Walkers Get Exercise, Health Advice at Heritage Park

A partnership between and the launched Thursday, allowing more than a dozen women to A Walk with a Doc on trails at .

Carolyn Nelson, D.O., and Kathleen Hannon, D.O., of met with participants inside the Nature Center at 11 a.m. and talked about general health issues. Nelson stressed the importance of healthy eating, stressing portion size and eating the right foods. 

"It pretty much comes down to you own your own health," she said. "Nutrition's important, and just as important is exercise."

The National Institutes of Health recommends exercising an hour a day to be healthy, she added.

A Walk with a Doc is a national program created by a cardiologist in Columbus, OH. Botsford Hospital is introducing the program in Michigan; national funding for the program is provided by Blue Cross/Blue Shield.

Overall, both "docs" were pleased with the turnout and the event, although Nelson said, "I would have liked to have gone farther and faster, but it's not about us."

"I think for the group that we had, it was good," Hannon said. "I don't think if you want people to be able to ask questions and things that it's going to be like a real work out. But it got people outside."

They also felt it's a good promotion for Heritage Park trails. "People feel more comfortable coming back on their own, and maybe doing it a little faster," Hannon said.

Among the questions they fielded, someone asked about the benefits of not getting a flu shot – which Hannon said would be not experiencing the possible pain and swelling at the injection site.

Nelson said all of the questions were interesting, because "what the patient sees as interesting is what counts."

Misuk Drews, a 2nd grade teacher at , decided to take the walk for the exercise – and Nelson is her doctor.

"I've been trying to walk early in the morning before school starts," she said. "I found out walking really does give that boost of energy."

Now 50, she said, it also helps with the aches and pains that come with getting older. "I can sleep at night better, too," she said.

Drews walks with a friend, sharing not only the exercise but conversation that makes the time go by faster, she said. She believes more young people should be doing the same thing. "There are so many obese children out there," she said.

Vicky Feely said the walk was a great reason to get out of the house. "I think it's a pleasant atmosphere for getting some questions answered, without having to make an appointment," she added.

For Frankie DeBasco, the walk was a kind of scouting venture. She is a fitness instructor at the and wanted to find out more about the walks so she could take information back to the seniors with whom she works.

"I got some information on the shingles vaccine, which I wanted to learn more about," she said. "I enjoyed it."

Nature Center staffer Carol Fink said she couldn't be more pleased with the turnout. She connected with women of all ages and fitness levels, who not only got some exercise, but formed new friendships as well.

"Everything worked so well," she said. "This proves we do have a very health-minded community."

The next A Walk with a Doc happens at 1 p.m. Sept. 23; the topic is osteoarthritis. There's no charge, and registration is not necessary.