With over 30,000 Square feet of facilities, Healthy East Chicago, Inc (HEC) offers a variety of health and human services under one roof. HEC also provides a number of monthly health education and screening programs sponsored by a variety of community agencies. The Foundations of East Chicago sponsors programs that cover a wide range of subjects designed to help the community grow, share and learn. In East Chicago, improving and maintaining the health of the community is always a major priority. In order to meet the demand for services, the Foundations of East Chicago provides funds for the salaries of two certified trainers for the East Chicago Fitness Center. Funds have also been provided for the purchase of new, state-of-the-art equipment for the facility, located at 1100 W Columbus Drive in East Chicago.
After joining, members of the facility are invited to work with the facility’s trainers to design a personal wellness program. As part of a personal wellness program, maintaining a healthy weight is high among common goals, but this goal becomes even more urgent following the holiday season, where extra indulging can lead to gaining extra pounds.
Get Healthy: Eating for wellness
Being overweight or obese can raise your risk of many different health complications. Everyday choices for healthy eating and exercise can help you control your weight and lower the risk of health complications by:
- Avoiding excessive weight-gain
- Balancing your caloric intake with the amount of physical activity you do
Monitoring portion sizes is an important part of weight control – especially for foods high in sugar and fat. Just because a label reads low-fat and fat-free, it doesn’t necessarily mean low-calorie so be thorough when reading labels and try to substitute fruits, vegetables and whole grains for higher calorie foods.
Eat a variety of at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables each day. Fruits and vegetables contain many vitamins and minerals, as well as fiber and antioxidants. Because they are generally low in fat and calories, they may also help you maintain a healthy weight.
Limit your intake of processed meats like cold-cuts, bacon, and hotdogs and red meats, such as beef or pork. These meats can add a lot of unwanted fat and cholesterol to your diet. Instead, try lean meats in smaller portions, skinless poultry or fish as healthier sources of protein.
For anyone working to maintain a healthy weight, both a healthy diet and approved workout regimen are critical components of any wellness program. For questions about nutrition, fitness and membership, contact the East Chicago Fitness Center staff at 219.391.4039.
To receive additional updates about how the Foundations of East Chicago is working to sustain the health of the community through its many supported programs and initiatives, find us on Facebook (facebook.com/foundationsec) or follow us on Twitter (twitter.com/foundationsec).
