In need of a lifestyle change?
Alberta Health Service wants to help. Beginning April 19, AHS is offering monthly workshops to help Jasperites manage their weight and make healthy choices, whether it be in the grocery store, the kitchen or at a restaurant.
The program, called Weight Wise, includes 10 free workshops and wraps up next March.
鈥淚t鈥檚 for adults, so anyone 18+, and really anyone who鈥檚 struggling with weight management or chronic disease that鈥檚 affected by weight management, so diabetes or heart health,鈥� said Kirsten Oilund, a registered dietician with AHS and one of the program鈥檚 instructors.
鈥淚t鈥檚 for weight management, but there鈥檚 also a lot of healthy eating habits and meal planning that are conveyed in there,鈥� said registered nurse Angie Blake, who specializes in chronic disease management and teaches some of the workshops.
As an example, Blake said she recently spoke to a woman who took the workshops just to get back on track with her eating, after developing some unhealthy eating habits because of her work schedule, which had her working 12 to 13 hour days.
鈥淪he doesn鈥檛 suffer from obesity or being overweight, but she was just struggling with her busy schedule and not eating properly,鈥� she said.
In the workshops, participants learn about everything from the role of calories in weight management to managing hunger and appetite and effectively reducing stress, as well as how to get physical activity into your day.
鈥淧art of the change-strategy that we try and convey is working on one thing at a time,鈥� said Blake. 鈥淲e know it takes 21 to 28 days for people to adapt to change, so we鈥檙e going to offer it once a month so people have one thing to work on for that month.鈥�
The first workshop is called 鈥淧lanning for Success鈥� and takes place April 19 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. It covers everything from the causes of obesity to how to set realistic goals and overcome barriers.
Blake said participants don鈥檛 have to attend all of the workshops, however it is most effective that way.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e designed to be delivered from start to finish, but people can just register for the one that resonates with them, or two or three. They don鈥檛 have to commit to all 10.鈥�
This is the second time the program has been offered in Jasper. Blake said she and Oilund pushed to offer it again.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a real treat for them to be offered in Jasper,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not just about eating properly and exercising, obesity and weight management is a complex problem.鈥�
鈥淲hen you say Jasper, people think of a community that鈥檚 super active, but [obesity] is a problem everywhere,鈥� added Oilund. 鈥淸This program] is a need everywhere, no matter how big or small your community is and what their image is.鈥�
Blake said the program is about empowering people with the skills they need to make healthy choices and live a healthy lifestyle. She said it鈥檚 about 鈥渟kill power, instead of willpower.鈥�
As well as the Weight Wise program, AHS is also offering two disease-specific workshops, one for Type 2 diabetes on April 29 and another for cardiac health (cholesterol and blood pressure) on May 31.
鈥淚n those they鈥檙e learning about their disease, the pathophysiology of the disease, medication聽 management, exercise, who鈥檚 at risk, how it gets diagnosed and very specific nutrition management for that disease,鈥� said Blake.
Jasperites interested in the workshops are encouraged to register by calling 1-877-349-5711.
Nicole Veerman
[email protected]
