Jake Witt - LVDHC Health & Wellness

28/07/2025

Come join us on August 23rd for a great day!

Lac Vieux Desert Health Center invites you to our 6th Annual Health Fair on August 23rd from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM — Free Admission! Kick off the day with a vibrant Color Run at 8:00 AM, then enjoy over 40 vendors, free health screenings, face painting, and more. This year’s theme is “Greatest Health on Earth,” featuring MC and Keynote Speaker Chance Rush and music by DJ Rudy Indigenous. Don’t miss this fun-filled day of wellness, education, and community!

18/07/2025

Exciting things happening at LVDHC! We will be beginning the construction process for our new wellness facility next week. Stay tuned for more updates!

🚧 Construction Notice 🚧
The Lac Vieux Desert Health Center will begin its expansion project starting Monday, July 21st.

During this time, parking will be temporarily adjusted. Please refer to the image below for the updated parking layout during construction.

We appreciate your patience and support as we work to improve our facilities to better serve you. Thank you!

27/06/2025

Lac Vieux Desert Health Center is offering free sports physicals for student-athletes on July 23 and July 30 from 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM CST.

If your child needs a physical for the upcoming sports season, stop by and take care of it at no cost.

📍 Lac Vieux Desert Health Center, Watersmeet, MI.
🕒 8:00 AM - 3:30 PM

Share this with other families who may need it!

06/05/2025

Reminder to Register – Strength & Conditioning Workshop

Hey athletes! Summer's almost here—don’t miss your chance to get ahead.

Join us for a FREE Strength & Conditioning Workshop
📅 May 30, 2025
⏰ 4:30–6:30 PM CST
📍 Lac Vieux Desert Health Center – Watersmeet, MI

We’ll cover how to build your own training plan focused on strength, conditioning, recovery, and nutrition—all designed with athletes in mind.

You’ll also get:
• A free athlete-friendly meal
• A workshop t-shirt
• A training essentials booklet to take home

✔️ Open to all high school athletes and coaches
🆓 No cost to attend

📲 Scan the QR code on the flyer to register

⚠️ Spots are almost full—make sure to sign up soon!

Parents or guardians planning to attend—please register too so we can plan for you.

Let’s start the summer strong—see you there!

Message me here for any questions or email jwitt@lvdhealthcenter.com.

24/04/2025

Happening tomorrow! A great opportunity to do some learning and enjoy an awesome community feast. All are welcome!

A friendly reminder - happening this Friday, April 25th! Come join us for a Maple Syrup Teaching Feast from 4:00 to 6:00 PM! Everyone is welcome and we hope to see you there!

17/04/2025

High School Athletes—Own Your Summer!
Join us for a free Strength & Conditioning Workshop.

📅 Date: May 30th, 2025
⏰ Time: 4:30–6:30 PM CST
📍 Location: Lac Vieux Desert Health Center, Watersmeet, MI

This educational workshop will teach you how to build your own summer training plan focused on sport-specific strength, conditioning, recovery, and nutrition. Plus, you’ll get a free athlete-friendly meal, t-shirt, and strength and conditioning essentials booklet.

✅ Open to all high school students and coaches
🆓 No cost to attend
📲 Scan the QR code on the flyer to register

Let’s kick off the offseason the right way. See you there!

16/04/2025

Come join us for a great learning experience and a delicious feast! Next Friday, April 25th, 4-6 PM.

A friendly reminder - happening this Friday, April 25th! Come join us for a Maple Syrup Teaching Feast from 4:00 to 6:00 PM! Everyone is welcome and we hope to see you there!

01/04/2025

A huge thank you to the Native American Fitness Council for hosting an incredible event this past week, and to the Las Vegas Paiute Tribe for their generous hospitality! This is such an amazing organization that provides top-notch training and certifications, giving everyone the opportunity to learn from world-class trainers and bring valuable knowledge back to benefit their communities and tribes. I had a fantastic time, learned so much, and made some great connections. Highly recommend this training to anyone looking to expand their knowledge and skills!

Personal Trainer Certification
Sponsored by the Las Vegas Paiute Tribe
The event went very well with tribes represented from Florida, to New York, to California, to Alaska and many tribes in between. The group was also a diverse group with trainers, managers and directors from various tribes. Special Thanks goes out to Ty, his staff and the Las Vegas Paiute Tribe for going above and beyond to make this event a success! We are anxious to hear all the great things this group of Certified Personal Trainers are going to accomplish in their communities!

31/03/2025

Wrapping Up National Nutrition Month – Tips for Everyone

As National Nutrition Month comes to a close, I want to leave you with some simple, practical tips to help you keep making progress on your health and wellness journey. No matter where you’re starting from, small steps add up over time.

If you’re looking for easy ways to eat healthier, try focusing on whole foods as much as possible. That means more fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, whole grains, and healthy fats. Prepping meals at home, even just a couple of times a week, can help you cut back on added sugars, sodium, and unhealthy fats found in processed foods. Hydration is just as important as what’s on your plate—most people don’t drink enough water, so aim to keep a water bottle with you throughout the day.

For those who struggle with meal planning, try building your meals around a balanced plate: half vegetables, a quarter protein, and a quarter whole grains or starchy vegetables. This helps keep meals filling, nutritious, and well-rounded. And don’t forget about mindful eating—paying attention to hunger cues, slowing down at meals, and avoiding distractions like screens while eating can make a big difference in how satisfied you feel.

If you’ve been thinking about making some changes to your diet but aren’t sure where to start, I’m here to help. I offer nutritional counseling here at the Lac Vieux Desert Health Center, and scheduling is easier than ever—no referral needed anymore. You just need to be an existing patient at the Lac Vieux Desert Health Center.

Here’s how it works:
Your first visit is a consult where we go over your wellness history, discuss your goals, and create a plan that works for you. From there, we schedule follow-up visits where I provide nutritional guidance, support, education, and practical tips. We’ll review your current eating habits, make adjustments as needed, and give you space to ask any questions you have along the way. My goal is to provide realistic, sustainable advice that fits your lifestyle.

I also offer telehealth appointments, so if coming into the Health Center isn’t convenient, we can still meet virtually.

If you’re ready to get started, call the Lac Vieux Desert Health Center at 906-358-4588 and ask to schedule a nutritional counseling consult with me. I look forward to working with you!

20/03/2025

Hidden Sugars – Where They Lurk and How to Cut Back

Most people know that candy, soda, and desserts have a lot of sugar, but what surprises a lot of people is how much added sugar is hiding in everyday foods. Yogurt, certain pasta sauces and breads, and even granola bars can have way more sugar than you’d expect, and it adds up fast.

The American Heart Association recommends no more than 25 grams (6 teaspoons) of added sugar per day for women and 36 grams (9 teaspoons) for men, but the average American eats more than 70 grams a day—often without realizing it.

Some of the biggest hidden sources of sugar are flavored yogurts, granola bars, fancy coffee drinks, pasta sauces, ketchup, salad dressings, and breakfast cereals. Some yogurts have as much sugar as ice cream. A lot of granola bars are basically just candy bars in disguise. Many popular coffee drinks have more sugar than a can of soda. Even things like pasta sauce, ketchup, and salad dressings can sneak in a surprising amount. And don’t be fooled by “healthy” cereals—some are packed with sugar, too.

If you’re trying to cut back on sugar without making huge changes, start by checking labels. Look for sneaky ingredients like cane sugar, corn syrup, or anything ending in “-ose” (like fructose or glucose). Nutrition labels also list added sugar as a separate category than total sugar. Swap flavored yogurts for plain and add fresh fruit for sweetness. Try unsweetened drinks instead of sugary coffee or soda. Making your own sauces and dressings at home can help you control how much sugar goes in. And when possible, stick to whole foods like fruits, veggies, and lean proteins—they have no added sugar at all.

Cutting back on sugar can help with energy levels, weight management, and overall health. If you want to learn more, check out this CDC article:
https://www.cdc.gov/nutrition/data-statistics/added-sugars.html

10/03/2025

Protein - when people think about it, they usually picture athletes, bodybuilders, and gym workouts. But protein isn’t just for building muscle—it plays a big role in overall health, from keeping you full longer to supporting your immune system. The problem is, most people don’t get enough high-quality protein throughout the day, especially at breakfast and lunch.

Here’s why protein matters and some easy ways to get more of it:


Why protein is important:
- Keeps you full longer – Protein slows digestion, which helps curb cravings and prevents energy crashes.
- Supports your immune system – Your body needs protein to make antibodies that help fight illness.
- Maintains muscle as you age – After 30, we naturally lose muscle mass if we don't exercise. Eating enough protein helps keep muscles maintained and strong.
- Helps with blood sugar control – Protein balances out carbs, preventing spikes and crashes.

Easy ways to add more protein:
- At breakfast: Swap sugary cereal for Greek yogurt with nuts or eggs with whole-grain toast.
- At lunch: Add grilled chicken, beans, or hard-boiled eggs to salads and sandwiches.
- As a snack: Keep cheese sticks, nuts, or a protein smoothie on hand for an easy grab-and-go option.
- At dinner: Choose lean meats, fish, beans, or tofu, and aim for a palm-sized serving of protein.

Most people eat plenty of protein at dinner but not enough earlier in the day. The CDC notes that spreading protein intake throughout the day can improve muscle maintenance, energy levels, and overall health.

Here is a helpful guide to some of the best protein sources you can get.

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/high-protein-foods -powders

Want to learn more? Check out this article and another informational resource:
https://www.health.com/protein-8700851
https://www.nutrition.gov/topics/whats-food/proteins

06/03/2025

March is National Nutrition Month, a great time to focus on making small, realistic changes to improve your nutrition. Eating well doesn’t have to be complicated—one of the simplest ways to build a balanced meal is by using the Plate Method.

Here’s how it works:

- Fill half of your plate with non-starchy vegetables like bell peppers, carrots, asparagus, cucumbers, or broccoli. These are packed with fiber, vitamins, and minerals. If you want fruit, enjoy it on the side instead of mixing it with your veggies—it's an easy way to add natural sweetness and extra nutrients to your meal.
- Fill a quarter of your plate with lean protein like chicken, fish, eggs, beans, or venison. Protein helps with muscle maintenance, keeps you full longer, and supports overall health.
- Fill the last quarter with whole grains or starchy vegetables like brown rice, wild rice, quinoa, whole wheat bread, sweet potatoes, or lentils. These provide energy, fiber, and essential nutrients to keep you going.

If getting enough vegetables feels like a challenge, start small—add spinach to eggs, throw extra veggies into soups, or roast them for an easy side dish.

I’ll be sharing weekly posts throughout March with simple, practical tips to make healthy eating easier. Stay tuned for more.

Fact: The CDC reports that only 1 in 10 adults eat enough vegetables each day. Most people either skip them altogether or don’t know how to balance their meals properly.

https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2017/p1116-fruit-vegetable-consumption.html

https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2017/p1116-fruit-vegetable-consumption.html