Surprise your family with a lighter, healthier you.

Ultralite weight-loss program delivers results.

Lose up to 10kg in 5 weeks.  And maintain your new weight.

With Ultralite it is real food you buy, it is real food you prepare, it is real food you enjoy – no shakes!

There’s no gimics, just proven success for our clients.

Want to know more?

• CLICK HERE for more information About Ultra Lite.
• CLICK HERE for Ultra Lite Success Stories.

We are so sure that this program will work for you that your first consultation is FREE!

Start by filling in your details below for an obligation free appointment with a personal weight-loss consultant.

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We offer Ultra Lite at two facilities in the Eastern suburbs of Melbourne:

• MONT ALBERT NTH  -  Healthways Recreation Centre, 1-11 Arcade Road, Mont Albert North 3129, ph. 9895 2300

• RINGWOOD  -  Healthways Aquatic Centre, 108-110 New Street, Ringood 3134, ph. 9879 5777

We look forward to helping you with your weight-loss goals very soon.

COME AND TRY OUR JAZZ, FUNK & HIP HOP DANCE CLASSES NOW!…

3 WEEK COME AND TRY PROGRAM FOR $55.00.

To see whether our dance classes are right for you, we offer a 3 week come and try program for $55.00 to new students.

If you’re happy simply pay the balance in week 3 and stay on. 

CLICK HERE for more information about the dance classes.

Phone 9895 2300 to enrol in classes today!

COME AND TRY OUR SWIM LESSONS NOW!…

3 WEEK COME AND TRY PROGRAM FOR $55.00. (Available for regular term classes only.)

To see whether our swim school is right for you, we offer a 3 week come and try program for $55.00 to new students.

If you’re happy simply pay the balance in week 3 and stay on. 

CLICK HERE for more information about the swim school.

Phone to enrol in classes today!

• Mont Albert Nth – Ph. 9895 2300

• Ringwood – Ph. 9879 5777

In 2011 Healthways celebrated it’s 50th Birthday.  And with such a rich history, we’re turning back the clock to see what memories people have.

We’re putting out a call to anyone who has a memory, or story, or photo, or certificate… or anything (!) from their past activities at the centre, to put together a historical archive of the past 50 years.

Any memories or stories are worthwhile.

• Did you come bowling on a first date?
• Did you used to wag school to come play the pin ball machines?
• Did you dine at the restaurant that used to be upstairs?  Did you bounce on the trampolines that used to be in the squash courts?
• Did you insist on wearing your biggest bell bottom jeans bowling in the 70s and spent the whole time tripping over them?
• Did you learn to swim in the pool?

Any stories, funny or serious, help to piece together the lively history that the centre has had.

A few years ago an 70 year old grand father said, “You know, this used to be a great place to pick up chicks”, and he laughed as he recalled what he and his friends used to do in their 20s.

That got us thinking that we really should start documenting all the wonderful stories that have happened here.  So please contribute your story and be a part of the building’s legacy.

If you have any trophies, photos, or any other artifacts that is wonderful!  All items will have photos taken of them and then returned to you quickly.

Plus, one out of every 3 memories will WIN a free regular pizza from Pizza Capers in Balwyn East.

Pizza Capers gives their customers the chance to enjoy an interesting and varied menu, with pizza made using only fresh restaurant quality and wholesome ingredients.  We are delighted they have been able to support us in our quest to uncover some of the building’s secret past.

So, fill out the form below with your memory and contact details, and we can start documenting the history, laughs, loves, friends, family, and cheekiness that has happened in these 4 walls over the past 50 years.

Memory form:

cforms contact form by delicious:days

The building turns 50 this year and it’s time to reflect on it’s lively history…

The centre opened in 1961.  The same year that: ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’ and ‘West Side Story’ topped the box office, the Vietnam war officially began, the first human went into space, the Berlin Wall started being built, and the year that Julia Gillard was born.

‘Box Hill Squash Bowl Swim’ (as the centre was known then) was opened as a place for friends and family to have fun playing sports and socialising together.

In 50 years, nothing much has changed.  Friends and families still need a place to have fun playing sports and socialising together.

However, the building has changed a lot in those 50 years;  the details of which are a bit sketchy.

Very little is known of the building’s history predating the mid-70s as there was a flood in the local council’s records office in 1974 which destroyed building documents.

This is what we do know:

• The Dimatina family built the centre and opened it in 1961.  Dominic Dimatina and his sister, Frances, managed the business for the family.
• Most notably, the bowling lanes were the first bowling lanes in Melbourne and had an adjoining restaurant upstairs.
• In the late 60’s the business was sold to the Venturini family, who in the mid-70s closed the restaurant and put in pin-ball machines.  They eventually sold off parts of the business in stages and different operators came in to take over their sections of the building.
• At some point between the late 60s and the mid 80s, the Church of Darwin’s provident fund bought the property and continued leasing the different sections of the building to the different operators.
• At some point around the late 70s – early 80s trampolines were installed in some of the squash courts.
• In 1984, JDS Sports took over the management and ownership of everything in the building except the bowl, which was still leased to a separate business.  JDS Sports closed 3 squash courts and installed the gym in the mid-90s.
• In 1996, the Simcocks family bought the centre and in 1997 took over the bowl as well.  For the first time in over 20 years, the building was occupied by just one operator.  Having just one operator meant that building upgrades which had been ignored for 20 years have slowly been done.  Almost $2 Million has been spent upgrading the building over the past fifteen years.
• Mark and Nina Simcocks still own and operate Healthways and aren’t planning on going anywhere.  In relation to the building, the past fifteen years have been marked by constant building maintenance and improvements.  The solar panels on the roof and now the plans to expand the facilities to Dunloe Ave (currently being reviewed by VCAT) will bring the building into the 21st Century.

Below: Architect drawings of the proposed building extension to Dunloe Avenue.

(Left: Participants from last year.)

If you read the headline of this article and thought, “Well, that’s not very politically correct” then let me introduce you to the amazing energy of Rachael Phillips — who proudly fights like a girl.

Rachael is walking/running in the Mother’s Day Classic on Sunday 8 May 2011 to raise funds for breast cancer research.  And she is inviting other men and women to join her “Fight Like a Girl” team to participate in or donate to the event.

“I love boxing, and every woman is a fighter” she says. “We fight for our families and friends and all the girls I know draw that power from the ones they love.  After seeing friends and family battle cancer — some winners, some who are lost — I know its not just those going through treatment who feel the effects of this disease.”

By day, Rachael works with us as a personal trainer, group exercise instructor, swim instructor and holiday program leader.

But as her alter-ego, Rachael “The Phoenix” Phillips, she is the current bantamweight Victorian kickboxing champion.

As a 40 year old mother with three teenage children in her house she is still running rings around her 20 year old competitors!  And on Sunday 8th May 2011 she is going to be running rings around ‘the tan’ to raise money for breast cancer research.

“I am hoping to raise as much money as possible to help fund vital research into the prevention and cure of breast cancer and that is why I’m asking for your help in my mission to raise funds”, she says.

“Every fundraising dollar goes to National Breast Cancer Foundation’s research programs that will help make a better future for the one in nine Australian women who will be diagnosed with the disease during their lifetime.”

There are a number of ways to get involved:

• Participate in the event — There is a 4km and 8km option walk or run option that is open to men and women.  Go to www.mothersdayclassic.com.au to register online, and be sure to add yourself to the team ‘Fight like a girl’.  Team members will be provided with ‘Fight like a girl’ awesome pink wing uniforms.
• Join the training sessions that Rachael has organised — Until the event every Saturday @ 12.00noon at Lilydale lake; every Sunday at 8.00am at 1000 steps, Dandenong Ranges; and every Thursday 12.00noon will be at Healthways.  Phone Rachael on 0400 859 336 to get more details.
• Donate to breast cancer research — Go to www.mothersdayclassic.com.au and search for ‘Rachael Phillips’ in the ‘Online Fundraisers’ box.  You can make a donation on behalf of Rachael’s effort.  When you donate, a receipt will be automatically generated and emailed to you.

“Please help me fund this important research by going to the website or joining me on the run”, Rachael says.  “Come along and let’s all fight like girls.  I definitely fight like a big girl”, she says with a cheeky smile.

Australian Breast Cancer Statistics:

• One in nine women will be diagnosed with breast cancer before the age of 85
• Currently 36 women in Australia are diagnosed with breast cancer every day
• Breast cancer is the most common cancer among Australian women, accounting for 28% of all cancer diagnoses in 2006.
• There were 2,618 female deaths from breast cancer in 2006
• There were 25 male deaths from breast cancer in 2006

NEW Online Enrolment Form

In the Dec 2010-Jan 2011 school holidays, we launched a new way of enrolling in the holiday program…  Online enrolment forms.

There were 110 families who enrolled by filling out their enrolment form on-line, which was wonderful.

We are the only holiday program we know of that offers this option, and it makes it so much easier for parents.

On-line enrolment is very convenient for parents as it means:

• You can enrol in the program entirely from home; AND
• On the day of the program, you can drop off your children much faster.  Parents are often running late to work in the morning…  Now, you can make the time dropping off in the morning more streamlined.

Bookings for the April school holidays open on 13th March 2011, however, if you already know what days you need care you can register your interest for the program by filling out the on-line form.   CLICK HERE to go to the School Holiday Program page, and the form’s at the bottom.

Do you need to drop off your children before 8am?

Further to the enrolment form changes, we are constantly looking for new ways to improve program accessibility for parents.

And to this end, we need your feedback…

We would like to know how many parents need to drop off their children before 8am?

Currently the earliest drop off time is 8.00am, but with extra traffic on the roads, there is extra pressure on the time it takes for people to travel to work.

Thus we are currently floating the idea of opening earlier.

If there are enough people who would benefit from this change, we will implement it for the next holiday period.

To log your interest in an earlier opening time please fill in on-line survey.   CLICK HERE to go to the School Holiday Program page, and the survey’s in the middle.  Thank you.

70% of Australian women admit to being unhappy with their body shape and think of their weight at least once a day according to results from a body image survey of 850 adult women in August 2010.

The survey suggests that weight is an overwhelming issue for women and looms large on a daily basis with a further 25% of women saying that they think about their body image several times a day.

While most women are uncomfortable with their tummy and bum area, the stomach is by far the most ‘hated’ part of their bodies.

In addition close to 50% of Australian women would consider plastic surgery and other cosmetic procedures.

Commentators say that the pressure women are under to look thin is shocking, and it’s frightening to learn the extent they will go to achieve the ‘perfect body’ that society has shaped.

Thankfully, most of the women surveyed knew that a combination of exercise and eating well is the smartest way to stay in shape.

When asked about their biggest health concern, most women feared heart disease. This was followed by the common cold and influenza, osteoporosis and then cancer.

In a quick survey of our staff, no one was surprised to hear the results.

To paraphrase, the general feeling was, “Women compare themselves to celebrities who have dietitians, personal trainers, nannies, and personal assistants who do everything for them.  It’s not real.”

So, what is real and achievable for regular people?  Well, that depends on you.  Everyone is capable of achieving goals, it just depends how high that goal is on the “to-do” list.

But one leaf that everyone can take out of the celebrity guidebook is that if you’re struggling to get a result doing things alone, get some support and employ a professional to help you.

Personal trainers are not just limited to the rich and famous.  Regular, every day people can meet with a personal trainer to help maintain a healthier body.

So, how many times do you think about your weight per day?  Are you one of the 70% of women who are unhappy with your body shape?

Isn’t it time you did  something about it.

At Healthways, half hour sessions range from $28.90-$40.00.  Yes, you read that correctly!  A single session is just $40.00 and when you purchase packs of 12, 24 or 36 sessions the price is less.  Plus, some health funds offer rebates for personal training.  Check with your fund.  For more information about personal training CLICK HERE.

Jazz, Funk and Hip Hop Dance adult dance classes have come to Wednesdays!

In addition to the Tuesday night class, there is one extra Adult dance class this year on Wednesday mornings 9.30-10.30am.

So, the full list of class times is now:

• 3-5yr olds: Tuesdays 4.00-4.30pm, Wednesdays 10.30-11.00am, Thursdays 10.30-11.00am & Thursdays 4.00-4.30pm
• 6-8yr olds: Tuesdays 4.30-5.30pm & Thursdays 4.30-5.30pm
• 9-12yr olds: Tuesdays 5.30-6.30pm & Thursdays 5.30-6.30pm
• 13-17yr olds: Tuesdays 6.30-7.30pm
• Adults: Tuesdays 6.30-7.30pm & Wednesdays 9.30-10.30am (Note: Child-minding is available Monday-Friday 9-12noon for parents who want to do the Wednesday morning class.)

To see whether the dance classes are right for you, we offer a 3 week come and try program for $50.00 to new students.  If you’re happy simply pay the balance in week 3 and stay on.

Phone reception on 9890 0507 to enrol today.

Exercise is a magic drug for many people with depression and anxiety disorders, and it should be more widely prescribed by mental health care providers, according to American research published in late 2010.

“Exercise has been shown to have tremendous benefits for mental health,” says Jasper Smits, director of the Anxiety Research and Treatment Program at Southern Methodist University in Dallas. “The more therapists who are trained in exercise therapy, the better off patients will be.”

“Individuals who exercise report fewer symptoms of anxiety and depression, and lower levels of stress and anger,” Smits says. “Exercise appears to affect, like an antidepressant, particular neurotransmitter systems in the brain, and it helps patients with depression re-establish positive behaviors. For patients with anxiety disorders, exercise reduces their fears and related bodily sensations such as a racing heart and rapid breathing.”

“Rather than emphasize the long-term health benefits of an exercise program — which can be difficult to sustain — we urge providers to focus with their patients on the immediate benefits,” he says. “After just 25 minutes, your mood improves, you are less stressed, you have more energy — and you’ll be motivated to exercise again tomorrow. A bad mood is no longer a barrier to exercise; it is the very reason to exercise.”

Smits says health care providers who prescribe exercise also must give their patients the tools they need to succeed, such as daily schedules, problem-solving strategies and goal-setting.

“Therapists can help their patients take specific, achievable steps,” he says. “This isn’t about working out five times a week for the next year. It’s about exercising for 20 or 30 minutes and feeling better today.”

We just want to repeat that last bit again, so it really sinks in…  “This isn’t about working out five times a week for the next year. It’s about exercising for 20 or 30 minutes and feeling better today.”

If you’ve got someone in your house that is feeling low, talk to their doctor about what exercise they can do.

Healthways runs a TLC circuit class which specifically provides a non-threatening environment for people new to exercise on Sunday mornings 10.30-11.30am.