Seasons. You might have heard the name.

And we’ve heard the question many times. But answering the question “What is it that you do at Seasons?” in one sentence is nearly impossible. So we’ll give you the top five answers instead.

Answer #1: Seasons offers wellness from head-to-toe.

It all began with the idea that wellness is all-inclusive. Upon moving to the area and opening his clinic in 2006, Dr. Nathan Goodyear, Seasons’ founding physician, desired to offer his patients more than just a visit to the doctor and a prescription. Instead, real solutions to the nagging health problems that seemed unsolvable was his goal. That six-year journey resulted in a center for wellness from head-to-toe.

Comprised of both Seasons Wellness Clinic and Seasons – The Spa, Seasons offers a range of services that promote healthy living based on 5 Points of Wellness: nutrition, hormone balance, detoxification, inflammation reduction, and exercise. Seasons is conveniently located off Farmerville Highway at 1809 Northpointe Lane in Suites 103 and 202, in the 2-story building behind Portico Bar & Grill.

Dr. Jackie White

Answer #2: Seasons provides leading-edge medical care based on the latest in science combined with the most natural approach possible.

Healthcare professionals, Dr. Nathan Goodyear, Dr. Jackie White, and Anna Stephens, WHNP, seek to provide the highest level of care for every client. Rather than a disease-focused approach, the healthcare team at Seasons strives to uncover the root cause of symptoms and conditions such as: abdominal fat, diabetes, difficulty losing weight, fatigue, headaches, high blood pressure, insulin resistance, joint pain, trouble sleeping, hot flashes, and many more.

The healthcare team begins with identifying your symptoms and, utilizing the most advanced diagnostic testing available, developing a wellness plan that will rid your body of toxins, recharge your energy, and reinvigorate your immune system. The result is elimination of the root cause of the myriad of symptoms and a return to a state of wellness. And when your body is functioning optimally, prevention and reversal of disease states is a by-product of that state of wellness.

The lobby of Seasons Wellness Clinic

Answer #3: Seasons offers specific health programs such as the Wellness Weight Loss Program and Athlete Wellness Program.

Each of these programs use advanced metabolic testing and a natural approach for optimal results in two specific client groups: those who want to lose weight and those who wish to increase their athletic performance in a healthy and natural way. Each program features an individualized approach and includes testing and treatment to achieve goals set at the beginning of the program.

Answer #4: Seasons serves as a beacon for healthy living in a state that ranks #2 in Unhealthiest States in America.

With a commitment to educate all of Louisiana about health and wellness, Seasons provides and shares the best, most scientifically accurate information available on a daily basis. Seasons has pioneered website and social media usage in the medical community. By developing a blog-based website before blogging was a household word, Seasons began building and gaining traction in the online world, and utilizes social media to share information that is dependable and has depth.

Join the online conversation about health and wellness. Read our blog, subscribe to our RSS feed, follow us on  Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest, and catch the latest Wellness Lifestyle Report or Nibble On This recipe in your inbox. You can sign up for the e-newsletter and link to all Seasons’ social sites on our homepage.

The lounge at Seasons - The Spa

Answer #5: Seasons – The Spa offers renewal and rejuvenation without the traffic of the big city.

Do you ever just want to “get away” without going far away? Maybe you need a pick-me-up, a lift-me-up, or a fix-me-up. Seasons – The Spa provides a big-city spa experience in rural and scenic north central Louisiana with a highly-skilled and highly-trained staff.

• Bethany Cox, LMT, provides services including massage therapy, reflexology, and Smooth Shapes, a cellulite reduction treatment.
• Skin care experts Lisa Best and Joy Smith offer services ranging from European facials to microdermabrasions to hair reduction and removal to hydradermie lift, a non-surgical face-lift.
• Anna Stephens, WHNP, specializes in skin rejuvenation services such as Botox, Artefill, and Juvederm. Anna’s great disposition makes clients feel at ease, insuring a comfortable skin rejuvenation experience. Seasons also offers back-door service for those who want a more private consultation. Please call the Spa to arrange back-door service at 318-255-1155.

Yoga Instructor, Ashley Moody

Seasons also boasts the only infrared sauna in the area and offers individual sessions as well as packages for clients desiring the proven health benefits of infrared sauna. Fitness classes include Yoga, featuring certified Yoga instructor Ashley Moody, and Fit4Baby, with local fitness specialist Maryanne Smith. Classes are available in packages at convenient times for any schedule. Sauna and fitness classes are free for Spa Members. For more information about Spa Membership, visit the Spa Membership page on our website or give us a call at 318-255-1155. Keep up with the latest Spa specials by signing up for our e-mail list on our home page. Quarterly Beauty Bonuses come to your inbox and feature discounts and special offers on services and packages.

So did that answer the big question about what is Seasons?

Seasons is health, wellness, relaxation, rejuvenation, education and a whole lot more. For more information or to schedule an appointment, give us a call at 318-255-3223 and speak with a customer relations specialist.

Sharon Jackson

I have been in the fitness business for 12 years. And the more I work with women, the more I find that a woman’s opinion of herself is the most common reason some succeed in their goals and others don’t.

Losing weight, eating healthy and exercising consistently are not  always easy. My experience has been that the women who have decided in their minds to lose weight are the most successful.

Your mind and spirit must be in agreement. This means the internal power that is inside drives you to do and be more than you thought possible! You must continually see yourself exactly how you want to feel and look.

Image created by Kirstin Pals

Remember you determine your success! Don’t be distracted by the obstacles that will definitely come your way. Obstacles are a part of life! Instead, keep your mind flowing with positive thoughts, and you can’t lose! Teach yourself to think like a champion!

About Sharon Jackson, PTS

Sharon Jackson is a Certified Medical Exercise Specialist & Certified Personal Trainer. In June 2008, Sharon Jackson founded Sharon’s Slammin’ Bootcamp. Her credentials include:

•  Bachelor of Science in Fitness and Wellness

•  Master of Science in Exercise Science Exercise

•  Exercise Physiologist in Physical Therapy for 15 years

•  Certified Personal Trainer by ‘National Strength and Conditioning Association’ for 10 years

•  Group Exercise Instructor

•  Certified Medical Exercise Specialist

•  Post Rehab Conditioning Specialist (American Academy of Health, Fitness and Rehab Professionals)

•  Pilates Mat Certification

Lauren Derveloy, Certified CrossFit Trainer and Seasons Customer Relations Specialist

Lately you are more likely to hear someone ask, “Are you on Pinterest?” than “Are you on Facebook?” or “Do you do Tweet?” But if you are new to the world of Pinterest, it is best described as a virtual pinboarding site that combines imagery bookmarking with the fun of social media. Users (or “pinners”) post images and links onto virtual pinboards and share visual ideas with other pinners. Share the things you love – whether that be health tips, things you want to make, or anything in between.

I love the idea of making “vision boards” with pictures of things that inspire you to live a healthier life. My pinboards include my favorite Paleo and low-fat recipes, fitness routines, inspiring images and quotes, and general wellness tips. While pinning, I have come across pinners whose pinboards provide a gold mine of healthy inspirations. I have compiled a list of these pinners to create my Top 10 Health Experts to Follow on Pinterest. Happy Pinning!

1. SeasonsWC:

   I love to follow Seasons because not only do they have great tips, recipes and links to informative posts, they also share skincare tips from their Aesthetician and news on the best beauty products.

   

2. Dr. Oz:

   His boards include fitness tips and recipes. My favorite pinboard is ‘Oz Approved Desserts’. Yum!

   

3. FitSugar:

   With 27 boards and counting, you are sure to find something you are interested in! They have a whole board dedicated to gluten-free recipes!

   

4. Whole Foods Market:

   Whole Foods’ pinboards include a range of interests related to the organic lifestyle including gardening, recycling and, of course, recipes.

   

5. Health Magazine:

   Their board dedicated to all things smoothie will undoubtedly compel you to blend a green smoothie for breakfast!

   

6. Eating Well Magazine:

   41 boards of RECIPES! Need I say more?

   

7. Shape Magazine:

   If you are looking for great abdominal workouts – Shape has you covered, follow their boards for inspiration and new things to try.

   

8. YouBeauty:

   Like Seasons, You Beauty believes beauty reflects your inner health. Some of my favorite pinboards from their Pinterest page include ‘Yoga’, ‘Makeup Articles’, ‘Favorite Fitness Articles’, and ‘DIY Beauty Treatments’.

   

9. Yoga Journal:

   Pull out your yoga mat! They have pinned everything you need to know about yoga including tips and videos to inspire you to de-stress and exercise more often.

   

10. Whole Living Magazine:

    The health, happiness, wellness, food, and green living magazine has a wide array of boards including ‘Crazy for Quinoa’ and ‘Healthy Chicken Recipes’.

    

At Seasons, we are dedicated to providing individualized treatment and improving your quality of life by providing the best complementary and integrative medical treatment available. Our hope? To transform lives, one patient at a time. Follow our pinboards for great information on health and wellness! Not on Pinterest? Follow this link to request a Pinterest invite.

This guest post was written by Seasons team member Lauren Derveloy, a Certified CrossFit Trainer and coach/choreographer for the LA Tech University’s Regal Blues. Lauren loves using Pinterest as a resource for inspiration and information in her pursuit of healthy living!

Maryanne Smith

I received my pre and post-natal fitness training after the birth of my first child. So for this pregnancy, I am excited to put into practice what I’ve learned about prenatal fitness.

As a fitness professional and mother-to-be, I’ve seen many raised eyebrows and confused looks as I’ve maintained my workouts and teaching schedule. After speaking to several expectant moms and visiting a few pregnancy websites, I’ve been surprised by the lack of information regarding prenatal exercise. There seems to be many conflicting recommendations that I would like to clear up for you.

My personal experience with exercise during this pregnancy has been very positive. I included the “….so far” caveat in the blog title because I am only about half-way through my pregnancy. I can honestly say that even during the depths of my morning sickness misery, a workout has ALWAYS  made me feel better. Seriously! Even if I felt like death and was having trouble keeping down water, I felt less nausea and lethargy during my day if I would get a workout in. There are many days when I definitely feel like I don’t have the energy to work out, but once I get started I have never regretted it. I have definitely gained weight at a slower rate than my first pregnancy and I haven’t had many of the aches and pains that I remember from before.

What I have learned from my previous pregnancy is that staying in shape and healthy nutrition is VITAL to a complication-free delivery and easy recovery (neither of which I was blessed with the first go ’round).  Three years ago when I was pregnant I definitely was “eating for two.” While I was very active before becoming pregnant, exhaustion, a busy teaching schedule, and stress led me to over-eating and inactivity while pregnant. I gained DOUBLE the recommended 25-30lbs of prenatal weight gain. I had a BIG baby. I experienced a grueling 30+ hour labor that eventually ended in a C-section. I had a difficult recovery and experienced mild postpartum depression, trouble with breast-feeding, and difficulty getting the pregnancy weight off. It’s amazing that I ever decided to get pregnant again!

Now I am armed with the knowledge that exercise and good nutrition are the keys to a healthy pregnancy and easier delivery. Childbirth is HARD, physical work! The early weeks with a new baby are no piece of cake either with sleep deprivation, lugging around a heavy infant carrier, feeding sessions, and delivery recovery. These experiences can be compared to running a marathon. Would you ever set off to run a marathon after laying on the couch eating girl scout cookies for nine months? No! You would train for it to set yourself up for success. That is my strategy for this pregnancy, setting myself up for success by keeping my body and mind in good condition for the big race that is to come in July 2012: welcoming baby #2 into our family!

More about Maryanne Smith

Maryanne Smith is a certified personal trainer who is also  nationally certified in pre and post-natal fitness. She is the franchise owner and instructor of Ruston Stroller Strides and Fit4Baby. She also teaches 5K training classes through Ruston Parks and Recreation, indoor cycling at Louisiana Tech’s Lambright Intramural Sports Complex, and Body Back which is an eight-week nutrition and fitness program for women.  Check out her blog at www.fitmomsruston.blogspot.com for more information.

Need inspiration? Information? Accountability? Join some of North Louisiana’s top physicians, nutritionists and personal trainers for the 2012 Healthy Woman Wellness Challenge. Each FREE session offers you the opportunity to accomplish your nutrition and fitness goals for the new year. The reward? A healthier you, goodies, door prizes, and much more! This year we have added a 30 minutes workout to the end of each session. So bring your water bottles and let’s get going!

Healthy Woman Wellness Challenge Session #1

The first session of the 2012 Healthy Woman Wellness Challenge will be held on Tuesday, January 10th from 5:30pm – 6:30 pm at the Lincoln Parish Library Community Room. We will be conducting optional weigh-ins and measurements at the end of each session so please come prepared to exercise and dress comfortably.

Our first session will include:

• Meal plans
• Strength workouts
• Recipes
• Time Management | Making time for yourself
• Prepping for our 5k run with Maryanne Smith
• Optional weigh-in and measurements (5 – 5:30 p.m. and 6:30 – 7 p.m.)

To register, you must first join our Healthy Woman program and then click the link to RSVP. Please note: you must RSVP for each session after you have joined.

Healthy Woman Wellness Challenge Session #2

Join us for the second session of the 2012 Healthy Woman Wellness Challenge on Tuesday January 24, 2012 from 5:30 PM to 6:30 at the Lincoln Parish Library Community Room. Don’t forget we will be exercising and doing weigh-ins at the end of this session. So, come prepared to workout and dress comfortably. You can still attend this event even if you are not participating in the Healthy Woman Wellness Challenge.

The focus for this session will be:

• “Knees, Knees, Knees!” | Orthopaedic Surgeon, Major Blair, M.D., will discuss ways to avoid injury while exercising.
• “Getting down to the basics: Nutrition” | Registered Dietician, Jessica Hood, RD, LDN, will give nutrition advice and tips on staying on track with your diet.

You must be a member of the Healthy Woman program to participate in this event. If you have not joined already, click here. Membership is free, and the benefits last a lifetime. You must RSVP for each session of the Healthy Woman Wellness Challenge that you would like to attend.

Healthy Woman Wellness Challenge Session #3

Our 3rd session of the 2012 Healthy Woman Wellness Challenge will take place on Tuesday February 7, 2012 from 5:30 PM to 6:30 at the Lincoln Parish Library Community Room. Don’t forget, we will be working out and breaking a sweat for the last 30 minutes of the session. We will also be doing weigh-ins and measurements. So, dress comfortable!

The focus for this session will be:

• “Hello, dont forget about your heart!” | Interventional Cardiologist, Michael Langiulli, M.D.
• Heart Health Recipe Fun

To join Healthy Woman or RSVP to this event, click here. Membership is free, and the benefits last a lifetime.

Healthy Woman Wellness Challenge Session #4

Session #4 will be our final session of the Healthy Woman Wellness Challenge. This session will take place on Tuesday February 21, 2012 from 5:30 PM to 6:30  at the Lincoln Parish Library Community Room. 

Our focus for this session will be:

• Staying on track… You CAN do it!
• Accountability = Stability

To RSVP for this session or to Join Healthy Woman, click here.

For more information about the sponsors of the 2012 Healthy Woman Wellness Challenge, please visit their websites.

• Northern Louisiana Medical Center 
• Body Back by Maryanne Smith  or on Facebook
• Seasons Wellness Clinic and Seasons – The Spa or on Facebook and Twitter
• Sharon Jackson’s Personal Training Services or on Facebook

Click here to see out photos from a previous Healthy Woman Wellness Challenge 5K!

Dr. Nathan Goodyear, fellowship-trained Metabolic Specialist

Obesity is described as the #1 health problem today. But what exactly is a health problem? I’d like to define it this way: a health problem is an obstacle to good health.

As I have said many times, obesity is the doorway to disease. Sixty-seven percent of Americans are either overweight or obese today. And for the first time, obesity exceeds those that are overweight. Approximately 34% of Americans are obese. Just think about that for a minute. What a hopeless statistic.

And the numbers, unfortunately, are not improving. Look at our children. More children battle obesity than ever before. The statistics in children is alarming, with up to 17% of children and adolescents being obese. Worse yet, this is a three-fold increase in just one generation.

Metabolic syndrome is in many ways the result of obesity. Metabolic syndrome, once only an adult disease, is now frequently diagnosed in children. As obesity goes, so goes metabolic syndrome. As metabolic syndrome goes, so goes disease. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome is 39.7% in moderately obese children and 49.7% in severely obese children.

All this to say, we, as a nation, need to lose weight. But we need to lose weight the right way. The reality is this: helping people lose weight is not difficult, but helping people to lose weight and maintain the weightloss proves to be very difficult. If it was so easy, everybody would do it.

Just look around us. There are weight loss “gimmicks” all over the place. According to the free dictionary, a gimmick is defined as “a device employed to cheat, deceive, or trick.” Gimmicks come in all forms: prepackaged meals, shakes, prescription drugs (Adipex, Xenical), HCG and even weight loss surgeries. All these gimmicks have in one thing in common – failure. Yes, they will help you lose some weight, but they fail miserably in the maintenance department. The short-term success of weightloss through gimmicks results in long-term failure due to a train-wrecked metabolism, making your long-term weight loss that much more difficult.

Let’s look at a few examples. Adipex is commonly prescribed drug that helps people lose weight. It is an amphetamine-like compound that speeds up the metabolism and suppresses the appetite. It works short-term, but without lifestyle change, rebound will occur. The rebound is worse as Adipex alters the body’s ability to lose weight through muscle loss and thyroid dysfunction. Oh, and did I forget to mention the addiction?

Let’s look at HCG. So if you take HCG, does that mean the cause of your obesity is a deficiency in HCG? Throw in the fact that the HCG diet consists of 500 calories daily. A diet of 500 calories daily will cause starvation and actually changes your thyroid metabolism, triggering a slowing of metabolism. So when you come off the HCG and the 500 calorie diet, rebound weight gain occurs. Who can maintain a 500 calorie diet anyway?

And the worst gimmick? Weight-loss surgeries. Let’s objectively think about this. What do the numbers say about weight loss surgery? A recent 10 year study of Lap Band, considered the safer weightloss surgery, revealed only a 42% weightloss maintained over 12 years with a quality-of-life scale unchanged. Let’s contrast that with the risks. Up to 50% of the patients required removal of their lap band with a repeat surgery risk at 60%, up to a third of the bands eroded, and over 40% encountered serious complications. Couple this with the bone loss seen in adults and children with weight loss surgery, and the question asked should be this: What are we doing to ourselves and our children?

Now that we’ve discussed the gimmicks, let me offer a solution: the Wellness Weight Loss program powered by Seasons.

Why “Wellness Weight Loss?” Our primary objective at Seasons is to provide solutions for you to be healthy and well! We don’t just want to help people lose weight.  We want to help people lose weight and keep it off. That is the only path to long-term health and wellness.

The definition of a successful weightloss program is not whether weightloss occurs: it is whether the weight-loss is maintained. One of the greatest obstacles to wellness is inflammation. Fat itself produces systemic inflammation. Fat cells trigger inflammatory signals, called cytokines. Fat cells have been shown to release the cytokines: TNF-alpha, IL-1, and IL-6. To reduce inflammation, one must lose weight.  Only through weight loss and long-term maintenance, can wellness be achieved.

 Why powered by Seasons? At Seasons, we want to glorify our creator in all that we do. To do that, we must look to His creation to find the answers. His creation is our bodies. His signature is our biochemistry. That should be where we are looking, because that is where the causes are.  And yes, there are always multiple causes. And no, a one size-fits-all approach doesn’t work. God created us to be unique and different. Our causes of weight gain will also be unique and different. And our solutions for weightloss need to be unique and different – customized for your particular metabolism and circumstances.

Wellness Weight Loss powered by Seasons follows the 5 Points of Wellness that we’ve established as our guidelines to achieving optimal health.

• Nutrition
• Exercise
• Hormone balance
• Inflammation
• Detoxification

These 5 Points of Wellness are the keys to proper metabolic functioning. They are God-created and they are the only means to long-term weightloss. Through the 5 Points of Wellness, a customized program is created to meet your exact metabolic dysfunctions.

Contrary to what you see today, healing can and does occur. But, healing only comes through our creator. To do that, we must look to His creation first, our bodies, for the means to achieve healing.

Why not glorify God in all that we do, including weightloss. Lose weight. Live well!