Friends and Family: Fitness together is better! Surrey, BC

1) What brought you to Just 4 You?

Nancy: My future daughter-in-law, Rebecca and her Mom, Wendy were members and invited me along to try it.

Sheila: My pal Nancy Rickett. I travel from Ladner or come from my job in Vancouver. Love it at JFY and wouldn't go anywhere else!

Rebecca: I started off at Just for Kicks and Karen wooed me with different classes to try at Just 4 You Wellness Studio and I instantly fell in love.

Wendy: My daughter, Rebecca was attending classes and asked if I wanted to try it out.

2) What are your connections to one another?
Nancy: Rebecca and Wendy, mentioned above. I invited a friend of mine, Sheila to try it and she loved it as well.

Shelia: Nancy and her husband are good friends of ours - we have been close for years!

Rebecca: Wendy is my mother, Nancy is my soon to be mother in law, and Sheila I met through Nancy at a family function.

Wendy: My daughter started off the process and then I continued to go with Nancy (Rebecca's Momma inlaw to be).

3) What keeps you coming back for more?
Nancy: I have been a member of a number of gyms and rec. centres over the years. I find Just 4 You Wellness Studio has a very friendly atmosphere, most members know each other by name. The instructors take care to learn everyone's name, weaknesses and strengths and works with them. Plus the work outs are fun, you definitely feel you are getting a good work out but I find I can stick with it because it is fun.

Sheila: Results! I love how I feel and how I look. Most of all, I love the people here!

Rebecca: Everyone is so friendly, knowledgeable and encouraging. We become family here! The variety is something I really love. Every class challenges you in a different way. You never have a chance to get bored or tired with it. The instructors there are a huge part as well. They are very inviting, friendly and helpful in you practice. If you have an injury they show you alternatives to make sure you still get an equally great workout. Just 4 You Wellness Studio is like a family that strives on the wellness of each other, once you come even just once you become part of it.

Wendy: I had not done any exercise classes in a long time and I loved Yoga. The instructors are awesome, make you feel comfortable at whatever level you are at and help you through any areas of concern that you have. I have since started going to the Pilates class and love it!

4) What has changed in you since starting?
Nancy: My thighs are like rocks! I haven't lost much weight but I have lost some size. I am stronger through my torso, I couldn't do a push-up to save my life before but that has improved. Overall, I feel healthy and stronger.

Sheila: I have "yoga arms" as Pearl would say! My arms are sculpted and I love how they look. The rest of me is toned and my overall strength has improved too!

Rebecca: I have definitely noticed more muscle tone, in my arms especially. I feel like I have more energy and just feel all around healthier.

Wendy: I feel better about my physical self and my back problems are much better. I have a desire to do more to get healthy.

5) What would you say to someone new who is just starting?
Nancy: Welcome! Try a number of the different classes offered and I am sure you will find something that suits you and your schedule.

Sheila: Enjoy yourself and relax! Let Karen and her group of instructors take you away to a place of peace and tranquility. I cant say enough about Just 4 You Wellness Studio! It is the best place on earth!

Rebecca: You are going to love it! Don't let yourself get discouraged if 1 class seems overwhelming, we all start off somewhere and all the members at Just 4 You Wellness Studio aren't judgemental. We all encourage each to reach the goals we each desire! With such a variety of classes your sure to find something up your alley!

Wendy: I would tell them to try all of the classes offered to find out what fits their needs the best and let them know how much fun we have at class!!

Heart health, sodium and the food you eat: Action for a healthier food supply

Step and sculpt anyone?

Sodium is an essential nutrient and naturally present in many of the foods we eat, and in table salt and sea salt as sodium chloride, but it is the exceptionally large amounts of sodium present in many processed and fast foods, and restaurant purchased foods that may contribute to high blood pressure and an increased risk of stroke.

People with blood-pressure greater than 140 mmHg/90 mmHg have reduced their blood pressure to acceptable levels by reducing the amount of salt in their diet. This has a knock on effect of reducing stroke risk.

The adequate daily intake (AI) for sodium is 1500 mg/day with a tolerable upper level (UL) set at 2300 mg/day. 1 tsp salt contains almost 2300 mg sodium.

In North America the average consumption of sodium is about 3200 mg/day more than 25 % higher than the UL and more than twice the AI.

This is not surprising since a bacon and cheddar burger can contain >1700 mg sodium, chicken slouvaki and Greek salad >2000 mg sodium, and a pesto pizza > 2000 mg sodium.

Salt is added to many processed and fast foods for a variety of reasons, but much of the salt added to these foods could be reduced resulting in a sodium intake reduction for consumers and a decreased risk of hypertension and stroke.

Processed foods must identify the sodium content on the nutrition fact label which you can use to assess your sodium intake. However, providing nutrition facts at the point of purchase for restaurant foods is not yet regulated by Canadian Federal Law.

In November 2012, Libby Davies the deputy leader of the Official opposition and MP for Vancouver East introduced a private members bill in the House of Commons.

Bill C-460: The sodium Reduction Strategy for Canada Act is intended to help reduce the 16,000 deaths (annually) thought to be caused by excess sodium in the food supply. MPs will be free to vote with their conscience on the bill and while it appears that the bill is supported by the leadership of the NDP and Liberal, the Conservative health spokespeople are so far opposing the bill.

The bill is likely to come to vote in April or early May 2013. Now is the time for you to have your say about the quality of your food supply and reduce the number of people with hypertension and who die from related diseases.

If you want your children and grandchildren to grow up in a healthy food environment act now to reduce the sodium content of processed foods, fast foods and restaurant purchased foods.

Urge your MP to support Bill C-460 by e-mailing or writing to him/her. Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) have a model letter which you can use following the link here.

By Wendy Hartford (Hartfit: Nutritional health and fitness consulting)

A Healthy Philosophy
Healthy living through understanding