BT Calgary Blogs

One in three children in Canada is overweight, one in five is obese. And it’s not getting any better. But the Pediatric Weight Clinic in Calgary is trying to help. They offer a multidisciplinary approach to helping kids lose weight. It involves psychological counselling, fitness training, and nutrition help.

I met with Clinical Director Liann Meloff. She says weight loss in children is a very complex issue which needs the whole family involved. That’s because it’s about making major lifestyle changes in these kids. 

The clinic’s latest initiative is Growing Future Runners. This is a call to action to get kids moving. They’re challenging kids to move in whatever way they want: running, walking, swimming, biking, horseback riding etc. And they’re really encouraging kids to come out to the Stampede Road Race. It’s a marathon held on the first Sunday of Stampede, July 10th. Proceeds for the Kids Races go to the Pediatric Obesity Foundation which supports the Pediatric Weight Clinic. Kids ages 2 to 12 can do the Kids Races.  They’ll get t-shirts and medals. And most importantly they’ll get active. Support the race by buying their green shoelaces which represent active children.

Twelve year old Jacob Mercier is a great example of a child adopting a new and active lifestyle. He’s only been going to the Weight Clinic since January and he’s already lost a lot of weight. He’s also become the Stair King. That’s because his activity of choice is running stairs in his house. His record so far is 160 sets of stairs in one night!! He’s also made a dramatic turn in his food choices. He admits he used to be a huge fan of Mcdonalds. Now he says, he’ll never eat there again. He also used to be pretty sedentary, now he says he loves getting outside and of course, maintaining his title of Stair King.

He says the lifestyle changes he’s made, along with his family, are something he’ll maintain for the rest of his life because he’s a new person. And he’s never been so proud.

For more information on the clinic visit:

www.pediatricweightclinic.com

For more info on the Stampede Road Race and the Growing Future Runners Program:

www.growingfuturerunners.com

Years ago, it was Brigitte Bardot – the French sex kitten - cuddling a Newfoundland seal pup.   She was  Star Power in the relentless campaign to end the offshore  Atlantic seal hunt, even though for a century and more it had been the primary, and in some cases only income source for hundreds of Newfoundland residents and their families.

Farah Fawcett was enlisted, too, as a celebrity poster girl for anti-seal activists – although I suspect that before venturing onto the floes, neither she nor Bardot had the slightest notion of Newfoundland’s whereabouts, its history, its desperate economic struggles.  No matter:  they were more than happy to join the fortissimo chorus of denunciation and abuse against a large group of Canadian citizens who were guilty of nothing more than trying to make a living.

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What a gorgeous day to spend at Lilith Fair! I had a wonderful time taking in the sun and fantastic music with friends.  Sarah sounds as spectacular live as she does on her new album Laws of Illusion. McLachlan is such a shining light on stage when she at down and started playing the piano the whole stadium was on their feet and listened intently to every note she sang.  Thxx for sending in a gorgeous pic of Sarah Mike Morrison!

Sheryl Crow played a phenomenal set.  She surprised and delighted fans by bringing her little 3 year old son Wyatt up on stage to play percussion – SO adorable!

I spotted Theo Fleury and his wife Jennifer in between sets.   Always love catching up with them and Theo has been working hard with Alberta Theatre Projects developing a new play based on his book

Local designer Paul Hardy (who designed Sarah McLachlan’s Juno dress in 2009) saw McLachlan before the big show – she stopped into his atelier in Kensington Saturday to do a bit of shopping.  Sarah and Paul will be collaborating with the Alberta Ballet in their new work featuring McLachlan’s music and Hardy’s designs.

Brett Wilson hosted a section of his closest 100 friends at Lilith before heading off to Africa with his kids to climb Mount Kilimanjaro.

Have you seen OK GO’s latest music video? It certainly is getting a lot of talk. You may remember these guys as the ones responsible for the treadmill video that was all done in one take. This video for This To Shall Pass took 60 attempts to get it right with a team of 20 engineers standing nearby. Worth it in the end! Take a look.

Well it turns out squeaky clean Apple Pie Jake Pavelka isn’t so clean after all.

The Bachelor gave his final rose to Vienna after a mud wrestlin’ good time.  Nothing says love like the smell of sulfuric springs right?

I have to be honest Bachelor fans.  As much as Vienna was not a favorite I think she and Jake have a nice little sparky relationship.  How long the spark will last is another question.  Maybe there is more to Vienna than roots and hair extensions and oval press on nails.  Maybe the “real” Vienna is a real class act.  Because in the end appearances don’t really matter.  No sarcasm.  I mean that.

Re: my girl Tenley – I may have shed a tear.  Despite her heartbreak she is the still such a positive and hopeful person.  Love her.  I hope she makes it into the Bachelor Pad and finds true love.  Maybe with Kiptyn.

Speaking of finding true love – how do we feel about Ali being chosen as the next Bachelorette?  I know Tenley and Gia both had a lot of fans and I think there’s a reason they weren’t picked.  I bet they’re both in consideration for casting of the new Bachelor Pad.  If you haven’t heard about it The Bachelor Pad is a new reality show where 20 contestants from “The Bachelor” and “The Bachelorette” will live together in a house and compete.  At the end of each episode, one resident will be evicted from the house.  Can’t wait to see it all play out.

Meantime I do hope Jake and Vienna are very happy together – preferably somewhere off my TV (although this will be impossible considering Jake is doing DWTS…)

Next week – Jason and Molly’s wedding!  Tune in!

Bachelorette favorite Kiptyn Locke is going to be in the Calgary for an event Monday the 22nd!  You can watch “The Bachelor – the Women Tell All” with Kiptyn at SPUR gastropub.  The event is $25 and every penny goes to raise money for “Hope for Joy” and the ALS Society of Alberta.

I’ll be there to help introduce Kiptyn AND you get a free class of wine.  Consider yourself invited Bachelor fans!

Monday, February 22nd 5:30pm

SPUR gastropub – 351 4th Avenue SW Calgary

Buy tickets only though this website by clicking here and choose the option for Kiptyn’s Reception.