Dr. Nathan Goodyear, Overseeing Physician at Seasons Wellness Clinic

“What is Seasons? And what do you do?”

These are questions I am often asked. In short, Seasons breaks free from the disease model of medicine. Our focus is wellness by optimizing your health. What does this mean? Just because you are free of disease does not mean you have great health. A wellness model of medicine is the only way to prevent disease and promote healthy living.

At Seasons, we work to achieve health and wellness with balance using our 5 Points of Wellness: Nutrition, Exercise, Hormones, Inflammation, and Detoxification.

NUTRITION
Are nutrition and health related? Absolutely. We are what we eat. Hippocrates said it best, “Let food be your medicine and medicine be your food.” Your diet must be individualized to meet your metabolic needs, limit inflammatory responses, and meet your lifestyle demands.

We offer personalized nutritional counseling to develop a plan for disease management, disease prevention, and overall good health. At Seasons, your nutritional plan is individualized to meet your needs in a way that fits your lifestyle.

EXERCISE
Exercise is an important part of any weight-loss or weight-maintenance program. Maintaining healthy weight is an excellent benefit of exercise, but it does so much more for your body. Exercise builds muscle, relieves stress, and helps to detoxify, just to name a few. However, too much exercise can severely harm the body.

At Seasons, we work to maximize your calorie expenditure, while reducing the damage to your body from excessive exercise. We do this in a way to match your lifestyle and your physical abilities.

Valerie Costanza, RD will develop a nutritional plan that is created to meet your individual needs in a way that fits your lifestyle.

HORMONES
Regardless of your age, your body needs hormones to function. Hormones are a means of communication with your body. And balance of those hormones is the key. Sure, it would be great if men were just a Testosterone sponge; or women just an Estrogen factory. But, that is not the case and the key is to create a balance. When your hormones are balanced, so are you. When your hormones are not balanced, your body will let you know.

Your hormone balance is unique and will change based on factors such as weight loss, weight gain, stress, and even nutrition. The only way to determine your imbalance is to share any symptoms you may be having with your healthcare team at Seasons. This gives us information on where to look for hormone imbalance issues. Only then can we identify your particular imbalance and formulate a plan to balance your hormones. Balanced hormones = better health.

INFLAMMATION
Inflammation is the greatest obstacle to good health and is a part of the body’s immune system signaling department. Pain, redness, swelling, heat, and loss of function are common manifestations of inflammation. Inflammation is not new. The first four classical signs were described by Celsus (30 BC – 38 AD).

The source of inflammation is unique to each person. It may be due to deficiencies, such as vitamin D, poor dietary intake of antioxidants, such as resveratrol and curcumin, or even a deficiency of fish (low Omega-3 intake leads to inflammation). Your gut could also be the source of inflammation! Did you know that up to 75% of your immune system lines your gut? In many ways, your health starts with your gut.

The source of inflammation is as different as the individual. The only way to identify your unique source of inflammation is through symptom evaluation and state-of-the-art testing. At Seasons we can identify the causes of inflammation and implement specific therapy to eliminate inflammation, which can be as diverse as parasite treatment to dietary changes.

DETOXIFICATION
We live in a toxic world today. There is no way around that! According to a recent study, detectable levels of toxins were found in up to 99% of pregnant women even though many of these chemicals have been banned since the early 1970’s. This number will only rise with the approximately 1,800 new chemicals approved annually. This tidal wave of toxins are overwhelming our detoxifications systems proven by the exponential rise in rates of autism spectrum disorder and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and Multiple Sclerosis.

The ability to detoxify is critical to health. Every cell must detoxify. At Seasons, we evaluate your individual ability to detoxify with state-of-the-art testing and treat those areas that are dysfunctional. We focus on your major detox organs — liver, skin, kidneys, lymphatics, and GI tract — through which every cell in the body must detoxify. We provide a detoxification plan to meet your specific toxic load and to support your identified needs.

WHAT NEXT?
At Seasons, we offer individualized therapy to aggressively eliminate the obstacles to good health and maximize your body’s performance. We are not your disease doctor, we are your partners in health. We work to restore your health and then maintain that good health.

As Aristotle said, “The whole is more than the sum of its parts.” And at Seasons, our holistic approach encompasses all the body’s functions creating one plan giving you the tools you need to pursue wellness.

Questions? Spend some time on our website getting to know us and what we do. Then call 318.255.3223 and speak with one of our Patient Relations Specialists. Remember, good health is a choice. And at Seasons, we offer you that opportunity. Don’t miss your opportunity to choose a health and wellness lifestyle.

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? Really, whose cause of obesity is an HCG deficiency? 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!

Image by Christi Nielsen via Flickr

The following guest post was written by Dr. Joseph A. Debé,  a graduate of Southern California University of Health Sciences. He is a Chiropractor with Board Certification in Nutrition, a licensed Certified Dietitian-Nutritionist, as well as a Certified Chiropractic Sports Practitioner. You can read more of Dr. Debé’s posts at www.drdebe.com.

Most individuals embarking upon a weight-loss program set a goal to lose a certain number of pounds. They often become obsessed with checking their progress on the bathroom scale. Although a change in body weight is of importance, it is really very incomplete data. The issue is that the scale does not tell you what type of body tissue you are losing or gaining. It is very common for people to think they are achieving a desirable result in losing weight when in fact they are losing lean, healthy tissue and not fat. It is also very possible to see no change on the bathroom scale as your body is simultaneously building lean, healthy tissue and burning fat.

The numbers people should be concerned with are those concerning their body composition rather than body weight. There are a number of methods available to measure body composition including dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA), radioisotope dilution, and computerized tomography scanning. These methods are not readily available, however. The more commonly used techniques include hydrostatic (underwater) weighing, skinfold testing, near-infrared interactance, bioelectrical impedance, girth or circumference measurements, and body mass index (weight divided by height squared). Of these methods, under-water weighing was long considered the gold standard. In the last couple of years, a company called RJL Systems has developed advanced computer software, based on DEXA, for use with their bioelectrical impedance analyzer. This system is more accurate and reproducible than underwater weighing. What’s more, it gives additional extremely valuable information not available with the other techniques.

Bioelectrical impedance analysis works in the following way. The subject lies down on a flat surface and has electrodes attached to the wrist and ankle of their dominant side. A device is attached to the electrodes, which sends a very weak electrical current through the body (nothing is felt). The device measures the voltage drop of this current and yields two measurements: resistance and reactance. The values for resistance and reactance are entered into a computer program along with the subject’s height and weight. Mathematical analysis of these data yields the body composition measurements.

Electrical resistance is a measure of ability to conduct an electrical current. A good conductor has low resistance. The extracellular water (ECW) or fluid found outside the body cells, in combination with electrolytes, is the main conductor of the body. Fat, which has a low water content, has a high resistance. The resistance value is used to give a measure of the extracellular volume of the body.

Electrical reactance is an indication of capacitance – the ability of the body cells to store an electrical charge. Reactance is directly proportional to intracellular volume.

All other commonly available methods of measuring body composition divide tissue into two compartments: fat and fat-free mass (FFM). This is valuable information. However, the RJL Fluid and Nutrition Analysis takes things one step further. Not only does it measure fat and fat-free mass, but it further sub-divides fat-free mass into the compartments of body cell mass (BCM) and extracellular tissue (ECT). Measures of total body water (TBW), extracellular water (ECW), intracellular water (ICW), and phase angle are also made. Also, an estimate of basal metabolic rate is given. Now, let’s see what all this means and how it is of value to people trying to lose weight, bodybuilders, endurance athletes, individuals on detoxification or anti-aging programs, and the acutely and chronically ill.

Body cell mass (BCM) is one of the most important values obtained with this testing. BCM is the measure (given in pounds and as a percentage of body weight) of all the living metabolically active tissue in the body – muscle, organ, and blood cells. Contained within BCM are all the body’s intracellular water (ICW), and proteins and other solids. With serial testing, a change in body cell mass is due primarily to a change in muscle mass. Changes in BCM can be picked up within 72 hours. Increases in BCM equate with anabolism – the process of converting food into living tissue. Decreases in BCM are involved in catabolic (breaking down) processes. BCM is the tissue that is consumed (with negative consequences) in illness, disease, aging, under-nutrition, and athletic overtraining. Decreasing BCM from any cause leads to weakened immunity, failure to thrive, and eventually death.

In the early stages of catabolism, there is no change in fat-free mass (FFM) as healthy cells break down and BCM becomes extracellular tissue (ECT). The other methods of body composition analysis that measure only FFM are insensitive to these changes. The RJL system, by dividing FFM into BCM and ECT, can detect catabolism in the earliest stages and allow for early intervention and a more successful outcome. Decreases in BCM have been measured in asymptomatic HIV patients when other methods of analysis yielded normal values. Maintaining BCM can prolong survival in AIDS patients.

Another important application of BCM measurement is in weight loss programs. It is critical to track BCM during weight loss so that lifestyle changes can be made, if necessary, before damage is done. With improper weight loss programs, BCM decreases and the body’s set point (resting energy requirements) is reduced. The body will then store fat more easily. BCM measurements are also invaluable to the bodybuilder. Increasing BCM means muscle is being built, decreasing BCM means muscle is being broken down, regardless of what the bathroom scale implies. A normal value for BCM may range from 30% to 55% of body weight.

Intracellular water (ICW) is the potassium based fluid volume located in the BCM. Extracellular water (ECW) is the sodium based fluid volume located in the extracellular tissue (ECT). ECT is also made up of proteins and other solids and includes such tissues as the tendons, skin, bones, and other connective tissues. ECW is located between the cells, within blood vessels, and other spaces such as the intestines. ECW and ICW are measured in liters and expressed as percentages of total body water. Normal values for ICW range from 41% to 70%. Normal values for ECW range from 29% to 61%.

Changes in ICW mirror changes in BCM, and changes in ECW reflect changes in ECT. The balance between ICW and ECW indicate whether the body is in an anabolic or catabolic state. Sarcopenia, the loss of lean body mass that occurs with aging, can be seen in decreasing ICW and increasing ECW values.

Hydration is critical to the metabolic performance of the muscle cell. According to Haussinger, et al, from the May 22, 1993 issue of The Lancet, “An increase in cellular hydration (swelling) acts as an anabolic proliferative signal, whereas cell shrinkage is catabolic and anti-proliferative. Cellular hydration state is mainly determined by the activity of ion and substrate transport systems in the plasma membrane.” Hormones, anabolic steroids, cytokines, free radicals, chemotherapeutic and other drugs, amino acids and creatine monohydrate are among the compounds that influence ICW.

TBW, ECW, and ICW can reveal dehydration, water retention, and effectiveness of treatment in correcting these conditions. Fluid changes usually occur first in the ECW. For example, in dehydration the ICW only begins to decrease after there has been significant depletion of ECW. Importantly, the RJL system can be used to measure hydration status in endurance athletes, as a small loss of body water can adversely affect performance.

Another valuable bit of data produced by this system is the phase angle, which is a mathematical relationship between resistance and reactance. The phase angle is an indication of the health of the body cell membranes. With ill health the cell membrane fails, allowing leakage of the cell’s contents. With a decrease in the number of the body’s cells the reactance and phase angle both decrease. The higher the phase angle the greater the state of health and fitness. As health improves, so does the phase angle. The normal range for the phase angle is 4° to 12°. A study of patients with congestive heart failure found altered reactance, suggesting a change in cell membrane permeability. These values improved with treatment. Other studies have found the phase angle to very accurately predict disease progression in AIDS patients. The lower the phase angle the worse the prognosis.

The RJL Fluid and Nutrition Analysis system is used in hospital settings to monitor patients with a wide variety of conditions. Its breadth of information, accuracy, and repeatability allow for early intervention and improved outcome with patients suffering: burns, cancer, edema-dependent hypertension, AIDS, congestive heart failure, pulmonary edema, kidney disease, blood infection, and post-surgery.

In addition to giving important information on anabolic/catabolic states and the nature of tissue and fluid change to dieters, bodybuilders, and endurance athletes, the RJL system is extremely valuable to individuals engaged in metabolic detoxification programs. My own personal experience is a good example. I was tested with the RJL system immediately before starting and one week into a detoxification program. In that one week, I lost six pounds of body weight. Importantly, my BCM did not change; indicating that I was not in a catabolic state which can be a concern on this type of program. Three and a half pounds of my weight loss were in the form of fat. I lost a liter of body fluid, with all of it coming from the ECW compartment, none from ICW. This was probably due to the fact that the first place the body stores toxins is where they will do the least harm – in the ECW. As my body excreted toxins, there was less of a demand to retain ECW to dilute them. The week of detoxification also resulted in an increase in my phase angle, indicating improved health.

Testing with the RJL system is fast, safe, inexpensive, and non-invasive. I recommend for people to be tested at intervals of about 4 to 6 weeks for general purposes. In cases of illness or intense dietary and activity changes, testing can be performed once per week or more often.

Dr. Joseph A. Debé

www.drdebe.com

Tip #4 - Catching some Zzz's

During your pregnancy you may find yourself bombarded with advice. Everyone from your doctor to the stranger at the grocery store offers their version of “should” and “shouldn’t do’s”.

To cut down on the confusion, we’ve made this list for you. Since we know a thing or two about pregnancy (3 Seasons team members are expecting) and wellness (I mean c’mon, it’s what we do!), we have put the two together to bring you our Top 10 Pregnancy Tips.

10 Reflexology

During pregnancy, a woman’s body goes through series of hormonal changes which can cause her to feel nauseous. This nausea can last until week 16 of pregnancy – or sometimes even longer. Facial and Foot Reflexology is a form of therapy which helps accommodate the body’s changing state during pregnancy by using pressure point therapy. Seasons is one of the only clinics in Louisiana to offer Facial Reflexology.

9 Prenatal Massage

Taking time for yourself during pregnancy can be very important to your physical and emotional state. The soothing essence of massage allows expectant mothers to feel serene, healthy, and comforted while helping to relieve common ailments of pregnancy.

8 B-12 + Folic Acid Sprayology

Sprayology makes homeopathic products that provide therapeutic benefits – symptom relief, metabolic support, immune system maintenance, and detoxification – through a spray. A spray? Yes, how cool is that?! Even with the memory fog that can come with some pregnancy, you can still remember to spray your vitamins!

7 FIT4BABY Prenatal Fitness Class

Pregnancy is the perfect time to commit to you and your baby’s health! Fit4Baby is a prenatal fitness program created to safely and effectively teach women in any stage of their pregnancy to exercise. Instructor and Ruston mom, Maryanne Smith, is nationally certified in pre- and post-natal fitness. Classes include warm-up, strength training, cardio, stretching, and balance exercises and are held at 6pm each Monday in the Resource Room of Seasons – The Spa. For more information about classes, click here.

6 DHA Prenatal Vitamins

Prenatal vitamins are specially formulated multivitamins that make up for nutritional deficiencies in the mother’s diet. It is very important to take your vitamins daily to make sure your baby is getting the vitamins he or she needs. Our advice: buy the best quality prenatal vitamins, avoid nausea by taking them with a little food, and don’t let anyone talk you into taking Flintstone vitamins instead of prenatal vitamins! Your body doesn’t need the added sugar!

5 Guinot Stretch Mark Cream

Let’s face it, stretch marks are not pretty. Whether you are trying to avoid them or trying to minimize the look of the ones you already have, we have found the product for you! The rich, non-oily formula penetrates rapidly to nourish and repair skin. Skin’s elasticity and firmness is reinforced as support tissues are repaired and protected. You don’t have to go all the way to Europe to get this fabulous product, Guinot’s Stretch Mark Cream (or Crème Spécifique Vergetures as they say in France) is available at Seasons – The Spa.

4 Sleep

It is common to be tired during pregnancy so don’t feel guilty for sleeping more than normal. Sufficient sleep is an essential element for healthy fetal development and the well-being of expectant mothers. So sleep in and take your naps – this is one of the ‘pregnancy perks’!

3 Stay Hydrated

The American Pregnancy Association states that water during pregnancy is important to help increase blood volume and to assist in removing waste from the body. Dehydration can lead to miscarriage, preterm labor, constipation and fatigue. The recommended daily amount of water intake is a minimum of 64 oz. Drink, drink, drink!

2 Aromatherapy Facial

With all the joy of pregnancy comes some things that are, well, not so pleasant. Be sure to pamper yourself during pregnancy. You deserve it! The Aromatic Facial at Seasons The Spa is an all natural facial using essential oils and plant extracts. This “green facial” provides the “glow” without the chemicals that your body doesn’t need during this important time.

1 Nutritional Planning for Expectant Mothers

Pregnancy is a key time to nourish you and your baby’s body. Make sure you are giving your baby everything he or she needs by receiving personalized nutritional counseling. Registered Dietitian Valerie Costanza can help create a balanced diet that will benefit you and your baby during pregnancy. As a new mother, Valerie has lots of good information about getting the best nutrients into your diet while not giving up the stuff you crave. (She also posts monthly nutritional tips and recipes on our blog under ‘Nibble On This‘.)

Dr. Goodyear and the entire Seasons Team are here to assist you in your journey to wellness – whether you are a mom-to-be or just want to feel better. If you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment, please call us! Seasons Wellness Clinic 318.255.3223 or Seasons – The Spa at 318.255.1155.

Elizabeth Haynes Drewett

Aging is a fact of life. From the time we are born, we’re aging. In our younger years, aging is manifested as growth. But it’s official. I have arrived at the point in life where growth has ended. Well, at least the kind of growth that is good. Now we’re in the area of bad growth…growth of the gluteus maximus. But that’s a story for another day. Let’s just say…I’m at the turning point…the crossroads…it’s time to make peace and make a plan.

Isn’t this what middle age is all about? It’s saying good-bye to your youth. It’s an acceptance of where you are. If you don’t make peace with life at this stage of the game, you are headed for a MID-LIFE crisis. You’ve seen it before. It’s usually an impractical two-seater sports car. Or maybe an infidelity that wrecks your life forever. No thanks. I’m all about making peace and making a plan.

Grow old gracefully. My mantra has always been to grow old gracefully. And I still subscribe to that. There’s nothing more beautiful than a mature woman who has grayed naturally and looks comfortable in her own skin. Cindy McCain, wife of Arizona Senator John McCain is a great example of that. She’s just lovely. I’m pretty sure she’s made peace and made a plan.

My goals for growing old gracefully are these:

1. To have the energy to do what I want when I want.
2. To live my life to the fullest without a lifetime of poor health and disease.
3. To look younger than I am, but not so young I look foolish.

Make peace with the present. I’m a practical girl by nature. I’ve learned to push up my sleeves and solve the problem. And making peace with the present is best done with action. Guess what? There’s no way you’re going to avoid aging. And guess what else? There are advantages to being older.

1. Wisdom. You’ve heard the expression, “If I knew then what I know now.” The wisdom I’ve gained in my life is a precious commodity. And honestly, I wouldn’t go back to my youth because I had too much to learn. I like knowing a lot about life and sharing that with my kids. They love my stories. And I love telling them. If you’re not sharing what you’ve learned with someone, it’s just knowledge. Knowledge becomes wisdom when you share to help others live a better life and learn from your life lessons.
2. Warmth of heart. I remember one thing about my great-grandmother in particular. My Mee-Maw, Lula Leonard Haynes, was always good for a hug. She poured unconditional love straight from her heart into mine. Her hugs were so memorable that I still vividly recall them after 3 decades. Having a warm heart, not a cold one hardened by the trials of this world, is what I want people to see in me. It’s what I want to give to my children…and one day…my grandchildren.
3. Priorities. The great thing about having years of life behind you is you gain a clear vision of what isn’t important, which helps you determine what IS important. The peculiar thing about a high school reunions is this: at the 10-year reunion everyone returns to impress with worldly accomplishments; at the 20-year reunion everyone returns happy to see each other and visit like the old friends that they are. My dad, organizer of an annual high school reunion at Shongaloo High School, told me the later reunions were so much sweeter than the earlier ones. I think people lose sight of the materialistic goals they might have embraced at a younger age, thank goodness. Over time, we learn the real value of relationships…and we learn the lack of value in possessions.

There’s no doubt that growing older has substantial benefits. I can think of several things that I am happy to give up. Changing diapers is one. Cleaning up my then-4-year-old’s vomit because the concept of throwing up IN the trash can was not yet mastered. I’m happy to move past that one. Dating…my husband and I regularly look at each other and express thanks that we don’t have to be in the dating world anymore.

Leaving the past where it belongs is an important part of making peace with the present. My desire is to embrace the life I have now and enjoy the positives at this stage, not looking back longingly at a past that will not return.

Make a wellness plan for the future. Prevention is one of my favorite words. Why in the world would you sit back and allow something bad to happen if prevention is possible. When it comes to healthcare, this is where our priorities should lie. Instead, our entire healthcare system is based on a DISEASE model. We go to the doctor when we’re sick. We get a quick fix. We go home and run ourselves into the ground until the next round of getting sick and then head back. It’s an agonizing treadmill we’re on that leads to a poor quality of life.

What if we spent our time pursuing wellness instead of just stopping the sickness? How would we go about doing that? Are we relegated to the genetics that we are born with?

While genetics plays a role in our health, it’s probably only 20% of the deciding factor according to Dr. Nathan Goodyear, a board certified and fellowship trained Metabolic Specialist. Our environment contributes the other 80% of influence in determining our health status.

We can’t change the genetics, but we can improve our body’s environment. How? There’s five areas that need to be part of our wellness plan: nutrition, exercise, hormone balance, reducing inflammation and detoxification.

Here’s a quick rundown.

1. Nutrition. You are what you eat. But are you really eating healthy? Eat foods rich in nutrients. Choose organic and eliminate your exposure to toxins. If you read the label and can’t pronounce the ingredients, don’t eat it. Yes…that includes giving up soda. Have you read that label?
2. Exercise. There’s no way around it. You will feel better every time you invest your time in exercise. You don’t have to run a marathon. You can just run a couple of miles. Or maybe just walk around the block a few times. As Nike so eloquently says: “Just do it.”
3. Hormone Balance. Hormones are the communication system of the body. And when hormones become imbalanced due to stress, poor nutrition, or even genetics, they need to be rebalanced. Keeping a healthy hormone balance requires proper testing and follow-up. Bioidentical hormones can help rebalance a body that has been tilted out of balance by the world.
4. Inflammation. Cited as the source of all disease in much of the latest research, reducing internal inflammation is key. But how? Avoiding foods that cause silent inflammation and increasing the ones that decrease inflammation is a great beginning. A diet rich in Omega-3s is key. Supplementing with fish oil, nuts and seeds, and wild fish will boost your Omega-3 intake and reduce chronic inflammation.
5. Detoxification. There’s no denying it, we live in a toxic world. Getting the toxins out of the body and reducing your exposure to toxins is an important lifestyle choice that will pay dividends in your longterm health. Using natural cleaners and avoiding chemicals is a great start. Detoxify your body with exercise (sweating is good for you) and infrared sauna, too. Again, buy organic and reduce your exposure to more toxins.

We plan for our retirement. We plan our vacations. But when was the last time you sat down to plan your wellness routine? You can’t enjoy the retirement or the vacation if you feel bad or suffer from chronic disease.

Here’s what I want. I want a healthy living plan that actively returns my body to optimal wellness. I want to feel good from the inside out. And by feeling good on the inside, the outside will look better, too. I’m doing my retirement planning…it’s just not financial planning, it’s wellness planning! I’ve got to be healthy to enjoy my future grandbabies.

Elizabeth Haynes Drewett: a hormonal woman rumored to be somewhere between the age of 30 and 50. Her job: Operations Manager and Marketing Director for Seasons in Ruston. Her training: bachelor of arts in journalism degree from LSU and a bachelor of fine arts degree in piano performance from LA Tech University. Her life: wife of C.P. Drewett, Jr. and doting mother to Langdon, age 12, and Reagan, age 6. Her passions: the state of Louisiana – as Miss Louisiana 1992 she devoted her year of service to breast cancer education and the importance of early detection; lover of music – invested 10 years as a piano teacher into the lives of the most wonderful kids in the world; lover of a good game – job experiences include PING Golf Equipment and the NBA’s Phoenix Suns. Her favorite things: an underdog who overachieves, a good laugh, a good book, a good word, and a good hair day. You can follow her on Twitter. Her column, Confessions of a Hormonal Woman, is published bi-monthly in The Minute Magazine.

Trevor Torres crossing the finish line at "Rock n' Roll Mardi Gras" Half Marathon (New Orleans, La.)

Running is addicting, or so we’ve heard. Two members of the Seasons team have become addicts. On Sunday, February 13th, Trevor Torres and Bethany Cox both completed their second half-marathon, the “Rock ‘n Roll Mardi Gras” in New Orleans, LA. Along with 17,000 others, these two athletes completed the 13.1 mile run benefiting the American Cancer Society.

Training for a half-marathon can be strenuous. It takes weeks, even months, to train for the 13.1 mile trek. “I made sure I gave myself a couple days rest within the week, which helped my muscles recuperate after the long run days. Two weeks before the race was my longest run.” Most runners, like Bethany, follow a training schedule to prepare and build up their endurance for the big day. “The race itself was such an adrenaline rush…and the weather was perfect!”

The “Rock n’ Roll” marathon series is known for having great local music and entertainment along the race routes. “This was my second half marathon in the Rock ‘n Roll series and I really enjoy the live bands along the entire course that make it entertaining!” said Trevor. “It gives you something to look forward to every mile and a headliner band at the finish line!”

"I love Rock 'n Rolls!" Bethany Cox, LMT (New Orleans, La.)

The New Orleans course started near the convention center downtown, then went through uptown, the garden district, French Quarter, and ended in City Park. “It was a great scenic route, and we could not have asked for better weather. It was in the 40’s that morning, and by the time I finished, it was in the low 50’s. I’m looking forward to my next half marathon in March, the Rock ‘n Roll — Dallas!”

At Seasons, our approach to wellness is centered around five main areas, one of which is exercise. It is important to include exercise in your healthy living plan. We are so proud of these two team members and hope this encourages you in your journey to wellness.