Come and join us!!
Are you just getting started with exercise or are you looking for ways to shake up your fitness routine? Do you enjoy exercising with others who are working toward the same lifestyle goals? Come and join in the fun! The Healthy Lifestyles "Move it and Lose it!" club gets together most weekends to particpate in various low-key activities. We have walked and hiked. We have attended a variety of classes at area fitness centers. We have tried yoga, Pilates, Spinning and water aerobics. The "Move it and Lose it!" club has been active for nearly a near and we're looking forward to the summer season for the variety of activities we will be doing together. To join, there is a one-time registration fee of $35 which includes a t-shirt and water bottle. You needn't be available every weekend...just come along when you can! Contact Healthy Lifestyles for more information and to sign-up.

April 4, 2006, 11:43PM

No cancer risk tied to aspartame
Consumer group praises study on artificial sweetener

By MARILYNN MARCHIONE
Associated Press

WASHINGTON - A huge federal study in people — not rats — takes the fizz out of arguments that the diet soda sweetener aspartame might raise the risk of cancer.

No increased risk was seen even among people who gulped down many artificially sweetened drinks a day, said researchers. A consumer group praised the study, done by researchers independent of any funding or ties to industry groups. "It goes a fair way toward allaying concerns about aspartame," said Michael Jacobson, head of the Center for Science in the Public Interest, which had urged the government to review the sweetener's safety after a troubling rat study last year. Findings were reported Tuesday at a meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research.

Aspartame came on the market 25 years ago and is found in thousands of products — sodas, chewing gum, dairy products and even many medicines. Research in the 1970s linked saccharin to bladder cancer in lab rats. Although the mechanism by which this occurred does not apply to humans, worries about sugar substitutes in general have persisted. They worsened after Italian researchers last year reported results of the largest animal study ever done on aspartame, involving 1,800 lab rats. Females developed more lymphomas and leukemias on aspartame than those not fed the sweetener.

The new study, by scientists at the National Cancer Institute, involved 340,045 men and 226,945 women, ages 50 to 69. From surveys they filled out detailing food and beverage consumption, researchers calculated how much aspartame they consumed, especially from sodas or from adding it to coffee and tea. Over the next five years, 2,106 developed blood- related cancers such as lymphoma or leukemia, and 376 developed brain tumors. No link was found to aspartame consumption for these cancers in general or for specific types.

Editor's Note: So...is it truly safe, or not? Did the study of people 50 to 69 provide an accurate assessment? Were the research methods valid? Will new research in the coming years dispute these findings? We don't know! Bottom line: As much as possible, eat natural, minimally processed whole foods in moderate quantities. Does this mean we shouldn't consume diet sodas and other products containing aspartame? I don't think so. Non-nutritive sweeteners can be a help to those who enjoy sweet taste and want to avoid consuming extra empty calories. Use moderation. In a perfect world we wouldn't be so drawn to super-sweet tasting foods (or maybe in a perfect world all sweets would be natural, healthy and zero calories!) Our world is not perfect...so do your best. When you do decrease your intake of sweets, a piece of fruit tastes REALLY good.

K.E.

Photos of Aimee Miles in July 2004...and November 2005


As the woman stared at me, I asked myself, “Who is this woman?” I do not recognize her face or features; but I know her eyes. This woman was me! I had become severely overweight. A person I did not know. How and when did it happen?    

As I looked at the new corporate picture, I realized that the time had come to bring out the woman I knew was within. At 38 I was 236 pounds!! I was carrying an extra 100 pounds on my 5’2” frame. No wonder I was feeling miserable and depressed.

After some serious soul searching and praying, I decided that I needed a plan. For years I had been stressed way beyond my limit. With the current information about stress and weight, I decided dealing with stress alleviation was the place to start. I knew that I needed to get my body moving to help me handle the stress. The next day I went to investigate Curves. I loved the concept and so I joined for a year. At first I was just trying to make it through each week. Then as the weight started to come off, I started to pick up the pace and added a couple days of walking. During this time I was also using a computer program called Balance Log. It is a program that tracks all of your nutritional information and exercise and helps you balance out your calories in and calories out. Before beginning to use the new software, I had my metabolism tested using a small device that measured my oxygen consumption. With this information, I was able to discover my unique calorie level to allow me to lose weight efficiently and effectively. Knowing my resting metabolism gave me my own number with which to work. As months progressed, the weight was coming off! For the first time in 20 years I was experiencing weight loss success.

About 17 months into the program and 75 pounds lighter, I hit a major road block, the scale stopped moving. I needed help and giving up was not an option. The ladies at Curves had been speaking about a woman in South Burlington with a business called Healthy Lifestyles. I listened carefully and thought this is for me. I called the owner, Kathryn Evans and set up an appointment. I made an appointment to have her re- test my metabolism to see how it had changed after losing 75 pounds. Sure enough, my metabolism had decreased because I had become smaller and my body didn't require as many calories. I changed my calorie level and the weight started to come off again. For the next 7 months I worked with Kathryn and dropped another 20 pounds. Wow! 95 pounds!

I am still working my program of healthy eating, exercise, and Healthy Lifestyles. With 16 pounds to go, I am confident and I am a success. Kathryn has been a tremendous mentor and support system. Healthy Lifestyles is what weight loss is all about, a way of life, not a diet. Through this journey I have finally discovered the woman within.

Aimee Miles 4-20-06

After working for many years and in a variety of settings as a nurse, I wanted and needed a change. I knew I wanted to continue working in the field of health and becoming a massage therapist has enabled me to do just that. For the past 8 ½ years I’ve been self-employed offering diverse bodywork therapies.

I moved to this area from Bennington almost two years ago. I’m now settled into my new home in South Burlington where I’ve created a beautiful, relaxing and peaceful space for massage therapy and Thai Yoga Bodywork. It’s a warm, inviting and professional space in a convenient location and with available parking.

Traditional Thai massage is my speciality. This is an ancient modality that incorporates stretching techniques, rhythmic deep tissue compression, acupressure and assisted yoga postures. A session effectively releases accumulated stress and leaves you refreshed, relaxed and energized. It is like having a passive yoga session done to you, without any effort on your part. The massage is performed on a comfortable futon on the floor. Loose clothing is worn for this bodywork. Sessions last 1 ½ or 2 hours. This massage is not to be missed. It is like no other! Swedish Massage is a therapeutic massage technique based on the traditional style of table massage using natural oils and lotions. These sessions last for 1 or 1 ½ hours and leave you deeply relaxed while giving you the opportunity to slow down and get more in touch with your life. I also offer a Thai/Swedish combination on the massage table as well as Deep Tissue and Prenatal Massage.

I received my training at the Omega Institute in Rhinebeck, NY, and the Kripalu Center in Lenox ,MA. I also received additional training in Thailand with Master Pichet Bonthamme.
For Appointments and Gift certificates call (802) 864- 4061

Editor's Note: I have received several massages from Linda...both Thai and Swedish. I do this because having massages is a way that I can say to myself: "I am important". I don't see massage as a luxury...I see it as a necessity! I always look forward to these sessions because I know that I will leave her feeling renewed and deeply peaceful. The unhealthy stress that I had been holding in my body will be gone. Linda has a very special ability to help others feel relaxed and comfortable. Give Linda a call and find out for yourself! Mention the coupon at the bottom of this newsletter and receive $10 off your first massage.
K.E.

Upcoming Phase I Groups:

Wednesdays from 8:30 to 10:00 am beginning June 28th

Wednesdays from 10:30 to 12 noon (new group) beginning as soon as we have 8 registered participants

Thursdays from 5:30 to 7:00 pm beginning July 6th

Limited enrollment of 8 participants for each group. Contact Healthy Lifestyles today for more information and to register!


Upcoming Workshops:

Friday, June 9th at 7:00 pm at Healthy Lifestyles in South Burlington join Carol Hutcheon from Hungry Hormones as she discusses natural dietary strategies for managing the effects of changing hormones. She will bring food samples! Suggested donation of $5 to $10 to support the Healthy Lifestyles Scholarship Fund.

Space is limited. Contact Healthy Lifestyles to register.