Healthy Living! from EPRD for September

Fall is in the air, and that can make staying fit and active a real challenge. Cloudy skies, cold mornings and shorter days make the prospect of working out seem more and more distant.

The solution, of course, is to visit your neighborhood Rec Center! Buchanan Park Rec Center in north Evergreen and Wulf Rec Center, to the south, both offer a huge spectrum of amenities, classes and programs to satisfy your every desire (and Playschool and the new Fun Factory so the kids have care while you work out). 

Focus on parts of your body that don't get as much attention when you're playing outside in the summertime. Jump in a swimming pool and swim a few laps, or sign up for lifeguarding classes or Infant/Child CPR/AED! Try some of EPRD's many fitness offerings - stretch out with yoga or push through a Zumba class; lift weights and run on a treadmill.

Don't let shorter days and cooler temps cramp your style or affect your fitness - after all, ski season is coming!

Healthy Body

Start Getting in Shape for Skiing

Now is the time to start getting in shape for ski season. Whether you're a weekend warrior or novice skier, it's important that you hit the slopes in the best shape possible. You need strong cardio, flexibility, a strong core and fit legs to perform at your best on the slopes, with less huffing and puffing, fewer injuries and more fun! Shape magazine has some tips.

Healthy Mind

Take a Stand Against Seasonal Affective Disorder

Do you suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder? That's when the shorter days and lack of sunlight in cooler months can cause depression. You can counter this by making some lifestyle changes to boost your serotonin. Healthy Positive Info explains.

Healthy Eating

Can Water Help You Lose Weight?

Wondering exactly how much water you should drink every day to stay healthy? It's complicated, but keep drinking. Water can promote weight loss - drink that instead of sugary beverages or juice to save calories and carbs, and even accelerate fat burning. Learn more.

Healthy Parenting

Keep Kids Active Through EPRD Sports!

Keep your kids active during the school year - sign them up for after-school sports, or register them forswimming lessons, gymnastics, martial arts, dance,climbing, archery and more! EPRD offers a huge selection of programs for kids in our Fall Rec Guide. Learn more.

Healthy Aging

5 Ways to Boost Your Metabolism

Metabolism slows as our bodies age, but there are lifestyle changes you can make to boost your metabolism and keep from gaining weight. #1 is to exercise more - when you walk, bike or run, you increase the energy required of your body, which raises your metabolism for hours. #2 is to work out with weights. During weight training, muscle tissue is stressed; afterward, it's repaired, which raises metabolism. Learn more from Cooking Light.

Healthy Giving

20 Ways to Give Back

Giving back doesn't have to mean giving up every weekend.You can make an impact in as little as 5 minutes - the time it takes to sign up as an organ donor though OrganDonor.gov. Here are 20 ways to give back even if you don't have much time, from the Huffington Post.

Healthy Planet

Thistle Do Cleans Weeds from Evergreen Lake

A group of community members, led by Evergreen Audubon, spent Sunday, Sept. 11, at Evergreen Lake pulling out noxious weeds in the wetlands. EPRD appreciates the dedicated weeders who have displayed a long-term commitment to weed mitigation and stewardship of our parks. They filled more than 100 garbage bags with weeds! Read all about Thistle Do at JustAroundHere.com.