H3 Guest Review: Great Experience!

We all want to live the healthiest and happiest lifestyle we can, but we don't always know the best way to create those positive changes. LOSE Well guest, Cindy W. wanted to make that move towards a healthier self and decided to visit Hilton Head Health to create her own path. Despite her initial nervousness about coming to H3 alone, Cindy quickly overcome those fears with the support of our staff. Read all about Cindy's full experience at H3 on our official TripAdvisor page.

 



 

If you're a previous Guest, we'd love for you to share your life-changing experience on TripAdvisor. Still haven't made it to H3, yet? Take a look at past Guests experiences to learn more about us.

A Mindful Experience at H3

Recently, Donna Adinolfi of Mindful Adventures had the opportunity to experience Hilton Head Health in our LOSE Well program. Donna came not sure of what to expect and even feeling very vulnerable. But after spending 4 weeks here in the program she not only lost a few pounds but she conquered the emotional and physical obstacles standing in her way. Listen to what she has to say about her journey:

 



What obstacles are preventing you from being your healthiest self?

See what this Guest has to say about H3

We strive to create a positive, nurturing atmosphere to foster the best health and wellness experiences for our Guests. We appreciate getting direct feedback from our Guests through TripAdvisor, surveys, Facebook, emails and even hand-written letters. Feedback from our Guests let us know how well we are accommodating them through our staff, programs and dining options. As we continue to upgrade our facilities and improve our programs, we hope to keep motivating Guests to work towards healthier, more fit lifestyles.

Read what this past H3 Guest has to say

Making a difference in the lives of our Guests is our highest priority, from their stay to long after they’ve returned home. All our the programs from Hilton Head Health—LIVE Well, PLAY Well, and LOSE Well—have been carefully designed to motivate and inspire.

Offering an inviting, nurturing environment is paramount to rejuvenating and encouraging healthy lives. Our goal is to make every stay at Hilton Head Heath as perfect as this Guest’s:



Read the full review on TripAdvisor and if you're a past Guest, leave your own review about your stay at H3.

Read what a real H3 Guest has to say

At Hilton Head Health weight loss and wellness resort, we strive to create the perfect environment for our Guests. Whether they're goal is significant weight loss with our weight loss program or to achieve a healthy lifestyle and wellness with our wellness program, we want our Guests to achieve lasting results and enjoy their experience. Seeing as we're always looking to make our weight loss and wellness programs better, we love to read our Guests feedback and learn that they're happy with their experience at Hilton Head Health. This particular review from Hilton Head Health alum, Shaan T. made us smile!



We're so happy than Shaan enjoyed her stay and left her feedback. We would love to hear yours, as well! So tell us, how was your experience at Hilton Head Health weight loss and wellness resort?

Get H3 Inspired: Barb Wood

My experience at Hilton Head Health (H3) was nothing short of what I expected; and I had high expectations given the reputation of H3.

During the summer of 2012, my husband Randy Wood spent five weeks at H3 and lost nearly 30 pounds.  The physical transformation was impressive.  He came home glowing.  Upon wrapping up his time there, he called and asked me “So what two weeks work for you?”  It wasn’t an order, but a passionate and enthusiastic request because we both struggle with our weight.  April 2013 was chosen.

I spent the next six months changing nothing and gaining more weight.  By February 2013 I had hit the wall.  I saw a number on the scale that just did me in.  At that point something mentally clicked for me.  I immediately cut out all the garbage and sweets.  I had no desire for them anymore.  I started a meager work out two days a week.  It didn’t last very long as my heart wasn’t into the exercise.  However the elimination of the bad foods continued.

April finally got here and I knew that the next two weeks were going to be about me and my health.  H3 was the jumpstart I was craving and I was ready to make a change.  I was tired of being tired.

From the moment I arrived at H3 I felt welcomed.  I fit in and there was no stigma about a number on the scale or the size of my clothes.  The guests at H3 are like-minded and the staff embraced every one of us for who we were: people on a mission to make positive changes in our lives.

I arrived and met the staff and my (awesome) roommate and I felt like I belonged.  I realized that after my initial weigh-in, I had already dropped 7 pounds since I had changed my diet in early February.  I was already off to a great start.

The schedule can be a little daunting at first; kind of like being a freshman on the first day of school! But you quickly learn to pick the classes and lectures that mean something to you.  The tough part of course is realizing that they all mean something, but with a 2-week stay, I had time to pick and choose.

You quickly learned who the veterans and long-timers are as they were immediately into the groove and just had a wisdom about them.  They had a lot to offer.  Friendships were made quickly…and are ones that will serve us well long after we have left H3 for our own realities.

In 10 days I lost a little over 7 pounds.  Given the gourmet quality of the food we were served, this was really exciting.  Dieting didn’t mean boring and bland food.  It meant food that is colorful and full of flavor!  At 13 days I was down 9 pounds.  The drive home to Vermont was a long one but I made smart choices about the food I ate and at 15 days…I was down 10 pounds.

The transformation was amazing for me.  I feel great, my fat clothes are getting baggy and mostly…I have energy.  I am equipped with notes from lectures and the knowledge that we all will stumble…we are human after all.  As someone said, “Weight loss isn’t hard. Losing weight is.”  It’s a rule of in and out.  Less calories in, more calories out.

I purchased my Fitbit One at H3 and I wear it every day.  It has become the subtle little voice of H3 to just keep moving, because doing something is better than doing nothing.

I arrived home knowing that Randy and I will make regular treks to H3.  It is that course-adjustment we sometimes need in life.  I look forward to returning as a veteran.  Most of all, I look forward to interacting with the staff of H3 and their enthusiasm for a healthy life and the absolute desire to help us get there.

 Barb Wood – Pittsfield, VT

Get ‘H3 Inspired’: Mimi and Phil Drew

It has been a year since my husband, Phil, and I went to Hilton Head Health (H3) to change our lifestyle (December 2011) – and we’ve been singing H3’s praises ever since! To date, Phil’s lost 50 pounds and I’ve lost 45 — and we are continuing to lose! We are moving through clothing sizes at a rapid rate and it’s great to be going in the right direction!! My cholesterol is down 40 points and I have reduced my Lipitor from 20mg to 10mg daily and may be off it entirely after my annual physical.

Upon arriving to H3, I was afraid we would spend a week there and not learn anything we didn't know (but just weren't doing). That couldn't have been further from the truth. We learned weight loss tools that have helped us in all aspects of life - from dining out to exercise; we’ve been able to incorporate H3’s weight loss rules in our daily routine to achieve lasting success. For example, who knew that weight loss is 80% nutrition and 20% exercise? Who knew that restaurants "steam" their vegetables in BUTTER? Or if you know your metabolic calorie range, you can know exactly how many calories you can consume to still lose weight?

As far as exercise is concerned, we were already in the gym an hour a day but adding an extra half hour and actually sweating has worked wonders!

Since returning home, we’ve enjoyed celebrations, holidays and trips while maintaining our weight loss. For example, last Valentine’s Day, Phil and I had a wonderful dinner that fit within our 350 calorie count; it included grilled shrimp, roasted vegetables, homemade chocolate dipped strawberries (16 cal each) and homemade lemon meringue cookies (23 cal each), PLUS champagne (100 cal). A true feast and we counted everything without feeling like we cheated on our diet or feeling deprived. Many of the recipes I found on Hilton Head Health’s blog, H3Daily.com, and the rest I was able to figure out from the cooking tips learned during our visit.

Sharing Success: Karen P

Now into the second week of September, I am getting more and more excited. Do you know why? Well not only is the third annual Devin’s Dash coming up, but Karen P will be here for our Yoga Retreat.

The beauty of H3@Home is that we have the opportunity to build a deep relationship with our members, one that is everlasting. What’s interesting is that when they come back to attend our day to day program they’ve experienced revelations, hit goals, found results and already discovered how to set themselves up for future success and sustainability.

Check out the bullet points from none other than Karen P herself and discover how H3@Home coaching impacted her lifestyle for the long run…

H3 Coaching Revelations:
• I truly changed my lifestyle and didn’t just “get on a health kick”
• I can be much more consistent then I thought I could be
• I am impacting those around me by the changes I’ve made
• I can’t turn back now…too many people are invested in my progress
• I feel SO much better physically and mentally
• I fall asleep instantly at night
• I make good choices in restaurants and plan ahead when needed
• I have made new friends outside my previous social circle
• I am less of a “homebody”
• I have newfound confidence

“I have only scratched the surface of what I’m capable of…”

H3@Home Coaching Goals Achieved:
• Started planning meals & cooking on Sundays
• Inventoried & restocked the freezer & pantry
• Changed dessert to 1-2 times per week (instead of daily)
• Developed a regular exercise program
• Got more consistent on sleep
• Ate more protein than before I went to H3
• Started eating 5 times a day instead of 3
• Began to workout even while traveling

H3@Home Coaching Results:
• 18 total inches lost since returning from H3
• 28 total pounds lost since returning from H3
• 40 pounds total lost since leaving for H3
• BMI lowered by 3.1 points
• 15% of body weight lost
• Blood pressure lower and in healthy range
• Three 5k runs completed to date with 13 minutes total time improvement

H3@Home Coaching Setup for Future Success:
• Fitbit purchased & utilized daily for calorie burn & logging calories consumed
• Regular walking & Zumba class schedule implemented
• Active.com membership—new race possibilities
• Plenty of equipment/videos/Wii at home
• New coach set up for accountability

Get H3 Inspired: Adam Tannenbaum

[caption id="attachment_8008" align="alignright" width="420" caption="Adam and Jeff at H3 in 2012"][/caption]

For years, I have been traveling to Hilton Head to visit my grandparents. My grandfather was the one who introduced me to Hilton Head Health after learning about the weight loss program during an episode of ‘HEAVY’. Not knowing that they had already stopped by the facility for a tour, they convinced me to take a look for myself. My whole life I was fairly active; I even played on my college tennis team. It wasn’t until a couple years later that I found myself turning to anything to help my depression at the age of 26. For some reason, I was lost and didn’t know how to get out of my rut; that’s when, with the support of my family, I decided to make a change. Staying at Hilton Head Health for three months not only helped me lose 66 pounds, but also gave me the confidence, courage and direction I needed to take control of my life.

Kelia gave me a tour of the facility and if you know Kelia, you know that she is very easy to talk with. I have to admit that at first I thought everyone was being a little too nice, but now I realize that’s just how everyone is—they love helping people, are excited to teach and genuinely care. Without judgment, Kelia and I discussed my past and just knowing that if the rest of the staff were as open and positive as she was, this place would be just what I needed for my life transition. I discussed the visit with my family and we decided that participating in the H3 Extensive & Intensive three month program was what I needed to break my unhealthy routine at home. This is the moment when my unhappiness started to be replaced one smile at a time.

Throughout my stay, more than anything else, I learned about myself. I learned that I enjoy swimming, kickboxing and boot camp—I made a promise to myself that I would attend every boot camp class while at H3 and I did! I discovered the cook inside me who enjoys trying new, healthy recipes. I’ve learned how to recognize when I’m slipping and what to do to get back in control. Most importantly, I’ve learned what works for me.

Get H3 Inspired: From Simple to Souffle in Three Days

From Ron Gerhart; Churcville, VA

A little over a year ago, I visited Hilton Head Health for two weeks. I spent more time on the health and fitness aspects of the program. While last year I attended some cooking classes, I felt my diet lacked variety and I lacked the skills to move up to the next level of cooking.  My second time around (in January of this year), I attended the H3 Cooking Healthy:Recipe for Success workshop. It was informative, fun and gave me the courage to elevate my cooking skills, as well as tackle some of the more challenging tasty recipes.

The new cooking school is brilliantly designed for both comfortably observing an instructor demonstrating cooking, and for cooking yourself at you own personal station. Your station has an individual Wolf gas stove-top and oven, refrigerator, sink and all the cooking utensils and small appliances you need. Believe me, there is a huge difference between watching someone make it and actually cooking it yourself.

Sharing Success: Brooke Huntington

[caption id="attachment_7506" align="alignright" width="420" caption="Brooke before visiting H3"][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_7507" align="alignright" width="420" caption="Brooke now"][/caption]

In her own words...

Many people who are successful at adding exercise into their lifestyles do it by teaming up with a friend. They enlist a friend to go to the gym, join a group class, or train for marathon. During my first visit to H3, I began thinking of who could support me in my wellness journey and how teamwork might work for me.

Returning home, I signed up everyone I encountered for my “team.” For the first time in trying to improve my health and lose weight, I shared my goals with everyone I knew, from close friends and family to business acquaintances. People watching to see if I would succeed fueled my competitive nature and ensured I would stay on track. It also set expectations for business lunch meetings and evenings with friends. With a few moments of conversation to express my intentions, I had a team working with me and cheering for me. It certainly kept me honest on more than one occasion.

This tactic also encouraged friends and colleagues to invite me to exercise with them. Prior to H3, I was uncomfortable with group exercise classes. I was concerned that everyone would see that I was out of shape and have two left feet, or that I would cause others to make mistakes. H3 gave me the confidence to say yes when a colleague invited me to join her in a Zumba class. I still have two left feet (it’s genetic!), but I have a great workout, and I laugh through most of the class. It is the workout I look forward to each week. Plus, it added more people to my team.

Suddenly, my team went from encouraging me to praising me. It felt like I had “won” when I returned to H3 six months after my first visit and I was 30 pounds lighter. I was feeling great. I had accomplished something that for years had seemed impossible.

Get H3 Inspired: Huntley Galleher

I am a 50 year old man who has been in the education field for 26 years. I was once a math and science teacher, as well as a football and tennis coach for 13 years. In all my years of being a coach, there were only four of my players that could beat me in a set of tennis. I have always considered myself an athlete, and I still do today! However, I did not realize how out of shape I had allowed myself to become these last 12 years. Then 7 months ago my weight truly became an issue. I needed to walk from one location to the next, which I had done many times before but had not walked this exact path in several years. My mind said no problem, but after several minutes I realized it was going to be a challenge to get to my destination.  My breathing became irregular and my lower back was in excruciating pain. I found my whole torso hunching forward. I knew right at that point that my weight was the number one issue. That day I found myself thinking of all the issues I had been dealing with the last several months, and some the last several years. Every morning I had been waking up knowing that once I stepped out of bed I was going to be dealing with pain in my legs, feet or my back.

So I began my search for a change - I started first by asking my diabetic doctor for the opportunity to have lap band surgery. After a long discussion she actually convinced me to make a different decision. Her message was that my last blood test showed considerable progress and she told me that surgery was considered the last option. I listened and I took her advice; she and I even discussed Hilton Head Health in that conversation. So I was out the door, on my computer that night and looked into about eight different facilities throughout the country. Hilton Head Health kept coming up in my searches, and the stories and examples of the people that had been guests at Hilton Head Health continued to impress me. On March 2, 2011, my 50^th birthday, I decided Hilton Head Health was the place for me and I was not going to let this opportunity pass.

Get H3 Inspired: Joy M. Nonweiler, Ph.D., Esq.

Today, we have a special H3 Get Inspired message from Joy Nonweiler! I'm sure that Joy's message will resonate in many of you as it has in me. Next Wednesday, I will share the story of my struggle with weight loss as part of my "From an Intern's Perspective" series. I hope that everyone enjoys Joy's post! Feel free to comment if you have a story you'd like to share or were inspired by Joy's message. 

 

Betrayal from Within
Well, it may sound dramatic, but "betrayal from within" perfectly describes what I felt about menopause and advancing age's effects on my body. I was 56, married for nearly 30 years, and an overachiever with degrees from bachelors through doctorate, and multiple successful careers in medicine, business and most recently as an attorney. In addition, I was concurrently a part-time group fitness instructor, and had been for over 20 years. But for about the past five years I was also miserable. Overweight by at least 50 pounds, uncomfortable in my own body, and ashamed that with all my resources, education and background I couldn't figure out what I was doing wrong. I was usually the one other people came to for guidance, but I could not "heal myself" this time. I knew I needed to take action, but I felt like such a failure because I didn't know what to do.

Just before Christmas 2010, I was reviewing my budget. I hadn't been on vacation for many years, and I thought maybe my husband and I could take the whole family to Disney before my nephew went off to college. We had the money, but our two 14 year old dogs were no longer hearty enough for travel or boarding. I was disappointed, but determined to still find a way to decompress. After much thought, I decided to look into a fitness vacation.

Real People, Real Stories: Breaking the Cycle

So here it is! My first H3 blog! I am so excited to be able to be a part of this community and be able to share my motivations, thoughts & ideas, struggles, triumphs, etc. I’m also hoping to be able to help open up discussions between H3 guests (past, present, and future), H3 staff, and myself. You know - the entire H3 family! Real informative topics from those of us on the same journey. Although I love all the groups and friends we all have in common on social media sites, such as Facebook, that really isn’t the arena for the tougher or more personal topics.

The H3 Daily blog is already here for us and has successfully started to facilitate and distribute great information. But without US contributing, the current bloggers may never really know what topics we would like to talk about. So I urge you fellow alumni to please join in! Please comment and post! Please volunteer as guest bloggers! Let’s keep this community active! We are all in this together! The support and energy we see when at H3 can and should continue when we depart! This is the right place! And in my personal journey, it’s never been a better time!!

Well it kind of hit me when I read my little bio because it made me realize something - It said I was down 90 pounds since my first visit in 2005. Although that’s entirely true, what’s missing is the in between. I came in July of 2005 and between then and the Holidays had lost 80 pounds. Very exciting! Then, by July 2008 I had gained it all back and returned to H3. Again, same thing! By the Holidays I had lost 85 pounds! I felt fantastic! However, by October of 2010 was I back to the original weight again. So for the accountants and math experts reading this, I’m down 255 pounds since my first visit in 2005 and up 165 along the way for the net of 90 pounds down.

What is this cycle?  That’s the million-dollar question for sure! And one I believe we all face. So the good news is I’m on the down side again, 90 pounds since October! And the even better news is I’m feeling much better about this entire process this time! What’s different? Well that’s exactly what I would like to share with you here on these blog entries, but ask you for your input and conversation as well.

Personally I have focused on a few of what I’ll call key success factors. Each of my blogs will talk about these observations and what I am doing to adhere to them.  These are as follows and in no particular order:

Planning – As we all learned at H3, planning for carrying on your program at home is definitely a key to obtaining your goals.

Seeking and Providing Support – This is the common thing we all are facing. It is different for each of us (well we think it is different for each of us) and in my case I thought that no one could understand. Once I started sharing and listening to others, low and behold, we are all trying to say the same underlying thing. The events or circumstances are different, but the core issue seems to be the same! All or Nothing! Why?

Recording and Measurement – Journal, Journal, Journal. Writing down everything has be a huge part of what I’m doing differently this time.  Good news is that I’m a techie. So I’m here to help you all out with this! I’ll share with you how I’m keeping track of all this data. Send me your questions!

Research - Information is everywhere. Find it! In fact, if you’re reading this, you are already at an amazing site for information. H3daily.com is a great place to start. In upcoming posts, I’m hoping to be able to share what I find and ask that each of you contribute! This is our blog - our space. Let’s use it!

Relaxation – The key here is to find what works for you, but listen to your body on those days where it’s extra sore.  Since thinking through this, my injuries have all but disappeared and my progress has never been better. Oh and I’m not talking about soreness. That will always be there! Thoughts?

Check back next week as I look forward to diving deeper into each of the above topics.  I know they are the key to what keep me going every day.  I hope to hear from you all very soon – and please don’t wait for me, go ahead and run with them…let’s discuss! 

~ Mark