Huron Expositor, 2009-07-08, Page 6LT.
Page 6, The Myron Expositor • July 8. 2009
News
Pedometer becomes best friend' of study participants
From Page 1
live about a half hour from Seaforth
for a year with the same risk factors
using the same technology.
Elizabeth Russell-Minda, research
coordinator with the Lawson Insti-
tute, says the pilot study saw health
improvements in the majority of par-
ticipants with improved fitness lev-
els.
"Many felt it improved their lives in
some way. It raised awareness to see
their heart rate, blood glucose levels
and blood pressure and they said the
access . to technology changed their
behaviour. They could see everything
on their Blackberrys," she says.
Participants were asked to use
their pedometers to walk 10,000
steps a day but Russell-Minda says
most didn't achieve that level but did
improve all the same.
"The average was 4,500 steps at the
start'and 8,500 at the end which in-
dicates better fitness," she says add-
ing that some people lost weight.
During an eight-week interven-
tion, we aren't going to see huge,
off -the -charts gains but it was great
to see the gains people made," she
says.
While diet changes were not part of
the study, participants reported no-
ticing a relationship between what
they ate and their blood glucose lev-
els, which ended up influencing how
they ate.
Maureen and Mery Agar, of Eg-
mondville, say they really enjoyed
participating in the study.
"It's the best physical you'll ever
have," says Merv, adding that the
constant monitoring of his health
statistics gave him confidence that
he's healthy.
With diabetes in Merv's family his-
tory and heart attacks on Maureen's
side of the family, the two say they
were interested in learning how to
take more responsibility for their
health.
"The first line of defence for your
health is yourself. I have responsibil-
ity for what I put in my mouth. A lot
of people spend more time and mon-
ey looking after their cars than they
do themselves," says Maureen.
While she says walking 10,000
steps a day was at first intimidating,
Maureen .says it became a competi-
tion between her and Mery to walk
the furthest each day.
They discovered that walking a
five -mile block
in the country or
golfing 18 holes
was close to
You are invited to attend these area churches
ST. THOMAS
ANGLICAN CHURCH
A Congregation of the Parish of The Holy Spirit
Sunday, July 12
Worship at 9:30 am
Everyone Welcome
Wednesday; July 15
Council MO and
Meeting at 6:30 p.m.
ST. JAMES
ROMAN CATHOLIC
CHURCH
WELCOMES YOU
14 Victoria Street, Seaforth
519-345-2972
Saturday Mass 5 p.m.
Sunday Mass 9 a.m.
ST. PATRICK'S, DUBLIN
Sunday Mass 11 a.m.
FR. CHRIS GILLESPIE
BETHEL BIBLE
CHURCH
An Associated Gospel Church
126 Main St. Seaforth
519-527-0982
Sunday Worship 10am
Youth Group Wednesday 7 pm
Community BBQ
July 17, 5-7 p.m.
Pastor Mark Kennedy
EVERYONE WELCOME
NORTHSIDE UNITED
SUMMER HOLIDAYS
July 1 - August 2
Come out Friday, July 17
Main street Mayhem
Serving sausages/hot dogs/drinks
4:00-8:00 p.m.
Same location: Main & John Corner
Sponsored by Christian Education
Committee
54 Goderich St. W., Seaforth
519-527-2635
www.cavannort si eunited.ca
EGMONDVILLE
UNITED CHURCH
Pastor. Steve Hildebrand
Guest Worship Leader Gayle Coleman
Worship July 12th: 10:30 AM
Sunday School to Resume in
September
Everyonewelcome to
Come and Worship us
Elevatorand Ear Buds Available
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN
CHURCH
59 Goderich St W Seaforth
519-527- 0170
PLEASE NOTE CHURCH WILL BE
CLOSED FOR THE MONTH OF JULY
Services Resume
Sunday Aug 9th, 11:15 a.m.
1111 Eve one is invited to attend.
NON -DENOMINATIONAL
WEDDINGS
CHRISTENINGS
Your Location or Ours
Rev. Chris Morgan
Pastor Paula Morgan
519-524-5124
CLICK COMPUTER
REV. CHRIS MORGAN
Ann Bosman, of Winthrop, demon-
strates a blood glucometer machine.
10,000 steps. And, Maureen admits,
laughing, that she was able to cheat
with her shorter legs and a shuffle
she sometimes used to increase the
steps on her pedometer.
The Agars say they both lost some
weight during the study and Mau-
reen improved her health enough
to be able to stop using her blood
pressure medication and Acid reflux
pills.
While they travelled to Florida
during the study, they found that the
technology was easy to bring along.
"I would recommend this study to
anyone. I challenge the people of Sea -
forth to do this and make Seaforth a
healthier place," says Maureen.
Both the Agars want to participate
in the year-long study.
Kathy Ferguson, of Goderich, says
the pedometer became her best
Soldroo"--
MUNICIPALFTY OF
ELL/EWA-TER
fraiumasommerv�rs o - ..M. _ .+tirauu.� . artrwev 2-001 zuwiclH
20Cht
Summer Day Camp
For children aged 4 - 12
Locations:
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July 6th - August 14th
Monday - Friday
Drop off between 8:00 - 9:00am
Pick up between 4:00 - 5:0Opm
Cost: $17.50 / day
$75.00 / week
$10.00 / half days
Questions - call Carla 519-236-4351
OR email carla.musser@gmail.com
•
friend during the study.
"It got me motivated to get going
each day and my fitness level went
up," she says.
With diabetes that is controlled
by diet, Ferguson says being moni-
tored daily became a journey of self-
motivation and provided her with
reassurance between doctor appoint-
ments.
"I had to make the effort to put it in
my day and it gave me more energy,"
she says, adding that she ended up
going to the gym to strengthen her
knees, which helped her walk more
often.
Ferguson says it was great to be
able to take advantage of the study
in a rural community.
Boot agrees that the study has
helped her change her lifestyle,
something she's found difficult in a
rural community.
"I live in the country and I don't
like walking. But, I'm doing a lot of
biking now and when I go into town,
I park and walk ,everywhere instead
of parking right in front of the store
or the bank. The pedometer tells you
if you were a couch potato that day,"
she says.
She says being monitored each day
made her accountable for her activ-
ity to someone else, something that
added to her motivation.
"To me, it was a lifeline. And, it was
very good timing (learning that she
had diabetes). I'm very blessed," she
says.
Boot also wants to continue with
the year-long study and is hoping
it will help her change her lifestyle
permanently.
"Now, T set the time aside to look
after myself and the study keeps me
on track. For someone else, being
on the study might catch high blood
pressure, another silent problem you
can walk around with," she says.
The year-long Artemis (A multi-
centre, prospective, Randomized
study To determine the effects of Ex-
ercise Managed Intervention) study
is looking for men and women aged
18-70 to participate. Anyone inter-
ested is asked to call 519-685-4292,
ext. 42629 for more information.
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