Activities

Health Coaching Workshop, April 2010
The workshop reviewed and further practiced key skills and principles taught in the previous Health Coaching Workshop. This workshop was about consolidating our learning and competency with the health coaching framework and techniques.

Lifestyle Medicine Conference, March 2010

The Australian Lifestyle Medicine Association (ALMA) is a multi-disciplinary health association aimed at supporting the team care management of lifestyle-related health problems by GPs and Allied Health Professionals (AHPs).
The aims of the ALMA conference, in line with those of the association are to;
Provide education in the practice of lifestyle medicine to health professionals;
Inform delegates of the latest scientific findings in lifestyle-related health;
Initiate best practice for financial involvement in lifestyle medicine
The association is open to GPs and all Health Professionals dealing with lifestyle related problems.For more information go to www.lifestylemedicine.net.au/

Health Coaching for Health Professionals

Health coaching is about educating patients in such a way that it brings about effective long-term behavioral change through: motivating patients toward readiness for change, assisting to change unhelpful thinking patterns, powerfully promoting behavioral changes and empowering patients to achieve self regulation. Fundamentally, it provides structured guidance for enhancing lifestyle changes within the context of disease prevention, chronic condition self-management, disability service, aged care and general practice. For more information go to www.healthcoachingaustralia.com/

Age-defying Qigong 8-Aug-09

Qigong is a 5000 years old martial art developed by the Chinese for “energy mastery”. Qigong uses deliberate movement, meditative focus, special breathing techniques and visualisation to bring about astounding benefits to one’s health. Pratitioners of this art develope an uncanny ability to visualise ideal situations, circumstances and outcomes thus allowing them to perform the most efficient or perfect action in any given circumstance no matter how stressful. This remarkable ability control the mind together with energy mastery is the secret of maintaining perfect mental and physical states. This powerfully slows, stops or even reverses the development of disease and the consequent aging process. Qigong also calms the nervous system providing the perfect anti-dote for treatment of anxiety, insomnia and depression. For more information go to www.tiandiqigong.com.au

DAA Bariatric Surgery Roadshow 7-Aug-09

For the morbidly obese who are unable to lose weight by dietary intervention and exercise, bariatric surgery can be considered. Common procedures carried out are the following:

1. Adjustable lap band
2. Gastric sleeve
3. Roux en Y gastric bypass

The first procedure is by far the most common surgery carried out to date. Its popularity does not mean that it is better. With lap banding, drinking water quickly, consuming fruits, vegetables, whole grains and a piece of steak can sometimes pose a problem. The latter two procedures are less popular partly because they are irreversible and partly because they are associated with life-long nutrient deficiency. There are pros and cons associated with all procedures. An individual considering any of these procedures should consider what suits them best before making a decision.

Concept Nutrition Presents Chronic Degenerative Disease and How to Prevent Them, 26-May-09

In 2008, as a nation, Australians popped 230 million prescription pills principly for chronic degenerative disease. This figure is set to rise exponentially with a rapidly aging population. Did you know that since 2000, the Pharmacaeutical Benefits Scheme has exceeded $6bn per annum and this budget has been escalating? This is totally unsustainable. Mainstream medicine’s disease-focused system is already straining at the seams. This is despite the fact that the full impact of the chronic disease crisis that is about to hit us has not even been felt yet! This presentation covers the underlying cause of chronic degenerative disease – paraflammation. Treating paraflammation can prevent a chronic disease’s premature expression. Focusing on cellular health and intervening at the cellular level before the outright expression of a disease is likely to yield a better health outcome than treating a fully expresssed disease at the systemic level.

DAA presents Mental Health and Wellbeing in Dietetics, 28-Apr-09

Mental disorders like depressive, anxiety, substance abuse and psychotic disorders are surprisingly common. A recent survey of householders (excluding nursing homes and prisons) showed that 20% of Australians suffer from mental disorder. A closer examination of the statictics reveals that there is a disproportionately large number of females suffering from all classes of mental disorders except substance abuse (the only class where males display twice as much prevalence). This seminar highlights the horrendous disability people with mental disorders live with daily. 90% of sufferers also develop chronic diseases in their lives with more adverse outcomes, testimony to the fact that mental and physical health are intimately linked. Another interesting feature is that mental disorder decreases with age! Who says we lose our marbles with as we get older?

Winners of The Challenge, 26-Mar-2009

Presentation on “Creating a Powerful Structure for Weight Management.” Congratulations Priya Sasi, Rosemary Jones, Abha Malik, Angela Pink, Jenny Higgins, Mary-Anne Northcote, Uma Ramasubramanian, Caitlin Funnell, Sonia Groves and Hannah Snowden for successfully losing at least 23cm body girth through The Challenge! Awesome work.

Australian Lifestyle Medicine Conference, 22-Mar-09

Professor Jennie Brand-Miller, author of The New Glucose Revolution (New York Times best seller) and world’s leading authority on the glycaemic index is a guest speaker for the Australian Lifestyle Medicine Conference. Professor Brand-Miller shows how choosing low GI carbohydrates produces smaller fluctuations in blood glucose and insulin levels. This is synonymous with long term health and possibly the secret of aging well or “youthfulness”.
Professor Brand-Miller was also my supervisor for my masters research project on – The Role of Oligosaccharides in Breast-fed Infants.

The Challenge, 5-Mar-2009

Presentation on Auditing Your Internal Dialogue.  Well-attended and well-received.

Elaine Raahauge of Epping, NSW:

“I have had a weight problem all my life and know that being fat is not just about the food we eat.  Yes, we have to eat the right foods in the right amounts and exercise to lose weight but we must change our attitude to food to be really successful.  Giselle helps us to understand how our thoughts both assist and sabotage our goals.  And that we can use our thoughts to modify and control our behavour to meet our goals.  I highly recommend you attend her presentation if you want to understand why you are having trouble losing weight and want to take control of the situation.”

Anonymous of Epping, NSW:

“Thank you. Very enjoyable and thought provoking.”

The Challenge,  5-Feb-2009

Now that we have ushered in the Year of the Ox, the “challengers” at Contours are all set for a rigorous 6-week weight management program. Each participant in this program will have her weight and body measurements taken at the beginning and end of the 6 weeks. The top 3 “biggest losers” of the program will be acknowledged and given prizes for their accomplishments. Tools for weight management like eating plans, food and exercise diaries and constant encouragement and focus through a series of presentations will be given to assist each participant to fast track toward their weight loss goals. Good luck everyone!

Dr. Abha Malik of Epping, NSW:

“I attended the meeting and it helped me to put my issues with weight gain in a clearer perspective.  It also made me realise that I am not alone and that many other women face the same problems, habits and thought processes.  And the most important lesson was that these bad habits and eating behaviours can be changed if we can control our mind.  It definitely gave me greater willpower and for my own good!  KNOWEDGE HELPS!”

Elizabeth Barton of Epping, NSW:

“Wonderful presentation.  Very helpful and encouraging.”

Contours Christmas Party, 11-Dec-2008

Tonight’s party was very well attended and a lot of fun.  The ladies had a wonderful time and prizes were given out in recognition of the 3 extraordinary women who lost the most ‘girth measurements’ over the last 12 weeks.  Congratulations Julie Keyes, Louise Hampshire and Christine Vogels!  Keep up the good work.

Gluten Free Food and Allergy Show

Thanks to the Dietitians Association of Australia, Giselle Brand had the great opportunity of promoting the services provided by Accredited Practising Dietitians to the general public in the area of Food Allergy and Intolerances. It is observed that there is a growing trend to self-diagnose allergies and intolerances with almost 25% of Australians reporting that they have some form of allergy.  Most health professionals however believe that true food allergy only affects less than 2% of the population.  This indicates there could be a lot of quackery out there.  There is growing concern among Health Professionals that severely limiting food intake on grounds of self-diagnosed allergy could be placing a lot of Australians at risk of malnutrition.  At the Gluten Free Food and Allergy Show, there was particular interest in allergy diagnosis and nutritional intervention in coeliac disease. Overall, a very fun and rewarding day for all exhibition participants.

Anti-cancer Lifestyle Presentation, 29-Oct-08

Thanks to Contours for the successful organisation of Pink Ribbon Morning Tea for the Breast Cancer Foundation on 29-10-08.  Special thanks for the press release and mail out ahead of the event.  We are delighted to announce that we successfully raised $970 for the foundation.

The following are some testimonials from the Anti-cancer Lifestyle presentation by Concept Nutrition -

Robin Diehm of Epping, NSW:

“Was not expecting half of what you did and you have excelled yourselves on the attention to detail. Linda was very encouraging and Giselle Brand was very helpful.”

Anne Chandler of Epping, NSW:

“A bright and informative presentation. A concept of sensible nutrition that would be easy to adopt.”

Jennifer Cheng of Epping, NSW:

Excellent review.  Refresher for improvement to live more happily and healthily.  Fantastic to have new research presented!”

Go Red for Women, 26-Jun-08

Thanks to Contours for organising ‘Go Red for Women’ night on 26-06-08.  “Heart to Heart” presentation by Concept Nutrition was well attended and succesfully raised funds for the Australian Heart Foundation.
Some of the feedback received from the presentation audience:

Babara of Marsfield, NSW:

Your enthusiasm is catching.”

Anonymous:

I thought it was great – very informative and presented with lots of energy.”

Jen of Epping, NSW:

Met expectation, informative, useful and entertaining.”

Rosalina Merkenich of Breakfast Point, NSW:

You have outdone yourself!  Awesome!  Presentation was clear, easy to understand and informative.  Very impressive.”