Free local support for the wellness journey

Our nation, our society, our future is faced with a growing obesity challenge. Our nation needs to make some changes. These changes offer complex considerations. Many of these are insurmountable even with the most aggressive legislation, regulations, or promotion.

One of the biggest predictors of health seems to be the health and wellness of the others a person surrounds themselves with. If friends and family follow healthy habits, those habits translate. If someone's friends belly up to the bar every Friday night, it's hard not to do the same. On the other hand, if someone's friends are engaged in healthy activities, then that person is likely to join them.

Part of the joy of a career as a health and fitness professional has been cracking the perceptions and helping people realize that they can enjoy fitness and health whilst still enjoying much of their life like they always have. Whether this is through moderating diet, teaching exercise routines, or training for mobility and balance, when a person moves toward their goals it empowers and opens new opportunities.

In order to reach this point of self-actualization, someone needs a starting point. All too often a person attempts to begin their journey from the expert platform, skipping the prerequisite base of practice before jumping right in. Over-ambition and gumption get the better of us, which inevitably leads to dropout and often a sour taste in one's mouth.

The feeling of failure leads to disdain against trying again, and people often develop the notion that they're too far gone.

This is why as a professional, it's important to approach a person as an individual case, with individual aspirations, needs, and prior perceptions. This is also how an individual must consider themselves, knowing that the magazine workouts, the diet "programs" and fitness videos are not one-size-fits-all.

Arming others with alliances, knowledge, and peace of mind is also essential. If anyone reading this has ever deemed themselves a failure, struggled, or even thought that their journey would be better with a support group then it would be worth considering a new community-based group at Sisters Athletic Club.

The group focuses on diet, and follows an eight-week format. Every two weeks there will be a group gathering complete with a topic to discuss. Local experts are on hand and everyone is treated with respect as a peer, not a patient.

The first meeting is August 8, at 5:30 p.m. These are free to the community, and a gym membership is not required. Please RSVP to the meeting to [email protected]