Andrea & walk group

With the hike-and-bike Spring Branch Trail drawing locals outdoors, a local business invites customers to join a weekly morning walk group for exercise, fun and networking.

Healthy Start Nutrition (formerly Healthy Fix Nutrition), 2755 Gessner Road, Suite-R, in the H-E-B shopping center, has been inviting customers to come together once a week since last summer.

“I started with the idea to create a sense of community and bringing people together in an active way,” explained the business owner, Andrea Villegas-Shanahan. “I found that people liked the walking and really looked forward to the social part. It has been fun. It has created networking opportunities for some of our ladies. We have had a couple of our male customers come, but the majority of the time it has turned out to be women and (has) given women an opportunity to make time for themselves.”

As the group of stay-at-home moms, at-home workers, and retirees walk with purpose and encouragement. This is different from an exercise group. It is more personal.

“This is a buddy system group. Totally a buddy system. I send reminders and want our group to know that we care if they show up,” Andrea said.

“And it must work. I mean no one has told me to stop texting,” she added with a laugh.

“When we started, we walked Kempwood, lined with those beautiful trees. It was so pretty and nice. As the group got bigger, there was not enough room for us to walk as a group. We found this perfect trail not too far from our location. We walk down Gessner to the Emnora Bike Trail to Northbrook High School and back. It is about 2.5 miles.”

Doctors have long touted the benefits of walking as a way to control blood pressure, lose weight, lower cholesterol, and even help with boosting memory. According to Harvard Medical School, walking just 2.5 hours a week can reduce heart disease by 30 percent.

The Healthy Start Nutrition walkers understand the benefits. Everyone is invited to join the group regardless of activity level. The path has benches for those who might need a break and walkers are encouraged to participate at their own pace.

I decided to join the group on a couple of days. I was a little hesitant because I am a severe asthmatic, but I kept up. I was able to walk at my own pace. The other walkers encouraged me, and the social aspect is a definite bonus. Andrea is great at encouraging us on our path to healthier living even for those of us who are a little “exercise-challenged.”

I better get ready to lace up my walking shoes again; after a brief break for the winter, the walking group will start up again on Feb. 22 at 9 a.m.

Each walk is followed by social time while enjoying one of the healthy menu items from the shop, although no purchase is necessary to participate.

According to Andrea, “Healthy Start Nutrition is committed to helping others mind, body and spirit. We want to make sure that the area understands that we are always looking for ways to support this community.”

Over the holidays, they sponsored a toy drive and hosted a music evening and a paint party.

The beverage bar menu has expanded to include protein bagels, protein waffles, acai bowls, and oatmeal. The most popular item is the fresh-made protein donuts in various flavors.

There are plans for a weekly Bible study on the first Wednesday of every month beginning in March.

For more information about the walking group and upcoming events visit the website at www.healthystartnutrition.com.

See you on the trail.

— by Jessika Leal