The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

24 - The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday January 10, 2007 www.oakvillebeaver.com b 200 2007 Goal is $180,000 $180,00 $153,000 m NO MORE NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS At this time of year, when so many of us "resolve" to get healthier and more fit, why not consider an attitude change rather than a mere resolution? Jeanette Heywood, Supervisor of Health, Fitness & Recreation at the YMCA of Oakville, offers this advice: "Instead of expecting to lose 50 pounds in two months, think about taking a planned approach to changing your lifestyle. What changes can you make ­ and stick to? Think in terms of achievable goals, not unrealistic ones. You can't expect miracles." "You need to feel good about the whole process," she adds. "So start with small, manageable changes where you can see success right away. Perhaps you could switch from pop to water. Find things you enjoy. If you like to walk, start by going for a walk around the block. If you've been eating a bowl of ice cream every night, try having that kind of snack just one day a week." Jeanette says it's important to be proud of your progress and to be good to yourself. "Look at yourself in the mirror and say, `I went for a walk today and I drank water instead of pop.' Congratulate yourself." If you want these lifestyle changes to be long-lasting, think about your long-term goals. What are you trying to achieve over the next year or two years or even three? "Ultimately, you're looking at a lifestyle change," says Jeanette. Variety is important to keep you interested. "At the YMCA of Oakville, we're always offering new programs and services," Jeanette says. The latest: the Kinesis movement experience and the Cardio Wave class. The brandnew Kinesis equipment at the Y is designed to improve muscular strength, flexibility and balance all at once. Research shows that performing Kinesis movements burns 30% more calories vil vil i Our Mission Our Vision 410 Rebecca Street Oakville, ON L6K 1K7 Telephone: 905-845-3417 Fax: 905-842-6792 Email: customerservice @oakville.ymca.ca www.ymcaofoakville.com Design by JULIE POWERS JIM LAM A `POWERHOUSE' OF CARING WELLNESS WITH HEART If you met Julie Powers, you would want her on your team. She radiates strength, youth and energy, but take that and finish it off with amazing selff contr and you've got a rol powe erhouse package. "Hi Jim"... "Jim, can you take a look at my hand... what do you think?" "What's up Jim?" At 21, Julie is the youngest mem21 ber of the Oakville Y's Wellness f team, and a fresh graduate from eam the Lo oyalist College Fitness and Recrea Recreation program where she played college basketball on the d varsity women's team. She is also y a volun nteer coach for 8 to 12 year old gir with YBC basketball. rls "I'v always been an athlete," ve says Ju "and I jumped at the ulie, chance to play from Ottawa to e Windsor with the OCAA. Now as a YBC ba asketball coach, I can take everyth I've learned and chanhing nel it i the kids. I love it!" into Juli shares her zest for sports ie and re ecreation with everyone she meets at the Y, where her coworke say that her `enthusiers asm is contagious...people that s work w her want to try it too...' That is a good thing, because she finds that it's not easy for people to get with on the right track with fitness. "I encourage people to start slow, but be consistent and try to come in 3 or 4 e times a week. It's going to be hard at first, but over time you'll see improvement in your strength and cardio. If you' been sedentary, it takes time to build your heart rate." 've For those over 60, the machines can be a barrier. "I know sometimes they find the technology a bit hard r to und derstand, so we keep the program simple and encourage people to refresh it in a few months and try someth that might be different or more challenging. We also listen closely to people so that we can fit their hing fitness routine to their needs and lifestyle." s You definitely would want Julie on your team ­ she's a powerhouse of caring and ready to help you care u for you urself! When you're with Aquatics Team Leader Jim Lam at the Y, it's obvious very quickly that he's wellknown and well-loved. That friendly smile goes right through to his shoes and you just know that he would help anyone with anything, which is what he does best. Jim's Y story stretches way back to his childhood when he grew up in downtown Toronto. He was a frequent visitor to the Metro Central and College Street YMCAs, which he says were an important part of his life. "The Y kept me off the street and out of trouble, and some of my friends were not as lucky. Sports and fitness kept me going." Jim worked at the Toronto Central Y Wellness centre at one point, and then moved to Oakville a number of years ago and took a job in logistics. He stayed fit and connected to the Y throughout the years and was a member of the YMCA of Oakville when an accident changed his life. "I had a table-saw accident that severed three of my fingers on my right hand. The doctors were able to reattach the fingers, but there were lots of things that I could not do, like lift weights, and I was depressed." Jim looked for alternatives at the Y, and found that one thing that he could do was swim. He swam and swam, and one of the head guards noticed how well he was doing and asked him if he would consider training to be a lifeguard. He and three other adults took their Bronze Cross and NLS certifications together and the Y offered Jim a job in the pool. Now an integral part of the Y Aquatics team, Jim says that he is almost grateful for the accident because it brought him into the Y. "I love it here...it's not just a job. Every day is different and I love the people." And they love him. There is no end of positive feedback from the participants in Jim's AquaFit class ­ he helps them to feel great about themselves. Jim advises people to just take that first step..."It's a mental thing. It's so easy to just lay on the couch, but once you step through the door, we're there for you." "Cross-training and doing different things is important," said Jim. "Don't just walk on the treadmill every time, because you won't progress and your muscles will get used to it. The water is a great workout ­ especially if you have an injury ­ but you need strength training too. It's all here for you...you can combine a lot of things and try it all out." Thanks for sharing your story Jim, and for putting your heart into everything you do at the Y! w www.ymca f www.gbcom www.gbcom.ca