Seventh-day Adventists offer health and fitness seminar

The commitment to Seventh-day Adventists leading healthy lives dates back to the 1800s when the church was formed, according to Watertown Pastor Richard K. Lawson.

To continue that commitment locally, the Watertown Seventh-day Adventist Church, 18057 Route 3, will host a free eight-week health and fitness seminar from 1 to 3 p.m. Sundays, beginning this Sunday. There will be no seminar April 4, which is Easter Sunday.

"As a denomination we've been doing this for many years," Mr. Lawson said. "We believe that a healthy lifestyle is important for longevity and quality of life. As we also teach, heredity loads the gun; lifestyle pulls the trigger."

The Seventh-day Adventist Church even started Morning Star Foods, which provides vegetarian meat substitutes, according to Mr. Lawson.

"Sometimes we think we lost our momentum, but sometimes we have goals for ourselves, and we like to share them," he said.

Seminar topics will include prevention of heart disease, cancer, weight control, diabetes, hypertension, stress management and vegetarian lifestyle. Exercise demonstrations and healthy meal preparation also will be a part of the program.

Mr. Lawson said the Watertown church can accommodate up to 100 people for each seminar.

All seminars are free and open to the community.