WOW! Working on Wellness

C I T Y O F G R A N D P R A I R I E W E L L N E S S N E W S L E T T E R D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 6

Make Healthy Resolutions for 2017January is Healthy Resolutions Month, and Get Fit

Grand Prairie is offering a FREE “My Health Passport” for all residents pursuing a healthier lifestyle in 2017. Through partnerships with local businesses, the passport includes free gym day passes, dining discounts, and much more! Passports will be available at the Environmental Services Department, all three library locations, or downloadable at: gptx.org/GetFitGP. Visit our Get Fit website monthly for healthy recipes, exercise tips, news on upcoming events, and other wellness resources. For a chance to win the Get Fit prize drawing, visit our website to pledge monthly, and start your 2017 healthy resolutions out right!

Health Fair for Adults Over 50Get Fit Grand Prairie is offering a golden opportunity for free health

screenings at The Summit, 2975 Esplanade, on Friday, Dec. 9, 9 a.m.-noon. Posture test, dental screenings, glucose/cholesterol levels, blood pressure, BMI, and more will be available to those who are 50 years old or older. Tours of The Summit will also be available for those interested in becoming a member. For more information about the Get Fit program, visit gptx.org/getfitgp

Holiday Fun in Grand PrairiePrairie LightsIt's that most wonderful time of the year-especially in Grand Prairie, where the holidays shine a little brighter thanks to Prairie Lights, the premiere drive-through holiday light park in Texas. You've got until New Year's Day to experience an all-new, breathtaking display of millions of lights on the beautiful shores of Joe Pool Lake.

11 Smart Tips That Will Help You Have a Blast At Prairie Lights

Movies or a Show at the UptownHansel & Gretel - A Christmas Fairytale OperaPresented by the Grand Prairie Arts Council artsgp.org Dec. 9, 10, 11

Christmas the Cowboy Way - Presented by Riders in the SkyFestive mix of western music classics and traditional yuletide carols. uptowntheatergp.com Dec. 15

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Benefiting Happy Helping Hands Grand Prairie Food and Clothing

Co-op December 12-16

Donate for a chance to win: • Beats by Dre wireless headphones• Ninja blender• FitBit Alta• Huffy bicycle• Sonicare electric toothbrush

How to enter:1. Purchase non-perishable food items from your local grocery store.2. Donate at least 5 non-perishable food items for a chance to win. (i.e. canned goods, boxed food items, etc.)3. Drop your 5 items off with a designated WOW Committee member to receive a raffle ticket!

5 Cans/Food Items = 1 challenge entry

Winners will be named Monday, December 19!

IT’S THAT EASY!

Wow Committee Donation Areas:City Hall - Cami McKillopFiscal Admin Building - Lee HarrissCity Hall Annex - Scarlet FowlerMunicipal Court - Annette DeleonPublic Safety Building - Darwyn CaseHousing - Patrick CorneliusMain Library - Peter SimeShotwell Life Center - Rod HayesDevelopment Center - Sylvia Salazar

This challenge supports the Grand Prairie community by donating healthy nonperishable food items to the local social service organization, Happy Helping Hands for families in need of food for the holiday. For questions or concerns please contact HRIntern@GPTX.org or call 972-237-8189.

Food Drive Challenge

WOW! Working on Wellness

Wellness/News

A Simple Way to Stay on Your Game

Picture ThisOne type

of meditation is so powerful that it may help stop panic attacks. Practicing inward-focused attention meditation diverts your brain from anxious thoughts by training its focus on something pleasurable (like buster in the above photo). “Attention has a limited capacity, so if you focus on only one positive object, it takes your attention away from the negative,” says Baland Jalal, a neuroscientist at the UK’s University of Cambridge. To try it, close your eyes and focus on one happy mental image for 5 minutes. Working up to 30 minutes a day and continuing for two months may help enlarge your hippocampus, which is typically smaller in people who suffer from recurrent depression, Jalal adds. Prevention

What you hear in your head: “I need some French fries right now!” What your body’s really saying is: “I could have a nutrient deficiency.” Outsmart excess calo-ries with these tips from Taylor Newhouse, RD, LD, with Texas A&M School of Public Health.

1. If you want a fast food burger or similar fatty options…

You might be lacking omega-3 essential fatty acids. Instead, have a handful of pumpkin seeds or walnuts. Regularly eat-

ing cold-water fish (mackerel, tuna, salmon) also helps. Experts recom- mend getting 1.6 g of omega-3s daily.

2. If you want chips, pretzels or other salty foods… You might be lacking calcium, potassium and iron. Instead, have a cup of yogurt with banana slices. Daily servings of

sweet potatoes and citrus fuits may also fight the urges. Women need 1,000-1,200 mg of calcium and 18 mg of iron daily (potassium has no RDA).

3. If you want chocolate… You might be lacking magnesium. Instead, have a handful of almonds or cashews, or a half cup of eda-

mame. Adult women should be sure to get at least 310 mg of the min- eral each day. FamilyCircle

Decode Your Cravings

Movie: Elf (2003)$5 per person, $10 per family uptowntheatergp.com Dec. 18

Movie: White Christmas (1954)$5 per person, $10 per family uptowntheatergp.com Dec. 19

Movie: The Santa Clause (1994)$5 per person, $10 per familyuptowntheatergp.com Dec. 20

Holiday Gift Market at Farmers Market - gptx.org/farmersmarketSaturday, Dec. 10, 8 a.m.-1 p.m.Merry Pirate Christmas with The Bilge Pumps pirate band.Fun pirate Christmas carols, Santa 9 a.m.-noon and holiday goodies for sale.

Saturday, Dec. 17, 8 am.-1 p.m.Santa 9 a.m.-noon and holiday goodies for sale.Last day of the Farmers Market until April 2017.

Verizon Theater Events - verizontheatre.comJoe Bonamassa - Dec. 10 , 8 p.m.Smooth R&B Presents: KNRB Christmas - Dec. 17, 8 p.m.Gary Owen New Year's Eve Comedy Show - Dec. 31, 8:30 p.m.

GP Holiday Fun

You know that drinking plenty of water is critical for health. Now, a new study from the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition confirms something you may have already suspected: When you suffer from even very minor dehydration, you’re more likely to lack focus and attention. Your memory can suffer too, and you might even be more prone to anxiety. In other words, your brain pays the price for your hydration deficit which, according to another study, could be due to a drop in bloodflow. Stave off dehydration by drinking at least 8 ounces of water when you wake up in the morning. Then have a glass with each meal, and two after a workout. MensHealth

WOW! Working on Wellness

Wellness/News

41%That's your increased risk of hypothyroidism

if you suffer from a headache disorder like migraines. While experts aren't sure of the reason for the connection, they recommend getting tested for an underactive thyroid if you suffer from frequent headaches. Family Circle

Up to

Eat These, Lower Blood PressurePeople who boost their magnesium intake to 368 mg per day—just above

the RDI for adult women—for three months can lower their blood pressure by several points without making other changes, according to the journal Hypertension. Magnesium relaxes blood vessels, which increases blood flow, decreasing pressure. But approximately 60 percent of adults don’t get enough magnesium. Foods are the best sources of the mineral, especially these:

Pumpkin Seed Kernels168 mg per 1 oz

Spinach157 mg per 1 cup cooked

White Beans113 mg per 1 cup cooked

Salmon104 mg per 3 oz

Brown Rice86 mg per 1 cup cooked

Almonds77 mg per 1 oz

Avocado58 mg per fruit

70% Dark Chocolate43mg per 1 oz

Plain Yogurt42 mg per 1 cup

Banana 32 mg per medium fruit

Prevention

Whole MilkWhat’s this

I’m hearing about whole milk being good for me after all? Well, whole milk was never bad for you in the first place. Outdated science argued that milk’s fat would hurt your heart. Today, a whole new body of data is debunking that. The irony is that whole milk doesn’t have that much fat—it’s 96.75 percent fat free! Skim, 1%, 2%, and 3.25% (a.k.a. whole) all have their own flavor and mouthfeel. Drink what you like. Milk is loaded with nutrients like vitamin D, which most people need more of. MensHealth

A Strong, Flexible Core for Back-Pain ReliefIf you suffer from lower-back

pain, stop focusing only on your aching spine. Problems with the core muscles in the area of your lower back—specifically the glutes and hip muscles—may be triggering the pain. “Loosening the hips and strengthening the muscles on the sides of your glutes can help support your lower back and prevent pain from radiating,” says Brook Benten, an Austin, TX –based exercise physiologist. Open your hips and tone your glutes with the Clamshell (below), which Benten recommends doing three times a week to help prevent and reduce back pain.

Try It: Lie on one side with knees bent and stacked (1). Lift top knee to form a diamond shape with legs, keeping feet together (2). Slowly lower to return to starting position. Do 20 reps on each side. Prevention

Living Longer, StrongerBeing overweight can rob you of future birthdays, says new research from the

USC Institute for Global Health. Along with losing weight, limiting alcohol and not smoking, adopt these three habits to put candles back on your cake.

Up your downtime. People dealing with chronic stress have significantly lower levels of a hormone that helps slow aging and enhance cognition. Unwind with proven tension-taming techniques like meditation or creating artwork.

Get moving. Regular jogging is one of the best activities for longevity, but any exercise that keeps you active does the trick.

Hit the sack—early and often. Getting less than seven hours of sleep daily is associated with chronic health conditions that can lessen your life span, such as diabetes and high blood pressure. Family Circle

Holiday Blood DriveThe City of Grand Prairie and Carter Blood Care will be hosting a blood drive

for all employees on Wednesday, Dec. 21. The Carter BloodCare mobile unit will be at City Hall, 317 College St. Sign up here

Holiday Basket RaffleTickets are $2 each or three for $5 at the Development Center,

206 W. Church St. The raffle benefits the Lone Star Park Charitable Foundation which distributes the donations to Grand Prairie.

WOW! Working on Wellness

Tom HartCity Manager

Message from the Manager

When we’re dealing with customers, we are in charge of their experience. From the time they ask for assistance, we can make their experience good or bad. The next time you have a chance, take a few minutes to turn things around and think about what it would be like to do business with yourself and with your department. Little things create the experience. For example, is there adequate signage in your area, is the area clean and well organized, is someone visible and available to provide assistance? Walk through your customer service area and take a look to see how to make your space better. Add to that some very personalized customer service, and you will create Raving Fans.

On another note, I would like to thank all of you who helped Grand Prairie United Charities secure gifts for children on their Angel Tree. Within hours of the email being sent to help 79 children in the area, we had commitments from more than 120 employees, and I am still receiving offers to help. With your support, Grand Prairie United Charities has met and exceeded their goal. I am so proud of our GP family! Thank you all for making this a special holiday for children in need.

Have a safe and happy holiday.

I’ve heard that there’s no solid research supporting the benefits of flossing. Do I still need to do it?

The science behind flossing unraveled recently, after the Associated Press found there was little clinical evidence backing the longtime claim that it can prevent gum disease and cavities. For now, fluoride toothpaste remains your best tool. But the American Dental Association isn’t suggesting you toss your floss quite yet. It’s still a great way to get rid of food particles that may contribute to plaque buildup and reduce swollen or bleeding gums, says Mark S. Wolff, DDS, professor and chair at New York University’s College of Dentistry. Flossing also helps eliminate bad breath. FamilyCircle

Pack Your Lunch HourPowering through lunch makes you

look productive, but you end up tired and stressed. So take a break and avoid these mistakes.

You scarf your food at your deskSitting all day has been linked to heart disease, diabetes, and premature death. Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate activity five days a week. Lunchtime is perfect for that!The FixTake a walk. It’ll leave you more productive, enthusiastic and relaxed, studies suggest. If you must work, schedule walking meetings; research shows that they fuel creative thinking.

You’re Eating Poorly or Not EnoughSkimping on lunch can lead to overeating at night, and grab-and-go meals can be nutritionally lacking, so you crash later on.The FixPack a healthy combo of protein, carbs and fat for energy, says dietitian Christopher Mohr, Ph.D. Roll up leftover rotisserie chicken and avocado in a whole wheat wrap; munch on bell pepper and carrot slices and pack an apple.

You Don’t Use the Break to Do What You LikeIf you’re not in the mood to, say, join your colleagues for lunch, then doing that won’t be as relaxing as clocking alone time (and vice versa), studies show. It may actually fatigue you.The FixEngaging in an activity you enjoy will help alleviate work stress and improve your well-being, research shows. If that means escaping to your car for some sports radio downtime, go for it.

You Miss Your Midday WorkoutYou’re also missing out on the brain-boosting benefits of increased bloodflow, says trainer Craig Ballantyne.The FixA 15-minute circuit can be as effective as a longer, more moderate routine. Do this four times: prisoner-style reverse lunges (30 seconds per side); pause pushups (pause at the bottom and top) for 1 minute; side plank (30 seconds per side). Rest for 1 minute. MensHealth

Don't Toss Your Floss

24%While cigarette smoking among teens is on the decline, nearly one in four

high school students report having vaped in the past 30 days. Warn your kids about the dangers of nicotine addiction (including heart disease and elevated blood pressure) from e-cigarette use. Family Circle