Change it up! Change Workout Times – Instead of going for a walk after dinner, try going at lunchtime when it’s light out. The workout will still happen – just at times that work best for the daylight. If walking in the evening, remember your reflective gear. Change location – You can always do a workout at home by investing in a few pieces of fitness equipment like hand weights or fitness bands. There are several free online workouts available as well. Check out the City of Nanaimo Activity Guide, visit www.nanaimo.ca or call our recreation experts at 250.756.5200 for ways to keep you and your family active and healthy this season.
Community News
Fill Your Cup of Cheer
The Great Nanaimo Toy Drive is looking for some people whose cup of Christmas Cheer needs some filling. For 35 years the Toy Drive has helped families in need ensure their children have a few gifts at Christmas. By ‘filling’ that need, we can fill our own cups of cheer. The simple act of purchasing a new present for a newborn or child up to 16 years old, and dropping it in one of the convenient drop off boxes at Nanaimo Fire Halls, CCCredit Unions, major shopping centres among others makes us feel better and connects us to our community. Contact us for more information or to volunteer.
Holiday Hazards: Protect Your Pets
It’s the most wonderful time of the year—until your pet ingests some tinsel or decides to drink from the Christmas-tree water. Here are some common holiday hazards for pets: 1. Ribbon and rubber bands. If ingested, these can cause serious damage to the intestines. 2. Plants, including mistletoe, holly, poinsettia, and even your Christmas tree, can be very toxic and may lead to kidney failure. 3. Electrical cords. We all saw what happened to poor Fluffy on ‘National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation’. Use cord keepers to cover power cords or store all loose cords to make them less enticing for your cat or dog. Jamie Hercun, Best West Pet Foods, BestWest.ca
Take a Load Off
Maintaining workplace mental health is vitally important. Stats show that most people spend the majority of their waking hours at work. Using break times is one effective way to improve overall mental health and boost productivity! Oftentimes, busy schedules and looming deadlines prevent us from taking breaks when we need them most. A short time away, doing something we enjoy, helps to reduce stress and emotional exhaustion, while providing a fresh focus and the necessary energy to accomplish tasks. Stretching, walking, listening to music, and reading or watching something funny are all ways to help lighten the load.
Stacey Shule Krueger, CMHA MB & Wpg, mbwpg.cmha.ca
Lose Weight & Still Enjoy Wine!
Research suggests people who follow a Mediterranean diet lose 52% more weight than the standard low-fat diet because it isn’t just a fad or limited list of foods. It’s a lifestyle based on a balanced approach to your meals, which focuses on produce, healthy fats, whole grains, legumes, fish, and even some red wine. Committing to losing weight for three months using the Mediterranean diet as a base, along with three booster products and three lifestyle changes, guarantees results. And there is no meal skipping! Look and feel great for all of your holiday parties and events!
Valdine – Modere, Valdine.ca
Community Event
Dec. 14, 1-4 p.m. OPEN HOUSE. Give the Gift of Art Classes. Winter classes starting Jan. 8, 2018. Forum Art Centre, 120 Eugenie St., 204-235-1069 or visit www.forumartcentre.com
Give Your Immune System a Boost
With the cold and wet weather, we spend more time indoors and in close quarters with those around us. Now is the time when our immune system could use a boost. Our immune system protects us from bacteria and viruses and harmful substances in our environment. To help your immune system, take advantage of any sunny day to catch some rays, avoid smoky areas, limit alcohol consumption and consider adding some supplements. Immune system boosting supplements available at your health food store include, probiotics as well as supplements made with plants, herbs and minerals used to prevent and fight infections
Fear of Falls Causes Unsafe Behavior
When someone is fearful of falling, they start to avoid everyday activities by staying at home and doing less. This lack of activity leads to loss of strength, reduced muscle tone, and loss of coordination and balance. This physical deterioration increases the risk of falling and if a fall does occur, it further heightens the fear. Turn your fear of falling into positive actions; remain active, exercise regularly, use assistive devices such as walkers or grab bars and wear sensible shoes. Consider joining a group session designed especially to teach balance exercises for fall prevention.
Christmas Chaos or Christmas Comfort?
The average person will eat about 6,000 calories on Christmas day. This is 3,500 – 4,000 calories more than they need and will add more than a pound of fat to the not-so-secret stash. And Christmas day is only one day of the season! The chocolates, party buffets and endless cookies go on for weeks. Unfortunately, the excess Christmas pounds are not going to melt away like snowmen. They’ll become part of that year-on-year upward creep. A bit of smart limiting and determination to plan ahead will help you stay on track without spoiling the festive feeling or fun. It also may make your self-talk a bit sweeter when you first step on the scale in January!
Who Ya Gonna Call? Friendly Phones!
“Good morning, Joy. It’s Patricia and I’m a volunteer caller with Friendly Phones.” These simple words open endless conversations at South Cowichan Community Policing (SCCP) through our free, Friendly Phones service. If you live alone, or cannot leave your home, then you may want to receive morning telephone calls from our volunteers. You can also contact them by email, or leave a voicemail at the SCCP office. The Friendly Phones service lets you share your thoughts, opinions, and experiences with people who care about your well-being. Several times a year we have gatherings where our Friendly Phones clients can meet our Friendly Phones Volunteer callers as well as staff and directors. Volunteer callers are welcome to join the SCCP team. Come visit our office at Mill Bay Centre.
Missing your Smile?
Studies show that missing some of your teeth do not only affect your general health and appearance but can also lead to depression and low self-esteem. Social embarrassment is a very real problem related to the worry of missing teeth and poorly fitting dentures. Having an incomplete smile greatly affects many patients. Don’t let tooth loss or improperly fitting dentures cast a shadow over the quality of your life. Your denturist can explain the best ways to restore the function and appearance of your smile. Properly fitting dentures can restore your self-esteem and bring back your smile.
