HEALTHIER TOGETHER

By Bradley Morris

To be clear, a fitness buddy is someone you’re accountable to and someone who is accountable to you. Sometimes your goals (e.g. walking 30 minutes each day) might be the same, but you could also have different goals and just check in on each other to make sure the work is getting done. Remember, your fitness buddy most likely has no say in what your goals are. When deciding what you’re trying to achieve, it’s always important to consult your doctor or a nutritionist.

The most well-known benefit of having a fitness buddy is accountability, and it’s certainly true most programs that track these sorts of numbers find some sort of bump in program completion when people join with a friend (as well as a trend that people who exercise regularly with friends keep weight off more consistently, though I’m not sure how solid the numbers on that are). One of the positives that don’t get talked about as much, though, is the positive reinforcement of exercising with a friend. You can see each other reach your individual goals, and while humility has its benefits, someone else seeing your progress gives a big dopamine hit.

Of course, dopamine hits are a two-edged sword, and it can be frustrating or embarrassing if you aren’t hitting your goals, either because you’re cheating on your diet or you’re not being as consistent as you need to be. Many people are initially hesitant to make the commitment of exercising with a friend for this very reason, but there is some counter-thinking to this, namely that if you aren’t hitting your goals alone you’ll probably feel the same way, but then you won’t have anyone to help you get back on track. It’s easy to get discouraged when you plateau or even just stop working toward your health goals, and if you do get discouraged without having someone to help you get back on track, getting back to the habits you had is so much more difficult.

There are always risks that some diet or fitness plan won’t work for you, and that’s OK. Having a fitness buddy means that when something doesn’t work out for you, you have an incentive to get back at it and try something else.

Parsons, KS

June 8: Grief Companions Support Group meets the second Thursday of each month, 6 p.m., Elm Haven West. Call 620.704.1110.

June 13: Breast Cancer Support Group, 3:30 p.m., Cancer Center conference room. Meets the second Tuesday of each month. Call 620.235.7516.

Via Christi Hospital - Pittsburg, KS

June 22: Cancer Support Group, 3 p.m., Cancer Center conference room. Meets fourth Wednesday of each month. Call 620.235.7900.

Joplin, MO

Every day: Alcoholics Anonymous Meetings. Call 888.740.4568.

Every Monday: Tips for Living a Healthy Life, 10 a.m.-12 p.m., South YMCA, 3404 W. McIntosh Circle. Free; registration required. Call 417.625.2492.

Every day: 12-Step Recovery Meetings, Alano Club, 1800 E. 30th. Call 417.623.9645.

June 8: Brain Injury Support Group meets every second Tuesday, 12-1:30 p.m., The Independent Living Center, 2639 E. 34th. Contact 417.659.8086 for information and referral.

June 10: “Bayou at The Barn”, 6 p.m. the Red Door Barn, 9164 State Hwy 43, Webb City. Tickets are $25 and includes dessert and beverages. Cash bar and raffle available. This all you can eat, “Old Fashioned Shrimp Boil”, will benefit Solace House of the Ozarks. Solace is a home in Joplin providing end-of-life care when dying at home is not an option. Solace House is free to the community and works in conjunction with a hospice provider. Guests and families have a private room. Our non-profit relies 100% on donations and grants. RSVP to Sandy Hughes at 417726-5139.

June 28: Grief Support Group meets every fourth Wednesday of each month, 6-7:30 p.m., Hospice Compassus, 2216 E. 32nd St., Ste. 201. Call 417.623.8272.

Freeman Health System

All events are free and open to the public, unless noted; support group meetings are cancelled on days Joplin R-VIII Schools close due to inclement weather.

June 1: Freeman Early Detection Screenings, by appointment, Freeman Screen Team Resource Center, 1130 E. 32nd St., Ste. C. Early Detection Screenings include abdominal aortic aneurysm, peripheral arterial disease and stroke/carotid artery screenings, as well as osteoporosis risk assessment. Fees vary. Call 417.347.6555 for an appointment.

June 6: Expresso Yourself Breast Cancer Support Group, 5-6 p.m., Joplin Avenue Coffee Company, 506 S. Joplin Ave. Enjoy a coffee courtesy of Freeman Cornell-Beshore Cancer Institute. Our monthly breast cancer support group enables members to share, gain helpful information and useful tips, and form new friendships. Enjoy listening to a special guest from time to time. RSVP to Marcella at 417.347.2662.

June 6: Freeman Bariatric Weight-loss Seminar, 4:30 p.m. (registration), 5:30 pm (seminar), Freeman Business Center, Conference Rooms, 3220 McClelland Blvd (back entrance). Better understand the options available for weight-loss surgery. Contact 417.347.1266 or freemanhealth.com/bariatric to register.

June 14: Freeman Cancer Support Group, 2-3 p.m., Freeman Cornell-Beshore Cancer Institute, 3415 McIntosh Circle. Call Kelley Wheeler at 417.347.4000 for more information.

June 15: Freeman Caregiver Support Group, 10 a.m.-12 p.m., Freeman Business Center Conference Rooms, 3220 McClelland Blvd (back entrance). Are you a caregiver interested in having a safe haven to share your feelings? Receive information about resources and coping mechanisms, gain advice on what lies ahead, make new friends and learn how to deal with family members. Door prizes will be given out. RSVP to Kathy Mason at kdmason@freemanhealth. com or 417.347.8463.

June 16: Daytime Autism Support Group, 12:30-1:30 p.m., third Tuesday of the month, Bill and Virginia Leffen Center for Autism conference room. Open to people with autism, parents and caregivers. For more information, please contact 417.347.7850.

June 20: Bariatric Weight-loss Support Group, 5:30-6:30 p.m., Freeman Business Center Conference Rooms, 3220 McClelland Blvd (back entrance). Designed to help those who have had bariatric surgery. For more information, call 417.347.1266.

National Alliance on Mental Illness - For information on NAMI, call 417.781.6264 or visit www.namijoplin.org. Meetings held at the NAMI building, 219 W. 2nd St., in Joplin.

Every Monday: NAMI Basics, 6-8:30 p.m. A signature education program for parents and caregivers of children and adolescents living with mental illnesses.

Every Tuesday: NAMI Connection Support Group, 6:30-8 p.m.

Every Tuesday: Self Injury Support Group, 5-6 p.m.

Every Tuesday: Family Support Group, 6:30-8 p.m.

Every Wednesday: Dual Diagnosis Support Group, 2:30-3:30 p.m.

Every Wednesday: Post-5/22 Stress Counseling Sessions, 10 a.m.

Every Thursday: Family to Family Class, 6:30-8:30 p.m. For families or caregivers of individuals with severe mental illnesses. Includes current information about most major mental illnesses; information about medications, side effects and strategies for medication adherence; developing strategies for handling crises and relapse; focusing on care for the caregiver.

Neosho, MO

June 26: Caregivers Support Group meets the fourth Monday of each month, 5-6 p.m., Medicalodge, 400 Lyon Drive. Help with care, finances, insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, respite care, hospice care, day care and support for the caregivers. Sponsors: Avalon Hospice and Medicalodges Neosho. Call 417.451.2544.

Nevada, MO

June 3: Birth and Beyond Class, 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Hospital Mezzanine. Nevada Regional Medical Center offers a four-hour class covering childbirth, breastfeeding and infant care for women in their last trimester. Especially suited for women who are giving birth for the first time, this class covers all the basics of the birthing experience. For more information or to register, visit nrmchealth. com or call 417.448.2101.

June 6: Farmers’ Market, 3-6 p.m. Southeast corner of Ash and Douglas in Nevada. Check out the freshest in farm produce each Tuesday afternoon just across the street from the hospital. Local growers meet on the southeast corner of Ash and Douglas Tuesdays from 3-6 p.m. to offer fresh fruits, vegetables and homegrown specialties. Check out their first offerings Tuesday, June 6.

June 27: Rich Hill Family Medical Clinic Screenings, 11 a.m.noon, Kern Senior Center. Free screenings every fourth Tuesday of the month: This month features free blood pressure readings along with a hemoglobin reading. For further information, please call the Rich Hill Clinic at 417.395.2150.

Integris Baptist Regional Health Center, Grove, OK INTEGRIS Baptist Regional Health Center, Miami, OK information, visit www.integrisok.com/baptist-regional-healthcenter-Miami-ok.

Every Tuesday: Free blood pressure and glucose screenings provided by INTEGRIS Regency Home Care and Hospice. First Tuesday: Commerce Nutrition Center, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Second Tuesday: Nine Tribes Tower, 10-11 a.m. Third Tuesday: Miami Senior Center, 10-11 a.m. Fourth Tuesday: INTEGRIS Baptist Village, 9-10 a.m.

June 6: Alzheimer’s Support Group to create a plan to stay safe and healthy. new three-digit dialing code www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org

11 a.m., Generations fourth floor visiting room. Call 918.542.3391.

June 13 & 27: Depression Support Group and fourth Tuesday of each month, 2 p.m., Northeastern Tribal Health System Conference Room, 2301 Eight Tribes Trail. Call 918.675.2093.