Sienna List January 2019

INSIDE

parent life

I

the guide

|

h e a lt h r e p o r t

JANUARY 2019

new year State of Mind

in this issue

45

HEALTH REPORT

Strength in Numbers: Losing Weight Together

9 12

THE LIST

10 Things to Do in January

NEW YEAR STATE OF MIND

19

MOLDING MINDS

Getting Kids Ready to Succeed in the Second Half of the School Year

MEAGHAN BARSAMIAN C o F ounder - P ublisher @MeaghanBarsamian

ALLEN BARSAMIAN C o F ounder - A ccount M anager

TOLU FALADE P ublication A ssistant

MARJORIE MCCLENDON G raphic D esigner

The List | info@siennalist.com | www.thelist.city | 281-201-5998

@Margiebargie

Rumpelstiltskin

January 19th | 10:30 until 11:30am | Sienna Branch Library | 8411 Sienna Springs Dr, 77459 Marionette Playhouse kicks off the Family Reading Club with a beautiful handcrafted performance of Rumpelstiltskin. Enjoy an elaborate stage with beautiful scenery, music and lighting. All ages welcome.

C ONTRIBUTORS :

Family Fish Camp

January 26th | 8:30am until 2:00pm | Community Park Lake | 1700 Glenn Lakes Ln, 77459 This is a free family program teaching basic fishing. Fishing gear and bait will be provided, but attendees may also bring their own gear. Be ready to fish for the last hour!

JASON LUTHOR C olumnist

STEM Adventures

January 26th | 2:00 until 4:00pm | Kiddie Academy of Missouri City | 3811 Raoul Wallenberg Lane, 77459 This free community event invites children and their parents to explore the world of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math through fun activities.

Dad & Daughter Dance

February 9th | 6:00 until 8:30pm | Missouri City Community Center | 1522 Missouri City Drive Missouri City hosts their 23rd Annual Dad & Daughter Dance. Get ready to walk down the red carpet on this Hollywood themed evening!

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To Advertise, Please call (281)201-5998

ALISA MURRAY C olumnist

@AlisaMurray

PARENTING RESOLUTIONS FOR THE NEW YEAR We can all benefit from the opportunity to have a fresh start and set new goals. As we begin a new year as parents, this is our chance to stop for a moment and write down a few parenting resolutions. What are your goals as a mother or father in 2019?

Here are a few suggestions that you may want to include: 1) Be present The best thing we can do for our children is to give them our full attention. This year, make a promise to yourself that you will be present when you spend time with your children. Protect that time and treat it as the precious thing that it is. Include your children in your daily activities, ask questions, watch their facial expressions and body language, play with them, read together, and let them feel how important they are.

2) Slow down and simplify We are learning that children really can have too much of a good thing. Too many choices, too many toys, too many activities, and too much stimulation. They need downtime and we need it too! Make an effort this year to build in quiet time and breaks between activities. Cut down on the toys in the house so your children will notice and appreciate the ones they have. Encourage your kids to use their imagination, play board games, go for walks, build forts, and play outside.

3) Take time to listen Life as a parent is incredibly busy. As the year goes on, it is easy to slip into the habit of rushing through conversations to get to the next task. Start this year with a new habit of setting aside time every day to really listen to each child. While putting your children to bed, driving home from school, or setting the dinner table, take time to ask thoughtful questions about their day and pay close attention to what they have to say.

4) Create structure Children crave structure and parenting is less chaotic with structure in place. January is a great time to set up new structure in the home. Start a reward system to work on behavioral goals, create a chore chart to teach responsibility, or hang up a family calendar to keep track of weekly activities. Family rituals can also be a great way to provide comfort and a sense of belonging.

Start a new ritual this year – examples might include Taco Tuesdays, a gratitude jar, Sunday dinner with grandparents, or family story time in the evenings.

5) Use your support system Parenthood can be overwhelming and we often shoulder the burden as if we are on our own. Many parents forget that a web of support and resources exist around us. This year, look around and take advantage of your support system.

When friends and family members offer childcare, take them up on it!

Find a neighbor who is willing to be a “mommy’s helper” to have a second set of hands around. Attend parent support meetings and free parenting seminars.

Get together with friends who are also parents and lean on them for advice and support.

parent life

own needs last when our children have so many needs to be met. Unfortunately, over time this causes parents to feel irritable, overwhelmed, and less emotionally involved. It is true that you cannot pour from an empty cup! Are you getting enough sleep? Exercising regularly? What about spending time with friends? This year it is important to build in time every day for the things that keep you going.

Lindsay Asawa, Ph.D. is a mother of three, licensed clinical psychologist, and co-owner of Missouri City Family Counseling in Sienna Plantation. She provides consultation and evaluations for all ages, parenting workshops, and business and school presentations. Dr. Asawa can be reached at (832) 844-5576 or lasawa@missouricityfamilies.com.

6) Take care of yourself Most importantly, make a conscious effort in 2019 to take better care of yourself so you can be the best possible parent to your children. It is tempting to put our

january 2019 JANUARY

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Strength in Numbers: Losing Weight Together Maybe it feels like you’ve tried everything to lose weight. But have you unleashed the power of your family and social network? Research suggests that people have a higher likelihood of losing weight when they team up with a friend or family member to adopt healthy behaviors. More research is needed to understand the power of community and its effects on weight loss, but it’s clear that friends and family have a strong influence in this area.

“When people decide to make a committed step to change their lives, it definitely has ripple effects on their relationships,” said Nabil Tariq, M.D., board-certified bariatric surgeon at Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital.

If you’re planning to lose weight and considering weight-loss surgery or needing a new outlook on weight loss, partnering can improve your odds of reaching your goals. Weight loss with a partner provides motivation, support and even a little healthy competition.

MOTIVATION “Motivation is often tied to experiences with our loved ones,” said Tariq. “We want to be there for the big moments in life, and we want to go places and enjoy time together. Whatever your motivation to lose weight, you can put more power behind it when your loved ones know what you’re fighting for.”

Picture this: A busy mom wants to lose weight so she can set a healthier example for her kids. The changes she makes with nutrition and exercise have an impact on her whole family. Try it: Keep a visual reminder, such as a family photo, vacation destination, etc. in a special place so you can stay motivated when you need it.

A STRONG SUPPORT SYSTEM “When you embark on this journey together with family members or friends, you have a built-in support system,” Tariq

health report

said. “For anyone considering weight-loss surgery, it’s a big decision and a lifelong commitment that affects everyone you are close with. Having a great support system can amplify the benefits of surgical weight loss.”

Picture this: A husband struggling to lose weight on his own decides to explore weight-loss surgery. He signs up for an informational session. Try it: A spouse can provide mental and emotional support by attending the orientation session, going to appointments and committing to a mutually changed lifestyle after surgery.

EAT BETTER TOGETHER Changing the way you eat starts with meal planning, grocery shopping and a commitment to cooking meals at home.

“Food is central to our day-to-day life and family interactions, so it’s vital to involve others in your life when making significant dietary changes,” Tariq said.

Picture this: A mother and daughter both had weight-loss surgery about six months apart. Planning meals and cooking together helped them adjust to their new diet plan. Try it: Attend a healthy cooking class or nutrition class with friends or family members.

TEAM UP FOR EXERCISE Being active together and exercising regularly is the key to success with weight loss. “Having someone else to hold you accountable might be exactly what you need to show up and challenge yourself more than you would when working out alone,” Tariq added.

walking on a treadmill, or throw a football around before watching the game on TV. TRACK YOUR PROGRESS Keeping track of total pounds and inches lost as a group can be highly motivating.

“Also seeing health numbers improve and high blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar go down is our top priority,” Tariq said. “It’s really about achieving a better quality of life and a better state of health.”

Picture this: Co-workers start a weight-loss challenge to lose 500 pounds total among the group. Try it: Talk to your doctor about your target numbers and attend support groups, nutrition or fitness classes, or start a friendly competition among friends.

WEIGHT LOSS SEMINAR Join Nabil Tariq, M.D. on Thursday Feb. 7 at 6 p.m. for a weight-loss seminar to learn about the different programs offered at the Houston Methodist Weight Management Center, get tips on grocery shopping and meal planning, and speak with a dietitian, exercise specialist and bariatric surgeon. Registration is required. Visit events.houstonmethodist. org/weightloss-sl or call 281.274.7500 for more information or to register.

Picture this: Two friends who played football in high school gained a lot of weight in their 20s and 30s. After one friend started a new exercise program, the other friend joined, too and they both lost weight. Try it: Transform couch time into something more active. Meet at the gym to watch your favorite TV shows while

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silver screen the upside january 11th A friendship develops between a wealthy quadriplegic man and the ex-con who becomes his caregiver.

glass january 18th Following the conclusion of Split, David Dunn pursues Kevin Wendall Crumb’s superhuman persona of The Beast in a series of escalating encounters while the shadowy presence of Elijah Price, going by ‘Mr. Glass’, emerges as an orchestrator who holds secrets critical to both men.

serenity january 25th Baker Dill is a fishing boat captain leading tours off a tranquil, tropical enclave called Plymouth Island. His quiet life is shattered, however, when his ex-wife Karen tracks him down with a desperate plea for help.

The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part february 8th The citizens of Bricksburg face a dangerous new threat when LEGO DUPLO invaders from out space start to wreck everything.

It’s now up to Emmet, Lucy, Batman and their friends to defeat the giant marauders and restore harmony to the LEGO universe.

JANUARY 2019

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the list

tenjanuary to do in

things

1

clean

Clean out all your makeup and throw away anything that is old and gunky.

Consider starting a new beauty regimen. There’s nothing more fabulous than a new lipstick color…or in my case a different shade of RED.

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make

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Plan out a perfect dinner party and invite each friend to share their resolutions for this year. Perhaps telling others will help all of you stick tight to your goals!

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go

Go through your pantry and reline the shelves and paint. Organize every can of soup and box of pasta all the while planning meals for quick suppers and lunches for your family.

take

Take a picture of yourself every day for the entire year and on January 1, 2020 play it back fast. You’ll be able to witness in speed lighting how you change each day.

9 pick up Pick up a little notebook and stick it in your pocket book. When you are out and about write down little thoughts that you are having. Something just might inspire you to do something you’ve never done before.

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plan

set

Set yourself up with a mindfulness program. There’s plenty of apps that will stop you during your busy day and “remind” you to step back and enjoy the here and right now.

Make a list from the Bestsellers line up and plan out your reading for the year.

On my nightside table now…The Hare with Amber Eyes by Edmund de Waal.

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NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED PORTRAIT ARTIST & AWARD WINNING COLUMNIST.

grab

Grab a Glamour or a Vanity Fair magazine and browse through your favorite models and celebrities. Find a new hairdo that you love and take that to the one that does your do!

Start out fresh with a new look to roll out a new year!

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BY ALISA MURRAY

WWW.ALISAMURRAY.COM

find

Find yourself a hobby. Put your creativity to work and study whatever it is that you are interested in and use that for your holiday giving in 2019.

10always Always remember to take away the technology and connect with your children and family. Make supper time the central place for connecting with each other.

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Sienna List was developed with the residents of Missouri City in mind. We offer free services for our members; a platform where members can find jobs, business recommendations, events, and more with the click of a button.

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It’s easy to become a member of Sienna List:

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Visit www.thelist.city Create a user name and password for your login.

Click the Submit button.

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NEW YEAR State of Mind

With one of the top New Year’s Resolutions being health and fitness, The List magazines wanted to help you stay in a New Year State of Mind. Did you know according to one study, 36% of resolutions don’t last past the first month? To make sure you don’t become part of that statistic we’ve teamed up with local gyms this year to help keep you on track with your health and fitness goals.

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new year state of mind It turns out that all those criteria matter, so it is always a combination and what we’re really looking for is the best VALUE.

A Digital Gym

A Digital Gym

We all know we should take care of ourselves, not only for our appearance, but more importantly, our health. But how do we choose a fitness center? Price? Results? Cleanliness?

Location? Friendly staff? Hours? A club right next door that’s not open when you need it won’t work, and an inexpensive club where you are lost and don’t get results won’t work either.

That’s where Koko FitCLub shines! Our clean clubs and fun, friendly staff are here to help you and the facility is open to its members 24/7. Whether you want a personal trainer by your side every time you walk in the door or prefer to be left alone, we have a plan for you. After performing an in initial assessment of your fitness level and discussing your goals, you are put on a personalized plan stored on your USB flash drive. When you walk in, you simply plug in your drive and the computer on the machine lets you know exactly what you’ll be doing that day, from the exercise (and form video reminding you of proper form) to the weight, reps and even proper pace, it’s all planned out for you. The days of guessing are over! You can even preview your upcoming workout online and your progress is charted out for you.

Koko FitClub: it’s fit. Figured out.

5 Lion Fitness (Mobile Personal Training Service) 5 Lion Fitness provides a variety of fitness solutions designed to help you meet your goals while fitting into your schedule.

Shift into a healthier lifestyle with the guidance of a certified personal trainer!

Contact us today!

832-844-3005 www.5lionfitness.com

A Digital Gym

A Digital Gym

THIS NEW YEAR PUT YOUR HEALTH FIRST!

JANUARY 2019

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T3 Cross-Training is more than just a gym – it’s a movement.

With a focus on family, faith, and fitness, our heartbeat is to create a workout environment that is safe, family-friendly, and judgment-free.

F45 Training, located in Sienna Plantation, was developed as a community-based training environment that offers support and assistance to people seeking to achieve their health and weight loss goals.

And now, REAL people are experiencing REAL results through our functional group fitness program.

Born in Australia, F45 merges 3 separate leading-edge fitness training styles into one compelling group training experience for its members of all fitness levels. F45 combines elements of High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT), Circuit Training, and Functional Training, which are proven to be the most effective workout method for burning fat and building lean muscle. We have 32 different workout programs and no two workouts are ever the same.

Small group fitness classes are a great way to stay motivated, obtain results, and build community.

We are located at 4340 Sienna Parkway #114 in Missouri City and are offering a free 2-week trial. Visit our website at www.f45training.com/siennaplantion for more details.

Come try us out for an entire week, absolutely FREE!

Team Training – Life Changing

So whether you’re a beginner or an athlete, we have created a group fitness environment to help you reach your goals.

Visit us online at t3crosstraining.com

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new year state of mind

9Round is a specialized fitness center for people who want a unique, fun, and proven workout that guarantees results. 9Round offers a kickboxing-themed fitness program that incorporates functional, interval, cardiovascular, and circuit training regimens. The programs consist of a proprietary system of nine challenging workout stations developed by a World Champion Kickboxer.

You can expect a fun, fast pace through nine rounds of workout stations. Every three minutes, you move to the next exercise station. After station nine, your 30-minute, full-body workout is over.

We love taking clients that have never worked out and getting them in the best shape of their lives. Our trainers will customize your workout to match your fitness level. Our trainers will guide you every step of the way to ensure you are doing the techniques properly.

The first time you try the workout, we will let you borrow a pair of gloves. When you decide to join 9Round as a member, you will get 9Round gloves and hand wraps for safety and support.

We have members as young as 10 years old and members that are in their 70s. This is a great program that parents and children can do together. Families that kick together, stick together.

Your first workout is always FREE! Give us a "test drive" and see if we are a good fit.

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molding minds

Getting kids ready to succeed in the second half of the school year Christmas is a time of family get togethers, fun times enjoying vacation, and time off from school. However, looming over the horizon is always the second half of the school year. Getting started on the right foot is important for students, but that can be hard at the start of the New Year. How can you make sure your kids get started off on the right foot and succeed during their second half of the school year?

The first part includes making basic preparations. It’s not unusual to need different materials at different grade levels. Elementary students might need basic essentials, like a backpack and writing tools. Older students, though, might need specific materials for unique projects. Sometimes high school students will have portfolios to make or science projects to work on. Partner with your child and their teacher to find out what materials they will need for these things.

Sometimes, your student will have a list

of materials included on a class syllabus.

The important part is making sure that they have what they need both for class essentials and special projects.

Since the holidays are a time when normal schedules often go out of the window, you’ll want to get your child back on track.

No matter how old they are, you’ll want to make sure they’re getting back into bed on time. In the days leading back into the school year, start pushing their bedtime back little by little until they are getting back into bed at the right time. This way, you won’t have to worry about your child tossing and turning all night because they can’t get back to sleep.

You’ll want to set expectations for your child so that the second half of the school year has a set goal to shoot for. You can review class milestones and projects if your child receives a syllabus. If they’re too young for one or just don’t receive

one, then take advantage of opportunities to meet with your child’s teachers. Go to school open houses that kick off the year or just make phone calls early in the year to find out what’s expected of your child.

After you’ve had a chance to consult with your child’s teacher, you can review the school’s expectations with them and set timelines that and milestones for when certain work needs to get done.

There’s no one way of guaranteeing your child’s success in the second half of the school year, but you can help make sure they’re ready both before and during the school year. Get their preparations started before the second half of the school year even starts and collaborate closely with their teachers. Working closely with the school can help guarantee that your child’s second half of the year is a success.

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community outreach want to check out the Brazos River Bike Rally. It’s the perfect event for anyone who wants to donate their time but also enjoys the joy of cycling.

Volunteering at the

Brazos River

Bike Rally For many people, volunteering is something that we associate with preparing food for the needy, donating clothes for those who need it, or helping clean up around the city. However, these aren’t the only types of volunteering that people can do. If you’re looking for a fun and different way of donating your time, then you might

The Brazos River Bike Rally was established to help support the Missouri City Bicycle Mobility and Pedestrian Plan, the Missouri City Parks Foundation, and the Missouri City Green. The Missouri City Bicycle Mobility and Pedestrian Plan is an initiative first adopted by the city in 2013. It was designed to help create a network of connected bike routes and make it easier for people to walk and bike around the city. The Missouri City Parks Foundation, meanwhile, helps organize events that educates residents about the many parks throughout the city. Finally, Missouri City Green helps promote the beauty of the city. It provides environmental education, promotes recycling throughout the city, and works to keep litter off the streets.

Missouri City Green also promotes the use of trees and plants in beautification projects around the city.

With so many positive causes that the rally supports, there’s quite a bit to like about the rally for anyone who enjoys the outdoors. The rally will take place along

the Brazos River and begins at Community Park, at 1700 Glenn Lake Lane in Missouri City. Riders can check in between 6:30 and 8:00 in the morning, with a starting time of 8:30 in the morning and a finishing time of noon. At one in the afternoon, music and food will begin to help celebrate the end of the rally, while the award ceremony will start at 1:30 in the afternoon. Even though the event won’t be held until April 20th, 2019, registration for the event will begin as early as January 2019.

With registration starting early in the year, it’s also possible for volunteers to start signing up to help. Anyone who wants to help can visit the Brazos River Bike Rally website to sign up. The event will need people to help with plenty of duties. Race preparation will involve packet stuffing and marking the course, which will need to happen before race day. On race day itself, volunteers will need to man aid stations along the course, act like crossing guards, and act as course marshals. Volunteers will get an official event shirt, free entry into the volunteer raffle for the chance to win prizes, and volunteers will also get food and drinks during the event. People wanting to help can go to brazosriverbikerally.com to sign up to volunteer.

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