Living healthier lives a pound at a time
By Sandra Jordan Of the St. Louis American
In Greendale, there is a shakeup in city hall and it has nothing to do with politics.
“This is preventative maintenance for that beautiful heart of yours,” aerobics instructor Laurinette Bowers said into her headset mic as a number of Greendale’s “grown and healthy” get in step with the beat of “I Like the Way You Move,” by Body Rockers.
For three days a week for the past three years, up to 80 Greendale residents have been sweating it out during hour-long dance workouts, water aerobics and/or 24-mile bike rides in their fight together against obesity—and related health problems.
As a result, Greendale is getting smaller—in pounds and inches rather than via census. Participants lost 482 pounds and counting—that’s enough weight to create four 120-pound women or three 150-pound men. Collectively they have trimmed the hips and their waistlines.
A grant from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services funded the Greendale Obesity Prevention Program.
“The idea of these grants is to provide education to minority communities who could otherwise not have access to this type of programming,” said Gloria Brand, health program representative from the MDHSS division of Minority Health. “They have basically exhibited the ability to bring a community together and get them involved in an area the nation has its eyes on now—which is the obesity epidemic.”
Participants received meal plans, paid health club memberships to attend water aerobics and jazzercise classes. The grant paid for bikes for men and women to join the Saturday morning cycling treks through Forest or Greendale Park with a professional instructor—all at no cost to the residents other than time and effort.
“Fourteen of us did the Moonlight Ramble this year,” said Greendale Alderwoman Chandra Coughley, program administrator. “We all finished right together. It was our first marathon.”
Greendale’s efforts are producing healthier results.
“I have high blood pressure, but it’s under control,” 63-year-old Janet McGee said. “When I started the program, I had pre-diabetes. I’ve been in the program two years and I don’t have the symptoms anymore.”
McGee does aerobics three to four times per week. She changed her diet by reducing fat, sugar and red meat.
“I still struggle with the pastries,” she said with a giggle. And she’s lost 20 pounds—a feat that did not slip past watchful eyes of family and friends.
One day McGee came in to exercise and a member said, “Skinny, skinny, you’re so skinny.”
The ultimate compliment is sweeter than any delectable.
Participants in the obesity prevention project agree to a minimum of three day per week of physical exercise. Some residents exercise by walking as they play golf at Normandie Golf Club.
All Greendale households received either a heart healthy, diabetic or vegetarian cookbook of their choice – to encourage sustained healthy eating habits throughout the city.
“Benefits for participants like weight/inches loss and improved cholesterol, glucose and blood pressure readings have been documented as regular measurements are taken at various intervals throughout the program,” said Coughley. “It has been hugely successful.”
“I was overweight, but I wanted to be fit. I loss 30 pounds (I lost it in the first eight months) and my blood pressure stabilized,” said Fred Crockett, 59, who has become an enthusiastic believer in the benefits of regular exercise during his three years in the program. “I feel so much better and I look a lot better. I breathe better. My balance is better when I walk.”
Walking through water these days is Greendale resident Jackie Stennis, whose debilitating pain from a torn cartilage made it difficult to walk. Two years ago, she was considering knee surgery.
“I started water aerobics and once I started, the severity of the pain decreased significantly,” Stennis said. “I talked to my doctor and I did not need to have the surgery because the pain had eased up. I’m really not a water person, but I go because it helps my knee—I stay in the 4-feet!”
Some residents added a 30-minute midday power workout to get in shape for the holidays. This group included the alderwoman and the police chief. The power workout was open to all 722 Greendale residents. It was more like an aerobic pep rally—minus the teenagers.
“I think we’re ready for another 30 minutes—what do you say?” Bowers asked over the music.
“Whew!” and “Hey-hey now!” exercisers yelled back in that “you got to be kidding me” sort of way. Great idea, but it was time for the cool down.
“It’s only because of you that your statistics are good at the doctor’s office,” Bowers reminded them during the final stretches.
Smiles alone would weigh a ton.
Coughley said final totals on weight loss will be tallied at the end of the program this year.
Greendale is looking to up the ante in their fight against obesity by increasing the number of mandatory workouts from three days to four.