Vim & Vigor - Spring 2012 - North Mississippi - (Page 33)

We all have struggles, but if we support each other, we can get through anything. “ We are all the same. ” Sharing your weight-loss tips and goals with others can help them, but it can also help you, Berkeley says. “Telling people about your goals can help keep you accountable, and sharing how you’re doing helps solidify those new skills in your mind,” she says. Plus, having someone going through the same thing you are can make a big difference. “There is a camaraderie there, a support system that can make you stronger than if you tried to go it alone,” Berkeley says. Kitchen Cleanup Keeping the weight off might be as simple as cleaning out your fridge and pantry. Gaylena Rhodes, a registered dietitian and certified diabetes educator at North Mississippi Medical Center–Iuka, shares her tips for a kitchen that’s conducive to keeping those extra pounds at bay. 1. Put healthy foods in plain view. When you open your fridge, what are the first things you see? Prepare healthy snacks and put them at eye level toward the front of the shelf. 2. Get rid of the junk. Bring those leftover brownies and bags of chips to work to share, or just throw them away. “Hiding food from yourself never works,” Rhodes says. “You’ll always remember where you put it, or you’ll find where someone hid it from you, if you really want to.” 3. Feed your family the way you feed yourself. It may take some clever cooking and a bit of convincing, but the best way to ensure that you’ll stay on track is to get everyone else on board, too. “By feeding your family the same way you feed yourself, you eliminate the junk and improve everyone’s health,” Rhodes says. TOO SMART TO FAIL A new study published in the International Journal of Obesity found that in a one-year weightloss program based on lifestyle changes more than 40 percent of participants gave up before reaching their goal. Within three years, those who ﬁnished the program regained 75 percent of the weight they had lost. So, will Hudson be one of the few who succeed in keeping it off for good? Berkeley says she thinks so. “Jennifer demonstrates many of the principles that we ﬁnd in people who succeed at maintaining their weight loss: She’s staying true to the healthy habits that got her where she is today.” Though Hudson says she has always been comfortable with her body—big or small—she has no intentions of going back. “I’m in the best shape of my life!” Hudson told People magazine. “This is the way I want to be, and the way I want to stay.” PHOTOGRAPHY BY KRIS CONNER, GETTY IMAGES online People who exercise are much more likely to lose weight and keep it off. North Mississippi Medical Center Wellness Centers offer group exercise classes, free weights, cardio machines and more. For more information, visit www.nmhs.net/wellness_centers.php. Key to Success Vim & Vigor · SPRI NG 2012 33 http://www.nmhs.net/wellness_centers.php

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Vim & Vigor - Spring 2012 - North Mississippi

Vim & Vigor - Spring 2012 - North Mississippi
Opening Thoughts
Building Healthier Hearts
Young at Heart
Caring for the Little Ones
Get Real
How Far We’ve Come
Patient Survival Guide
Perfect Attendance
Jennifer Hudson, Grammy-winning recording artist
Lean on Me
Intimidated by the Gym?
What Is Your Volunteer Style?
A Prescription for Relief
Virtual Health
SPECIAL You’ve Come a Long Way, Baby
Get Heart Healthy!
Growing Stronger
The Doctor Will See You Now
Catch the Spirit

Vim & Vigor - Spring 2012 - North Mississippi