobs packed with tomatoes, green and red peppers, mushrooms and onions.
6. Add color to salads with baby carrots, grape tomatoes, spinach leaves or mandarin oranges.*
7. Keep cut vegetables handy for mid-afternoon snacks, side dishes, lunch box additions or a quick nibble while waiting for dinner. Ready-to-eat favorites: red, green or yellow peppers, broccoli or cauliflower florets, carrots, celery sticks, cucumbers, snap peas or whole radishes.
8. Place colorful fruit where everyone can easily grab something for a snack-on-the-run. Keep a bowl of fresh, just ripe whole fruit in the center of your kitchen or dining table.
9. Get saucy with fruit. Puree apples, berries, peaches or pears in a blender for a thick, sweet sauce on grilled or broiled seafood or poultry, or on pancakes, French toast or waffles.
10. Stuff an omelet with vegetables. Turn any omelet into a hearty meal with broccoli, squash, carrots, peppers, tomatoes or onions with low-fat sharp cheddar cheese.
11. “Sandwich” in fruits and vegetables. Add pizzazz to sandwiches with sliced pineapple, apple, peppers, cucumber and tomato as fillings.
12. Wake up to fruit. Make a habit of adding fruit to your morning oatmeal, ready-to-eat cereal, yogurt or toaster waffle.
13. Top a baked potato with beans and salsa or broccoli and low-fat cheese.
14. Microwave a cup of vegetable soup as a snack or with a sandwich for lunch.
15. Add grated, shredded or chopped vegetables such as zucchini, spinach and carrots to lasagna, meat loaf, mashed potatoes, pasta sauce and rice dishes.
16. Make fruit your dessert: Slice a banana lengthwise and top with a scoop of low-fat frozen yogurt. Sprinkle with a tablespoon of chopped nuts.
17. Stock your freezer with frozen vegetables to steam or stir-fry for a quick side dish.
18. Make your main dish a salad of dark, leafy greens and other colorful vegetables. Add chickpeas or edamame (fresh soybeans). Top with low-fat dressing.*
19. Fruit on the grill: Make kabobs with pineapple, peaches and banana. Grill on low heat until fruit is hot and slightly golden.
20. Dip: Whole wheat pita wedges in hummus, baked tortilla chips in salsa, strawberries or apple slices in low-fat yogurt, or graham crackers in applesauce.
http://www.eatright.org/nnm/handoutsandtipsheets/#.UyHnjs47Bw0
-Kelsey Raml, MS, RD, LN
