Get Lasting Weight Loss Results in Indianapolis, IN

Health & Nutrition Technology (HNT-Indiana) has assisted more than one thousand individuals here in central Indiana in the past decade. We have been blessed to be a part of many changed lives … all starting with weight loss. Shirley is one of the blessings we are delighted to highlight.

What constitutes improved health for one person may not be the same for another. Hence, we make no guarantees, but with repeated and sustained results year after year of an average weight loss of 17% in the first 20 weeks we can confidently say many are finding their own benefits. Having started in September 2009, Shirley reached her goal weight of 24% loss at week 43. She continues to enjoy the benefits afforded her by maintaining this new lifestyle now three years later. She not only lost weight, but had blood pressure medications decreased by more than 50%. She is no longer using a sleep machine! She is actively involved in life: Family and Friends have noted her enthusiasm for Zumba as one form of physical activity she now enjoys. Read more about Shirley HERE.

Shirley Before

 

Shirley After

To view the improved health  journey of  other successful participants visit any one of our Facebook sites: HNT Indiana, Health One MealReplacement, Health and Nutrition Technology (HNT)-Weight Management.

Or better yet make it your personal journey of improved health starting with HNT. Health and Nutrition Technology is a nationally recognized, medically supervised health and weight management program. The professional staff provides a comprehensive approach to health by integrating behavior modification classes along with individual support and caring. 

Indiana Weight Loss Success Story: Andrew

Andrew started the program in February of 2012 weighing 340 pounds.  The rest of this post is made up of Andrew's actual responses to questions we asked him. 

When I asked Andrew how long before joining HNT was he thinking about losing weight he said, "Actually not long. I had never spent any time considering my health. I was always pursuing learning new things and improving my life in other ways, but my weight was the one thing I had never focused on. It was long overdue."

 

Andrew had dieted in a self directed way years before. It was brief and ineffective. More malnutrition than anything else. Just before joining HNT he had reached a low point physically. He turned 25 only a month before starting the program and it became apparent that his youth was the only thing keeping him in good health. At his size it was only a matter of time. He didn’t like that throughout his life he had no control over his weight and decided that it was time to take control.

 

I asked Andrew what made him want to join HNT and what made him continue with HNT throughout the 20 week program.  This was his response.  "I like that I could see how it worked. The science behind it is real and the people running the program are licensed dietitians. I wasn’t looking for a quick fix or an empty promise. I wanted a program with proven efficacy and I found it in HNT. It hasn’t always been easy, but with dedication and effort I’ve seen great results. I’ve lost a lot of weight, but I’m not done yet. Not even close. I like that with equations we learned in the first few weeks I’ve been able to predict my weight loss week to week and with some accuracy much further into the future. As long as their are still successes ahead I’m going to stick with it."

 

His biggest reward from improving his health and weight is that the "nagging feeling that he wasn't doing enough was gone".  It was always there reminding him. He says that feeling is gone!  

 

"HNT has given me control over an aspect of my life that had become a runaway train. The impact of that cannot be underestimated."

 

Andrew's biggest lifestyle change has been daily exercise. He says, "It’s only an hour on an exercise bike at a not all that fast speed in front of a TV, but the consistency of it has had noticeable effects". He implements daily record keeping too and encourages anyone else in the program or looking to lose weight to, "Do the math. A lot of people scoff at at the equations, but I attribute a great deal of my success to keeping accurate records. The confidence that I get from knowing exactly where I have been and where I am going gives me strength". Andrew is right, record keeping is one of the most important strategies that has been proven in research over and over again for those able to lose and maintain their weight!

These are Andrew's words of encouragement to you: "The most important thing is measuring your calorie input/output. Don’t weigh yourself everyday. Stay on track and don’t let fluctuations bring you down."

 

Andrew NOW & Andrew Before! Down 117#'s and counting in his 33rd week in the program.

Keep up the hard work Andrew! We are all rooting for you!

 

Success Story Update-2 years later: Alex

We first blogged about Alex's success back in 2010 HERE.  Since it has been nearly 2 years without meeting with Alex we wanted to follow up with him to see how he was doing.  Here is what he had to say:

"When I was "in" the program [the first 20 weeks], I started biking as my exercise.  I started running in the spring of 2011 and haven't looked back.  I ran my first 5k that summer and fell in love.  I had gained back  some of the weight as I was eating not all the right foods all the time, but I still felt very healthy and I was exercising.  I ran the mini marathon in Indy this past May [2012] and was so proud.  I had sworn for years that I would never be a runner, and here I am running three times a week and loving every minute of it.  I actually enjoy going for a run.  I am currently training for my first marathon coming up in January at Disney.  My current weight is 32 pounds lower than when I started in 2010 (there is more muscle in there now with the adventure runs and lifting I've been doing). "

Alex after running his first mini marathon in Indianapolis, IN in May 2012

We are so proud of Alex and his accomplishments in the program and after the program.  We are excited to see what Alex does next with his improved physical ability, lower weight, and self confidence.  He seems to be on top of the world!

HNT RSP Weight Loss Success Story: Kevin

Kevin is a participant of the HNT RSP (Remote Support Program) and has agreed to let us share his amazing weight loss success story with all of you! Read below as he shares many details. 

 

 

My name is Kevin.  Through most of my life I’ve been heavy.  There have been stretches where I have lost weight & kept it off for short periods of time, but eventually the weight comes back and increases.

Everything came to a head about a year and a half ago.  Though I was very heavy, I was always able to manage through everyday activities.  Things started changing towards the end of 2010.  Tasks were becoming more difficult, stamina was decreasing.  After walking about ¼ mile my back would start seizing up and I would be winded.  I needed a rest.  I couldn’t even stand still for more than a few minutes before I needed to lean against something or sit down to ease the strain on my back and legs.

From the end of 2010 through mid 2011 I had unknowingly, because I rarely checked my weight, gained over 50 lbs.  Years ago, I had purchased a scale which measured up to 440 lbs. as a standard home scale reading up to 330 lbs. was showing ‘ERR’ (Error).  With physical issues mounting and the thought that I may have to start buying shirts larger than 5XL, I pulled the scale out to weigh myself.  I assumed my weight would be in the 400-420 range, where it had been mainly in recent years.  This time the scale greeted me with ‘OL” (Overload).  Now being that this was already a heavy duty scale, this was a bit demoralizing.  I was forced to weigh myself on the loading dock scale at work, making sure no one was around.  The scale read 468 lbs.

With other events occurring in my life, adding stress to the already decreasing health, I went to my doctor for a physical to get the full scope of how bad I had become.  The prognosis was increasing blood pressure, among other readings, and most likely I would be diabetic before years’ end.  Though many friends & family over the years had begged me to lose weight, I finally realized that something had to be done.  My doctor had previously worked with Health and Nutrition Technology (HNT) in the past and he got me in touch with them to enter the program.  The decision has changed my life.

Due to the timing of when I joined HNT, I entered the Remote Support Program (RSP).  HNT utilizes Health One Meal Replacements in conjunction with weekly group and one-on-one discussions about nutrition, fitness & behavior modification.

Through the program, with the help of the HNT staff, I was able to help identify bad habits I was employing, plus better ways to handle stress & refocus energy to other activities other than eating. 

I learned the importance of being active, understanding I didn’t have to be tremendous in the beginning.  In fact due to my size & health condition, in the beginning most activities were measured in 5 – 10 minute intervals, but keeping with it, the time & intensity quickly increased.  I found enjoyment in activity.  Found it was much better to think things through during a walk, rather than sitting on the couch eating & feeling worse afterwards.  I felt increased confidence & empowerment as I set goals & achieved them.

The Health One Meal Replacements were extremely helpful with my weight loss largely through their versatility as a product.  Not only can they be made into shakes or soups, but they can also be cooked or baked into others forms to add texture.  Plus the variety of flavors led to many different meal choices. 

The meal replacement formula also provides well balanced nutrition, so I felt satisfied after eating them and any cravings were minimized. 

Now about 15 months after entering the program I’m down over 250 lbs. and have a much better outlook on life.  Blood pressure and all other measures are back in the normal ranges.  I’m probably in better shape today in my mid-40’s than I was in high school or college.

I don’t dread being active; I’ll walk to the store instead of driving to it even though it was only a ¼ mile away.  I wake up in the morning energized, ready to take on the day.

I understand my journey is not over, but has only begun.  I look forward to meeting new challenges and to see where they will take me.

 

Kevin: BEFORE HNT (468 lbs)

Kevin NOW: Down 250 lbs!!

Kevin NOW: with his OLD pants!

 

A Family Losing Together-The Beckwiths

We have had several families participate in our weight management program and have great success.  The Beckwiths are one of those families.  They have been in the program for 29 weeks and have lost a total of 211 pounds or 21% total weight loss between the four of them.  We are so excited for them!  Take a look at their before and after pictures showing their weight loss progress, but don't forget about the health improvements or risks that have been lowered since beginning their journey at HNT. 

Christmas 2011

Summer 2012

Keep up the great work!

A Day in the Life of Daniel

I’m Daniel, a 32-year-old educator in central Arkansas. Since November, I’ve been using Health One Meal Replacements to lose weight as a part of a medically-supervised program. I’ve lost over 145 pounds, my waist size is now 12 inches (yes, a foot) smaller, and I have more energy than ever. At nearly 450 pounds, I never dreamed that I would be able to walk a mile, much less complete a 5K and climb a mountain.

It was about this time last year that I resumed my seasonal job supervising high school participants in academic summer programs at a nearby university. When I went to check out a van to drive the kids to our evening activity, I was shocked to find that I was unable to fit behind the steering wheel. Had I really gotten that big? In short, the answer was yes.

Growing up in the south, I was raised to take my food very seriously. Food that has been breaded, fried, smothered with cheese and/or gravy, and presented in gargantuan proportions is a staple. I hail from the state that hosts the World Cheese Dip Championship, for crying out loud. When someone is born, we eat. When someone dies, we eat. When someone gets a job, we eat. When someone retires, we eat. It’s not hard to see why my state was firmly ensconced in the top 10 list of most obese states recently.

So there I sat, half-way in a van, already late to pick up my campers. It was my wake-up call. For some, it’s seeing a photograph of themselves. For others, it’s a medical diagnosis. For me, it was not being able to get into a 1997 Dodge Ram Van. I’d had many other wake-up calls in the past, but I kept hitting snooze. Whatever your wake-up call is, it’s time to answer it before things get as far out of hand for you as they had for me.

“Obesity doesn’t run in your family. Nobody runs in your family.”

The sedentary child of an obese parent, it was no surprise that I weighed 165 pounds… in the third grade. In the fourth grade, I weighed 209 pounds. By the time I finished high school, our scale at home wouldn’t weigh me. When I got to college, I had a conversation with a nurse in student health services about ways to lose weight. She suggested diet and exercise.

Over my college years I tried every fad diet known to man. I really enjoyed the “Subway Diet,” but it wasn’t in my budget. I tried to eat “Healthy Choice,” but I soon learned that it wasn’t very healthy. For a long while, I lost a lot of weight on ephedra… until the FDA outlawed it. None of the changes I made through those efforts were lifestyle changes. They were quick-fix efforts. The end of the road came when I lost my mother to cancer two weeks before college graduation. I resumed eating then, and I didn’t stop until last November.

After getting my wake-up call, I started researching weight loss options. My employer would pay for gastric bypass surgery because I was morbidly obese, but I have long been afraid of the negative side-effects that I’ve seen in friends who went through the procedure. I could try yet another quick-fix diet, but I knew how it would turn out. I could go to one of the weight loss boutiques that have started popping up in strip malls everywhere, but how could I be certain that their products and services are safe?

I chose the Weight Loss and Metabolic Control Program at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, which uses Health One Meal Replacements, weekly classes in nutrition and behavior modification, and regular visits with an endocrinologist. I attended the orientation session on a Thursday, visited with the doctor the following Tuesday, and by the next Thursday, I was on the program.

I am so satisfied with the program, the products, and my progress on them. “Is that the one where you just drink shakes?” Nope. I make all sorts of things including pizza, muffins, pudding, waffles, and pretzels. I have shakes, too, but not every day. “Is that the one where you have to eat their stuff forever?” Nope. Once I am released by the endocrinologist, I transition to grocery store foods using the nutrition knowledge I picked up in class, my new relationship with food that comes from the behavior modification classes, and ongoing support from my friends at the clinic.

Motivation to carry on comes from every direction. Simply knowing that I am healthier and likely to live longer as a result of the choices I am making is a huge part. Seeing the looks of disbelief when I run into people who haven’t seen me in a while is also thrilling. Serving as a motivator to my peers both in-person and through my blog is also rewarding. Finally, being able to do the things that I want to do makes it all worth it.

This year’s summer camps have begun, and I am not only driving the vans, but I’m keeping up with — and occasionally outpacing — the students at every turn. I’m happier, healthier, and more energized than I’ve ever been. Am I still obese? Yes. There is no quick fix for obesity, but I know I’ve learned the skills and mastered the tools to live a longer, healthier life thanks to the folks at UAMS and HNT.

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To read more about Daniel and his journey with weight loss, visit his personal blog: http://needlesspounds.com/

Outstanding Improvement in Health Measures!

Our latest Dietetic Intern, Karen Willy, did her major project for this rotation on the improvement statistics of health measures including total cholesterol, BMI, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and A1c.  Here are her findings of those (n=1037) who completed the initial 20 weeks or Foundation:

Average reduction in BMI: 6.1 points

Average reduction in total cholesterol: 25 mg/dl  (maximum change was 166 mg/dl)

Average reduction in LDL: 18.4 mg/dl  (maximum change was 157 mg/dl)

Average reduction in TG: 40.2 mg/dl  (maximum change was 606 mg/dl)

Average reduction in A1c: 1.1 points  (maximum change was 5.5 points)

These are OUTSTANDING health improvements & we are proud of the patients that have been able to lose weight and improve their health.  We are excited to be able to help more individuals accomplish goals related to health improvements as well as weight loss. 

Success Story: John

John began his journey with HNT 28 weeks ago after being referred to the program by his personal physician.  He has lost a total of 80 pounds so far and says his biggest reward is feeling better, having more energy, and that he has been removed from a diabetic watch list! 

HNT was not Johns first attempt at weight loss.  In fact, he has been trying to lose weight for years and no other program has seemed to work for him.  His success and continued weight loss is what keeps him motivated with HNT's program.  John looks at food in a whole new way.  He watches what he eats and how often he eats while carefully counting calories-all strategies he credits to HNT.  His favorite part about HNT is the health educators.  He considers them all close personal friends and can rely on them when he has a question or concern. 

After completing the 20 week Foundation course He is continuing on in the program in order to reach his weight loss goal.  He is down 80 pounds and has about 40 left to go and says that he is having to buy new clothes to fit! His advice to anyone who would like to work on their health and weight: "Try it, you will like it.  Through the staff at HNT you will get a whole new outlook on life as a whole.  In other diet plans, you are limited to leadership once a week.  HNT staff are always there to talk to you and are the brightest and friendliest group of dietitians I have ever met."

John down 80 pounds after 28 weeks:

Great work John! We look forward to helping you achieve your goals-You're almost there!

           

Hear about Success Stories from HNT's Program for Weight Loss

           

Kyle's HNT Success Story

Kyle had thought about losing weight for years and he had been successful at losing the weight, but he never learned how to manage the weight loss so it always ended up coming back on. After years of visiting his doctor and seeing his health decline because of obesity, he knew he had to lose weight.

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The statistics given after weight loss in the first 20 weeks, 1 year, and 3 years and maintenance statistics were what caught Kyles attention about the program. That is the reason he signed up. He liked seeing results each week through weight loss, but liked that he was learning about how to keep it off. Now, Kyle has been in the program for over 21 weeks and has lost over 80 pounds.

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The biggest reward that Kyle has received since joining HNT has been his doctor taking him off of his blood pressure medications. His favorite part about HNT is learning how to maintain my weight and seeing how HNT is changing the lives of everyone I meet in the program.

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Counting every calorie and making a choice to stay away from toxic environments are two key strategies that Kyle implements daily to keep the weight off. The biggest lifestyle change that he has made is that he "is eating to live not living to eat". "HNT has given me the foundation to maintain a healthy lifestyle."

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Kyle's encouraging words for people who would like to work on their health and weight: "Wanting to start working on your health and weight management is a good first step, now all you need to do is make a commitment to yourself to work on your health and weight and HNT will be there every step of the way."

Kyle: Before HNT

Kyle: NOW!

(photos courtesy of: Kyle, please do not reproduce)

Kevin's Success Story

For about two years Kevin tried to lose weight on his own, but always struggled. Kevin's primary care physician had been encouraging him to lose weight because of health concerns. His physician started him on cholesterol medication, he was borderline hypertensive, and was also moving towards diabetes. That, with the combination of turning 50 years old this past summer was when he knew he needed some external accountability to help him manage his weight. Fast forward to today...He has been with HNT for 45 weeks now and has met his goal by losing 80 pounds!
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Initially, it was the weight loss that kept him coming back to the classes, but he liked the professionalism of the people involved and the meaningful topics presented. "I'm a 'people person' and enjoy the interactions", Kevin mentioned about the group behavior modification classes. "Through these relationships, I have learned new recipes and other notions that have helped me with my weight management strategies."
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Kevin's biggest reward from losing weight is the energy that he has recovered. Other things he mentioned were improved sleep, and feeling better overall.
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Since joining HNT he now focuses on several key strategies to help him to maintain his weight loss. Exercise is the biggest lifestyle change that he has made since the start of the program and he tries to exercise almost everyday for both physical and emotional health. He also implements meal planning because he has noted that not doing it leads to increased calorie consumption via falling back to old lifestyle habits. Finally, he "wrestles mostly with the notion of needs vs. wants. A lot of my non-healthy calories come from satisfying wants. Trying to manage them more effectively is a big part of my weight management strategies".
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For anyone out there who is trying to lose weight, Kevin encourages you to consider HNT. "It is work, undoubtedly; however it was easier to lose weight with HNT than I had anticipated", he said. "While I'm sure HNT isn't for everyone, I think a lot of people would be successful with this program if they just give it an honest try. I really don't see myself as having any more will power or discipline than most people. I know it sounds like a cliche, but if it worked for me, this program has the potential to work successfully for a lot of people! HNT has helped me realize a significant weight loss that I could only ever dream about in the past."
~

Kevin Before HNT

Kevin Now! 80 pounds down!

(Photos Courtesy of Kevin. Please do not copy)

Thanksgiving Special

We had our Annual Thanksgiving Special last Tuesday and we had a great time. We enjoyed our love of cooking and making our food appetizing to eat while using the Health ONE Meal Replacement. In case you missed it, here is what you missed out on:

Sheila demonstrating how to make the noodle recipe from Health ONE Potato Soup. After the demonstration, everyone sampled her lasagna that she had prepared in advance to show how great the noodles are in any dish!

Health ONE Pumpkin Roll is a favorite of many HNT employees, so we demonstrated how to make a delicious dessert that would be mistaken for the "real" thing. The patients who tried the sample were impressed with the Pumpkin Roll's great flavor and authenticity. We gave out Health ONE Pumpkin Roll recipe cards to those in attendance so they could try it over the Holiday Season.

After the demonstrations, we tried many recipes made by current HNT patients/staff including: a pumpkin cheesecake, mini corn dog bites, strawberry cream cheese danish, orange delight, German chocolate mousse, chocolate chip cookies, and hot chocolate! They were all wonderful. Thank you to those who brought in their favorite recipes to share.

For those in attendance, we had several drawings and we handed out HNT Rubber Spatulas as a 'Thanks' for coming and making this event special.

Alex & Stephanie Success Story

Alex and Stephanie are quickly approaching the completion of the 20 week Foundation period and have lost 60 pounds and 37 pounds respectively and are at their goal weights! For the past 3-5 years they have been trying all kinds of other programs where the usual concerns for any 'diet' came into play. They said that getting bored of the limited choices for food, being hungry, and not seeing fast results were all reasons why none of the other programs worked for them.

They were encouraged to join HNT by the success of other participants that they knew and worked with on a daily basis. They wanted to get healthy in order to feel better, keep up with their growing 6 year old twins (without being exhausted) and be a good example to their kids by showing them how to lead a healthy lifestyle.

After joining the program, it wasn't long before Alex and Stephanie were being motivated in their own journeys by successes in weight loss and health. They liked the fact that hunger was not an issue despite the much lower calorie meal plan that they were following. Eating the meal replacements and fruits and vegetables made them feel great and satisfied. In addition to the meal plan, they enjoyed attending class and sharing with others who were struggling with the same situations as they were. "Its much easier to related to someone else who struggled at that family pitch-in picnic and hear their solutions that worked, " said Stephanie.

Now that they have met their goal weights and are beginning to maintain, they are eating less meal replacements and more grocery store foods with success-thanks to the weekly meetings. Before, Stephanie remembers keeping calories low, but not knowing what to eat which meant having a few high calorie and not nutritious foods and stopping based on the calories. This, she describes, left her hungry and cranky until eventually she would give up and eat whatever. Now that she has more direction and guidance about what to eat, she is feeling great about the choices she makes.

HNT has impacted them both greatly:

Alex says that HNT "has totally changed his life". He now has a different perspective on society, his personal environment, how he eats and what he eats. Shortly after joining the program, he began working out for the first time in his life. He loves the way he looks and feels, but most importantly he loves the way he is impacting the lives of those he loves by making healthy choices.

Stephanie "feels awesome, is not as tired as she used to be, can handle stress better now, is wearing a much smaller size and is receiving lots of compliments". She likes having a positive influence on those around her. She brags about changing the last tailgate she attended from a breakfast full of biscuits and gravy to egg beater omelets and turkey bacon and the snacks to fresh veggies and humus rather than cheese cubes and sausage sticks. She said, "no one minded" and "folks even commented on the fact that they didn't miss those fattier foods". She is excited that her kids now beg for apples and plums rather than ding-dongs and candy as their afternoon snacks. They also ask for lettuce wraps on their hamburgers instead of the bun, but not because she told them to, but because they saw her eating one, tried it, and liked it. She enjoys finding active activities for the whole family instead of sitting around and watching movies all the time.

Before HNT- April 2010

Now...November 2010

Nearly 100 pounds lighter between them both!

Way to go keep up the hard work,

Treat our Troops Update: New Jersey

Wow! Just received notice of the whopping amount of candy that HNT New Jersey sent off to Operation Shoebox New Jersey to Treat our Troops today. They were able to send 295 pounds of candy to the Troops overseas! Here it is, below, ready to be shipped out:

That brings the HNT total to 492 POUNDS OF CANDY that was donated. That is the number to beat for next year!

Treat the Troops Update: Durango, CO

The results are in...For those of you who haven't been around HNT in the last couple weeks to see our giant metal bin fill up-we wanted to let you know that we filled the bin with a hefty 73 pounds of candy to donate to our U.S. Troops!

Thanks to each of you who stopped by, and for spreading the word within our community, and to the dentist across the parking lot who donated dozens of mini toothpastes to go with all that sugar!

We are thankful for those who are serving and who have served.

Treat our Troops- a Huge Success

We want to thank all who participated in our first-time-ever candy drive to Treat our Troops and not WAIST Candy! We teamed up with a local dentist and church in donating the candy to the Troops since the amount of candy we received exceeded our expectations. It was a huge success that we were able to donate

124 pounds of candy!

When we are dealing with toxic environments everywhere it's important to make sure that we are setting up the environments we live in for success. This is exactly what strategy was implemented by the patients this year for Halloween. If Halloween candy is left in the house, we are much more likely to have one or two or ten pieces of candy which are typically ~100 calories per 'fun size'. But, removing the candy from our environments whether its work, home, school, etc. is a great start to making sure we can be successful in the choices we are making each day!

Have a great Holiday Season by setting your environments up for success!

P.S. Take a look at our newly painted LOGO on the wall in our office! It looks great!

A Success Story Update

Shirley, who was featured as our 3rd Success Story here, has maintained her desired weight loss for 17 weeks now with in 2 pounds! Shirley thinks that it is easier to maintain than she had originally expected it to be. She continues to eat 1-2 meal replacements per day so that she has slack for her evening snacks that sometimes include popcorn, wine, and cheese and crackers.

The hardest part about maintaining is fighting the urge to binge at events. She just had her step-daughter's wedding reception at Maggiano's where they had family style service-which Shirley states, "is a killer for anyone". Other than those type of events she is usually satisfied sharing a meal with her husband, see the empty dishes, and be satisfied that she ate food she really wanted.

Shirley's advice for you is to "PLAN, PLAN, PLAN...COOK, COOK, COOK!" Both pieces of advice she claims should be done a week in advance. "Always have food made."

On a daily basis Shirley exercises, records all her foods, and thanks God for all the joys that she now has with her younger grandchildren now.

Since reaching her goal weight she has learned that she doesn't really need a lot of things that she ate before. Now, it's okay to be a little hungry and she mentions that she always had a 'swagger' in her walk and hips, but you just couldn't see it!! She is very excited about her health improvement: At nearly 63 years old, her body and organs are about 56-58 years old according to testing and opinions. Her muscles, strength, flexibility, and balance are all improving. She now has pride in her apperance!

Keep it up Shirley! You have been a pleasure to work with and you look Great!

Success Story #6

Bonnie's HNT Story

Bonnie was asked by her physician, Dr. Lisa Miller from Northside Family Care in Indianapolis, to write a paragraph regarding Bonnie's experience with HNT. Dr. Miller will be using Bonnie's write-up on her own blog. Here is what she wrote:

"My motivation for starting the HNT program at St. Vincent [Carmel Hospital] was I was tired of the way I looked and taking so many pills. I like the program because you set your own goal. There was never any guilt because you had a misstep; only positive encouragement. I liked the 'coach' and feel here encouragement and positive reinforcement kept me going. After the 20 weeks of 'Foundation' you start 'Practice.' The weekly meetings talking with others in the same boat and making friends that encourage you is definitely a positive feature. The first 20 weeks you learn how to handle stress, know when you are really hungry, count calories, and a new way of cooking that is healthier. I was never a vegetable eater but have learned how to incorporate them into the meals. The main item is the meal replacements. These can be made into shakes, bread, meals, desserts, and even noodles. You are introduced into 'grocery store food' when you reach your goal. I maintain with a combination of meal replacements and grocery store food. The reason it worked for me was the people involved. There are several coaches and among them you can find the one that works for you."

Success Story #5

Bruce and Donna's HNT Story

Bruce and Donna heard about HNT through several friends from their church. Not only did they hear about HNT, but they witnessed their friends' successes through the program! Bruce and Donna thought that they too would join in with their success! Twenty weeks later, Bruce and Donna have met their weight loss goals by losing 42 and 36 pounds, respectively. Now, they both are joining the Practice classes as they continue to practice what they have learned in order to maintain their weight loss and new lifestyle.

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Donna has tried a couple weight control programs in the past. However, Donna quotes that "each time I have found success in losing the weight but have regained weight over a period of time. I felt confident with the HNT program that I could lose the weight, but my ultimate goal is to keep the weight off and to establish better eating habits for my future. HNT seemed like a good program with the education it would provide and the [endocrinologist] looking over my progress seemed to be exactly what I was looking for." On the other hand, Bruce "truthfully had not been trying to lose weight" before joining the program. However, he mentions that he had lost weight in 2001 and had gained half of it back. "My weight seemed to creep up a few pounds every year," he comments. Bruce joined HNT as a support for Donna, but knew that he needed to make a change as well. Bruce had been having back pain due to arthritis, and he states that he is "at the age and stage of health that exercising the weight off is not an option like it was when I was younger. I needed a way to be healthy and maintain proper weight when I retire."

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Donna stayed committed to HNT because she "liked the immediate results of the program." She has "found the meal replacements easy to prepare and eat" and help her maintain her weight. Bruce thought it was important that he and Donna were able to support and encourage each other throughout the process. Donna also comments on this fact that "working towards a common goal together has made a big difference for both of us." Bruce found that, "HNT has great people to guide you and their support is a big factor in keeping motivated. The weekly meetings are good to keep me focused on the things that I need to do, and having your own coach (dietitian) is really an invaluable asset. It has been a real education on how to be healthy. You don't get many opportunities to gain a new perspective on yourself like this program gives you. It has forever changed the way I treat my body, and all for the good."

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When Bruce and Donna started the HNT behavior-modification classes, they realized that "there are so many things that you don't know about...but you can get the answers (and timely help) as you need them." Bruce now "pays a great deal of attention to what I eat now and there are so many small things that I didn't think had that much impact on my health: portion sizes, proper numbers of fruits and veggies, proper water consumption, nutrition and calorie balance, and many others." Donna now "knows exactly how many calories I can consume without weight gain. Plus, if I do put on a pound I have the tools, the knowledge, and the meal replacements to take it right back off!"

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20 weeks later and 76 pounds lighter combined, Bruce and Donna physically feel better! Bruce is "much more in tune to what I need to do to keep myself healthy, not to mention that I feel great. People compliment me about looking fit, so it is rewarding in that sense also." Donna does "not have the highs and lows with blood sugar being on the HNT program. I am back to my high school weight, my weight before 4 children; I guess you could say I am back to the real me, finally. Mentally and physically it feels great to be back to me! HNT has helped me maintain one of my lifetime goals!"

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Bruce and Donna have made lifestyle changes that have contributed to their success. Bruce is now always conscious of what he eats and the long-term consequences to his choices. He says, "My success is tied to the choices I make." Donna states, "We are working hard to changing our large family traditional meals, (which are loaded with thousands of calories and way too many sweets), towards healthier menus and placing our focus on the family members instead on the food."

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Bruce encourages those reading this by saying, "If you want to be in control of your health, this program gives you the foundation for a lifestyle change that will put you in the driver's seat. 'Ultimately it is up to you to be successful' is the epiphany of this change in lifestyle, but the tools that you gain from HNT are going to build the foundation and ensure your success is attained." Donna adds by commenting, "You can have success too if you follow the program. Stick with it and you will be amazed at your results. You will get a lot of support from your Educator. Now is the time for change. You can do it!"

Success Story #4

Mike's HNT Story

When approached to share his HNT story for the June Success Story, Mike was excited for the opportunity! He begins by stating that "the program is a life changer." He hopes his story will help others in the journey and that "it is a journey!" So let's take a walk in Mike's shoes on his journey of health and weight management.

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Now that Mike is in his 50's and his boys are in college, he found himself not being able to do the fun things that they were doing due to his weight. "I looked into the mirror and knew that this is not the real me. I needed to get the weight off before both my boys were out of college and I missed valuable time with them." Another reason for losing weight was to feel better and prevent further health risks. He was previously on blood pressure medications and knew that if something didn't change now it would not get easier! He also wants to be around to see his grandchildren down the road and enjoy his retirement, "not just survive retirement!"

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Mike tried to lose weight for 4 years. He had lost weight on a different program in 2003 but had gained it back in 2 years because he "never knew how to keep it off." He had participated in a meal replacement program before, but HNT increased his interest because of the education included with the meal replacements. Mike states, "I have tried Optifast, Nutrisystem, Adkins, South Beach, and Weight Watches over the years, losing weight with all of them but putting it back on again. He includes, "anyone can lose weight with meal replacements...but the key to long-term success is the education component that teaches you why you are overweight, how to lose weight, and most importantly, how to keep it off for life. I have found no other program that provides education and then on-going support and on-going education like HNT."

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Mike joined HNT at the end of September of 2009. 34 weeks later, he has lost a total of 55 pounds! His goal is to lose 60 pounds, so he's only 5 pounds away! Mike has discontinued his use of medication, saving him $160 per month, and he feels 100% better. "I look better, feel better, and my self esteem and attitude is better. My staff at my office has repeatedly said that I look great...and that I seem so much happier and am more fun to be around and to work with."

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Throughout this journey, Mike has learned and implemented many skills and strategies to contribute towards his success. He has learned calories in food, what he needs to eat, and how much to eat to lose or maintain his weight. Mike says, "I learned that it was a pretty simple formula that works well...calories in and calories out." He applies this formula into his daily life, and feels that this is the key to the HNT program; "teaching and supporting [the participants] as [they] integrate weight loss and long-term weight management into daily life." Mike is accountable to what he eats and how much physical activity he does by keeping records. Physical activity has become a daily part of his morning routine. "I have made them just a part of my life now. I have learned that if I don't keep track of what I eat, then I will overeat."

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Mike has greatly enjoyed his classmates and weekly time with them. He says, "dieting is never fun but my class makes it something I look forward to. I am in Practice class now and there are people in my class that have lost 100 pounds plus, and the key is they have kept it off for several years, and they still come to class and still follow the principles taught to us in class." He contributes his success to the support and encouragement from his classmates and Health Educators.

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Mike finishes by encouraging those reading to "just get started and do it! Everyone says, 'I am going to start tomorrow,' yet tomorrow never seems to arrive. Join HNT and they will support you and guide you through the process. The support of HNT and the educators and your fellow classmates that are all going through the same issues with you, make the process much easier. HNT teaches you to integrate weight loss and weight control into your lifestyle, so your life while different is not worse, just different, and the payoff is well worth the effort!"

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"I am happier, healthier, have more money (less prescriptions), and am looking at life from a better perspective. Life is short. I don't want to waste a single day carrying 50 pounds of extra weight!"

Mike Before HNT

Mike NOW!!!

(Photos courtesy of Mike, Noblesville, IN)