Fourth annual St. John’s totally healthy woman retreat to educate, entertain women of all ages

Just weeks after another successful Totally Healthy Woman Retreat at Branson’s Chateau on the Lake last year, St. John’s staff began planning the 2004 retreat, which will take place Nov. 12-14. The theme, “Attitudes of the Heart,” will carry on through the 2004 retreat, but with a different focus: healthy weight loss and exercise.

“No one diet fits all people,” says Susan Blackard, R.N., vice president of St. John’s Corporate Health & Wellness Services, who helped establish the St. John’s Totally Healthy Woman Retreat in 2001 with fellow St. John’s vice presidents Charles Wollard and Susanne Miller, R.N. “One of the goals of this year’s retreat is to educate women that the key to reaching and maintaining their target weight is to choose healthy eating for life and exercise.”

One of the event’s keynote speakers this year will be Debra Waterhouse, author of “Outsmarting the Female Fat Cell.” Waterhouse spoke at a St. John’s women’s health forum in Springfield during National Heart Month in February.
KY3 anchor Lisa Rose also plans to co-host the event again this year.

Waterhouse's best-selling "Outsmarting" book series and women's workshops seek to help women understand the female body and its unique needs and change the way women eat, exercise and view their bodies.

"A woman's body is … miraculous, beautiful, strong, wise, and healthy – and remains that way throughout puberty, pregnancy and menopause as long as she understands it, appreciates it, and takes care of it," says Waterhouse.

Waterhouse, a registered dietitian, has been in private practice for more than 20 years counseling clients, developing hospital and corporate programs, presenting seminars and workshops, writing books and articles, serving as a spokeswoman and board member and appearing on more than 500 television and radio shows.

She demystifies the female fat cell, providing peace of mind that women are not failures at weight loss; rather, it's simply the way their bodies were designed to function throughout their lives.
Retreat attendees this year will enjoy healthy activities such as hot stone massages, reflexology, yoga, Tai Chi and Pilates in between break-out educational sessions on finances, spirituality, organization, appearance, alternative medicine, financial planning, home décor, self-esteem, osteoporosis and relationship building.

Returning events-within-the-event this year are a pajama party and makeovers culminating in a fashion show.
During the 2003 retreat, five attendees, Drieda Booth, Rita Campbell, Pat Many, Donna Hull and Laurie Bowling, were chosen for makeovers and were given a $100
shopping spree, facials and a hair and makeup session. The five women also had dinner with Lisa Rose and showed off their new looks during a fashion show for retreat attendees.

Want to attend? That’s great! A brochure will be available
soon. You may request one or get more information by calling
417-820-2322.