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by Cindy Abole
Public Relations
The staff of MUSC-Meducare are known for their quick response and
teamwork in supporting their everyday mission of caring for and
transporting patients. Within this group of top notch critical care
paramedics, dispatchers, emergency medical technicians, flight nurses
and transport staff is a cadre of men and women who’ve made the choice
of mastering their health destinies by adopting lifestyle changes that
will lead to healthier lives.
For almost two years, 10 Meducare employees committed themselves to
losing weight and keeping it off. The idea was part of a domino effect
begun by Meducare nurse manager Melissa Feather, R.N., and Russell
Ward, Meducare Ground Services, which expanded to eight others,
including critical care paramedics Jackie Roper and Susan Dew.
One-by-one these employees committed to MUSC Weight Management Center’s
Focus Program, a 15-week intensive change program that focuses on
moderate weight loss through healthy eating featuring meal supplements,
exercise and nutrition education. The team worked closely with Josh
Brown, Ph.D., director of clinical services at the Weight Management
Center.
“At first I didn’t notice the pattern of Meducare employees who were
coming in for consultation,” said Brown. “Then I saw they were
trickling in—one-by-one. Eventually I saw a lot of motivation among
employees throughout the program. What they eventually did was
establish an environment at work that promoted healthy eating behaviors
and support through positive interaction and activity.”
Within eight months, Feather, who was pre-diabetic at the start of the
program, lost 45 pounds. Ward, who was able to cut his cholesterol
medications in half by February, shed more than 35 pounds. Roper and
Dew, who joined the effort last April, each were 40 pounds lighter and
still losing pounds and inches.
“I knew I wanted to do something,” said Feather, who committed to the
Focus program in spring 2007 and is now pregnant. “Like many people, I
made it my New Year’s resolution to lose weight. I tried them all, but
this program was different. I was ready for a certain level of
commitment that I knew I was capable of following. The program gave me
the right tools, motivation and support to succeed.”
Like most people, Feather, Ward and the others learned about food
choices and the value of portion control. For the first eight weeks,
they incorporated meal replacements such as nutrition bars, shakes and
other products into their diets. As a group, they shared bars, shakes,
recipes, blenders and other equipment at their second-floor office
located at Charleston Memorial Hospital. They learned the positive
effects of proper hydration—substituting two liters of water daily for
soda. During the last eight weeks of the program, participants
transitioned from eating supplements to more whole foods.
“The program taught me the proper way of recognizing hunger and eating
right to fulfill that,” Feather said. “I learned to listen to my body.”
Meducare Focus participants also attended weekly weigh-ins and
nutritional/education classes with either Brown, a dietitian, exercise
physiologist or other Weight Management team specialist. To help
realize their daily progress, participants charted their weight using
graphs and recorded their meals using food diaries to assist in their
long-term success. They also discussed issues, focused on goals and
shared ideas for changing behaviors connected with poor habits such as
stress eating.
In addition to learning about proper food and nutrition, they engaged
in regular exercise and other physical activities. Participants were
given a pedometer and challenged to walk 10,000 steps a day. Feather
and Ward enjoyed the challenge of purposely walking a little out of the
way to meetings at other locations around campus. Roper, who works the
evening shift, joined the Summerville YMCA and included walking, bike
rides and rowing into her fitness routine.
Currently, the group is in maintenance mode. Some are happy with their
progress while others are determined to continue toward their weight
loss goals. Brown stated, “We spend so much of our lives at our jobs,
so working in an environment that appreciates and promotes weight
management and health greatly facilitates successful long-term weight
control. Let’s all do what we can to encourage the health of our work
community.”
“This is one of the easiest and hardest weight loss programs I’ve
participated in,” said Dew. “It demands a lot of one’s time and effort
in learning about foods, making choices and shopping. I feel great, and
I’m glad I did it.”
For information, contact MUSC Weight Management Center, 792-CARE or http://www.MUSChealth.com/weight.
Friday, May 1, 2009
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