by Courtney Restivo Wollard

The City of Waco is preparing to be designated as a Smoke Free City in January. As an advocate for health, I felt it was time to discuss this ordinance and the positive impact it will have on our city and its residents.

First of all, smoke free laws are not a new concept. In fact, as of July 2015, twenty-six states and 763 municipalities in the U.S. have placed bans on smoking in restaurants and bars as well as non-hospitality workplaces. These laws are being implemented all over the country and all over the world. Ninety-two nations have enacted some sort of 100% smoke free law, sixty-two of those laws include both restaurants and bars. On October 1, 2015, it became illegal to smoke in vehicles with those under the age of 18 in England and Wales. The Texas statewide ban has stalled, but numerous cities in Texas are taking action and enacting their own smoking bans including Robinson, Woodway and soon Waco.

Do you remember when it was legal to smoke on airplanes? I’m a little too young to remember that, but I do notice the ‘No Smoking’ signs on airplanes today and know the history. It has been 25 years since smoking was banned on airplanes and now there is an entire generation that could not even imagine smoking on an airplane. That’s a huge accomplishment for public health! The City of Waco smoke free ordinance will contribute to another generation not knowing what it was like for smoking to be allowed in indoor workplaces, including restaurants and bars along with bingo and pool halls.

Second, it is a known fact that secondhand smoke causes disease and premature death for nonsmokers. Countless studies published by leading health agencies have affirmed that secondhand smoke is a completely preventable cause of death. According to the 2006 U.S. Surgeon General, there is “no safe level of secondhand smoke exposure and the only way to ensure health protection is a 100% smoke free environment.”

Smoke Free laws are designed to protect the public health and welfare of the community from health hazards such as heart disease, various cancers, stroke, and respiratory infections induced by breathing in secondhand smoke.

There are several health benefits that we should see with this new smoke free ordinance. The ordinance will reduce exposure to secondhand smoke and produce a drop in ER visits due to heart and asthma related issues. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the nation for men and women. Smoke free environments have been shown to decrease the rate of heart disease. Smoke free laws move us in the right direction – hopefully soon heart disease will no longer being the number one killer of Americans. These laws will also encourage people to quit smoking and prevent youth from starting to smoke; this will ultimately reduce the number of smoking related deaths.

Essentially, our community will be healthier, happier and will continue to prosper after this ordinance goes into effect.

I am very excited to soon be living in a designated smoke free city! I applaud the City of Waco for taking this step towards protecting the health of its residents in order to have a prosperous Waco!

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Courtney Restivo Wollard is a lifelong Waco resident who works as Lead Health Services Coordinator at the Waco-McLennan County Public Health District. She serves as Chair for the Live Well Waco/Obesity Working Group of the Prosper Waco Health Committee. She is also an alumnus of the Waco Foundation LeadershipPLENTY Institute. Courtney graduated with her Masters of Public Health from Baylor University and right away began her career as a health advocate. She is married to Kyle. They have a Chihuahua and a Labrador retriever and are in the midst of building their dream home. Courtney hopes to continue to help create a healthier environment for McLennan County residents filled with healthy eating and physical activity opportunities.

The Act Locally Waco blog publishes posts with a connection to these aspirations for Waco. If you are interested in writing for the Act Locally Waco Blog, please email [email protected] for more information.

 

References:

U.S. smoking bans –

• http://www.no-smoke.org/goingsmokefree.php?id=519#ords
• http://www.no-smoke.org/pdf/WRBLawsMap.pdf

World smoking bans –

• http://www.no-smoke.org/pdf/internationalbarsandrestaurants.pdf
• http://www.bbc.com/news/world-11845158

Smoking ban in vehicles in England/Wales –

• https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/new-rules-about-tobacco-e-cigarettes-and-smoking-1-october-2015/new-rules-about-tobacco-e-cigarettes-and-smoking-1-october-2015
• http://www.inquisitr.com/2342320/smoking-in-cars-with-children-illegal-starting-october-1st-2015/

Smoking ban on airplanes –

• http://www.cancer.org/cancer/news/features/celebrating-25-years-of-no-smoking-in-airplanes

Benefits –

• http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/secondhand_smoke/protection/improve_health/
• http://www.acscan.org/pdf/tobacco/reports/acscan-smoke-free-laws-report.pdf

 

 

 

 

by Meilana Charles

November is National Prematurity Awareness Month and Tuesday, November 17th is World Prematurity Day. This month, individuals, groups and organizations around the world will provide information on the impact of early births on babies and their families.

What is Premature Birth? According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (2013) a baby born at 40 weeks is defined as full term, however, if born 3 weeks prior to its due date the baby is considered premature.

The March of Dimes states that 15 million babies are born prematurely worldwide each year (March of Dimes, 2013). In the U.S., one in every nine babies or about 450,000 babies a year are born premature (March of Dimes, 2013). In Texas 12.3% of babies were born premature. Of those percentages, African-American women were more likely to deliver a premature baby regardless of her age, income and education level (Unnatural Causes, 2008). Health Implications associated with premature births include:

• Feeding and digestive problems
• Breathing problems such as Respiratory Distress Syndrome
• Severe infections
• Jaundice
• Brain injury
• Retinopathy
• Anemia
• Hearing Loss
• Cerebral palsy
• Intellectual disabilities later in life

But there is good news! In 2013, thanks to the collaborative efforts of several organizations, premature deliveries have declined to just 11.4 % nationwide. However, there’s still a long way to go. With all the workshops and resources available, it’s still up to the individual to work toward decreasing the likelihood of a premature birth. Here are some ways individuals can decrease the possibility of premature labor:

Preconception Health – Prior to pregnancy women and men alike should visit with a primary care physician in preparation for the pregnancy. They should also continue eating healthy, maintain a physical activity routine, research family health history, update necessary immunizations, reduce stress and avoid products containing alcohol, tobacco and recreational drugs. Additionally, women should take a multivitamins that includes at least 400 mg. of Folic Acid.

Early Prenatal Care – As soon as pregnancy is suspected, a doctor’s appointment should be scheduled. This will confirm pregnancy and a due date. A physical exam, ultrasound and several tests may be ordered, and a family health history will be taken. The earlier prenatal appointments begin, the more the probability of prenatal and fetal complications that can lead to premature births can be reduced.

Watch your Weight – Moms should eat a balanced diet with the appropriate amounts of folic acid, iron, calcium, vitamin D and mineral while avoiding seafood high in mercury. Primary care physicians will work with pregnant moms to develop an appropriate eating and physical activity plan. This may decrease unhealthy weight gain or preventable diseases, both of which can negatively contribute to premature deliveries.

No Stress – Prenatal stress during pregnancy has been associated with miscarriages, premature births and low weight. Additionally, behavioral and emotional difficulties later in life can be attributed to stressful pregnancies. That is why it’s important to find suitable coping strategies to avoid or limit stressful situations.

Food Safety – Although rarely discussed, bacteria such as listeria, toxoplasmosis, salmonella, and campylobacter can severely impact a pregnancy. Exposure may lead to premature birth, birth defects, later learning disabilities and even intrauterine or infant death. To avoid the likelihood of ingesting harmful bacteria, follow the 4 principle of food safety: clean, separate, cook and chill. Click on the link for more information on the food safety principles: http://homefoodsafety.org/food-poisoning/four-easy-steps

The prevalence of premature births is a worldwide epidemic impacting families and communities. However, with access to preventative care, resources and information, families can become aware its lifelong implications and take steps to have happy, healthy full-term babies.

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This Act Locally Waco blog post was written by Meilana Charles. Meilana is a Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Agent at Cooperative Extension Program at Prairie View A&M University. Meilana’s priority areas for providing educational resources to McLennan County are general nutrition, money management and parenting. She has a M.S. in Child Development from Texas Woman’s University and is a certified Human Development and Family Studies professional through American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences.

The Act Locally Waco blog publishes posts with a connection to these aspirations for Waco. If you are interested in writing for the Act Locally Waco Blog, please email [email protected] for more information.

Sources:

Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Four easy steps. http://homefoodsafety.org/food-poisoning/four-easy-steps

Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (2014). Preconception health and health care-Information for men. http://www.cdc.gov/preconception/men.html

Center for Disease Control. (2014). Preconception health and health care-Planning for pregnancy. http://www.cdc.gov/preconception/planning.html

Center of Disease Control and Prevention. (2013). National Prematurity Awareness Month-What is premature births? http://www.cdc.gov/Features/PrematureBirth/

California Newsreel. (2008). Unnatural causes: Is inequality making us sick? http://www.unnaturalcauses.org/about_the_series.php

March of Dimes. (2012). Born too soon: The global action report on preterm birth. http://www.marchofdimes.org/materials/born-too-soon-the-global-action-report-on-preterm-birth.pdf

March of Dimes. (2014). Texas premature report card. https://www.marchofdimes.org/peristats/pdflib/998/premature-birth-report-card-Texas.pdf

March of Dimes. (2014). U.S. premature birth report card. http://www.marchofdimes.org/materials/premature-birth-report-card-united-states.pdf

 

by Crystal Hernandez

Imagine you’re driving down the road. You see a sign that the bridge up ahead is closed. You decide moving forward along this path is not safe, so you choose a different route. What if your body is displaying signs the road ahead is not safe? Do blood tests reveal your glucose levels are above the normal range? Are you sedentary and above your healthy body weight? Are you seeing indications that you’ll develop type 2 diabetes and other health problems if you continue along this path? The YMCA can help you map out a new route toward a healthier future. The YMCA’s Diabetes Prevention Program helps those at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles by eating healthier, increasing physical activity and losing a modest amount of weight in order to reduce their chances of developing the disease.

The number of Americans with diabetes is 29.1 million. That’s a big number, but even bigger is the number of Americans that have prediabetes: 86 million. But only 10% of those know of their risk status. Without weight loss and moderate physical activity, 15% to 30% of people with prediabetes will develop type 2 diabetes within 5 years.

Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney failure, nontraumatic lower limb amputations, and new cases of blindness among adults in the U.S. The risk for stroke and heart attack is 2-4 times higher in individuals with diabetes. The disease accounts for 17% of all deaths for adults older than 25. If dollar signs impact you more, let me share with you what that might look like. The average annual out-of-pocket medical cost for someone without diabetes is about $3,670. However, for the person with diabetes and its related medical conditions, that cost could be more than $17,000!

Maybe that’s the motivation you need to see where your body’s GPS is leading you. If so, schedule a visit with your doctor. Simple blood tests can tell you whether you need to turn around and take a different route by enrolling in the YMCA’s Diabetes Prevention Program. Results from blood tests that are in the prediabetes range, (tests include A1-C or fasting glucose),or a previous diagnosis of gestational diabetes will qualify you for the program. You must have a BMI of 25 or higher and be over the age of 18 to participate. If you are unable to access a blood test, take the risk quiz to find out whether you are at high risk. Individuals who score a 9 or higher on the risk quiz are also eligible for the program.

The YMCA’s Diabetes Prevention Program uses a Center for Disease Control (CDC) -approved curriculum and is part of the CDC-led National Diabetes Program. The 12-month program is facilitated by a trained lifestyle coach that helps you and other classmates begin to make the changes needed to reduce your risk of developing diabetes. The program focuses on helping participants reduce their body weight by 7% and increase their physical activity to at least 150 minutes per week.  Cost for the whole 12-month program is $429.  Click here for a flyer.

If you’re ready to change the direction of your health, the YMCA can help. For more information on when the next session will begin, contact Chronic Disease Prevention Specialist Crystal Hernandez at (254) 776-6612 or [email protected].

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This Act Locally Waco blog post was written by Crystal Hernandez. Crystal is the Chronic Disease Specialist for the Waco Family YMCA. She received her degree in Exercise Science and Health Promotion from the University of Memphis. She and husband Shawn are blessed to be the parents of 4 beautiful children. In her free time, she loves hitting the pavement and pounding out a good run.

The Act Locally Waco blog publishes posts with a connection to these aspirations for Waco. If you are interested in writing for the Act Locally Waco Blog, please email [email protected] for more information.

DISCLAIMER: [YMCA] and the National Council of Young Men’s Christian Association of the United States of America (“YMCA of the USA”) have made a commitment to collaborate with the nation’s YMCAs on efforts to support a national movement to increase awareness and take measures to prevent diabetes and its complications among groups at risk, and to help support treatment outcomes for individuals who have confirmed diagnoses or indications of prediabetes by promoting an effective lifestyle change. YMCA of the USA nor any YMCA offering the YMCA’s Diabetes Prevention Program warrants or guarantees any specific outcomes for program participants with respect to diabetes prevention.]

 

 

 

by Kaylyn Schultz

I’m a big believer in the idea of “loving where you live”. Not just ‘liking’ where you live but loving it—loving the city, its spirit, and its people. Loving on the people (those amazing fellow Wacoans) and helping out those people in any way one can—whether it be mighty and life changing or the little everyday random acts of kindness. This summer I had the incredible opportunity to help our city and some of its people in my own way. It was a blessing and a wonderful, eye-opening experience. I was given an internship at the Waco-McLennan County Public Health District.

Now I saw pictures of some of the more exotic places my friends went off to for their internships (*cough cough* HAWAII.) and may have sighed once or twice with longing after that more glamorous summer life. However, staying in Waco, Texas, was definitely the best fit for me and for a couple reasons. One, I had to take a British Literature class and being in the same city as your class is usually a good plan to accomplish said class. And two, I really wanted to learn what my city and its people needed from a health standpoint. Let me tell you: I got a good picture.

I got to work on a few projects in my internship. I was in charge of running all social media platforms for the Health district (Cue shameless plug. Go ‘like’ the Health District on Facebook!) and updating their website for Live Well Waco (check that one out too. It’s pretty awesome). I got to have so much fun and learned a ton about reaching out to people and getting their attention. I was also a part of the Health district’s Our Children, Their Nutrition team. This program, OCTN, was created to bring nutrition education to children ages 8-12 years old. This is a crucial age and we want them to be armed with a full arsenal of nutrition knowledge so they may make the smartest choices concerning food. We taught kids detailed nutrition information and tips like the amino acids in protein, the different kinds of carbohydrates and fats, and to check the color of their urine in order to see how hydrated they are! [That last one really seemed to stick with them all for some reason!] I was also fortunate enough to help out with the 8 Week Zumba Challenge!—I have consequently discovered that I really love Zumba and want to become an instructor. I gave a short nutrition lesson before the workouts started and tied in how these parents can take it home to their kids and stop poor dietary habits before they begin. I also got to hold some babies while their awesome mommas got to work out and I didn’t mind one bit.

And I loved it all.

I was all over Waco, sometimes all in one day, teaching nutrition and health and spreading awareness for exciting opportunities to improve people’s wel-lbeing. I got to experience some awesome things. But also some not so awesome things.

I loved teaching the kids for OCTN. They are absolutely hilarious. That time frame of life, 8-12 years, is certainly an interesting time. At 8 years old they are DESPERATE to be called on. They want to answer a question. They’ll raise their hands even if they have absolutely nothing to say. They just want to show they are making the effort. It is so sweet and they still give hugs! At 9-10 years old, they learn SO quickly. They grasp the scientific side of nutrition well and ask further questions. (One time, we were asked how salt is made. Uhhh… Mind blown.) They don’t want to be considered young like the 8 year olds and they look up to the 11-12 year olds. Then… something terribly scary happens. They want to be “cool”. Desperately. [Dun Dun Dahhhhh!] Our beautiful, funny, sassy, intelligent 11 and 12 year olds just wanted to look cool in front of their friends. And, unfortunately, answering our questions and being respectful isn’t what the ‘cool’ kids are doing. These kiddos were by far the most challenging. But they certainly gave me the best stories.

On DAY ONE, a 12 year old boy said to his friends as I walked away (and so he apparently thought out of earshot) that I am “hot”. Ladies, haven’t you always dreamed of being called ‘hot’ by a twelve year old?? Dreams coming true here folks. Another day, while I was actually leading the lesson on dietary fats, one 11 year old boy winked at me as I walked up to his table. Oy vey. I swiftly kicked him out. Now, I can appreciate the hilarity of this ‘compliment’ of sorts perhaps in another situation. Though maybe not one in which I am in a teaching position and am 10 years older than the giver of the wink. All of this was explained to him and he was allowed back in for the snack. [*cue awkward eye contact here*] You’d think he expected me to thank him. How are 11 year old boys so confident?? I had to talk to some of my guy friends here in Waco to attempt to glean some sort of understanding into the 11 & 12 year old male mind… as you may imagine I did not have much luck. They don’t even understand their own minds is the best I could come up with.

While some lessons left me laughing and shaking my head in wonder, others left me somewhat heartbroken. One day, at one of our three locations, I was tying a braided yarn bracelet this little lady had made in our activity part of the lesson that day. She looked up at my face and asked if I was wearing makeup, to which I replied “Yes, some mascara.” She then told me that she likes “the stuff that makes your skin lighter”. I asked if she meant foundation, the stuff that makes skin all even toned. She said yes… because she doesn’t like the color of her skin, it’s “too dark” she said. This sweet, beautiful, incredible, smart little girl told me she wished her skin was lighter. I needed a moment. I then told her that makeup like that is for hiding things and she had absolutely nothing to hide. I told her that her skin is beautiful, smooth, flawless. Now why in the world wasn’t she hearing this every day at home? Why??? We, unfortunately, are surrounded by things telling us, especially women and young girls, to compare ourselves to others, that the way we are just isn’t quite good enough. Improving ourselves in order to be healthier is one thing, disliking how God made us is another matter entirely. Negativity is everywhere. However, something I will take from these beautiful, fun-loving kiddos is, no matter what’s going on in my personal life or in the stress behind the scenes, I can still be happy, positive, and kind to those around me. I’ve learned that whether someone is struggling with their weight, causing chronic health issues or if their struggle is on the inside and they’re dealing with something along the spectrum of mental health, we can all be kind, take it seriously, and be aware of what a simple encouraging word can do for someone. I’ve learned how important education and spreading the word about the importance of being active every day are. I’ve learned how I can help people to learn how important it is to really understand the food we put in our bodies. And I’ve learned it doesn’t take too much to begin to make a difference.

It starts with kindness and encouragement. Throw in some fun, maybe versatile nutrition education, and some opportunities to come together and get active. We may just end up with a healthier, happier Waco for generations to come. I’m so thankful to the Public Health District and can’t wait to start the rest of my life, helping people, and trying to make a positive difference in their well-being.

Lots of love to you beautiful people.

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This Act Locally Waco blog post was written by Kaylyn Schultz. Kaylyn is originally from Celina, Tx and is going into her senior year at Baylor University, majoring in Health Science Studies. After graduating in May of 2016 she plans to begin working toward obtaining her Master’s degree in Public Health. Kaylyn is also a high jumper for the Baylor Track and Field team and loves the challenge, teammates, discipline, and Christian atmosphere being a part of such an incredible team provides. Kaylyn can usually be found reading any book she can get her hands on or watching movies with friends, her stupendous little sister, Lauren, or her wonderful and supportive boyfriend, Marcus. Her main goal for her future career is to decrease the prevalence of obesity and resulting chronic disease in our nation and thus improve quality of life for millions of children and adults.

The Act Locally Waco blog publishes posts with a connection to these aspirations for Waco. If you are interested in writing for the Act Locally Waco Blog, please email [email protected] for more information.

 

by Meilana Charles

With the weather in McLennan County regularly reaching 90 degrees or higher, staying hydrated is essential. Unfortunately for many people staying hydrated means the overconsumption of fruit juices or drinking sugary-carbonated beverages because water may lack a desired flavor.

Well, there’s a simple solution: Infused Water.

Infused Water is the combination of water with fresh fruits and herbs. For the past year I’ve been hooked on Infused Water. I’ve discussed the different recipes I’ve tried informally with several local groups, and I even created a mini-program about the benefits of drinking infused water that was presented at Restoration Haven, a local community ministry located in the Estella Maxey Public Housing complex, last year. Even children at several summer day camps have noticed the “leaves” (mint) floating around in my water.

I can’t take all the credit for my yummy discovery. Infused Water has been used as a refreshing drink in several cultures. According to Basu (2014), Infused Water may be a derivative of Aguas Frescas, a flavored drink popular in the Caribbean and in Central and South American countries.

Not only is Infused Water refreshing, it’s also healthy. Danielle Hairston-Greene, a Program Specialist with the Cooperative Extension Program wrote in her “What’s on My Plate” blog that, “There are many health benefits of infused water including appetite control, hydration, immune defense, heartburn prevention, blood sugar regulation and weight management.” Hairston-Greene even provided several combinations with their specific health benefits.

Preparation of Infused Water is relatively easy. Once you decide which recipe to use simply cut up the fruit than use a fruit squeezer to extract the juice leaving the pulp. Next, add the juice to filtered water than let it sit overnight. I personalize my creations with fresh Ginger Root and Mint.

Alternatively, some people prefer to cut up their fruits and add then them to the water. Infusion water bottles are also popular.

So the next time the Texas summer heat has you thirsty, pass on the soda, skip the sugar and use your imagination to think up a refreshing and nourishing Infused Water recipe for you and your family to fall in love with.

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This Act Locally Waco blog post was written by Meilana Charles.  Meilana is a Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Agent at Cooperative Extension Program at Prairie View A&M University. Meilana’s priority areas for providing educational resources to McLennan County are general nutrition, money management and parenting. She has a M.S. in Child Development from Texas Woman’s University and is a certified Human Development and Family Studies professional through American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences.

The Act Locally Waco blog publishes posts with a connection to these aspirations for Waco. If you are interested in writing for the Act Locally Waco Blog, please email [email protected] for more information.

Sources:

• Basu, B. D. (2014). Beat the Heat by Gulping Fruit Infused Water Drink. Positive Health,(218),
• Hairston-Greene, D. (2014) The Health Benefits of Infused Water. What’s on My Plate blog.

 

By Crystal Hernandez

May 2, 2015. Pacquiao vs. Mayweather. Billed as the Fight of the Century, this matchup was expected to be the highest-grossing match in history. The revenue from pay-per-view purchases alone proved that it was. Some might argue that the fight was less than expected.

I’m here to tell you, though, a fight bigger transpires every day. Imagine you are standing in one corner of the ring. As your opponent climbs through the ropes, you find yourself eye to eye with cancer. That’s right. You’re up against the big “C.” That’s the fight of your life, but you don’t have to fight it alone. LIVESTRONG® at the YMCA is right beside you, gloves on and ready to help you overcome your opponent.

Punch one: Cancer steals your peace and rocks your world. Punch two: Cancer takes away your hair, your breast, your endurance, your stamina, your energy, and your self-esteem. Punch three: Cancer staggers your family, destroys your finances and leaves your head spinning while you’re clinging to the ropes with all you’ve got.

Advances in medicine help many claim victory. However, the battle leaves the champion black and blue, tired and broken. When the fight is over, supporters and fans move on, leaving survivors alone to figure out what happens next in their stories. In the quiet that follows, survivors are left searching for a “new” normal. LIVESTRONG at the YMCA can help.

LIVESTRONG at the YMCA steps in to be the Creed to your Rocky helping you reclaim your health and wellness. The free program improves endurance, stamina, strength, balance and flexibility. You find a new group of fans in the survivors that join you, and emotional healing occurs. The twice-a-week 90-minute sessions help develop better health through cardiovascular and weight machines, free weights, resistance bands and modified classes. Two specially trained instructors take you under their belts to show you the “ropes”.

Support continues after each 12-week session with LIVESTRONG at the YMCA Nights. Survivors and caregivers reunite with other participants and take part in fun activities, such as belly dancing, bunco and visits to the theater.

If you are a cancer survivor and would like more information about the next session, contact Chronic Disease Prevention Specialist Crystal Hernandez at (254) 776-6612 or [email protected]. If you would like to show your support, sign up for the LIVESTRONG at the YMCA Race. The 4^th annual event will be Oct. 3, 2015, at Woodway Park. Sign up for the 1K, 5K or 10K via Active.com or at the Welcome Desk at Waco Family YMCA. Sponsorship opportunities are available. Donations can be made directly to the Y to support the LIVESTRONG at the YMCA.

LIVESTRONG at the YMCA is our way of making sure no one fights cancer alone. When cancer throws a blow to you or a loved one, the Y can help pick you up, dust you off and give you the strength and endurance to come back swinging. Together, we can take back what cancer takes away.

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This Act Locally Waco blog post was written by Crystal Hernandez. Crystal is the Chronic Disease Specialist for the Waco Family YMCA. She received her degree in Exercise Science and Health Promotion from the University of Memphis. She and husband Shawn are blessed to be the parents of 4 beautiful children. In her free time, she loves hitting the pavement and pounding out a good run.

The Act Locally Waco blog publishes posts with a connection to these aspirations for Waco. If you are interested in writing for the Act Locally Waco Blog, please email [email protected] for more information.

 

 

 

 

By Katherine Landgrave

What is preconception health? A couple of years ago, if I had looked at this word I would have probably focused on the conception part and would have been terrified at the word. As a 22 year old in graduate school, the idea of having a child is the furthest thing from my mind. I am a huge planner and have my next five years all mapped out. However, if there is anything I’ve learned from life, it’s that life tends to throw curve balls at you and things don’t always go according to plan. For instance, did you know that over half of pregnancies in the US are not planned? Of course no expects to have an “unplanned” pregnancy, but obviously it happens quite frequently. While having children is not a part of my five year plan, I need to remember that my plan isn’t always what will really happen.

So again, what exactly is preconception health? Preconception health refers to the health of women and men during their reproductive years, when they can have a child. So it’s a broad area of health that covers any woman or man during childbearing age. I think one of the things that surprised me most about this definition is that preconception health isn’t just about women, but about men too. Preconception health is about making sure women and men are becoming healthier for their future and for the future of their children.

For women, preconception health isn’t just about a woman’s pregnancy or planning for one. It means choosing healthy habits today, so that you will have a healthier life. It means planning for your future and taking steps to make that future a reality.

Preconception health for men is about staying healthy too. That may mean being active so you can be there for your children one day and protect them, or it may mean encouraging and supporting the health of your partner. It means being able to be healthy enough to provide for yourself and your family one day.

Preconception health is also about the health of our babies. The United States has some of the worst birth outcomes among developed countries. I know that I don’t want my future children to be born premature or to have any complications, so I want to do everything I can do today to protect the future of my children someday down the line.

So what can we do to focus on preconception health? Texas has started a campaign called “Someday Starts Now” that focuses on this exact topic. On their website www.somedaystartsnow.com they provide information for men and women in every life phase. They have different categories like “I don’t want or can’t have children”, “I’m not sure if I want children”, “I want to have a baby someday”, “I’m expecting a baby now”, “I’m already a mother”, “I’m finished having babies”, and even “My partner and I have lost a pregnancy or baby.” These seven categories cover a wide variety of life’s situations and provide tips on how to have a healthy body, healthy environment, and healthy mind. This campaign does a great job of getting women and men to start thinking about their future and making life plans for themselves.

One of my favorite parts of the campaign is the “life planning tool”.

In it you identify your goals for the future and write out how you are going to achieve those goals. This is something every woman should fill out today. As I mentioned before, I like outlining my plans. This tool helps me align my five year plan with my health goals and family plan. It starts me on the path to make sure the future is bright for the family I plan to have.

I’ve been working with the Healthy Babies Coalition and preconception health for four months now and I’ve come to realize how important it is for women and men everywhere. I don’t want to have a child right now, but I do want to have healthy children someday. Now I realize that I need to start taking care of myself today so I can bring a perfect little being into a healthy world someday in the future.

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Katherine Landgrave is a graduate assistant for the McLennan County Public Health Department working with the Healthy Baby Coalition. She is also a graduate student at Baylor University working on her master of in public health. Katherine has a passion for working in the community and through this position has found an interest for working with maternal and child health. She hopes to one day go to medical school and continue helping improve birth outcomes and the overall health of all women.

The Act Locally Waco blog publishes posts with a connection to these aspirations for Waco. If you are interested in writing for the Act Locally Waco Blog, please email [email protected] for more information.

 

 

by Crystal Melton

Four weeks ago I welcomed baby number four into my arms and into the world. I’m biased, but this little person that I’ve been given the privilege to raise is absolutely perfect. However, I realize that feeling is universal among parents. We gaze in awe at the unblemished miracle we’ve been given, and, with the best of intentions to maintain that perfection, we make lofty promises in an effort to keep that child as healthy and well as we can.

Promises like “I’ll never let the television babysit my child” or “I will never feed my child fast food.” And sometimes the promises aren’t about what we’ll never do, but what we’ll always do. “I’ll always take time to play hide-and-seek with my child” or “I’ll always find time to push my child on the swing.”

I’ve made those same promises. I don’t know about you, but life and the chaos that it brings seem to always get in the way. I’ll admit it: I’ve counted on cartoons to occupy my children on more than one occasion, and, yes, a trip through the drive thru has rescued us more than once. And, sadly, at times work expectations have come between me and that game of hide-and-seek with my child.

Parents, you’re not alone. We all have the best of intentions with our children, but sometimes we don’t quite accomplish what we set out to do. An occasional upset to those promises probably won’t derail their health, but a constant lifestyle of those choices definitely could begin to send your child down the path of poor health. Although we don’t need to beat ourselves up about it, we do need to open our eyes and see what’s happening to our kids and their health and begin to reapply ourselves to those goals we may have once set.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, in 2012 one in three adolescents was overweight or obese. The reality surrounding those numbers is sobering because what we are seeing with this increase in bodyweight is an increase in risk factors for heart disease in our youth, such as high cholesterol and high blood pressure. This increase in body mass also puts them at risk for prediabetes, bone and joint problems, sleep apnea and poor self-esteem. And all those risks are present right now during their youth- in the past, these problems didn’t occur until people aged! Today’s kids head into adulthood ahead of the curve when it comes to being at risk for heart disease, diabetes and some forms of cancer.

After you’ve digested that, let me reassure you that we can help our kids get their health back on track. It’s not too late to help lead your child to a life of health and well-being. Programs, such as MEND, can help you and your child learn to change behaviors and make healthier choices. MEND (Mind, Exercise, Nutrition, Do It!) is a free 10-week program that meets twice a week that helps children ages 7-13 who are above their healthy body weight learn about nutrition, physical activity, goal setting and more. Together, parent and child move through an engaging research-based curriculum that not only educates the family but also often reduces tension and stress at home surrounding food and activity. The lessons include fun, thought-provoking activities, like a supermarket tour where kids get to be MEND detectives, finding healthy food options on the shelves of the grocery store. Each meeting also includes a fun, progressive, noncompetitive, game-based physical activity session. Another one of the endearing things about this program is that you’re diving into this material and making these lifestyle changes with other families that are struggling to be healthy, too. There is support, accountability and shared ideas among parents and children.

Finding the help you and your child are looking for is no farther than the YMCA of Central Texas. The MEND program is offered several times throughout the year. Space is limited, though, so you’ll want to sign up soon. Remember: lots of parents just like you want a healthier future for their child. For more information call the DORIS MILLER FAMILY YMCA at 254 752 1605 or WACO FAMILY YMCA at 254 776 6612.

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This Act Locally Waco blog post was written by Crystal Hernandez. Crystal is the Healthy Living Director for the Waco Family YMCA. She received her degree in Exercise Science and Health Promotion from the University of Memphis. She and husband Shawn are blessed to be the parents of 4 beautiful children. In her free time, she loves hitting the pavement and pounding out a good run.

The Act Locally Waco blog publishes posts with a connection to these aspirations for Waco. If you are interested in writing for the Act Locally Waco Blog, please email [email protected] for more information.