Residents of Westport, Fairfield County, and the rest of the country can never be to sure of their health. Everyone needs to monitor your blood sugar, cholesterol, blood pressure and more. The best part about this is that fitness will help you improve all of your numbers in these health categories. Check out some of the health screenings and events below for Westport and Norwalk, and then let me know your results and we could get you on a good fitness/health track.

The Westport Wheaton Health Clinic offers:

*Wellness Clinic for Adults and Children—Mondays, from 9 a.m.– 10:30 a.m. (walk-in clinic)

This walk-in clinic offers free blood pressure screening, monitoring, and counseling. Blood sugar, hemoglobin and TB testing are available for a minimal charge. No immunizations will be given during this clinic. (Walk-in clinic)

*Cholesterol Screening

Cholesterol Screening, Tuesday, May 27, from 8 a.m. – 10 a.m. (by appointment), at the Westport Weston Health District. Screening includes total, LDL, and HDL cholesterol levels, blood sugar and triglyceride levels. Fasting is required. The cost for the screening is $25. Call Monica Wheeler, RN, at 227-9571, ext. 242, for an appointment.

*Free Skin Cancer Screening

Save the Date! Free Skin Cancer Screening, Sunday, May 4, 9 a.m. – 10 a.m., at the Health District. The Health District, Dr. Robin Oshman and the American Academy of Dermatology will team up to celebrate National Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month by providing full body skin cancer screenings. Screenings are free and open to individuals who have not previously been screened. No appointment is necessary, but it is first come first serve.

*Free Stroke Screening

Free Stroke Screening, Saturday, May 17, from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., at the Health District. Come learn if you are at risk for a stroke, what you can do to help prevent a stroke, and what the signs are. No appointment is necessary. Call Monica Wheeler, RN, at 227-9571, ext. 242, for more information.

MORE INFO

Norwalk Health Events Center’s 5th Annual Benefit Walk. For more information, call 203.852.2164 or on the web at www.norwalkhospitalfoundation.org.

MORE INFO

The first race on July 7 is at Stapes HS. The summer series is extremely popular among all Westport residents along with those from Norwalk, Stamford, and Greenwich. The whole series will definitely help you improve your fitness in a fun and supportive atmosphere. Check out the information at the bottom of the page.

The July 7 race at Staples gives you 6 weeks to get in shape for the summer series.

YES i’m suggesting you prepare for running by strength training!!

Why Weight Train?

As an example of the benefits strength training can provide, recent studies have shown that as few as six weeks of proper weight training can significantly reduce or completely relieve kneecap pain or “runner’s knee.” It also reduces the recurrence of many other common injuries, including nagging hip and low back pain. By strengthening muscle, as well as bone and connective tissue (ligaments attach bone to bone; and tendons attach muscle to bone), weight training not only helps to prevent injury but also helps to reduce the severity of injury when it does occur.

In addition to injury prevention, weight training improves performance. Studies show that with as little as ten weeks of weight training, 10K times decrease by an average of a little over one minute. The research has also shown that running economy defined as the steady-state oxygen consumption for a standardized running speed (milliliters per kilogram body weight per minute), will be improved due to weight training. By improving running economy, a runner should be able to run faster over the same distance due to a decrease in oxygen consumption. Improved running economy would also increase a runner’s time to exhaustion. From Doug Lentz

ENTRY FEES ARE AS FOLLOWS:

DAY OF RACE ENTRY ONLY BEGINNING AT 7:30 A.M.

Westport Road Runners Org

At Lifestyle Health and Fitness we believe everyone should be afforded an opportunity to live a healthy life with the help of a fitness expert or personal trainer.

The FREE fitness session will involve a consultation and basic exercises to give you a jumpstart in your fitness program. You can then sign up for a personal training package or go on your way having learned a little bit more about how to get in shape.

Please contact Jason LaChance of Lifestyle Health and Fitness at

(760) 712-7183 or at Training@JasonLaChance.net

“This one step – choosing a goal and sticking to it – changes everything.” Scott Reed

I know Katzenberg Kafe on 22 Main St in Westport has a ridiculously good cheesecake, but I figured I’d bring you a healthier alternative. For those that are watching their diets treats such as these can be the difference between sticking with the program or falling off. This blueberry cheesecake is a great way to indulge without breaking off course.

This is a great recipe from John Berardi for those of us that have a sweet tooth. I just happen to love cheesecake and especially blueberry cheescake so I had to try it out. I’m not a cook by any means, but it still came out damn good for me. What he says below is true…I had to give some away to my cousin as I usually eat whatever is around. The author is pretty much world renowned for his nutrition methods, and I’ve actually watched his dvd’s and they give a great step by step for those they need help.

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Blueberry Cheesecake Yes, you read this correctly…blueberry cheesecake! Just be careful with these things, as it is nearly impossible to put the cheesecake down after you’ve taken one bite. From my experience, and the stories of my friends who have made them, it’s almost impossible to keep an entire cheesecake around for longer than one day.

Ingredients:

* Crust 1 cup graham cracker crumbs
o ¼ cup ground flax seeds
o ¼ cup raw oat bran
o 1 oz fat-free cream cheese, warmed in microwave
o 1/3 cup water

* Cheesecake:
o 2 cups lowfat cottage cheese
o ½ package (52 g) powdered Jell-O instant pudding, cheesecake flavor
o 3 oz. fat-free cream cheese
o 3 scoops strawberry whey protein powder*
o 1 cup frozen blueberries and 4 tablespoons granulated Splenda (*see option 2 below before adding these at this stage)

Instructions:To make the crust, mix crust ingredients in a large bowl. Stir this mixture until it is all the same consistency, then press into a 9-inch pie pan sprayed with Pam, stretching the crust up the sides of the pan.For the rest of the cake, put the other ingredients in a blender. Blend on high until smooth and creamy. You might have to blend it in smaller portions, depending on the power of your blender, but resist the temptation to add water, as this makes the cake soupy. Also, more Jell-O mix can be added for more desirable consistency. Pour the blender mixture into the crusted pan, and refrigerate for 1 hour.

*Blueberry option 2: to make a ‘fancier’ cheesecake, thaw the blueberries, then stir the Splenda in with them, and use this as a topping for the cheesecake.

Makes 6 slices.Macronutrient Profile (each slice):

* 258 k/cal* Fat: 5 g (2s, 1m, 2p)* Carbs: 30 g (2 fiber)* Protein: 25 g

Do you stay in Westport and head to Sherwood…..

or stay in Westport and head to Compo Beach?

Or do you possibly venture into Norwalk?

There are tons of locations in Westport, Norwalk, Stamford, Greenwich and all up the Fairfield County Coast to increase your fitness level. What are your favorites?

What do you use these venues for? Running is the obvious answer… but do you also workout with weights? Bands?

Do you hire a personal trainer to meet you? Are you part of a boot camp class?

Please comment or write in so we can inform everyone of some of the great places in the area to workout!