This was a hybrid meeting. We were in the Little Chief Restaurant. In total there were 22 in person and 10 on Zoom. Guests were not introduced but include Deb Hymers, NStep, Rick Istead, Fish Creek, Hank Popoff, Calgary Chinook, and our guest speaker Dr. John Haggblad.
The meeting was underway at 12:03 pm with President Rob Rakochey ringing the bell and opened with the singing of O Canada. Tsuu T’ina means “many people” or “beaver people.” The Tsuu T’ina language has been revived thanks to the dedication to the monumental task of recording the language into a dictionary. May 1 is designated Tsuu T’ina Day, a holiday for the people. This date reflects the tradition of the people thanking the Great Spirit for the start of a new life cycle after the long winter.
Due to time constraints for our guest speaker, we jumped immediately into our program. Rod McMahon introduced our guest speaker, Dr. John Haggblad, to discuss the topic of eating well and living longer. John is a friend of Sa’adat Keshavjee. John graduated in medicine from U of C in 1984 and worked in New Zealand and Australia before coming back to Calgary in 2014 to practice in Family Medicine with Associate Clinic focusing on healthy lifestyle.
In 2014 Dr. John came to the realization that most diseases had a common cause that was widely unknown by the medical community but not being looked for. Further this issue was largely treated by lifestyle and the health authorities were giving us wrong advise. Metabolic syndrome, which is chronic illness and obesity is on the rise.
Metabolic syndrome can be diagnosed by looking at these five factors:
- Abdominal obesity
- High blood pressure
- Fasting blood sugar
- Low measure of good cholesterol (HDL)
- High measure of bad cholesterol (LDL)
Take a ratio of good to bad cholesterol. We also need to measure insulin.
What do we need to do to become healthier.
Under foods
- Stay away from processed grains, sugars, and vegetable oils
- Eat whole foods – nothing that has a nutrition label on it
- Eat healthy oils, extra virgin olive oil, coconut oil, avocado oil
- Avoid foods sprayed with pesticides
- Eat plant based proteins. We want to achieve satiety, when we reach fullness, by consuming the least number of calories but having the highest nutrition value
Under exercise
- Commit to a program incorporating short but sharp muscle exhausting exercise. Three ways to achieve this are sprinting, high intensity training or the alternative is isometric exercise
Timed eating
- No eating after supper. Want to fast from supper to breakfast 12-14 hours
The following books were recommended
- The P:E Diet by Ted Naiman and William Shewfelt
- Eat Rich Live Long by Ivor Cummins and Jeffry Gerber
- The Plant Paradox by Steven R. Gundry
- Big Fat Surprise by Nina Teicholz
- A podcast, Low Carb MD
- On the net, Diet Doctor.com
Dr. John says he has seen patients who have lost weight, feel better, off meds, chronic pain is gone. In closing he asks, “Why can’t that be you?”
Linda Anderson thanked our speaker. She vowed we would all try to do better.
Announcements:
Rod McMahon
Stampede Parade and Breakfast Tickets are now on sale. So far there are 600 tickets. Working on getting more. Breakfast will be a hearty one. Volunteers will be needed.
NStep Plant sales close January 31, 2024
Rob’s weight loss fundraiser is ongoing until June 30, 2024. All funds go to the Calgary Rotary Club Foundation.
Rob asks not that we fund beyond our means but be the salesperson that takes these causes out to colleagues, friends and families and explains the importance to our Club.
Judy Cochran
RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards) registration is now open for the May 2024 camp. Open to 15-17 year olds. See Judy for more details.
The 4 Way Speech Competition is also open. Expecting first drafts by March 1 with the in person competition at the Club on March 18. This is open to high school students. See Judy or Debbie for details.
Short term exchange applications are open with a March 1 deadline. This is a family to family exchange. Ages 15-19 qualify. Judy will help you.
Finally, a pitch for more members to join Youth and/or Vocational Committee.
Rob’s joke got a hearty laugh from the crowd.
Meeting adjourned at 1:00 pm
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