DUNCAN When it comes to living a healthier lifestyle, dietitian Meridan Zerner said a few small changes could make all the difference for the long term.

Zerner, who is employed by the Cooper Clinic in Dallas, Texas, was the guest speaker Tuesday for the Duncan Regional Hospital Health Foundations annual Ladies Luncheon at the Simmons Center. About 270 people were in attendance.

I feel so honored and privileged, Zerner said prior to the program. Any opportunity I get to share healthy living, I find it invaluable.

Earlier in the day, Zerner led a Pilates class of about 25 people at the Simmons Center.

For Zerner, that class was only the first move toward healthier living. She said, aside from exercise, nutrition plays a sizable role.

During the Ladies Luncheon, she talked about the importance of proper nutrition, including proper portion sizes. She said, nutrition makes up one-third of a healthy lifestyle. The other two-thirds includes exercise and sleep/stress management.

Zerner recommended eating smaller meals throughout the day, which would equate to about five meals, instead of one or two larger meals. Much of the food people should be eating should be fruits and vegetables.

Eat more color, more plant-based foods, she said.

She also spoke about the benefit of carbohydrates, which are detrimental to the brain, nervous system and muscles.

She said the benefit of carbohydrates and proteins are lost when people eat too many at once, instead of sticking to portion sizes.

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Zerner talks nutrition during Ladies Luncheon

MARLOW Parking in downtown Marlow was cordoned off on Monday to allow workers to peel up about an inch of asphalt from downtown streets for later repaving.

The work will continue today and possibly on Wednesday, said Marlow Administrator Jason McPherson, but shoppers, residents and merchants took the inconvenience in stride, possibly because they recognize the citys downtown makeover is nearing completion.

Im impressed with the understanding of our community, McPherson said.

Already in place are new sidewalks, curbs and gutters along with new streetlights and trees.

The new sidewalks replace cracked and crumbling sidewalks that in some cases were about 80 years old, McPherson said.

There were sidewalks before there were roads in this town, he said. This is really an improvement... These sidewalks will last long past my lifetime.

The asphalt work that began Monday will even up the street with the newly installed gutters, McPherson said, but workers will have to wait until temperatures reach at least 50 degrees over a sustained time period before new asphalt can be spread.

The work is part of a $1.145 million makeover of downtown Marlow.

The city is paying 55 percent of the cost while a grant from the Oklahoma Department of Transportation funds the remainder.

When the street work is finished, Marlow will hold a grand opening cermony to formally unveil its new downtown, McPherson said.

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Marlow makeover nears completion