WATERVILLE -- Eat well. Exercise regularly. Get massages. Go outside. Play games.

The women who came to hear Loraine Paradis' Saturday speech at Inland Hospital's World of Women's Wellness event already knew most of what she had to say, but, she said, it never hurts to hear it again.

"I don't know if I'll come out with any new words of wisdom," she said. "But hopefully some cheerleading" will help to remind women of the importance of maintaining their own well-being.

Paradis, a medical doctor who operates Family Practice in Madison, said that many women are "superwomen," taking on too much responsibility, and forget to look out for themselves as well. Not only can this be harmful to their own health, but they can hardly help all of the people who may count on them -- their children, their spouses, other family members and friends -- if they themselves become ill or overstressed.

In other words, take care of yourselves physically, emotionally and spiritually in order to have a healthy, fulfilling life. Many of the measures Paradis recommended could be applied to men as well, but the event, held at Thomas College, focused exclusively on women through a variety of speakers, panels, booths and workshops.

These included:

• Healthy cooking workshop

• Work Yourself Fit! seminar

• Jazzercise

• Know the warning signs of heart attack and stroke

• Stretching workshop

• Self defense

• Weight loss panels

Volunteers estimated that roughly 500 people came to the event, although not all came into the auditorium.

Paradis said that regular checkups, including mammograms, pap smears, colonoscopies and bone density checks are a must for women at various stages of their lives.

Immunizations can prevent a variety of illnesses, such as tetanus, certain kinds of pneumonia and shingles. Women can attend to their own spiritual and emotional needs with a variety of activities.

Often, women provide the driving force within a family for eating well, getting regular exercise and having regular game times, Paradis said. Thus it is even more important that they maintain their own health.

Paradis handed out gift certificates to local spas, gyms and shoe stores and also raffled off low-fat and low-carb cookbooks to those in attendance.

One key to good health is adequate exercise, Paradis said, and listed Tae Bo, Tai Chi, swimming, walking, Jazzercise and Curves as good choices.

"It doesn't matter how physically fit you are," she said. "Movement is what you need to do."

Joel Elliott -- 861-9252

jelliott@centralmaine.com