Teams and individuals who register for the Commit to Get Fit Run for disease prevention before this Saturday, April 25th, will get a free t-shirt!

The event takes place May 24th at the Wellness Institute and brings together all ages and fitness levels to take steps to reduce the risk of disease in our lives, our families and our community. The event includes a series of  free health education seminars, helping to spread the word about lifestyle changes that can help us all to live better.

Not only is the 5K/10K Walk/Run a not-for-profit way to raise awareness, it is an affordable family event and part of the Asics Grand Prix Series. Sign up now to get your free Commit to Get Fit Run t-shirt!

Five teams of ten competed in our Fitter.Firmer.Faster pilot weight loss program, for a combined weight loss of 609.6 lbs. On average, participants lost a healthy 12lbs each during the program. In the end, the winning team was the black team, losing 144.2 lbs or 8.87% of their total body weight!

In celebration of their weight loss success, The Wellness Institute donated 350 jars of baby food (weighing in at 175 lbs) to Winnipeg Harvest through Hunger For Hope. Members and visitors participated by making their own donations of most-needed baby food items.   

Based on the success of the program, Fitter.Firmer.Faster. will become part of our regular weight loss programs which each offer a safe, effective alternative to fad diets. Anyone interested in taking part will be able to find registration details in the fall issue of Positively Healthy magazine, released mid-August.

Join us Saturday, April 4th as we celebrate the success of our Fitter.Firmer.Faster weight loss program participants and wrap-up the Hunger for Hope baby food drive.

The five Fitter.Firmer.Faster. teams will weigh in for the final time to reveal the winning team. And to turn their personal success into a community benefit, the Wellness Institute will donate the equivalent to the winning team's total weight loss in pounds of baby food to Winnipeg Harvest through Hunger for Hope. The leading team has lost well over 100lbs so far!

If you would like to help ensure no child goes to bed hungry, you can drop off your own donation of non-perishable baby food items at the Wellness Institute front entrance any time before 7pm on Saturday. For details, call 632-3902.

March is nutrition month... a perfect time to consider a new approach to old eating habits.

Whether you need to develop an eating plan for better health or want to lose weight the healthy way, proper nutrition is a key ingredient in a healthy lifestyle. Consider joining us for one of our Eating For Good Health spring program classes or get a personal food habit and lifestyle review by asking for The Works from our Nutrition Services. Special diets can be created to manage health conditions such as heart disease, diabetes or food allergies or to support goals related to sports nutrition, pregnancy or balanced vegetarian or vegan diets.

Call us at 632-3900 for registration or details!

March is fast approaching... time to sign up for your free Commit to Get Fit email training tips. Whether you are a beginning runner or walker or need a little support as you gear up for the spring season, the 10-weeks of tips precedding our annual Commit to Get Fit event will help you get up to speed. All ages and abilities are welcomed to run or walk the 5K or 10K route. It is part of the Asics series, but it is primarily about preventing illness and improving wellness in our community by getting active.

Sign up for your tips by emailing:  info@wellnessinstitute.ca

At the Wellness Institute, we have kept our resolution to keep our facility and programs fresh and current so you can enjoy your time with us. Check out the lastest issue of Positively Healthy for new health and fitness programs, including Introduction to Gymnastics (kids), Bone Matters, Happiest Baby on th Block, Sharpening the Grey Matter and Happy Best Year of Your Life! And keep an eye out for upcoming class debuts, membership news and facility upgrades and in the next issue of Living Well.

For support for your own resolutions, be sure to check out our services and clinical programs. Many options are available to help you make a healthy change, whether it is losing weight, quitting smoking, eating better or developing a plan to get in shape.

Living with Liver Disease ­- A Free Six Week Program

With Dr. Gerald Minuk, Head of Hepatology, Health Sciences Centre, U of M

Wellness Institute, Room 2

Thursdays from 7 pm to 9 pm

Starting September 18

Learn from Dr. Minuk and a panel of experts about a disease that affects roughly 3 million Canadians from all age groups. This new course explores the simple lifestyle changes that can prevent many forms of liver disease, plus tips for living with liver disease. Topics include treatments, complimentary therapies, healthy eating, keeping fit, conserving energy and social assistance.

To learn more about liver health and the over 100 types of liver disease (including hepatitis), enroll for "Living with Liver Disease" at the Wellness Institute at 1075 Leila. This program is offered in partnership with the Canadian Liver Foundation. Download the flyer below for more information on the program.

Enroll Now! Call 632-3900 to register at no cost.

Seven Oaks FARMERS MARKET

Farm Fresh Food direct to the North End  

Wellness Institute Front Entrance

Tuesdays from Noon to 5 pm

Starting JULY 29

Several market gardeners will be offering direct from the farm vegetables and one natural pork producer will be selling homemade pork sausages. Farmer will set up tables on either side of the front doors of Wellness Institute at 1075 Leila.

If you know a farmer who would like to participate in the Seven Oaks Farmers Market, please ask him or her to call 632-3912. Download the flyer below to email your friends.

For more on the benefits of FARMERS MARKETS go to:

www.livinggreenlivingwell.ca/food/farmers-market

Wellness Institute's Kick Butt program and coordinator Marla Benjamin were featured in a recent Canstar Weeklies article called "Program nips smoking in the butt. "  If you are thinking about quitting smoking and want effective help to stay quit, why not find out more about Kick Butt?

The Canstar Weeklies also reported on the Coronary Heart Improvement Project (CHIP) which runs at Wellness Institute and other Winnipeg locations. Canstar interviewed Wellness Institute Medical Advisor Dr. Rex Sokolies about the program for their story "Health program aims to save lives through lifestyle education."

Or you maybe you have been following Paul (Willy) Williamson's weight loss efforts in his articles and blog for the Winnipeg Free Press. Willy is the Automotive Columnist, but he's writing about his personal fitness journey at the Wellness Instititute.

A new magazine called Health: Body Mind and Soul interviewed two Wellness Institute experts, Registered Dietitian Carolyne Somerville and Driector of Health and Fitness Programs, Darren Brereton, for articles in their Spring issue.  Sorry, no weblinks, it's only their second issue.