Confession #9: C’mon girls! Let’s do this!

It’s here. 2010. For the xxth time, I have made that New Year’s resolution. You know the one. To lose the extra that’s following you around on your backside.

Seasons, in collaboration with Northern Louisiana Medical Center’s Healthy Woman and Sharon Jackson’s Slammin’ Boot Camp, is bringing you the tools you need to accomplish the goal you resolve every New Year. But we’re not going to say the “d” word. This isn’t about a diet. We’re going to do this the right way. We are going to pursue WELLNESS. Do you hear me? Wellness. That means make good food choices. And that means get off your booty and get busy!

With some great seminars from Sharon Jackson, CPT (that’s certified personal trainer), and Valerie Costanza, RD (that’s Registered Dietician), we are going to gain the knowledge, the tools, the motivation, and the inspiration to do this together.

The kickoff party is coming up soon…Tuesday, January 12, 2010 from 6 until 8 p.m. at the Community Trust Bank Community Room. It’s in the rear of the CTB Financial Center located at 1511 N. Trenton St. in Ruston. Look for the Healthy Woman Wellness Challenge signs and you’ll find it! At the kickoff party, we’ll learn the ropes of what we’re about to undertake. You need to let us know you’re coming. So register by calling 318-255-3223.

We’ll hear from Sharon and Valerie and from wellness advocate and local physician, Dr. Nathan Goodyear. There will be yummy, HEALTHY food for all to munch on and tons of fabulous door prizes (for everything from Botox to Best Buy). Sharon will even be doing some baseline measuring and weighing if you are interested in tracking your progress throughout this journey.

You’ll leave armed with a fitness training guide to begin a running/walking program to prepare for our final event – the Fitness Challenge – to be held Saturday, April 28. Sharon has put together a day-by-day training regimen to help guide you towards running a 5K. And in addition, Sharon will be hosting weekend group runs to prepare for this event most every weekend until April 28. I love Sharon Jackson! And you will, too!

In addition, you’ll take home recipes from every event and a nutrition guide from each event. Valerie is going to teach us how to make better choices when we cook, grocery shop, and meal plan.

So what are you waiting for? I have NEVER been a runner…I’ve always been a walking treadmill kind of girl. So if I can do this, you can too! And it will be much more fun if we do it together.

So…c’mon girls! Let’s do this!

For more information about the Healthy Woman Wellness Challenge, click here.

Nibble on This – Happy New Year edition

Valerie Costanza, RD

by Valerie Costanza, RD

Can you believe it? 2009 is almost over and the new year is just about here. It is time to start making your 2010 New Year’s resolutions.

Make this year a healthy one. Set your goals to be realistic, measurable and time sensitive. Don’t make goals that will be impossible for you to reach. This will only set you up for failure. Make goals measurable by applying specific numbers to your goals. Give yourself a time frame to work within.

If weight loss is on your mind, set a long-term goal by applying a realistic number to reach by a certain date. Then set small, short term goals to work toward each week or month. An example would be you will lose 15 pounds by April 1st. You will accomplish this by setting small, short-term goals:

• Decrease sodas to no more than 2 sodas per week for 2 weeks
• Decrease sugar by having no more than 1 dessert per week
• Increase water intake by 1 glass per day for 1 week
• Increase vegetables by eating at least 3 servings per day for 1 month

Making your goals attainable is the first step in keeping your 2010 New Year’s resolutions. Start the New Year off right with this healthy alternative to the traditional New Year’s meal.

Try this recipe for Collard Green and Black-Eyed Pea Soup.