special features - new year new you 2015

Hours:Monday - Friday • 9-6

Saturday • 10-4

RM 139 5201 - 43 Street, Red DeerMain fl oor - east corridor

403.342.1434

The most comfortable, natural and softest fi tthat exists in a breast form today.

Incredibly soft three layer design offers morenatural feel and movement.

Beautiful natural shape that complements your silhouette.

Advanced lightweight micropore design enhances breathability for all day comfort.

Millerdale Pharmacy, for all your Mastectomy Needs.

•Fitness

•Wellness

•Fashion trends

also online!

PULL OUT

aaa

NEW YEARNew You!

2 Red Deer Express • New Year, New You Wednesday, January 7, 2015

Kees Winter:Dr. Towers has more talent than anyone else I’ve seen for my hearing.

Lisa Hooper:I went to several clinics in Red Deer and no one could help me before Dr. Towers. He is a gift from heaven. I heard my 3 year old grandson

Gavin Noonan:I’ve worn hearing aids my entire life and this is the best I’ve ever heard. Dr. Towers provided all of the information necessary for me to

make the right choice with the latest technology.

www.hearwell.ca

HearWellAudiology

Gaetz (50th) A

ve. Greyhound

Safeway

2A

43 ST

49 A

ve

Creekside Professional Centre 4320 50th Avenue Suite #202 Red Deer, AB

403-346-6414

Dr. Andrew Towers, Au.D.Registered Audiologist — Owner

Toll free: [email protected]

BOOK YOUR APPOINTMENT TODAY!

See Dr. Towers for your complimentary hearing exam

See how these people feel about

HearWell

TAKE THE 21 DAY HearWell CHALLENGE

• No money down, no obligation, every reason to Hear Well today

• 21 days to try hearing aids for free, followed by an additional 90 day trial

period to return or exchange.

K

y.ogy

aI w

Lis

avI’v

G

5 YEARPEACE of MIND GUARANTEE

5 year warrantyon hearing

instruments

5 years of batteries

Wednesday, January 7, 2015 New Year, New You • Red Deer Express 3

BY ERIN FAWCETTRed Deer Express

Softer colours are on the

way for spring in terms of

fashion.

“Blush and beige are re-

ally dominant colours for

spring,” said Bev Kraush-

er, owner of Great Strides

in Red Deer. “The colour

palette in the spring is gen-

erally more subdued – very

muted, beautiful shades

and everything is softer. We

are seeing however some of

the citrus colours as well

because not everyone can

wear those muted tones.”

A style that Krausher

said remains strong going

into spring is the look of a

tunic with leggings.

“Women are not going

to give those up,” she said.

“That is here to stay. It’s

comfortable and everyone

can wear this style. We are

seeing pencil-type pants

with this look, so nothing

in a wider leg. Dresses are

also popular – they are very

easy to wear and there are

so many fl attering styles.

Everyone talks about the

little black dress, but the

little white dress is huge

now.

Krausher added ponchos

are also something that are

hot for the spring season.

“Ponchos are great be-

cause you can just throw

it over a nice blouse and

a pair of pants or a t-shirt

and jeans.”

In terms of footwear,

Krausher said the biggest

trend consumers will see

are spring boots. “Here in

Red Deer oftentimes we can

wear our fall/winter selec-

tion well into the season

because of the weather. But

shoe companies are offer-

ing a lighter selection now

with laser cuts and beau-

tiful fl oral motif and just

lighter colours.”

Krausher said compa-

nies have also streamlined

the wedge shoe for 2015 as

well.

“It’s a little bit of a fi ner

look. We are not having

that big, clunky look. Hav-

ing said that out of Europe

we are starting to see very

thick soles. Think of a san-

dal but with a one inch sole,

so you’re raised up one inch

all the way around - this is

very fast and very forward.

We are starting to see that

in lace ups and in a wing-

tipped kind of a look and

also in sandals. It’s quite

aggressive looking.”

As for mainstays,

Krausher said the pump is

a classic look as well.

“You buy these shoes

and they are a great look

for the offi ce but they are

also good for going out at

night too. It’s a very wear-

able shoe and I think ev-

ery woman should have

that great black pump or a

nude pump. If people are

trying on pumps now they

are a lot more comfortable

then they were 10 years

ago,” she said, adding fl at

shoes are also a style that

remains trendy. “Flats are

not going away – people

are not giving those up. But

ballet fl ats have been done

so maybe there is some or-

namentation or a little bit

of a lace or a toe cap.”

Other trends for this

coming spring for footwear

include the use of metallic

colours and mixing metals.

“Pewter and rose gold are

still really, really strong.

The yellow gold is still being

shown and then mixtures of

all of those, too.”

Looking back, Krausher

added in 2014 ankle boots

were a trend that was a sur-

prising one. “Of course we

really see the higher boots

here but in Europe and in

other parts of the world

we have seen that ankle or

three-quarter boot style.”

She added ankle boots

can be worn with leggings

and dresses or even shorts

rather than just wearing an

ankle boot under jeans or

pants. The trend is to show

them off.

“At the same time we

have also seen boots that

are to the knee and over

the knee. That has been re-

ally, really popular. People

are wearing tunics and leg-

gings with a tall boot.”

For those who are new

to the boot style, Krausher

said a great fi rst buy would

be a lace up Oxford. “That

is a great look and they

come in a stacked heel, so

not a narrow heel. Comfort

is key and people do not

have to sacrifi ce comfort

for style.”

Meanwhile, Krausher

said there are certain items

that every woman should

have in her wardrobe.

“Leggings are one of

those items and I know

there are ladies who don’t

think they can wear them,

but there are styles for ev-

ery body type. It’s important

to talk to people in the shops

and take a look at some of

those styles. Designers are

mindful that people come

in all shapes and sizes and

they are making styles that

accommodate.”

Krausher added other

must-have items for wom-

en include a crisp, white

blouse, a black and white

dress, a well fi tting black

dress pant, a blazer and a

piece in leather whether

it’s a jacket or skirt.

“In shoes a great clas-

sic pump is a must-have as

well as a wing-tipped shoe

– they are not going away –

think of a men’s dress shoe,

but a women’s version.”

In terms of accessories,

Krausher said a statement

necklace should be in ev-

ery woman’s closet. “If you

keep with your great ba-

sic pieces, you can totally

change your look with ac-

cessories. It’s important to

keep your accessory collec-

tion current.”

[email protected]

HALF PRICEHALF PRICEBRACES?

HALF PRICEHALF PRICEBRACES?BRACES?

General Dentist – See website for detailsImage is a non-patient model used for advertising purposes only – current ADA guidelines restrict the use of before & after photos – not all patients may be suitable candidates for this treatment –

orthodontics has risks and rewards that need to be discussed with a trusted dental professional. It is recommended that you seek a second opinion from a certifi ed orthodontist to be able to compare the choices available before making a decision. Individual results may vary and no guarantee is provided.

“The Braces were comfortable & Affordable...I am a true believer & supporter.”

- Ms. Nicole D.

Visitwww.HalfPriceBraces.ca

Tapping into the hottest looks for the springFrom clothing to accessories, local fashionista dishes on the latest trends


When you do web search about design

trends you see catch words like ‘retro’, ‘tra-

ditional’, ‘contemporary’ and ‘classic’.

All of these categories have completely

opposite meanings yet they all come up on

searches when you are looking for trends

– it’s no wonder people are confused about

how to design their homes!

If you are entering into a project this

year, whether building or renovating, I

would encourage you to think outside of

the box.

Pick the items you love but I want you

to really put some thought into adding a

fun element to your home. Look at some of

your favorite items on Pinterest or Houzz

and decide to include something similar in

your home even if on a smaller scale.

It may be a fun furniture or art element;

you may choose to have an outlandish area

rug in your home made of patches of leath-

er and jean pockets or a footstool covered

in cowhide in an otherwise contemporary

space.

Whatever you choose make sure it is a

refl ection of you and make sure that it

stands out enough that anyone entering

your home will sort of get ‘hit’ with it.

Many people worry that they will get

tired of an outlandish decorative item or

statement but I assure you if it jumps up

and grabs your attention, you will have

it in your life and love it for decades to

come! Something as simple as changing

your bedroom light fi xture to a romantic,

moody chandelier may completely over-

haul the sense you have in that room. If

you have longed for the charm of exposed

brick walls to make your space more loft

like then please, I beg you....GO FOR IT!

One thing or one small change will

transform your space and your feelings

about that space.

Nothing is worse than planning a design

project and it just turns out okay; this is

the time to pull out the stops and create a

fabulous focal point in your home.

If you need more texture, add a chair

with simple style and mind blowing fabric

then order a few more yards to make cur-

tains or pillows for your room.

Take a boring wall in your home and

cover it with recycled metal or reclaimed

hardwood for that instant fun and chic fi n-

ish. You can even work in fantastic wallpa-

per or tile to create a one of a kind feeling

– anything is possible!

Take it, own it and run with it! This is

the time of resolutions and renewal and

it’s time to add visual interest and a huge

wow factor to your home.

Decide that this is the year of ignoring

your mother or best friend who say ‘that’s

TOO much’ and taking on all the design

world has to offer.

Don’t be afraid of the large patterned

wallpaper and animal print fabric and

rugs – take on these elements that take

your breath away and use them in your

home.

A professional may be required to help

you balance patterns but your result will

be spectacular if you step outside the

brown cardboard box.

So go ahead, paint your ceiling orange

or install the most fabulous light fi xture in

your dining room then have your friends

over for dinner and revel in their jaw drop-

ping stares.

Take just one chance this year on your

home decor and stomp fear into the ground

when you are tempted to pull back and

play it safe.

Kim Meckler is an interior designer in Red Deer with Carpet Colour Centre.

Think outside the box for New Year renovations

Kim

M E C K L E R

enusManyMM

All menus are available online atAll menus are available online at

www.reddeerexpress.comwww.reddeerexpress.com

Attention All Foodies!

Coming in February

To advertise call 403.346.3356


BY KALISHA MENDONSARed Deer Express

With the New Year upon

us, people often look at

how they can improve their

lives and make resolutions

for change for the year

ahead.

Resolutions for change

can fade away quickly

without the right tools as

can a positive outlook that

accepts that life sometimes

is unpredictable.

Kyle Garnett, a mental

health counsellor with the

Red Deer Primary Care

Network, has some tips for

how to make goals stick for

the whole year and how to

deal with those times when

things don’t go as planned.

“One of the things to

think about is stress and

how to manage that. Often,

people look at stress as a

very negative thing, and we

try to push it away in life.

However, stress is actually

a very good indicator of a

need. It is a brain and body

response that says, ‘Hey,

something is happening

here’,” said Garnett.

“My fi rst message is to

change your mindset and

way of viewing stress. Sec-

ond to that, try to under-

stand what stress is telling

you because there is usual-

ly a need behind that stress.

That could mean you need

physical health care, a talk

with a friend or even some

journaling.”

Lots of people get

stressed out about change

that can come with resolu-

tions, winding down from

holidays, and looking for-

ward to the next year.

Garnett said that goals

are important but if one

focuses too much on the

past or future, it causes

anxiety, which takes away

from overall happiness and

health.

“Whenever we’re focus-

ing on the past, we’re usu-

ally anxious or depressed

because it about things we

can’t control and it’s over.

When we’re focused on the

future, it hasn’t happened

yet so we’re also feeling

anxious. This brings me

to the idea of mindfulness

and pulling our mind to the

present moment we are liv-

ing.

“The idea of pulling our-

selves back to the present is

a very good technique to re-

duce stress. It’s about get-

ting into the senses to be-

come mindful. What are we

seeing, touching, hearing,

tasting, smelling, and how

are we taking in those ex-

periences in this moment.”

Garnett explained as

people consider themselves

in the moment, they could

get more fulfi lment out of

their present situation and

also identify their goals

and needs at that time.

Mindfulness, as defi ned

by Garnett, is about non-

judgemental moment-to-

moment awareness and

slowing down.

“Something that is cul-

tivated over time is chang-

ing our relationships with

our thoughts and feelings.

People need to know that

thoughts are just that until

we allow them to become

judgements. Usually, when

we’re getting judgemental,

it is a projection of some-

thing that is happening for

us so it becomes important

to tune into the feeling and

identifying the underlying

need.”

New Year’s resolutions

are goals that often will

mean a big change in a per-

son’s life.

Garnett said if you want

to make a resolution stick,

examine and identify the

small steps that will make

up the bigger effort.

“For looking at goals, I

like to ask people to use the

RICK principle. With this

they examine: What is my

readiness?

“Is this important to me?

Do I have the confi dence

and knowledge to make this

happen?”

He said that it is impor-

tant to note a person may

not have the confi dence and

knowledge that they will

need to see a goal to com-

pletion, but they should

ask themselves anyway as

a starting point.

“If you can go through

that model, and say yes to

all four – at least to have

a start – that will make it

worthwhile.

“We may not start out

with lots of knowledge or

confi dence, but it’s impor-

tant that we’re willing to

try. The readiness and im-

portance are where it all

starts.”

Garnett said it is impor-

tant to set goals but to un-

derstand that life changes.

Goals are not only for Jan-

uary, but should be long-

term and benefi cial to our

lifestyles.

Another tip that Garnett

had for really enjoying and

embracing the change of

the New Year is to address

what values and principles

one wants to abide by, and

then to identify what gives

meaning and purpose. This

positivity will resonate

all year long and can help

people to live a full life with

less stress.

“It’s a good thing to ask

yourself all year round,

‘Am I living my life with

my values and principles

or am I off track?’

“It comes back to mind-

fulness. Find out what ful-

fi ls you in life because that

is an important aspect of

living a full life and manag-

ing self-care. That comes

back to mindfulness.”

For many people rela-

tionships in their lives are

causes of both stress and

happiness. Maintaining

relationships, either pro-

fessional or personal, in

a healthy way is a major

player in feeling fulfi lled

each year.

His advice is to set aside

designated time to connect

with people and to identify

personal responsibilities in

meeting relationship goals.

This translates into being

mindful of criticisms and

blame, including blaming

oneself.

“It’s not about blaming

ourselves or other people,

but fi guring out our roles

and what we can change to

make the relationship bet-

ter, and then things get a

lot easier.”

Ultimately, he said that

self-care, mindfulness and

appreciation are the keys to

having a truly Happy New

Year.

[email protected]

It’s time to have that difficult talk with your Mom and Dad.Are you ready?Being constantly concerned about your Parent’s safety and well-being can take its toll.Don’t you wish Mom and Dad could be part of a welcoming community where they are respected, surrounded by friends, caring staff and social activities?We know that when it’s time for your Parents to consider moving out of their home it can be a difficult decision - it’s not an easy topic to discuss. As Red Deer’s premier Independent and Assisted Living residence, Symphony Senior Living has a great reputation of taking care of Mom and Dads. Call us today and we’d be glad to listen and share information that will help. We can also arrange a personalized visit-it makes all the difference in the world.

Book a personalized tour: Aspen Ridge 403-341-5522Inglewood 403-346-1134We’ll even treat you to a complimentary lunch (we’re proud of our food!)

A S P E N R I D G E www.symphonyseniorliving.com

g

omm

d.d.5 Reasons you’’ll be glad

your Parents are here.

1. Spacious studios, 1 and 2 bedroom

suites for an accessible home-like feel.

2. Attentive health care staff are here 24/7

3. Three meals a day plus snacks,

housekeeping, laundry, maintenance,

we take the load off you.

4. Daily social activities and special

events make it fun here.

5. We are trained to take care of seniors

with dementia and Alzheimer’s (Ask

about our Moments Neighbourhood)

5 Reasons you’ll be glad

your parents are here.

“OFTEN, PEOPLE LOOK AT STRESS AS A VERY NEGATIVE

THING, AND WE TRY TO PUSH IT AWAY IN LIFE. HOWEVER, STRESS IS

ACTUALLY A VERY GOOD INDICATOR OF A NEED.

IT IS A BRAIN AND BODY RESPONSE THAT SAYS, ‘HEY, SOMETHING IS HAPPENING HERE’.”

KYLE GARNETT

Managing stress and staying positive this year


Are New Year’s Resolu-

tions worth making any-

more?

Perhaps not, according

to a 2007 University of Bris-

tol study by psychologist,

professor and author Rich-

ard Wiseman.

He found that a full 88%

of the 3,000 study subjects

failed to keep their resolu-

tions. This, despite that at

the beginning of the study

52% of the participants

said they were confi dent of

success.

Only about 1/10!

It’s no wonder that some

people say emphatically

that making New Year’s

Resolutions is a waste of

time. But don’t throw in the

towel just yet. Because any

time you commit to making

improvements in your life,

it’s a positive thing.

A much better ques-

tion is...how do you im-

prove your odds of follow-

ing through on your New

Year’s Resolutions? The

good news is that if you are

actually reading a health

and fi tness column , I’d say

your odds of success are

better than average.

And to make your odds

even greater I’ve put to-

gether 12 tactics (broken

down in three categories:

Strategy, Accountabil-

ity and Motivation) to help

make sure this is the year

you achieve your New

Year’s health and fi tness

resolution:

Strategy

• Don’t make too many

resolutions. Attempt too

much at once and it could

overwhelm you. Make a

list, prioritize it and then

shoot for the top one or two.

• Be realistic. Your goals

have to be achievable. Don’t

be too aggressive with

your goals. Shoot for goals

you are confi dent you can

achieve.

• Put a plan together. You

need a plan. So spend a few

minutes and document the

exact steps you are going to

take to achieve your resolu-

tions. And be specifi c. Don’t

just say ‘I’m going to exer-

cise more.’ Say ‘I’m going

to do an hour workout four

times a week and will work-

out on Monday, Wednesday,

Friday and Sunday.’

• Get professional assis-

tance. Tapping into an ex-

pert’s knowledge will give

you a tried and true path to

success. Plus it will make

you more accountable.

Accountability

• Turn it into a family af-

fair or social activity with

friends. You don’t have to

go it alone. Partner up with

a family member or friend

who has the same goals.

• Keep a journal. Docu-

ment your journey. It will

make you more aware of

what you should be doing

and help you stay focused

on your goals.

• Start a blog. Services

such as blogger.com and

wordpress.com offer free

blogging services. Don’t

worry if anyone reads it.

The real reward is in the

act of writing it.

• Focus on actions. The

results will take care of

themselves.

Motivation

• Apply a sense of pur-

pose to your goals. A sense

of purpose applies a great-

er meaning to your resolu-

tion. For example, if your

goal is to get in shape, your

sense of purpose might be

too live as long as you can

so you’ll be able to spend

the maximum amount of

time with your children

and grandchildren.

• Reward yourself. Once

you reach certain mile-

stones, reward yourself.

It could be something as

simple as buying a music

album you’ve always want-

ed or treating yourself to a

meal in a nice restaurant.

• Picture yourself as the

person you’d like to be. And

then remind yourself that if

you stick to your schedule

you will become that person.

Some people fi nd it useful to

post a picture of themselves

at their ideal weight or hang

a bathing suit, ‘skinny jeans’

or other clothing they want

to fi t into to help them with

that picture.

• If you take a misstep,

get ‘back on the horse’. It’s

not he end of the world. But

don’t give up. Continue on

with renewed vigor.

Remember, permanent

change only happens if you

change your behaviour.

We’ve all known some-

one who changed their be-

haviour temporality with a

diet, and successfully lost

weight only to gain it back

when they eased back into

their old bad habits.

The key is to make these

lifestyle changes your new

way of doing things.

And aside from that, per-

haps the most important

tip is to be positive. Atti-

tude is everything when it

comes to everything you do

in life. Believe you will suc-

ceed and you can accom-

plish anything you set your

mind to.

Jack Wheeler is a personal trainer and owner of 360 Fit-ness in Red Deer.

Get targeted exposure to a large yet

specialized audience when you advertise

your business in special sections

geared toward your business market.

Top 5 Reasons to Advertise in Our Special Sections

Special sections allow you to focus your advertising on a specific target market.

Your ad will have a longer shelf life, since many people save special sections for future reference.

Your ad will tie in to a specific event or time of year, making it more relevant for the reader.

Special sections add content support for your advertising.

Special sections stand alone within the newspaper, making your ad easy to locate.

Get targeted exposure

TARGETED ADVERTISINGTHAT WORKS FOR YOUR BUSINESS

12

345

www.reddeerexpress.com

To advertise in our next special sectioncall Kim @ 403.309.5469 or Michelle @ 403.309.5460.

Twelve tactics for keeping health and fi tness resolutions

Jack

W H E E L E R


Gasoline Alley • Red Deer County403-343-FORD (3673) • 1.888.308.9457

www.camclarkfordreddeer.com

14T8217

2013 Ford Explorer Ltd#U29363

$36,888 $36,888

2008 Ford Mustang GT#U29278

$19,996 $19,996

2013 Mitsubishi Lancer SW#U29338

$16,888888

2011 Ford F-150 XLT#U29155

$19,495$19,495

2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS#U29344

$24,588 $24,588

2012 Ford Edge SEL#U29265

$22,995 $22,995

2013 Ford Fusion SE#U29058

$22,995 $22,995

2012 Jeep Compass Sport#U29476

$16,888 $16,888

OVEROVER

15001500to Choose to Choose

From!From!

*All prices are plus tax and applicable fees. 1500 vehicles combined with 3 Alberta locations. See dealer for full details.


As mentioned in the fi lm

Rent, there are 526,600 min-

utes in a year.

This means there are

526,600 minutes we can use

to better our lives and in-

cite change or to continue

on in one’s unhappiness.

People rush into the New

Year with lists of resolu-

tions on how they are going

to change themselves and

their lives, hoping this will

fi nally be the year they lose

those 10 extra pounds, save

that extra money, or fi nally

do all of the things they’ve

always wanted to do.

So my question for you is

this, why must you wait un-

til the beginning of a new

year to make these chang-

es? If you want to change

something, do it.

Looking back at the last

365 days of my life, particu-

larly to this time last year

– I was in no place to be in-

citing changes into my life,

yet the universe had other

plans for me.

After leaving a mentally

draining and exhausting

relationship, I was back

living in my parent’s base-

ment and needless to say I

was miserable.

Not because I was living

with my parents again, al-

though it was slightly de-

pressing to think about.

I was overweight, smok-

ing a pack a day, wildly

unhappy and downright

unwilling to make any

changes or do anything

about it.

All I wanted to do was

wallow, so wallow I did.

Many nights spent alone

in my room accompanied

by Ben & Jerry, my good

pal Netfl ix, and a few good

cries were to follow.

This carried on for a few

months into 2014, until one

morning I woke up and de-

cided something needed to

change.

A quote had appeared

on my facebook newsfeed

the night before stating,

“Think less, feel more.

Frown less, smile more.

Talk less, listen more.

Judge less, accept more.

Watch less, do more. Com-

plain less, appreciate more.

Fear less, love more.”

These words ran on re-

peat through my mind until

I fell asleep that night and

were again on my mind

when I awoke.

For the last few months

all I had been doing was

frowning about the things I

thought were wrong in my

life, talking about my prob-

lems, judging the people

who I thought had wronged

me, watching happy people

be happy, complaining

about my situation, and liv-

ing in immense fear of my

new unstable and uncer-

tain life.

It was decided that morn-

ing that today was going to

be the day I would smile

again, I would listen with

great intent, I would be ac-

cepting of everyone and

forgive those who I was an-

gry with.

Instead of watching peo-

ple be happy, I was going

to do things that made me

happy.

Rather than complaining

about the problems in my

life, I was going to appre-

ciate the things that were

right in it.

Last but not least, and

I must admit this one cer-

tainly took the longest and

the most effort - I was go-

ing to open my heart to love

and stop fearing life.

It’s unclear if I had made

a list of resolutions say-

ing these same things if

I would’ve actually done

them or not, but on this

particular day I woke up

and I was inspired to make

the positive changes in

my life that I needed to be

happy.

I saw what I needed to do,

and I did them.

Some may say it’s easier

said than done to simply

wake up one morning and

change your life, but the

will power of a human is

truly immeasurable. On

that day I designed a life I

loved.

It took a few months to

see results of my choices

but I learned that if you

want change in your life,

you just have to do it. If you

want to lose weight, do it.

If you want to save money,

do it.

Don’t wait until the New

Year to change your life,

there are literally 526,600

minutes in a year that you

can snap back to reality

and make little changes.

There are 526,600 min-

utes in a year that you can

choose to smile, listen, ac-

cept, do, appreciate and

love.

But at the end of the day,

that’s just it – you have to

choose to do these things

and no one is going to force

you.

I was pulled out of

months of wallowing by

one of those ‘light bulb mo-

ments’ incited by a simple

quote on the Internet, and

I would venture to say that

everyone needs that inspi-

ration to get the ball rolling.

So maybe my story can

be that inspiration for

someone else, because life

is short and it’s too short to

spend it living any way but

exactly how you want. You

have to design your life,

and you have the power to

do so.

No one in this life is pow-

erless, but sometimes we

need inspiration to fi nd our

power.

Five hundred twenty

fi ve thousand six hundred

minutes later and I’m still

working on the life I want

to live everyday. I’ve lost

some of the weight that

was bothering me, but it’s

still a choice I have to make

everyday. I made the choice

to quit smoking, sometimes

I slip up but every day is a

challenge and from what I

hear from people who have

quit I very well may strug-

gle with this the rest of my

life.

Sure there are days when

I don’t feel like getting out

of bed, days I feel like eat-

ing 17 poutines back to

back then smoking an en-

tire pack of cigarettes but

I have to fi ght everyday for

the values I want my life to

be based on.

Don’t wait for Friday,

don’t wait for summer,

and don’t wait for the New

Year next time you want to

make a change because if

you keep waiting, one day

it might be too late.

[email protected]

Ask how you can receive a

15% discount!Call a Sales Representative

today to reserve your space!

403-346-3356

#121, 5301 43 StreetRed Deer, AB T4N 1C8

[403]346-3356 [403]347-6620 faxwww.reddeerexpress.com

MARCH - Spring EditionJUNE - Inc. Summer Adventures

OCTOBER - Fall EditionDECEMBER - Holiday Edition

livingAll Ads

Include Full Colour!

Red Deer is an ideal place to raise a family. As a young city, we are fortunate to have a combination of small community

values and big city amenities.

The Red Deer Express publishes an exciting quarterly publication that is targeted directly to families and healthy lifestyle living.

In each feature, we will focus on important issues including parenting, seniors, nutrition, fi tness, health, education, safety as well as all sorts of fun activities for families.

Take advantage of a highly targeted publication that will have weeks of shelf-life and excellent value.

Healthy Family

Making necessary changes to live your best lifeJenna

SWAN

“SOME MAY SAY IT’S EASIER SAID THAN

DONE TO SIMPLY WAKE UP ONE MORNING AND

CHANGE YOUR LIFE, BUT THE WILL POWER OF A HUMAN IS TRULY IMMEASURABLE. ON

THAT DAY I DESIGNED A LIFE I LOVED.”


BY MARK WEBERRed Deer Express

With the start of a New Year, many fi nd

themselves wanting to make some serious

changes to their lives. That can include

tackling an ongoing weight issue.

There are many ways to begin the battle,

including choosing to join a group of like-

minded individuals setting out to achieve

similar goals of not only dropping weight

but also bettering overall health.

One such group is TOPS – Take Off

Pounds Sensibly. There are several TOPS

groups in the City one of which meets ev-

ery Monday in the basement of the Luther-

an Church of the Good Shepherd.

Weigh-in occurs between 6 and 6:45 p.m.

with the program running from 7 to 8 p.m.

Organizers encourage folks to drop in for

a free evening or call Sharon Vierboom at

403-309-2395 (evenings).

Trevor Seitz, 39, has been attending

meetings for about fi ve years.

“I had a minor heart attack when I was

younger,” he explains, adding that his

highest weight was 290 lbs. When he joined

TOPS, he weighed 231 lbs.

Today, he weighs in at about 185 lbs.

“I had a great metabolism growing up

– and then when I hit college it was ‘eat

when you can’. I was skipping meals – es-

pecially breakfast and eating lunch on the

fl y. I started packing on the weight.”

Even with a commitment to exercising,

he wasn’t able to maintain a healthy weight

as well. “I knew I had to make a change.”

He tried out a couple of groups, and

found TOPS to be the most suitable.

“I think it’s the support,” he explains.

“Everyone is the same boat – mind you

we are outnumbered by women,” he adds

with a laugh. That was a bit intimidating

at fi rst, but it soon was a non-issue because

what he found was a supportive, welcom-

ing community that was willing to walk

him all the way through his weight loss

journey.

TOPS helps participants reach weight-

loss goals by providing them with the

tools, information, support and account-

ability they need to be successful. After all,

this has been a winning formula for TOPS

members over the last 60-some years.

According to the TOPS web site, meet-

ings help folks take an honest look at the

changes they need to make. They also

show that true health “Isn’t a certain pants

size, or even a number on a scale.”

Vierboom, as mentioned, is the group’s

facilitator. “What makes TOPS unique

and stand out is that it’s not a diet plan

– it’s a lifestyle change.” Other programs

may work, but if you don’t stick to the pro-

gram, you will likely re-gain the weight,

she said.

“I’m not saying that’s doesn’t happen

with TOPS, but what we are trying to do

is teach people how to eat properly, get

proper exercise and also teach them that

it doesn’t have to include drastic changes.

“We also don’t charge the exorbitant

member fees – membership is going up to

$36 per year, and for that you get the TOP

News as well. We as a chapter also charge

$5 per month members’ fees to help pay

rent and buy supplies.”

Vierboom mentioned a quote she heard

from Barbara Cady, CEO of TOPS, who

said that, ‘After the fi rst two bites, every-

thing else is redundant.’

Meanwhile, conversations run the gam-

ut from nutrition to health concerns to

weight loss strategies to portion control to

food shopping in a healthier way. Special

speakers also drop in from time to time to

present their views on an array of health

and diet-related issues as well, said Seitz.

For Seitz, the hard work, lifestyle chang-

es and support certainly paid off. He was

named the Provincial King Runner Up for

TOPS in 2012.

Dennies Vierboom has also found TOPS

to be an effective tool in losing weight.

“When I came in, I didn’t really under-

stand how to eat or what food did,” he

explains. Over the years, he was a busy

tradesman and weight gain wasn’t a prob-

lem. But a few years back, he was diag-

nosed with fi bromyalgia. “It just stopped

me, and then the weight packed on – up to

260 pounds.

“Within six months I put on 30 pounds,”

he said. “Me sitting at home trying to lose

weight just didn’t work.”

Dennies, 54, joined TOPS in the summer

of 2010, as his wife Sharon (current facili-

tator) was attending then as well.

He was with the group for a couple of

years, and has only recently returned. But

over that period of being away, he only

gained 1 lb. So the lessons and lifestyle

changes clearly stayed with him. That’s the

same case as with Seitz, who has returned

after not attending since last August – he

only gained about 1 lb. as well.

That’s good news in a society of diets

that cost millions every year, only for folks

to later often see the pounds come back on

– and then some.

“It’s understanding how food works,”

said Dennies, who was the TOPS second

place winner in Division II for Alberta in

2010. He has lost about 45 lbs. The sup-

port he has received from TOPS has been

invaluable. “There’s a lot of experience to

take advantage of, so it’s also a great learn-

ing tool.”

For those considering signing on, both

men emphasize how the group has helped

them change their lives. And they encour-

age other men to give it a try. “It’s a true

struggle – everybody struggles with it ev-

eryday whether you are on weight, over-

weight or underweight. It’s fi nding that

place where you can be healthy and feel

comfortable,” said Seitz.

Dennies agrees. “If nothing else, you

will learn more about the food that you are

eating. I’d encourage anyone to come.”

Both men also say how much better life

is now that they are thinner.

“I feel awesome,” said Seitz. “I’ve got more

energy, I can get back into power walking

and jogging and running marathons again

– which I haven’t been able to do for a long

time. I can do that in the New Year.”

For more information, visit www.TOPS.

org.

[email protected]

A New Year,A New Year, A New Start! A New Start!

All the BestAll the Best

Earl Dreeshen, MP4315 - 55th Avenue, Suite 100A403-347-7426 • www.earldreeshen.ca

in 2015!in 2015!

Facing weight issues with the help of TOPS

Now That’s Clean!Now That’s Clean!

• 100% Natural Cleaning Solutions• High Heat Truck Mounted Steam Units

• IICRC Certifi ed Technicians

www.will-do.ca 403.342.1821403.342.1821

A New Year... A New Clean!$20.00 OFF$20.00 OFF

ANY order over $125For Carpet, Upholstery or Tile & Grout cleaning.

*Expires 01/31/15. See in-store for full details

*


6

Talk to a sales representative today for more information

403.346.3356

reasons why you should advertisein the Red Deer Express

The Market you are lookingto reach is reading the

Buyers are readingour paper

CREDIBILITY – Polls show people believe newspapers offer the most believable advertising. The offer is there to read over and over again. It does not intrude uninvited and then vanish.sh.

ASSURANCE – Our newspaper circulations are verifi ed and audited. Tear sheets verify that an ad ran as scheduled. Advertisers have tangible proof that their ad reaches their audience.

PERMANENCE – Newspapers allow readers time. Readers have the time to digest and consider an advertising offer at their leisure. Consumers need not to be in the right place at the time to see or hear the advertiser’s message. Studies prove that our papers are kept longer than a week and are read by more than one person in a household.

LOCAL COVERAGE – Newspapers occupy a unique position in reader’s lives. Newspapers contain news on local people and events, while providing the most reliable source of in depth local coverage of everything in your community, including what businesses are offering this week.

ECONOMY – Cost per thousand is very competitive, but the results of good newspaper advertising are the best measure of its benefi t.

LOCAL INVESTMENT – No other medium can compare to a newspaper that continues to service the local community. An advertising order is an investment by the advertiser, not only in their business but in the community.

With the turn of every new

year, we all refl ect on where we

are in life, where we’ve been and

where we’re headed.

It seems to be the time that we

commit to change ourselves for

the better - the New Year Resolu-

tion.

How many of us resolve to eat

better or exercise more, every

year? All are noble and health

oriented goals.

We all know the benefi ts of

healthy eating or increased exer-

cise. The evidence is so huge, that

it has become common knowl-

edge. But what about something

like better hearing as a health

oriented goal?

There is mounting evidence

that leaving existing hearing loss

untreated can have signifi cant

negative effects on brain function

as we age.

Dr. Frank Lin, MD, PhD, a re-

searcher at Johns Hopkins Uni-

versity has recently published a

couple of startling articles link-

ing hearing loss to dementia, de-

cline in brain function and even

brain “shrinkage”.

His data shows that people with

hearing loss show mental decline

30 to 40% quicker than those

without.

On average, older adults with

hearing loss showed signifi cant

impairment in their brain func-

tion (dementia) 3.2 years sooner

than those with normal hearing.*

When we consider this new

data, and add it to what Audiolo-

gists already know about untreat-

ed hearing loss, the conclusions

are interesting.

We now know that untreated

hearing loss can accelerate the

onset of dementia.

We know that untreated or

poorly treated hearing loss can

mimic signs of dementia, making

the role of the family doctor dif-

fi cult in what to manage fi rst. We

also know that carefully fi t hear-

ing aid technology can minimize

cognitive load.

That is to say, if we do our job

properly, we can minimize how

much of a person’s mental re-

sources (brain effort) is invested

in listening. If we can do that, it

is possible to help people direct

those resources to other areas of

life and potentially reduce fatigue

and stress at the end of the day.

We can’t underestimate the

importance of our hearing. It is

what allows us to communicate

and maintain relationships. What

we haven’t thought about until

now, is how many other aspects

of our health can be affected by

our hearing.

The evidence is compelling and

it may be time to consider our

hearing as an aspect of health care

similar to weight loss or healthy

eating or quitting smoking.

The choices we make now can

pay dividends later in life. Some-

times health care focuses on liv-

ing longer.

Maybe we need to start think-

ing about the quality of those

years that we are adding to our

life. Maybe it’s time to stop de-

laying that visit to the Audiolo-

gist and start investing in an im-

proved quality of life.

There is no time like the pres-

ent. A new year and a new you!

* If you have any questions

about the studies cited in this

article, please contact me at

[email protected].

Dr. Andrew Towers is an audiologist with HearWell Audiologists in Red Deer.

Andrew

TOWERS

Healthy hearing makes for a happier life


BY KALISHA MENDONSARed Deer Express

Local residents wishing

to kick a tobacco habit will

be able to access a free ces-

sation program through

Alberta Health Services

(AHS) called QuitCore,

when it returns to the City

this month.

QuitCore is a cost-free

six-week program that

takes place at Johnstone

Crossing Community

Health Centre on consecu-

tive Thursdays beginning

Jan. 22nd. The program

begins at 2:30 p.m. and goes

to 4 p.m. To register call

1-866-710-QUIT (7848) or

register online at www.al-

bertaquits.ca.

“We typically run this

program three times a

year in Red Deer. We have

a dietician who comes in

to talk about some healthy

eating choices, as well as a

pharmacist who gives in-

formation on replacement

therapies and prescription

cessation options,” said

Jessica Bennett, a tobacco

reduction and addictions

counsellor with Alberta

Addiction and Mental

Heath Services.

“We have lots of people

who come in and say that

they have tried a product,

but we fi nd that a lot of peo-

ple aren’t getting the results

they want because they sim-

ply aren’t using the product

right. Our pharmacist helps

explain how to use these op-

tions properly.”

Bennett said that the

program also includes in-

formation on behavioural

strategies that are needed

to overcome the addiction

to nicotine as well as break-

ing the habits associated

with the act of smoking.

“Quitting is not just

about nicotine withdrawals

– we have to tackle habits.

“I have told people that

quitting a substance is the

easy part and the hard part

is learning to live without

it and break those behav-

iours. It’s about separating

behaviours from the addic-

tion,” Bennett said.

The QuitCore program

aims to give people tools and

support to stop smoking. The

group setting and support

system is, according to Ben-

nett, a more effective way of

quitting than trying to do so

without help or support.

“You are two times more

likely to be successful in

quitting if you do it in a sup-

portive environment. I spend

no time on the health effects

in this program because I

know that doesn’t motivate

people. Most people who

smoke know the risks of

smoking – we really focus on

what people can gain to quit.

We tell them what they will

get from this instead of what

they will lose.”

The program offers in-

formation on the multiple

aspects of overcoming a

nicotine addiction.

Part of this information

is correcting myths about

quitting and the various

programs offered by AHS

that include telephone and

online support services,

one-on-one counselling and

group cessation programs

like QuitCore.

Bennett says that one of

the more popular myths

surrounding smoking ces-

sation is the idea that a

person can’t keep smoking

while they’re on a patch,

which she assures is false.

Another that she said she

hears frequently is the mis-

conception that a person

would gain weight due to

quitting smoking.

“A lot of times our per-

ception of quitting is much

darker than it really is.

What I mean by that is peo-

ple fear the withdrawal and

that kind of makes it diffi -

cult for them,” she said.

“In regards to weight

gain, you’d have to gain

175 pounds for it to have

the same impact on your

health as smoking does. Of-

ten, people only gain a few

pounds and that is more

to do with the behavioural

habits, and we explain how

that works.”

Bennett said that the

program does not include

e-cigarettes as an Alberta

Health Services tested and

approved method of smok-

ing cessation.

The program is not lim-

ited to people who have de-

cided to quit smoking. Ben-

nett said it is really made

for anyone who wishes to

change their tobacco habit

and improve his or her

health. Around the fourth

week, some goal setting

strategies are provided and

encouraged but are not

made mandatory to any-

one.

kmendonsa@reddeerexpress

Support and tools to stop smoking with QuitCore

BY MARK WEBERRed Deer Express

It’s a curious thing that

it’s at this time of year –

more than any other – that

so many pledge to launch

at times very dramatic life-

style changes.

Only to see their fi red-up

resolve melt away as the

dreary mid-winter months

unfold.

Yes, it’s the post-Christ-

mas season of dreaming

up a fl urry of New Year’s

Resolutions, from quit-

ting smoking to shedding

pounds to getting in the

best shape of our lives. But

how effective is this yearly

routine?

According to Wikipedia,

the most popular reso-

lutions are plans to lose

weight, pay off debts, save

money, get a better job, get

fi t, eat right, get a better

education, drink less, quit

smoking, reduce stress,

take a trip or volunteer

more.

But unfortunately, most

people, regardless of their

specifi c New Year’s resolu-

tions, see plans fall fl at by

February.

And it’s the usual ones

that seem to fall by the way-

side – efforts to lose weight,

a goal to learn something

new, travel, stepping up on

volunteering or getting out

of debt.

Where is a lasting sense

of ‘stick-to-it-tiveness?’

According to Dr. Pauline

Wallin, a clinical psycholo-

gist based in Camp Hill,

Pennsylvania, during the

month of December people

tend to overindulge in eat-

ing, drinking, spending

money and neglecting ex-

ercise.

And unfortunately some

bad behaviours start to sur-

face.

But the resolve to change

behaviours is at its peak

when people feel full or

broke, she said.

“It’s easy to think about

going on a diet as we groan

from a bloating holiday

meal. It’s no problem to

plan to quit smoking when

we’ve just had a cigarette

and replenished our nico-

tine level. At this point we

feel confi dent about our

New Year’s resolutions

because we have not yet

confronted any prolonged

physical deprivation or dis-

comfort.”

When January dawns,

people are generally done

with all the rich food and

the lethargy that often

trails such over-indul-

gence.

So it’s easy to shell out

the cash for the gym mem-

bership, for example. But

appetites for bad foods, pas-

sivity or smokes eventually

resurface.

So resolutions tend to get

pushed further ahead.

But human nature being

what it is, our behaviour

isn’t likely to change much

when the weather warms

up.

So why do people ditch

resolutions? Well, for one

thing, we are a society that

clamours for quick results

in so many ways.

Wallin said folks become

discouraged when results

don’t come as fast as we

would want them to.

So she offers a few tips

to help ensure success as

people consider how to bet-

ter their lives with the New

Year. First, examine your

motivation for change.

“If you can’t think of a

better reason than the fact

that you’re uncomfortable

at this moment, then you’re

better off not making

promises to yourself that

you probably won’t keep.”

But, as she points out, if

you are realistic and accept

the responsibility of disci-

pline required for change,

“Your motivation will be

sustained long after the

discomfort from overindul-

gence has passed.”

Secondly, set realistic

goals and focus on behav-

ioural change more than

the goal. And whatever your

plans, put them into motion

now.

Writer Phil Cooke said

real change is one of the

most diffi cult things we’ll

ever tackle in our lives.

Let’s face it - even the threat

of death isn’t enough to

change some folks’ behav-

iour. We all know of people

who have been about the

consequences that await

them if they don’t change

a certain behaviour – and

they opt not to.

On the web site

ChurchLeaders.com, he

cites a study that showed

within only two years, 90%

of open-heart surgery pa-

tients go back to their old

eating habits – “The same

lifestyle that got them there

in the fi rst place.”

For real change to hap-

pen in our lives, we need

more than wishes and reso-

lutions, he writes.

“We need to understand

how to embrace the kinds

of techniques that allow

real transformation to hap-

pen.”

A circle of consistent

support can also do won-

ders in our endeavors to

live better, richer or more

disciplined lives.

“Surround yourself

with friends who believe

in you, and eliminate nega-

tive people from your life.

Spend less time with people

who drain your energy and

resources, and more time

with people who love and

support your dreams and

goals.”

[email protected]

Finding support is a key to success in lifestyle change


Don’t take chances with your family’s

hheeeeaaaallttthh.LLiiifffffeeee iiiss uunnnnpppreedddiiiicccttttaaaabbbbblee,, bbut wwwiiiitttthhhhh aaafffffffforddaabbblllleee cccoooovvvveeerrrraaageee fffrrrroooommm AAAlllbbbberrrrttaa BBBBllluuueee CCCCrrroossss,

yyyooouuuu ccccaaannnn resttt eeeaaasssyyy kkkknnnoooowinngggyyoou hhhaaaave the ppraaacticaalll bbbbenefits you nneeed ttooo mmmmaaaaintain youur ffamilyyy’’’ss hhealth and wellbbbbeiiiinnnnggggg....

dental • prescription drugs • vision • travel • massage • chiropractic • ambulance and more

If you’re without employer-sponsored health benefits, contact us today for your free information package.

Toll free 1-800-394-1965

www.ab.bluecross.ca

ABC

833

09 2

014/

12

special features - new year new you 2015

Documents

red deer express new

spring season

hearing aids

spring boots

andrew towers

complimentary hearing

day comfort

best ive