The Oregon Women's Report - Women's News from Oregon

By Erika Weisensee

It’s that time of year again. Millions of Americans are promising to get fit, break their bad habits, and spend more time with family and friends.  On January 1st, many of us will toss our ‘08 calendars into recycle bins, eager to begin the New Year with a fresh start. But the reality is, most of us will fall back into old patterns before we even hit spring.

A recent survey by FranklinCovey revealed the most common New Year’s resolutions for ‘09. According to the survey, which polled more than 15,000 people, the most popular resolutions are: 1) getting out of debt or saving money; 2) losing weight; and 3) developing a healthy habit (e.g., exercise or eating healthy).

Your Personal Trainer:
Olivia C. Rossi, RN, MSN

In two days, a new year begins.  Two of the most popular resolutions of the New Year are associated with starting a weight loss program or starting a physical fitness program.  The key word is “starting.”  The New Year is a great motivator for change, but too often our New Year’s resolutions don’t last and our good intentions fall apart.  Why?  Think about it.  “Making” a New Year’s resolution means making a change and change doesn’t happen all at once.  It’s a process.  That’s why I’d like to propose a change to the phrase “Making a New Year’s resolution.”  I prefer to call it “Starting a New Year’s resolution,” or, starting a change.

Researchers and social scientists love theoretical models.  A well-known model of behavior change that I find particularly helpful in my work is called the “Stages of Change” model by psychologist James Prochaska.  You may have heard of it.  I will outline it briefly and add my own twist to it.  The five stages of change are:

1. Pre-contemplation ( you’re not even thinking about it)
2. Contemplation ( you’re giving it a thought now and then, but not doing it)
3. Preparation (you’re doing it irregularly)
4. Action (you’re working on the new habit regularly but for less than six months)
5. Maintenance (you’ve been maintaining the new habit for six months or more)

Think of the five stages along a line with arrows between each stage.  Change happens in stages and sometimes you slip up.  In fact, slip ups will happen.  It’s a normal part of the change process.  One of the arrows may loop back from action to preparation and you’ll find yourself slipping back to a former stage . . . one step forward, two steps back.  You may not go to the gym for a week or two.  Think of it as a lapse.  A longer lapse may become a relapse, perhaps a drop in motivation, an illness, life just “happening,” or an extended snow storm!  Don’t think of a lapse or relapse as a failure to keep your New Year’s resolution.  It’s all part of the change process and change is difficult.  Try not to let a lapse or relapse turn into a total “collapse” by giving up.  You can always start over, but you don’t have to go all the way back to square one.  Consider the pre-lapse practice!

The New Year is a powerful motivator for starting a resolution or a change, a new page, a clean slate.  Think about where you are now and where you want to go.  Start with the first step and make each additional step that follows a small and manageable one.  It takes time to form a new habit.  When you start to see results and to feel good, when you begin to look forward to your new activity, whether it is a new way of eating, an exercise program or if you are starting to stop smoking, you’ll know you’re on your way to a new lifelong habit–a positive change.  This time next year, you won’t be starting a resolution, you’ll be continuing it and maybe starting a new one.  Happy New Year!

Olivia C. Rossi, RN, MSN
Certified Clinical Specialist, ACSM
Certified Personal Trainer, ACSM

by Cathy Rae Smith
Founder of Culture Magazine,

On a trip to Bali earlier this year, there was a certain appealingly radiant distinction to its people.

That certain “something” went beyond surface appearance of gentle features and jet-black hair. For two weeks I saw not a single person slouching or slumping along. There is a physical grace inherent to their movement coupled with a lovely upright posture. As I strolled the tourist town streets or got off the beaten path to remote locations, everyone seemed relaxed, shone genuine warm smiles, and moved with physical elegance.

People still carry bundles on their heads, which is part of where their beautifully upright postures are developed. They also engage in arts and dance as a part of daily life. Children go from school to dance classes with a local master, much in the way that American children go to play on a sport team after school. This cultural embrace of the arts and social manner of respect shown to one another was conspicuously attractive.

Guest Submission:

Written by: Lynne Horner

Oh, goody — a chance to be politically incorrect: Merry Christmas!

Here’s what I did: I asked Santa for a herd of something — a herd of female somethings, to be exact — but so far nothing’s shown up.

Cows, sheep, horses or goats would be my favorites, but what we maybe have room for are a flock of chickens, say, or ducks.

Here’s why.

Submitted by Kay Helbling

A trip to the emergency room last month was the impetus for sharing this bit of news to you. And, no better time to share it then on Christmas Day.

It was just a day before Thanksgiving, the beginning of the busy holiday season. The nurse said it is one of the busiest times for them. I assumed it was the slip and falls from the weather or maybe heart attacks from the stress. In fact, the reason she gave left me speechless.

During the holidays, they receive a rush of elderly brought in by their caring children. You see, some of these moms and dads and grandmas and grandpas are only seen by their kids during the holidays. So, when they find them short of breath or having a hard time getting around it scares them. To them the change is drastic. Something must be wrong. Off they go, to the emergency room.

To these elderly, the condition has been slowly progressing but no one noticed, because they weren’t there.  There was no emergency care needed, only some tender, loving care.

If you are like me and live thousands of miles from a parent or grandparent, maybe the greatest gift we can give them is not wrapped with a shiny bow & ribbon but in the warmth of a big, strong hug. Not just at Christmas but throughout the year.

This Christmas, as we leave their home or make our annual Christmas call, besides telling them we love them, maybe we should offer them one more present—a promise. A promise to call and visit them twice as often. To stay in touch with their life and that we want them to stay in touch with ours. I think that would be the best gift we can give them because, most certainly, love is “the greatest gift of all”.

Kay was an insurance adjuster and executive for 15 years, a small business owner and a teacher for 10. But, her most fulfilling work has been as a mother of her two boys. She is now looking forward to an empty nest with her best friend—her husband

By Evergreen,

I want everyone to know that I did try to follow Oregon Women’s Report fitness instructor, Olivia Rossi’s advice on diet strategies for the holidays.  I must announce that several extraordinary circumstances made it much more difficult for me this year.

The worst example came when someone dropped by a huge plate of Christmas cookies the day before the snowstorm.  I had no intention of eating any of them but rather leaving them around fro everyone else in the house.  After a few days trapped in the house with limited food the allure of those cookies broke down my will and I devoured the entire lot in 48 hours.  That started a ravenous chain of events within itself.

By Your Personal Trainer:
Olivia Rossi,

It was as tough, if not tougher than I had imagined, to let go of my son and watch him walk away.  Parenthood is the only job in the world with the goal of becoming unemployed in eighteen years.  It was 1998 when he left for college.  I found myself dwelling a lot on his birth and his early months, kind of like I was reliving them.  I had written a lot of insights and poems when he was a baby which seemed to provide me comfort in those early days of his absence.  I thought of the quote I had on my desk at home, “Children are like snowflakes–unique, but only here for awhile,” and of the mother who told me to “Savor each moment” when she gave me his “Baby’s First Christmas” ornament in 1979.  He was two-weeks old.  That ornament is always the first one on my tree and the last one off.

By Sharon Lacey, Portland comedian

I travel all across the country doing stand up comedy. Now that the holidays are over, I have a moment to reflect on all of the creative ways people decorated their yards this Christmas.  In Tucson, tall cacti wore red Santa hats. In Pendleton, little twinkling lights adorned the tumbleweed.  But somebody crossed the line into “tacky” when they lined up life-sized blow-up dolls, put wings, halos, and white robes on them, and called them “Caroling Angels”.  My neighbors suggested I never do that again…..

— Portlander Sharon Lacey performs stand-up comedy all across the U.S. and Canada. She’ll be entertaining our troops in Iraq in January. Clips & contact info:  sharonlaceycomedy.com or  myspace.com/sharonlacey

Guest Submission

A convicted Lane County predatory sex offender who was released from prison last week after serving time for sex-related crimes has absconded from parole supervision, authorities announced Monday December 16th 2008.

Rickey Allen Robbins has been convicted of rape, sexual abuse and burglary.

His whereabouts are unknown, county authorities said.

Read the full article and discuss it » | (No comments yet)

Submitted by Kay Helbling

By Erika Weisensee

The video store I rent movies from has an entire section of holiday films. Every year, it seems, there are more and more choices, but of all the movies in this growing seasonal genre, my favorite is “A Christmas Story.” Oh, I can feel the messages coming in already, so let me add this little disclaimer: There are many, many great Christmas films out there, and I would love to hear your opinions.

The original “Miracle on 34th Street” is magical, and “It’s a Wonderful Life” really is wonderful. I also love “Elf,” a delightful, heart-warming, and funny movie, thanks to the comic talent of Will Ferrell. But of all the holiday flicks on the shelf, “A Christmas Story” is the movie I long to see every December, sometimes again and again.

Your Personal Trainer:
By Olivia C.  Rossi, RN, MSN, ACSM

There’s a concept in the fitness and exercise physiology field called “Core Stabilization.”  That sounds like a pretty “out there” term but it is a really, really important concept.  I’m going to explain it to you but first let me tell you something about myself.  I love anatomy and physiology.  Each year, I attend two conferences sponsored by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) so I can keep up on the latest research in the field of exercise physiology.  I want to learn it so I can pass it on to my patients at work in cardiac rehabilitation and to you because it is really important for you to know.  It was at one of those recent meetings that I had what I like to call an “ah-ha” moment.  That is a moment in which something becomes totally clear and understandable.  In this case, it gave me a clear picture of a difficult concept that I can pass on to you, and that brings me back to the concept of “Core Stabilization.”

Several inches of snow has descended upon Portland Metro area, shutting down schools, traffic and events.  On Sunday, Interstate 5 was littered with curbed cars stuck in the snow.  Before you venture out please follow these tips by Weather.com on how to handle winter hazards.   We cover four areas…

1. Driving safely on icy roads
2. If your rear wheels skid…
3. If your front wheels skid…
4. If you get stuck…

Submitted by: Gienie Assink, Springfield Oregon

Being a mother of 4–soon to be 5 kids doesn’t leave me a whole lot of time to do much of anything.  I do make a point to–some time during my day–pick up the local paper (The Register Guard) and read the latest edition of news surrounding me.

I’m rarely surprised, often irritated, and almost always sit down to write a response to someones nonsense.  ( I probably have thousands of drafts which have never been submitted HA! )

Needless to say, sometimes I come across stories like this one below:

Read the full article and discuss it » | (3 comments)

Submitted by Kay Helbling  

Many of us with teenagers have shared the concern of a robbery taking place at the corner retail store or gas station where they are working some of their first jobs. This year is certainly no exception. By mid-year, USA Today had reported a 10% increase in armed robberies across the country. By June, Washington State had already matched last year’s figures. Drug issues were indicated as the primary reason, but it has been compounded by a worsening economy.

By Erika Weisensee

With lay-offs and even announcements of businesses shutting their doors, the economic crisis has hit home for thousands of Oregonians. Combined with a tumultuous market and general uneasiness about what lies ahead, people understandably may be spending less this holiday season. Though it remains to be seen, collectively we may also be giving less.

Yet, when the economy takes a slide, human service organizations, in turn, need more.  For example, the Oregon Food Bank (www.oregonfoodbank.org) reports that between July and September, the need for emergency food boxes was up 13 percent across Oregon. In some areas of the state, need was up as much as 43 percent.

By Olivia Rossi, RN, MSN, ACSM
Your Personal Trainer

Flexibility is one of the three components of a well-balanced exercise program.  The other two are aerobic, or cardiovascular endurance, and resistance or strength training.  Simply put, being flexible means being able to use muscles and joints through their full range of motion.  The range of motion of any joint is specific to the type of joint it is.  For instance, ball-and-socket joints, such as in your shoulders and your hips, have a greater range of motion than hinge joints such as your elbows and knees. 

By Sharon Lacey, Portland comedian

As a woman who is well into middle age, I admit to secretly paying special attention to magazine ads that promise age-defying creams and lotions.  Wrinkle erasers?  Non-surgical solutions to a smooth face?  Sounds good to me!  But they’re going too far when they have Diane Keaton singing the praises of face creme with calcium.  Really?  Calcium??  How fair is that? Men get Viagra when they get older; we get….dairy products??!  Forget it.  When I hit sixty I’m going to skip the calcium and go straight to concrete.  My face will be smooth as a sidewalk….and then men can really walk all over me…..

— Portlander Sharon Lacey performs stand-up comedy all across the U.S. and Canada. She’ll be entertaining our troops in Iraq in January. Clips & contact info:  sharonlaceycomedy.com or  myspace.com/sharonlacey

Guest Submission

If Crystal Cameron and her almost 2-year-old toddler, Tyra, weren’t giggling and smooching in the cozy living room at Transformation House, they’d probably “be on the streets or in a shelter somewhere that wouldn’t seem like a real home,” the young mother says.

Instead, they’re in a spacious old farmhouse near Cottage Grove with high ceilings, plenty of windows and even a bedroom of their own, sharing the home with two other moms and their children. All of the women have something in common: An escape from domestic violence, a determination not to go back there and the drive to move their lives in a new, positive direction.

Read the full article and discuss it » | (1 comment)

Submitted by Kay Helbling

If the only news you read came from the Oregonian, there is no doubt your vision of us Portland metro mommas would be of those picketing the capital, kids in tow, for more school funding. Well, I’ll have you know, we don’t all wear Birkenstocks. As a matter of fact, a large number of us have bagged a buck, tied a fly and can peel a log better than most.

Digging out Northwest sports documentary reels made back in the 30’s you’ll find, front and center, little Ruthie Kennedy. She sat with me every Saturday morning for several months telling her story as I hurriedly dictated, maintaining the colorful flavor of her words. I was amazed at the stories and the life of this Oregon woman and many others I have met since moving to the Portland metro area.