Get Healthy West Georgia

Knox Park Community Garden

gbrandenburg — Sat, 04 May 2013 15:05:29 +0000

The Knox Park Community Garden is now open! The dedication and first work day was held on Monday, April 29, 2013. For more information about how you can adopt or sponsor a plot in the garden, see the information under the “resources” tab above.

2013 Get Healthy West Georgia Weight Loss Challenge Winners

gbrandenburg — Sat, 04 May 2013 14:47:59 +0000

Congratulations to the 2013 Get Healthy West Georgia Weight Loss Challenge winners! The weight lost during the 12 week challenge was quite impressive – 2,472 pounds, which is equivalent to a Volkswagen Bug with four adults inside. Thirty six of the contestants lost over 10% of their weight and qualified for the grand prize drawing of an Apple iPad. Congratulations to Zachary Williams for being randomly chosen as the winner of the iPad.

To see a complete listing of all of the winners, click here: Winners of 2013 Weight Loss Challenge.

Winners not able to attend the “Big Reveal” may pick up their prizes between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday – Friday by May 10. Pick up the prizes at the Tanner Medical Center/Carrollton Marketing and Public Relations office located at 301 Ambulance Drive. This is in the white house on the hill on the walking trail.

Allison Eleton – Before and After!

Katie Britt – Before and After!

Spring Farm Tours

gbrandenburg — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 21:08:51 +0000

Join our local farmers for a Spring Tour of several farms. The tours will be held on Saturday, April 13, 2013 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. On the tour, vendors will showcase everything from raising chickens to buildings made with dirt to bountiful gardens and greenhouses. Tours are free and you can visit in any order as you like. All ages are welcome, but please keep your children with you and do not venture away from the tour. Be sure to wear sturdy shoes. For more information and directions to the farm, visit www.cottonmillfarmersmarket.org

Spring Runs and Walks in West Georgia

gbrandenburg — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 22:12:49 +0000

Check out our events calendar for a listing of some awesome walks and runs coming up this spring in Carroll, Haralson and Heard counties!

Hints for having fun at a run

1. Don’t be nervous. There will always be people who finish before you and people who finish after you. Don’t try to win the race. Make it a challenge to yourself to just finish.

2. Pace yourself. Try to find people close to the pace that you can keep up with comfortably. Don’t start out too fast.

3. There is no shame in walking. Some people run; some people walk. Others do a little of both. Do what feels best for you.

4. Enjoy the moment. The whole experience is unlike anything else. Along the way, you hear the collective pounding of sneakers on the pavement all around you. People sit in their front yards and gather on the sidewalks just to cheer on complete strangers. When you look around, you see people who are all there for one common goal. Listen to some rockin’ songs on an iPod which may help you keep going. When you see the finish line approaching, no matter how tired you feel, dig down deep and give it everything you’ve got left. It’s the most fun you’ll ever have running.

5. Keep moving. Don’t stop moving just because you cross the finish line. Keep walking for several minutes to cool down, and visit the water station to get hydrated. Stay on your feet as much as possible—this will help you avoid cramps and post-workout soreness. Spend several minutes stretching, too, focusing on the calves, quads and hips, which are likely to be sore in the coming days.

6. Be proud. Be proud of yourself for finishing the race, even if you walk the entire distance.

7. You CAN do it. You will see children under 10, seniors over 60, pregnant women, dads pushing strollers, tall, short—every size, shape and age imaginable. Don’t let the fear of coming in last deter you—it’s still better than all the people who never try.

8. Try again. Set a goal to do another race, maybe try to get a better time or to run a little more. Setting goals like this will help keep you motivated.

Volkssport – Check out the walks in Carrollton

gbrandenburg — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 22:03:26 +0000

The American Volkssport Association, also known as AVA, sponsors a program called volksmarching, throughout the United States. Volksmarching is a walking club for participants to enjoy different scenic and historic sites. Walks can be limited to one day, with set start and finish times, or can be year long walks, which allow walkers to pick when and where they wish to walk.

Although the walks take place all over, there are two year long walks being held in Carrollton, Ga. in 2013. These walks are a great way for our Get Healthy West Georgia participants to stay active and to engage in fun, fitness, and friendship.

Carrollton offers a city walk and a lake walk. The city walk begins at the Cultural Arts Center and continues through the University of West Georgia campus, past beautiful homes, over a wooden bridge, and around the lively Carrollton square. The lake walk begins at the Food Depot on Bankhead Highway and continues through a portion of the Carrollton Greenbelt and around Lake Carroll.

Walks are free to the public but all walkers must begin their walk at the registration table, located at each start point. Each walker will complete a start card, which lets the association know that people are using the routes and gives directions of the route.

For more information, such as start times and directions, interested walkers can visit www.georgiawalkers.homestead.com or the American Volkssport Association at www.ava.org

Tips to Help Those New Year’s Resolutions Stick

Millie — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 21:15:34 +0000

Stick With Your Healthy New Year’s Resolutions!

People who make New Year’s resolutions often have the best of intentions, though these goals frequently slide.

The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics suggests how to stick with your goals for the New Year:

Make your goals specific. For example, instead of proclaiming that you want to exercise, commit to 30 minutes of activity per day.
Choose one realistic goal, rather than several goals that are likely to be unachieved.
Create a reminder list.
Take immediate action, whether it’s by changing your diet beginning with the next meal, or by joining a gym.

Carrollton City Schools receive $30,000 USDA grant

gbrandenburg — Mon, 26 Nov 2012 16:10:05 +0000

The nutrition program at Carrollton City Schools was the only school system in Georgia awarded a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture this month, receiving more than $30,000 for its Farm to School initiative.

“We’re always looking for opportunities to be trailblazers,” Superintendent Dr. Kent Edwards said. “So this is just great. It’s always been part of our character and one of our objectives to try for these types of grants.”Edwards said the grant is a credit to the leadership of the nutrition program for the system, led by Director Linette Dodson.

“We are very proud of this and look forward to the community involvement we will enjoy because of it,” Dodson said. “This won’t be fueled only by our nutritionists. We want to make it a community-fueled approach.”

The first-ever USDA Farm to School grants will help schools respond to the growing demand for locally sourced foods and increased market opportunities for producers and food businesses. Grants will also be used to support agriculture and nutrition education efforts such as school gardens, field trips to local farms and cooking classes.

The department is awarding more than $4.5 million in grants for 68 projects, spanning 37 states and the District of Columbia, to connect school cafeterias with local agricultural producers.

“When schools buy food from nearby producers, their purchasing power helps create local jobs and economic benefits, particularly in rural agricultural communities,” Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan said. “Evidence also suggests that when kids understand more about where food comes from and how it is produced, they are more likely to make healthy eating choices.”

Dodson said the grant — amounting to $30,675 — will be used to purchase equipment for storage needs of locally grown foods and preparation needs.

The director also said some money will be used for taste-testing events with students and promotional items

“We are going to reach out to local chefs to come in and show us ways to cook with local ingredients,” Dodson said.

The grant was offered to three entities: school systems, farmers and cooperatives. Two types of grants were awarded, in planning and implementation categories. Carrollton City Schools was awarded a planning grant, but Dodson said that doesn’t mean it’s all just ideas in their heads.

“You have to show something tangible,” Dodson said. “Se we had to prove that we were starting some initiatives now.”

Three grants were given in Georgia — two were to cooperatives, and one to a school system, Carrollton. Dodson said she believes 32 school systems nationwide were awarded the grant.

Edwards said he is excited to see the Farm to School program operate in two helpful ways.

“It will serve students in educating them about healthy eating habits, and it will serve as a cooperative in an important piece of our West Georgia economy, the agricultural community,” Edwards said. “It seemed like a natural fit for us.”

As far as how the system was awarded the grant, Dodson said she felt like their record of promoting healthy eating habits was a major factor.

“Now, we’re trying to take it to the next level, which is locally grown food, not food that comes from Oregon or California or somewhere,” Dodson said. “We want to look at the options we have here in the community.”

Edwards said the program will benefit more than just city school students and parents, though.

“Grants are funded to take the information and push it to other schools and into the community,” he said. “Anytime we can raise awareness about the lifetime benefits of healthy eating, we do.”

Get Healthy West Georgia began six months ago!

gbrandenburg — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 13:29:54 +0000

Get Healthy West Georgia began about six months ago and now we are asking members to take a six month health assessment. We can’t stress enough how vital this is to our effort since it will provide important data that will help us gauge how well the three-year initiative is doing.

When you reach your six month anniversary, you will be sent an email invitation to go to www.GetHealthyWestGeorgia.org. Please take a few minutes to log in and take the health assessment that the tracking tool will suggest to you.

After you’ve taken the health assessment, be sure to look around, check out our current fitness challenge and maybe even share the good news from your health assessment with our other members to inspire and empower them to do more! And if you haven’t been using the tool to track your nutrition and fitness efforts, it’s time to get busy!

During the six-month health assessment time period, we’ll choose one lucky health assessment participant each week to receive a gift.

Maintain Don’t Gain Challenge

gbrandenburg — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 13:02:35 +0000

Tis the season to be realistic!
Perspective my friends, don’t go ballistic.
Ready or not feasting season is here
For most, it’s a time to fear.

Don’t use these celebrations for times to indulge
If you do, you will for sure get the dreaded bulge.
Username, Password …. sign in!
We are here to help you begin.

Temptations are everywhere
Oh yeah, we’ve all been there.
Holiday expectations add to the strain
Join Us! It’s time to Maintain, Don’t Gain!

Maintain Don’t Gain Holiday Fitness Challenge will help you through the holiday table. Holiday tips as well as new healthy holiday food favorites are offered at each achievement. Log in to start the challenge today!

Get Healthy West Georgia and partners celebrate Food Day

gbrandenburg — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 13:59:05 +0000

Get Healthy West Georgia and its community partners are inviting area residents to experience locally grown and healthy “real food” in person at several upcoming events, starting on Food Day, Oct. 24.

Food Day is a nationwide celebration and a movement for healthy, affordable and sustainable food. It is a chance to bring us closer to a food system with “real food” that is produced locally and with care for the environment, animals and those who grow, harvest and serve it. Learn more about Food Day at www.foodday.org.

Several free Food Day events are planned between Oct. 24 and Oct. 30. Registration is not required.

The Food Day Lunch and Farmers’ Market will be held Wednesday, Oct. 24, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Tanner Café at Tanner Medical Center/Carrollton. The farmers market will feature independent local farmers/vendors. Tanner chef Tony Schmidt will demonstrate and prepare locally grown menu items to sample or purchase at the Tanner Café expo station.

Two local farm tours, sponsored by Farmers Fresh CSA, will be held Sunday, Oct. 28, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The first farm tour features Full Life Community Farm, located at 381 Harrison Road, and Freaky Farm, located at 715 Harrison Road in Carrollton. Both farms will be open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. This cooperative raises chickens, bees and a wide variety of vegetables, as well as handmade crafts, jewelry and soaps. All of their products are naturally grown without synthetic fertilizers or pesticides. The farm also features interesting examples of structures built with recycled and natural materials.

The second farm tour features Capra Gia Cheese Company, located at 3325 Shady Grove Road in Carrollton. Open from 1 to 4 p.m., Capra Gia Cheese is hosting a fall festival with live music, products from 15 local farms—including Farmers Fresh CSA, Crager Hager Farm, Beech Creek Farms, Sweet Georgia Grains, Pine Street Market, Heritage Farm and Wally Bees Honey—and opportunities to meet the goats and learn about cheese making.

On Tuesday, Oct. 30, Bryan Hager, a life-long gardener, certified naturally grown (CNG) farmer and instructor of Master Gardener classes on organic vegetable growing and soil management, will give a free 30-minute presentation on “Winter Gardening: Bringing the Outside In” in the Health Education and Wellness Learning Center on the first floor of Tanner Medical Center/Carrollton. The event is open to the public. Seating is limited; however, Hager will make his presentation three times—at 10 a.m., 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.—in Classroom 3.

For more information on these Food Day events, call Gina Brandenburg at 770.836.9282. To learn more about Get Healthy West Georgia or to join the free initiative, visit www.GetHealthyWestGeorgia.org.