YMCA to offer new lifestyle program

The Helena Family YMCA is offering a group fitness program called Work Out With the YMCA based on the popular television show The Biggest Loser. The Helena Family YMCA has recently been awarded a grant from PepsiCo, one of the world's largest food and beverage companies, which will help support the YMCA Health and Wellness programs including our WOW YMCA program.

WOW YMCA is a 12-week fitness program starting in September which focuses on nutrition and exercise to achieve a healthy lifestyle. Participants will have the opportunity to be trained by a certified personal trainer and also have access to the lunch seminars featuring local nutrition and health professionals.

The cost to participate for a YMCA member is $150 and a non member is $300. An informational meeting will be held today at 5:30 p.m. at the YMCA. For more information, call the YMCA at

442-9622.

'Better Living' lecture series kicks off new season

St. Peter's Hospital and the Waterford's ";Better Living Lecture Series" begins a new season on Tuesday, Sept. 1, with ";Living Done Right -- Eating and Exercising for Optimum Health."

Family Physician, Todd Wampler, M.D., will cover diet and exercise for a healthy body, how to reduce your risk of heart disease and diabetes, and staying mentally and physically fit well into the retirement years.

Wampler's talk begins at 6 p.m.; free body mass index screenings begin at 5:30.

The ";Better Living Lecture Series" is a free, educational health and wellness series provided for the community on the first Tuesday of the month. All of the lectures begin at 6 p.m. in the Hospital's Education Center, with health education booths opening at 5:30 p.m. Those attending should use the Hospital's Main Entrance. For a schedule of upcoming Better Living Lectures at St. Peter's, visit www.stpetes.org or call

444-2135.

Hospital association to meet Sept. 2

The next meeting of the St. Peter's Hospital Association will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 2, in the Education Center at the Hospital. All are welcome; those attending should use the Hospital's new Main Entrance off Winnie Street.

The association is a volunteer organization that was formed in 1921 to support St. Peter's Hospital in providing healthcare services. Association members volunteer their time to support the Hospital's Gift Shop, hospitality cart, and coordinate several events. Association members also sew large red Christmas stockings in which all babies born at St. Peter's in December are sent home. All the money raised by the association is given to the hospital and every year the association membership votes on how to allocate the funds raised to support priority needs at St. Peter's.

Since its inception, the Association has raised more than $500,000 for hospital services.

Men or women interested in joining the association are encouraged to call Betty Brown at 442-4622 for more information.

Smoking cessation program begins soon

St. Peter's Hospital's next ";Quit for Life" class begins Sept. 21. ";Quit for Life" is a three-week course, meeting Mondays and Wednesdays, 5:30-7:00 p.m., through Oct. 14.

The class is offered by St. Peter's Hospital and The Montana Quit Line. Class fee is $35 and includes cessation patches and gum.

";Quit for Life," is a proven, effective method for helping people quit smoking and chewing tobacco. Quit coaches formulate a specific quit plan for each individual, including methods for changing behavior, informative materials and a supply of nicotine replacement therapy products.

People using the ";Quit For Life" program are reported to be at least eight times more successful at quitting than going cold turkey. The course teaches the latest skills for stress management, weight control, and exercise. ";Quit For Life" coaches use positive thinking, one-on-one help, rewards, and group support to help participants stop using tobacco.

Payment for ";Quit For Life" is due before the first class. Register online at www.stpetes.org or e-mail Leah Matheson at lmatheson@stpetes.org; or call 444-2130.

Hospice volunteer training to be offered

Frontier Home Health and Hospice is offering their annual hospice volunteer training for interested persons. The three-week course runs every Tuesday and Thursday from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. beginning Sept. 15.

Sessions will take place in Frontier's conference room located at 1300 Aspen, Suite 2. Snacks will be provided.

For more information or to register, call Gayla Brown or David Butler at 443-4140. Registration deadline is Sept. 11.

To have and event or notice posted in the Independent Records Health Briefs, e-mail it to peggy.oneill@helenair.com or call 447-4074. Deadline for briefs is the Wednesday before publication.