Schools
Quality of Life – ‘Do You Wiggle When You Walk?’
Mary Maryland, PhD, RN, will present a talk titled, “Do You Wiggle When You Walk?” at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 20, in the Terrace Room at the Oak Park Arms retirement community, 408 S. Oak Park Ave.
Dr. Mary, as she’s affectionately called, will present information about why excess weight is so bad for the human body, what a healthy weight range is, and steps needed to reach a healthy weight.
There is no magic bullet to lose weight. Until science produces effective medications, it always has been and it always will be - eat less and move more. Eating less doesn't mean volume-wise but calorie-wise. Incorporating more fruits and vegetables is step one. Another idea is to substitute low fat dairy products for full fat and choose leaner cuts of meat. Choose whole grains over refined carbohydrates.
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Some foods, while high calorie, have significant health benefits. These include the healthy fats in avocadoes and nuts as well as the fiber in beans. These foods can be eaten in moderation. Sodium and sugar intake needs to be in moderation, too. Too much sodium can lead to high blood pressure, and too much sugar will cause spikes in blood sugar levels. Also, drink plenty of water.
Physical activity is a key ingredient to reaching and maintaining a healthy weight. The best way is to find things you love doing. Take a walk, ride a bike, or swim laps at a local pool. If dancing is a passion, find a class. The “sneak in exercise” approach includes parking in the furthest spot, take grocery bags out of the car one at a time, walk to the mailbox instead of driving, and pace around the table while talking on the phone. These measures add up.
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Some apt proverbs:
• Don't dig your grave with your own knife and fork. ~English Proverb
• Your stomach shouldn't be a ‘waist’ basket. ~Author Unknown
The Oak Park Arms is a rental retirement community which provides independent and assisted living apartments and a full schedule of activities and services. Furnished apartments are also available for a short-term stay - a weekend, a week, a month or longer.
The program is free and open to the public. For more information call Jill Wagner at 708-386-4040 or visit http://www.oakparkarms.com.
