Participants are walking their way into a healthier lifestyle as part of a new program in Lethbridge.
Campbell Clinic West has partnered with Alberta Health Services to bring the Find Your Stride program to the city.
The program was introduced to Alberta in the fall of last year and has recently found its way to Lethbridge with the help of co-organizer and Registered Nurse Brooke Mulder.
“Find you stride is an eight week program and is designed to help current tobacco users and people who have recently quit using tobacco get more physically active.”
Each session includes an hour of group discussion followed by an hour of physical activity.
Something Mulder believes is especially important in this part of Alberta.
“Southern Alberta actually has some of the highest rates of smoking in the province so it was really important for us to bring this program into the city.”
Participant, Murray Wiens, smoked for most of his life before quitting six months ago and said the program has definitely helped.
“Once I started to taking the classes, I found out there was a lot of good information that they were disseminating during the class time, very interesting things and very helpful things.”
Some of those things include nutrition, learning to set goals and how to achieve them, creating better habits along with smoking cessation methods.
Pharmacist Elizabeth Wong is the other co-organizer and believes this program is more effective than other stop smoking programs she has seen.
“There is less pressure on people because the focus is more on physical activity and introducing that into a healthier lifestyle, which ultimately motivates people to quit smoking.”
Wiens says that the program has been great so far due to the people who have been participating.
“It’s been a very positive experience. I have met people who are in the same situation as mine who are trying to make healthier life choices and it makes it a world of difference.”
Wiens adds that Mulder and Wong are doing a great job running the meetings.
“They’re great. They are all always very positive, they are always encouraging and have great ideas, strategies and information to pass along. “
Mulder is more than happy to help.
“I think it’s important because a healthier community is a happier community,” she smiles.
Find Your Stride is held at the University of Lethbridge every Monday from 6-8 p.m. until Feb. 29. To register, contact Brooke Mulder at Campbell Clinic West.
