Category: HEALTH

My Heart Story – Open Heart Surgery and Recovery

Part 3 of 3. One of our INLIV teammates, Jennifer Michaud, shares her heart story in this three-part series. Read Part 1 and Part 2.

My husband told me afterwards that my surgery took longer than anticipated by about an hour, which caused a lot of anxiety for him and my parents. My surgeon advised them afterwards he had been shocked by how enlarged my aortic root was (where the aorta attaches to the heart), a sign of my heart working overtime to accommodate my ineffective aortic valve. He needed that extra time to ensure my new bio-prosthetic valve would fit and remain in place. Read more…

My Heart Story – Discovering I need open heart surgery

Part 2 of 3. One of our INLIV teammates, Jennifer Michaud, shares her heart story in this three-part series. Read Part 1 here.

I was back at the cardiologist’s office in March of 2016. Before we went over my test results, my doctor asked me if I had anything I wanted to say, anything I had noticed health-wise that I wanted to bring up. I was about to say my usual “Nope, nothing” but stopped myself – I was suddenly hit with the urge to tell him about an odd “symptom” I had recently been experiencing; I use quotes around the word symptom because I wouldn’t have known at the time what it was a symptom of, and had only mentioned it because I figured it couldn’t hurt. Read more…

My Heart Story – Born with a heart condition

One of our INLIV teammates, Jennifer Michaud, shares her heart story in this three-part series. Part 1 of 3.

February is recognized as Heart Month across Canada, in an effort to increase public focus on cardiovascular health and awareness of heart disease and the many ways it affects 1.3 million Canadians and their families. This month is especially important to me as I am an open-heart surgery survivor, and since my surgery almost three years ago it has become a mission for me to make sure everyone values the health of their hearts. Read more…

Many of us set fresh, exciting wellness goals for the new year, only to get side-tracked before we’ve gained any momentum. My best advice is to start by making small changes first. Remember – small successes build large victories. And research shows it takes 21 days to form a new habit, so try to really commit for your first three weeks. It can make it easier to stick with your plan for the long-term. Here are a few tips to help you get started. Read more…

Your December calendar may be filled with a dizzying array of activities – holiday baking, parties, entertaining, shopping, gift wrapping and more. Amidst the joy of the season there is often stress, too. Ten of our INLIV teammates share their top tips for beating holiday stress. Read more…

The holiday season can be a magical time, brimming with friends, family and fun – but for some, the season is challenging and emotionally draining. It’s often a time of reflection, and you may be reminded of the year’s milestones, including the heartbreak of loved ones that have been lost, life changes like retirement, separation, an empty nest, or general lack of fulfillment as another year closes. It’s important to understand that stress, anxiety, the holiday blues and depression are common this time of year. Read more…

We know that a diagnosis of dementia in any form, including Alzheimer’s disease, can bring up a lot of emotions, questions and concerns for you and your loved ones. Read more…

September always feels like it’s time to hit the reset button. Maybe it’s all the years of going back to school that makes September feel like a fresh start. What are your September “New Year” rituals? We’ve compiled a list of 22 home, health and wellness tips for a fresh start this fall. Read more…

Is it time for a medication review? Are you greeted by a dizzying array of prescription pill bottles, blister packs, and various lotions and potions when you open your medicine cabinet or peek in that box tucked under the bathroom sink? It happens to many of us. Read more…

It’s that time of year again. Calgary restaurants and shops have hay bales in their doorways, locals have swapped their business attire for plaid and the smell of pancakes fills the air!

Yes, it’s the Calgary Stampede: 10 days of country music, cowboy boots and endless pancake breakfasts. And most of them are free! Read more…

Ahh, summer! It’s time for long, leisurely nights in the back yard, on the deck and by the campfire. While burgers, hot dogs and steak are barbecue staples, you can up your grilling game this summer with these easy, healthy and tasty ideas.

The usual suspects for grilling on the barbecue include sweet peppers, onion and asparagus. Here are a few other recommendations. Just brush with some olive oil and get grilling. Read more…

May is Bladder Cancer Awareness Month, something that hits very close to home for me. As a recent bladder cancer survivor, spreading awareness about this all too common, yet surprisingly unknown disease has become a passion project for me.

Many people have never heard of bladder cancer or, if they have, do not realize how common this type of cancer is. Read more…

At INLIV, we believe in a collaborative approach to your health care. We believe in being your wellness partner. We believe in making it easy for you to get medical advice, support and appointments with your physician. We believe you should have easy access to your medical reports and test results. With our easy-to-use online health portal, we provide all this and more! Read more…

Healthy eating habits in childhood are the cornerstone to establishing good nutrition later on in life. However, many parents often find that their children are “picky eaters”, and that it’s seemingly hopeless to convince them to eat healthy diets – a variety of fruits, vegetables, grains, and other foods that deliver the nutrients they need.  Read more…

What’s your fitness goal? Whether it’s to lose fat, gain strength, train for your favourite sport, complete an Ironman, or improve your overall health, our INLIV personal training team can get you there with the help of our medically-based fitness assessment.

Utilizing a wide range of medical screening tests, blood tests and health evaluation, our fitness assessment goes far beyond what you’ll get at a regular gym or workout facility. And that helps your results go far beyond, too! It all starts with an extensive assessment to establish your health benchmarks, determine specific limitations and challenges you face, and set a clear plan in place to move you along your wellness path.   Read more…

It often starts as an unusual pain, maybe some tingling… and then a rash sets in. Shingles! While it may be common (almost one in three Canadians may be affected by shingles), it can be quite painful. And, too often, some fail to realize that the pain from shingles can last for months – long after the rash has healed.

As a physician, I have been watching Shingrix – the newest vaccine against shingles – through the late Phase III trials and approval. Interestingly, Canada was the first country to approve the new vaccine, and our physician team here at INLIV had it on order as soon as the announcement of its approval for use in Canada in October 2017. Read more…

Stress is heightened during the holiday season for many reasons – our routines are interrupted, we eat more, exercise less, have work deadlines and end-of-year expectations for ourselves. Check out these tips from our INLIV team revealing their tips to ease holiday stress. Read more…

Passion for Play – the Kelly Blackshaw story

Kelly Blackshaw lives for, and works for, health and wellness. Looking at health from a holistic and lifestyle perspective, she knows that healthy living isn’t about the vegetables you eat, the hobbies you enjoy, or the positive habits you maintain – it’s about all of those things, and a whole lot more. Read more…

Private clinics provide a team of specialists to take care of you

From the Calgary Herald – Options
Friday, September 22, 2017

By: Gerald Vander Pyl

Read more…

From the Calgary Herald – Options
Friday, September 22, 2017

By: Gerald Vander Pyl

Private health care centres are gaining interest as people look for ways to take charge of their health and that of their families.

Read more…

It’s a long weekend and for many of us, that means a family camping trip or driving excursion. The car rides can be long and often our food selection looks like a hungry, unsupervised, eight-year-old did the shopping. Try a healthier approach with our road trip hacks!

• Instead of chips and cookies, fill your cooler with fresh vegetables and fruit
• Apples and carrots last quite a long time, and hummus makes a flavourful dip
• Pack some hard boiled eggs for a quick snack
• Instant oatmeal can give you – and the kids – an energy boost in the morning before heading out for a hike
• Tuna is convenient, especially in the packet versus a can. You don’t even have to worry about finding the can opener!
• For a sweet treat, try grilling pineapple for dessert, instead of indulging in another s’more
• Freeze your drinks before you pack them in the cooler. They’ll help keep everything cold

Our INLIV INmates have also put together a list of their personal tips and road trip hacks for your long weekend travel.

• When planning a road trip, be mindful of where you’re going and how long it will take. If you know it’s a long drive with limited access to anything other than gas station snacks, try packing a small lunch box with healthy snacks like protein bars or bananas. Be careful when choosing your protein bars – make sure the grams of protein are always higher than the grams of sugar! – Zoë Saunders, Client Co-ordinator, INLIV Operations

• Pre-portion everything. Cutting up vegetables in advance and packing them in small sandwich bags works great. – Physician, Total Health Management

• I let my kids pick the snack for each other. And playing a game like ‘what’s behind door number one’ works well. All the doors might have broccoli behind them, but they don’t know that! – Steve Reynish, INLIV Client

• I pack lots of healthy fats and fibre to hold me over longer while I’m out camping. Almonds are great for that. – Omar Ibrahim, Personal Trainer, Fitness

• There are always ways to make your favourites slightly healthier! For your burger, wrap it in lettuce instead of a traditional bun. Skip the fries and choose veggies instead – and you’re good to go! – Zoë Saunders, Client Co-ordinator, Operations

• It can be tough to keep kids entertained in the car, On our road trip this summer, we played ‘count the trucks and name the colours’. We got to about 50 trucks before our little guy lost interest. – Ryan Hamilton, Innovation

• Sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat. Physical sunscreens are great – they don’t absorb into the skin, but sit on the surface and protect against both UV-A and UV-B rays. (Click here for more tips on sun safety) – Dr. Wendy Smeltzer, Medical Director at INLIV

• Don’t overlook the basics – water, a first aid kit – and bear spray! All great items to make sure you enjoy your time outdoors safely – Cary Bohnet, Business Development

• When I go hiking I always carry a knife, tape and first aid supplies, just in case anything happens. With these items in your bag, you can tape a sprained ankle or make a splint if you need to. – Cole Elliot, Personal Trainer, Fitness 

• After your hike, stretches are a must. You want to be able to walk tomorrow!  Click here to see a video demonstrating some suggested stretches for after your hike.

Wishing you and yours a happy, healthy, safe, long weekend – from everyone at INLIV.

TALK TO AN ADVISOR TO LEARN MORE ABOUT INLIV

 

Angie, 52, began a journey two years ago to improve her health and her overall wellness. Her story is one of inspiration, dedication, and transformation – read on to find out more!

Angie’s Goals at INLIV
Angie’s introduction to INLIV came when she was offered our Executive Medical Assessment program through her workplace. Initially skeptical, she decided to create a set of goals and work toward them. Angie was concerned about high blood pressure, and had been struggling with her weight for nearly two decades – she knew she needed to find help to make changes.

INLIV’s Flex Credits
All clients who are part of both our Executive Medical Assessment program and our Total Health Management program receive flex credits, which includes one complimentary consultation with an INLIV practitioner about fitness and personal training, nutrition and diet, or medical aesthetics. After hearing about the INLIV flex credits, Angie considered her options and goals. Since she was concerned about her weight and cardiovascular health, she decided to meet with an INLIV personal trainer to pursue a fitness regimen.

I hadn’t been active since my mid-20s. I knew fitness was my most needed option.

Committing to the Gym
Angie went to her first session feeling nervous, scared, and even a bit intimidated. She knew she was out of shape. But the atmosphere and the attitude of the trainers she met stripped away all her fears and made her feel welcome – renewing her dedication toward following her goals.

The trainers were so kind and when I first appeared they all came to greet me. I felt right at home… their positivity gave me the courage to push through the discomfort and build success at every session.

After that initial meeting, the trainers helped create a personalized and powerful long-term plan for Angie, and she has been following it ever since!

Making Lasting Changes…
Angie went from hardly any activity at all, to clearing room in her weekly schedule for fitness – and she attributes it all to the kindness, compassion, and professionalism of the trainers she has met along the way. She also admits it wasn’t easy: in the first days of the program, before she really got into the routine, she was having great difficulty keeping up the willpower to continue. But with the encouragement of the INLIV fitness team, she was able to push through and stay on track.

Perseverance…I learned from the trainers. Their encouragement to keep going with baby steps was just what I needed.

…And Seeing the Results
Two years into her routine, Angie is seeing hard-earned results. She is stronger, has better endurance and balance, and is much more flexible; she has also learned that major changes are not about taking a few giant steps, but following through on many smaller ones along the way. Angie is committed to reaching her fitness goals, and working closely with her trainers to do so.

This is the best thing I could have done for myself…It’s hard work, but this has really helped me. While it is hard for me, it has been a huge transformation – I feel so much better, energized and glad I made the effort. It’s the people who make the difference.

What INLIV Can Offer
If you find yourself like Angie – wanting to make a positive, lasting healthy change, and aware that you need some guidance to get you there – then why not reach out to INLIV and see what we can do? We offer many services in addition to fitness. The best way to begin your wellness journey? Visit INLIV for a free tour of our fitness and medical facility to see how our team can help. Call 403.538.8881.

To learn more:

• Comprehensive Medical Assessments that give you a full and accurate long-term measure of your health over time
• Total Health Management that covers you and your family’s medical needs
• Medical Aesthetic services for men and women
• Corporate health programs

Find us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. or simply email us at getintouch@inliv.com to find out more!

When you’re one of the people in charge of the daily operations of a large company – be it a provincial heavyweight or a multi-national corporation – it can be easy to lose track of your healthy habits. Over time, you find yourself cutting corners – a little bit, here and there: easy meals, instead of healthy ones; missed exercise classes; or loss of work-life balance. Before you know it, the stress and pressure of your career can take a toll on your health.  Read more…