H3 Meal Plan Champ

While cooking for one, it's just as important to create a nice meal for yourself as it would be to cook for two, three or more. Though meal planning can be challenging, it's the key to weight management and weight loss. Here's an example of meal planning from a past H3 guest's perspective.

Guest Alicia, shows that meal planning can be done.  Alicia has been sending me weekly photos of her meal planning, thus far. These meals have left her more satisfied and as she puts it, “…and sitting down, eating a complete meal at once is reducing the urge to snack later in the night - so far seems to be helping!” I think this is pretty cool.

Check out her meal planning skills:



 
BREAKFAST: Two baked eggs with spinach and mushrooms

 


 
LUNCH: Vegetarian burger with caramelized onions and mushrooms with a side of sautéed asparagus

 


 
DINNER: Broiled salmon, wheat berry pilaf and steamed broccoli

Great job, Alicia!

These meals were delicious, nutritious and easy for her to make. If meal planning seems overwhelming to you, use these tools to get started.

 

LOSE Well - NEW 4-week Weight Loss Program

OUR NEW 4-WEEK WEIGHT LOSS PROGRAM CAN CREATE LASTING CHANGE

To successfully lose weight and keep it off, you need accountability; you need structure; you need peer support; but most of all, you need TIME for the habits to take hold. Our almost 40 years of real-world experience has taught us that the longer one participates in a program, more success is found in both short-term and long-term weight loss. Real change – and the significant weight loss that comes with it – requires a real commitment.

Introducing the program for people who are READY to lose significant weight – and keep it off!

The NEW LOSE Well 4-week Weight Loss program at Hilton Head Health is the most intensive plan we'’ve ever offered. Here are just a few of the highlights:

• Comprehensive personalized health and fitness assessment


• Weekly weigh-in and one-on-one mentoring


• Progressive Fitness Programming in small groups


• Nutritious calorie-controlled  cuisine


• Physical Recovery sessions to keep you moving the entire program


• Individual consultations with H3 Experts


• Counselor-led workshops and discussions


• Exclusive educational sessions


• 24-hour access to world-class fitness facilities


• Therapeutic massages and spa treatments

Wellness Wednesday: American Heart Association New Guidelines

It's been 15 years since the American Heart Association last issued their guidelines on weight management.  The newest revision, released just last month, announced that losing weight is a battle best fought with the support of others, the advice of experts and a healthy well-balanced approach.  Hilton Head Health pioneered these principles over 37 years ago.  It's about time the rest of the world started closing the gap.

We continue to push the envelope.  We've introduced new culinary classes, home coaching programs and soon each guest will be equipped with the most advanced activity trackers to increase motivation and accountability.  I'm proud to say H3 is still the leading innovator in creating healthy lifestyles.

The new guideline outlines the “gold standard” for a weight management program as one that offers an intensive on site program, behavioral coaching for diet, and exercise in a group or individual sessions with qualified health care providers.  The focus should not only be on weight loss, but on the skills necessary for weight maintenance.   Does that sound familiar?  It should, Hilton Head Health has been offering this type of program for nearly 4 decades.

The American Heart Association continues to use Body Mass Index or BMI as the main screening tool.  Treatment is recommended for those with a BMI of 30 or greater, or a BMI of 25+ with one additional comorbidity or risk factor. (The previous guideline required 2 comorbidities).  Comorbidities include; diabetes, prediabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol and a waist circumference greater than 40” for men and 35” for women.  The guideline does not endorse one specific diet but recommends that both personal preference and health status should be taken into consideration when determining the nutritional approach.  For me, one of the most significant and encouraging points made by the new guidelines is that “clinically meaningful health improvements can be seen even with a weight loss in the 2% - 5% range.”  For a 200 lb. person that translates to an achievable 4 – 10 lb. loss.

For those who want to review the guideline in their entirety click here.

Guest Testimonial: Linda & Vince Ferrigno

By Linda Ferrigno
When we go on vacation, we come back needing a vacation. Not at Hilton Head Health. We come back feeling MARVELOUS! We love it so much; we brought our three adult daughters with us last time. It was the best vacation ever.

My sweet husband is Italian and he is so much FUN. We celebrate every holiday, vacation, and social occasion with food. Dinners with friends and family were three or more hours of eating, drinking, and laughing. We tried diets and joined health clubs but the waistlines kept expanding. Everything we tried was just a temporary fix. We were going out smiling, but if we didn't change our ways, we were going out soon.

Hilton Head Health changed our lives. We have smaller waistlines, lower cholesterol, triglycerides, fasting glucose, blood pressure, BMI, and body fat percentages. The change is so much deeper than all of these wonderful numbers. Through the classes we learned about the science and psychology of staying fit. We are preparing delicious, healthy food at home and no one would ever label any of it “diet food”.

The active life is becoming our life. I ran my first race in over 20 years at H3 and since coming home have done more. I walked a million steps in less than 90 days with an amazing tracking device they helped me discover. My husband has a bad knee. He learned things he COULD do, like water classes, fit ball, and an amazing NuStep machine in their gym. For the first time in our lives, we are part of our own team. It isn't “us against them” like it was most of our lives.

The staff is so nice! They know your name. They care and it shows. No matter what stands in your way, they are there to help you find a way over, under, around, and through the obstacle. When you ask a question, they really listen. If they don’t know the answer, they tell you the truth and go to find the real answer. No egos, just love and support. H3 is a little piece of heaven. To say we love it would be a huge understatement!

Sharing Success: Lacresha Granger

I have been overweight since I was a child.  I can remember on the first day of fourth grade telling a friend that I needed to go on a diet.  Looking back on it, it seemed like I was so old at the time, but was merely a young child.  As I got older, my weight problems have only increased.  Sure there were a few times where I was actually successful at weight loss, but the success was short lived.

I love watching weight loss shows because I enjoy hearing people’s stories and seeing their transformations at the end of their journey.  About two years ago, a show called “Heavy” came on, so I just had to watch it.  I enjoyed the show, and being from South Carolina, I was surprised to hear that the place on the show was located there.  I did my research and figured I would not be able to go there because it was not in my budget.  My husband said that he could send me to Hilton Head Health or to one of the Biggest Loser locations.  I was interested, but I did not want to go because I felt it would be a waste of money since I was not mentally ready.  In those two years, I have auditioned for the biggest loser, done weight loss plans, and imagined myself losing weight, all without success.

This year in January, I began working out in my home gym.  I overdid it and injured myself.  I was in and out of my various doctors’ offices and just still did not feel well.  I got to the point where I began to feel helpless and hopeless, and I felt like I really needed a new start.  I looked at H3 again and told my husband that I wanted to go because I needed somewhere that I only had to focus on myself.  H3 seemed like the most attractive place, and besides, I had pictured myself there so many times.  My husband and I put a plan in motion to get me to H3.  When I spoke with Michele Musulin and she was so friendly and encouraging, it made me feel like I would be right at home at H3.

When it was time to go, I was excited, but nervous because three weeks seemed like a long time to be away from home.    Since Michele had already sent me the schedule for the week, I had gone over it.  I knew I wanted to try kayaking and I wanted to sign up for the hands-on cooking demonstrations.

During my first week, I tried the Shelter Cove kayaking, and I absolutely loved it!!! It was much easier than I thought it would be and so much fun.  It was so much fun that my cell phone decided to stay permanently on the adventure.  Kayaking was something I would have never felt comfortable attempting before my journey at H3.  Now I know it’s something I would try away from H3.  While there I also encouraged other guests to sign up for it.

While at H3 I attended most of the available lectures as well as the hands-on cooking demonstrations.  I tried most of the workout classes.  There was such a wide variety of workouts; there is something for everyone.  Even when the classes seemed too difficult, I just wanted to push myself.  At the end of each class, I was always glad that I had pushed forward to completion.

I am a person who loves good tasting food, so that was one of the more enjoyable experiences at H3.  They seemed to take pride in the flavor and variety of food offered.  Another thing I enjoyed was meeting all the great new people.  My favorite workout was probably Wii Dance because you get a workout that is just a lot of fun.  I also enjoyed the sunrise beach walks, water fitness classes, drums alive (really awesome class), kayaking, salsa dancing (I was pretty good.), cardio boxing (Thanks to Michael for encouraging me to try it.), and resistance band training.

Some of the most valuable things for me were the hands-on cooking demonstrations.  I attended the Grilling, Southern Comfort, and Desserts demos.  I love to cook and bake.  I especially love baking for others. It would be nice to have some ideas that I’ve tried that aren’t a caloric nightmare.  The classes that I took gave me some fresh new and healthy ideas to take home with me.  I also gained valuable information from the cooking demos, especially the pizza class with Chef Karla.  She provided lots of ideas.

When I attended the Putting It All Together class at H3 on the Friday before my departure, I left the class in tears, happy tears of course.  I had been struggling with my triglycerides for a few years partly due to my insulin resistance.  This was one of the numbers that I was warned would probably increase before it decreased.  I was shocked to see that mine dropped a little over 50%; I was down 14 pounds and a little over 7 inches, and muscles that I had not seen in years were making an appearance. I felt so blessed in that moment just thinking about what a wonderful experience I had at H3.

When I arrived at H3, I met many great people, some with extended stays and others with short-term stays.  There were so many return visitors who talked about how wonderful their previous H3 experiences had been. I originally wished that I would never have to return to H3, but not long into my stay, I realized that it would actually be a great place to return for a boost from time to time.  On the day of my departure, as I sat in my car in the parking lot of the main building preparing to go home, I thought about how my stay at H3 seemed like a once in a lifetime experience because unlike some people, I don’t know if I’ll get to return.  I felt bad for the people who will never get to experience H3 as I did, but I also felt blessed for the opportunity.  I thought about all the changes, and I felt so grateful to all of the people that I met.  All the staff was so welcoming and just seemed to care about everyone’s well-being.

Since I’ve been home I’ve made the pesto pizza, stuffed turkey burgers, super soft chocolate cake with oreo cream filling, loaded baked potato salad, and my own version of the Andouille sausage.  I have been working out and tracking my food.  I keep thinking about the lectures I attended at H3 such as Mindful Eating, Nutrition for Health, and Goal Setting just to name a few and incorporating some of the things I learned in them.  I’m not saying that life is perfect since I got back home. I am still working 9 hour days during the week, but now I find time to work out. I try to make most of my meals healthy.  I think I will always hear the “Monkey Chatter” that Lisette speaks of, but I pray that with the changes I am making, the “Monkey Chatter” will quiet down.

H3's Meal Plan from a Guest's Perspective

Not only does today mark our 237^th year as an independent country, but today marks the 4 month anniversary of one of our beloved guests, Brian G.  This makes for a special 4^th of July, especially after numerous guests (including Brian) completed and conquered the local Firecracker 5k on the island this morning.  Four months ago today, Brian weighed in at 349 pounds.  Today, he is 85 lbs. lighter!!  His commitment to the meal plan and making the most out of his stay is something I admire as well as being a great model for any guests that gets an opportunity to talk with him.  I decided to ask Brian a few questions about H3’s meal plan and how it has helped him get to 261 lbs.  Enjoy reading J

Q1:   What 3 main things about H3’s meal plan make it so special?

1.  “The variety, flavor and portion control.  All the food is so fresh and filling.  For the calories, you get more than what you think you would get.  What they can do with the vegetables and minimal salt is amazing.  They turn something boring into flavorful masterpieces.”

Q2:  What is your favorite breakfast, lunch and dinner at H3?

1.  “For breakfast, the apple muesli… lunch is a tough one to answer…either the turkey burger or pita pizza.  For dinner, hands down the chicken cordon bleu.”

Q3:  How have the Chef’s Tables enhanced our dining experience?

1. “I have lost 85 lbs. and have managed to attend every Chef’s Table offered.  It is great to see first-hand how gourmet meals can be healthy.  It shows I can enjoy a little cheese, wine and the finest ingredients—all in moderation.”


2. b.      The picture above is from our Red, White and Blue sorbet—a mix of our strawberry, coconut and blackberry sorbets featured in our America By Three’s Chef’s Table. 

Q4:  Would you rather have the fresh salad bar (Wednesday’s lunch) with the peanut butter mousse as dessert or have our short ribs for Friday’s gourmet meal?

1. He definitely struggled answering this one, but he made his final decision with “short ribs at gourmet night…I’d have it every night if I could.”

Q5:  What one piece of advice would you tell an incoming guest?

1.  “Keep an open mind.  If you didn’t think you liked a particular food, such as fish, then leave that at the door.  You actually don’t need all the unnecessary fat and salt to have flavorful food.”

Q6:  What are 3 recipes you would make once you go home?

“Chicken parmesan, peanut butter hummus and the apple muesli.”

Get H3 Inspired: Sue Ellen Sherer

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[caption id="attachment_9785" align="alignright" width="200" caption="Sue After"][/caption]

Struggling with weight issues has been the norm for most of my life, but I always managed to have good numbers where cholesterol and blood pressure were concerned. Then in October 2009, my father-in-law, for whom I was the primary caretaker, fell and fractured his pelvis and was sent to a nursing home for recovery. Because of his advanced dementia, he was denied routine physical therapy and I knew I needed to be his strongest advocate…he wanted to walk, he wanted to recover, even though he was unable to verbalize it. I moved with him into a handicapped accessible room at a hotel and used the weight room and pool facilities to exercise him and give him back his mobility. After five weeks, he was able to return to assisted living but I was totally unaware of the toll it had taken on me, personally, until I was back at my part-time job as a standardized (professional) patient.

One afternoon I had two different third-year medical students practicing their physical exam techniques tell me that I had high blood pressure. Thinking that they had not used the blood pressure cuff correctly, I went to the doctor in charge of the training and asked him to take my blood pressure. It was 168! Before I even left the building I was on the phone to my own primary care physician making an appointment. In addition to the high blood pressure, I had gained about 20-25 pounds during those five weeks. I have always been a stress eater, or eating that which was convenient and my closet always held at least four different sizes of clothing and I would just grab whatever fit at the time.

I knew I had to do something to take care of me at this point and went online in search of somewhere I could go to get my weight down. With my husband’s support and blessing, I made arrangements to spend a week at Hilton Head Health (H3) in January of 2010, with no idea at all how drastically it was going to change my life.

I had never exercised regularly; not really exercised at all since gym class in high school! The first class I went to at H3, I thought I was going to have to be scraped up off the floor! But through the continual encouragement of the staff and other participants, I began to try all kinds of exercise classes and was actually having fun! I laughed along with others as I stumbled through Zumba with two left feet; I sweated alongside newly made acquaintances as we labored hard on the treadmills. I always tell people that it is as much about the mind and spirit as it is about the physical changes that take place. H3 provides an atmosphere that nourishes all three parts: education for the mind, exercise for the body, food for the soul and time enough to reflect on putting it all together.

As a Christian woman wanting to take better care of the temple wherein God's Holy Spirit dwells I wanted to be a more fit testimony of His love and care. By taking care of myself, I am better able to take care of my family, be as healthy as I can possibly be so I can 'run the good race' and enjoy my children, and someday...my grandchildren!

The educational sessions provided such an excellent foundation and impetus to work towards making life-long changes. I was given exercises that could be done anywhere with minimal equipment. Cooking classes showed me some different ways to cook that would be healthier and use less fat. (May I just say that H3 does a fantastic job of making 1,200 calories look and taste like a gourmet feast!)

I lost several pounds while at H3, but more importantly, I came home with a new vision and goal towards my own health. I began to check out different exercise videos from the public library and tried several until I found ones that I liked. Now I have pretty much settled on two groups of videos: one for strength training and the other for cardio exercise. I do them in my own home and keep track on a goals chart. I began to use a free online calorie and fitness program to track my daily eating and exercise, and most importantly, gathered a few close friends to join in my endeavors and we daily encourage one another with comments.

The weight did not come off quickly, but over time I have managed to take off 43 pounds and 23 inches by eating sensibly, exercising six days a week, and gathering a supportive group of friends to encourage one another. I feel better now than when I was much younger and I am still amazed when I shop for clothing that I am buying smaller and smaller sizes. Is that really my size now?!

As a primary caregiver for someone else (my mother, now that my father-in-law has passed away), we can often tend to take care of everyone else's needs and health concerns before we take care of ourselves. By making healthy lifestyle changes and exercising regularly, I have found that the stress and tension that at times weighed so heavily on my shoulders, have been reduced exponentially. When I feel better, I am better able to tend to the needs of the ones under my care. It’s a Win-Win solution.

Thank you H3 for inspiring me to ‘run the good race!’

Sue Ellen Sherer; Rochester, NY

Get H3 Inspired: Stephanie Sifrit

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[caption id="attachment_9665" align="alignright" width="200" caption="Stephanie After"][/caption]

The Light Bulb

One day, I found myself talking among friends telling them I still had the “baby weight” to lose. My friend asked, “How old is your baby?” I said, “three years.” I look back on that and think “Wow! What a bad excuse!” When my little three-year-old turned ten, I was still in the same condition. I found myself crying, feeling loathsome, and insecure. I desperately needed a push start on healthier living, so I committed one month of my life to Hilton Head Health (H3).

The Decision

Planning to spend one month away from my family took some organization. I made my reservation and had sixty days to prepare. The big problem I faced was in those sixty days I kept second-guessing my decision. I kept thinking, “I can’t do this!” “This is insane!” On and on I went with more excuses as to why I couldn’t take care of myself and had to be a good mom and put everyone else before myself. The major dilemma to those rationalizations is an unhealthy mom is not a good provider, example, or encouragement to her children. Therefore, I carried on with my plan, packed my car, including my bicycle, and headed out to a new goal: a new me!

The Right Environment

I have never been so comfortable in a new environment, among strangers, than when I was at H3. From the moment I got there, (wow, I can still smell the lobby, and it makes me smile) I was engaged in being a better me. The whole environment marinates in success. The H3 routine was rigorous but not too much. I woke up at 6 am every morning to join the group for the beach walk. What a magnificent way to start a day of better living. Next came breakfast and a thermo-walk. How I miss those! Seriously! Everyone gets up from the table and walks down to the “reflector tree.” It’s a parade of your newest and best friends working together to be healthier people. That feeling is at the core of the H3 experience; you are never on this journey by yourself. There is always someone beside you edging you along and keeping you focused on your goal.

The New Beginning

With the help of Hilton Head Health, I managed to lose almost 30 pounds. Although my weight still fluctuates, I know it’s time to get back in H3 mode when I go outside of my comfort range.  H3 teaches you how to make “good, better, [and the] best” of choices out on your own. You learn skills to help you stay focused. You breathe in new life and become a better you. I kid you not; just writing this letter reminds me of the “best” choice I made: going to Hilton Head Health.

Stephanie Sifrit; Bradenton, FL

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: Allison

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My story starts a little differently than the average H3@Home participant.  I began the program 6 months before I was able to make the trip from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, to South Carolina to spend a few amazing days at Hilton Head Health.  I knew I needed help – and I did not want to wait until it our schedule allowed me to leave my husband with our three kids to begin my journey toward health.  I had a fire lit under me – and I wanted to take advantage!  In April, I called Jeff Ford and signed up for H3@Home coaching. 

The fact that all of our contact was by phone did not hamper my ability to make a great connection with Allison, my coach, immediately.  I really felt like she understood how difficult the transitions my life, and she stood by me every step of the way.  She listened when I needed to vent and she challenged me when I needed a push.  It was never “boot camp,” because that was NOT what I was after!!  It was compassion, encouragement, and another person to help me decide what to do next.  The process of breaking down the fantasy of being fit – into weekly doable goals lies at the heart of H3@Home – and was a big part of how I have been able to lose almost 50 pounds – so far!!  

Now people are looking to me as a ROLE MODEL!!!  How on earth is that possible???  I was sure that I was one of the people who would never be successful at losing weight – because I was so resistant to the things you NEED to do in order to be a fit person!!  I was able to change all of that with the support of Allison!!

I am such a believer in the concept that nutrition is 80% and exercise is 20% of weight loss.  However, it did not take me very long to realize that while exercise is not even really necessary for losing pounds, it is CRUCIAL in having a healthy mental attitude toward all aspects of life.  Ever since I have unlocked that secret – there has been no going back for me.  My body, but mostly my mind and soul now REQUIRE physical exertion in order to be well.  I feel so lucky that I have found so many activities that allow me to work my body and are so very fun!!  Biking, hiking, skiing – cross country and downhill, tennis . . . and so many more exciting activities that I can’t wait to try.  (Next summer:  canoeing!!) 

Even more important than the workouts, is the new reality in my life: I take the time I need to nurture myself and my body.  My children are watching me!!  I am so relieved that now I am teaching them to seek their hearts desires and to prioritize the time and energy to follow their dreams into every single day!!  I am so excited to see where I end up and what I continue to accomplish.  I now feel like the sky is the limit.

Get H3 Inspired by Win

I knew very little about Hilton Head Health (H3) before signing up for a three week stay early in 2012—only that a friend had been there some ten years earlier and that she did pretty well. So I didn’t expect much beyond a horrible time. Wrong. Very wrong. It turned out that I had a fine time, met a bunch of nice people and lost 12 pounds.

The campus is very attractive. It’s composed of one central low rise college campus-like building in a residential setting surrounded by golf courses and lagoons. Not a hospital! I was assigned to a two bedroom attached condo about a quarter of a mile away from the main building that I found charming and comfortable.

I had no immediate medical issues. I just wanted to focus on losing weight and the core of the weight loss program is simple and turned out to be just right for me.

First, the food is very good. H3 goes to a lot of trouble to provide very nice meals, nicely served and amply sized. You are served enough not to be hungry yet nice enough not to be resentful. I was not tempted to go “off the reservation” out of a sense of deprivation.

Second, there is no compulsion. This is not boot camp but a paradise for people who like exercise. There are scores of classes; however, I didn’t do any of them. I hate exercise. Instead, I walked along the beach and shaded golf courses some five miles each day with no pressure from H3 to do anything else.

What did I learn? I’ve lost 18 pounds since my stay at H3. So I must have taken something away. I learned that you should prepare or order food the way you want to eat it—just eat less of it. Doing so will allow you to enjoy all your favorites without falling in the resentment trap. Also, find some daily activity you can do, not something the other guy likes to do. H3 helped me figure out what worked best for me so I encourage you to do what works best for you too.

-Win.

Sharing Success: Matthew Brown

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During 2011, my weight took on new highs, my health sunk to new lows and my doctors had me go through the preliminary classes and tests for bariatric bypass surgery. I had been repeatedly told by everyone I spoke to that this was probably my last chance for a healthy life. Without a radical turnaround in my lifestyle, my diabetes, hypertension, sleep apnea, venous insufficiency, edema and morbid obesity had me facing an early grave. My wife and I had accepted the surgery as my only option, and we began planning a nice get away to Tortola before starting the final pre-op stage.  The week before Thanksgiving, depression set in as I figured it might be my last holiday season. Then out of the blue, my wife Donna informed me that she had changed our vacation plans and we were going to a place called Hilton Head Health, a weight loss spa. She told me I needed to have a check-up and get clearance from my primary physician to go. When I told my doctor about our plans, he said “Diet and exercise? Go!”

We arrived at H3, greeted by our personal concierge, Keila. Keila told me that not only was I worth it, but she could see it in my eyes, I could do this. She was a constant support throughout our stay, helping us schedule everything we needed, even giving us rides when we couldn’t find one.

We were weighed in - I was 490 pounds and Donna was 268 pounds.

We went thru the H3 schedule and decided we would split up for the lectures to make sure we took advantage of everything we could during our ten-day stay. All the classes were informative, but Lisette Volz and Bob Wright stood out the most, with “Mindful Eating”, “Reading the Labels”, “Having a Plan”, “Writing a Menu”, “How to Deal with the Food Talk and Slips” being just a few of the topics they tackled.

The exercise classes were amazing - I didn’t think it was possible for someone my size to do this stuff, but I was willing to try, and here it is one year later and I’m still trying and succeeding. We set up personal consultations, my wife Donna with Lisette and I with Executive Chef Jen Welper. Both gave us the knowledge and motivation we needed to take home with us to make the H3 Healthy Lifestyle work in our lives.

When I was told how many calories I would eat a day I didn’t believe I could survive, but I was willing to try. How wrong I was! The food was excellent in my professional opinion (I have been a chef for over 25 years, graduated from the Culinary Institute of America in 1988).  Even the wait staff took a personal interest in us, making sure we had not only what we needed, but making us feel pampered too. We made sure to take advantage of the pool as often as possible, for free time as well as exercise, and as a reward, we ended each day with an amazing massage from either Mark or Whitney.

Leaving was not easy, but thanks to the staff of H3 we had the tools we needed to succeed.

When we got home we cleaned out the cupboards and refrigerators. The very next morning we shopped from the list we made in Lisette’s class. We’ve had our slips and have learned that’s OK - it’s natural considering our lifestyle before H3.  We are both healthier, happier and lighter than we’ve been since we got married in 2002.  Neither I nor my doctors can believe the results I’ve had thus far – WITHOUT weight loss medication or gastric operations. I saw my Primary Physician on June 22^nd, six months after leaving H3. Incredibly, I was told I was no longer diabetic, although the diagnosis will be left on my chart for two years before being taken off. My weight is now 297 pounds, down 193 pounds since leaving H3.

When I arrived at H3 I struggled to walk from the taxi to the building. Now, my wife and I walk and jog on a regular basis. My edema has reduced significantly. I no longer feel that this may be my last year, but that this is the beginning of many more to come, with opportunities that I did not and could not dream of before. H3 is truly a life changing and lifesaving program that I will never ever forget.

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Update: In Januray 2013, Matthew was pleased to announce that he has now lost 193 pounds since his initial visit to Hilton Head Health.

Get H3 Inspired: Karen McCarty-This Place Rocks

Here's a treat from Karen McCarty! You may have seen Kerrie's testimonial video on the H3 website, but today she'd like to update you on some of the progress she's made since visiting H3 in 2011. Thanks for sharing, Kerrie. We're so proud of you!

Hello!

After my three-week stay at Hilton Head Health (H3) in 2011, I knew I would visit again and this year I returned for the last two weeks in June. I saw so many familiar friends that I met from last year, it turned into a great reunion!

I’m thrilled with the success I’ve experienced from my visits to H3, which has made it easier to stay motivated and on track with my meal and exercise plans. To date, I’ve lost 12% of my weight and my glucose levels remain in the Normal range. By adopting H3 healthy lifestyle changes, I’ve learned to manage my diabetes without taking medication. I’ve seen a significant improvement this year compared to 2011.

But a vacation at H3 is more than a return to health. It’s a return to our childhood! Where else do you find 20 adults on “noodles” in the pool, belting out oldies as we move and groove? Or taking a bike ride, playing golf, or kayaking? And don’t even get me started on Zumba in the Pool or Wii Dance!

The food and cooking classes are fabulous and the new H3 Healthy Kitchen is beautiful, with a large display screen so we can see everything the Chefs are preparing (my favorites are Sautéed Chicken Breasts with Peach-Chili Sauce and Eggplant Caponata).

They are constantly updating the program with new exercise classes and seminars. “Creating a Wellness Vision” and “Mastering Motivation” are two of my new favorites. The staff at H3 are brilliant at what they do, and they give us the tools to take home with us to ensure our success.

All I can say is, This place rocks.

-Kerrie McCarty, Portland, Oregon

If you'd like to pay it forward and share your Hilton Head Health story, please contact Alicea Glover at aglover@hhhealth.com.

Sharing Success: Jennifer Allerton

Jennifer Allerton has been a regular guest at Hilton Head Health for 10 years, soaking up plenty of information about nutrition and fitness and always enjoying her stay. But for all the knowledge she obtained, putting it into practice in her daily life continued to be a struggle.

“Over the years, you develop unconsciously all the behaviors and ways of doing things that make up your lifestyle. And because life is happening, you often don’t have the time or energy to reflect on what that lifestyle is doing to you,” she said.

Upon retirement from a prestigious career which entailed extensive international travel, Jennifer was determined to lose the excess weight she was carrying and get healthy once and for all. Motivated by the activities she wanted to participate in and the clothes she wished to wear, as an investment in her success, she signed up for H3@Home Coaching and began what has truly been a metamorphosis.

Jennifer admits it took some time to establish her new habits. “For the first three months of coaching, it was like, ‘Yeah, I know. But I can’t do that because…’ That’s why I needed to continue—to realize that I can do something about this and this is what I’m going to do about it.”

She continued in the coaching program for another three months, taking it a step at a time and turning the corner toward the life she envisioned.

“You have to change your lifestyle,” she said. “There’s no silver bullet. I had to make a thousand small changes in the way I do things—all those things you do automatically to get you through the day have to be re-examined and modified or changed completely. It is hard work. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.”

The result? Over the past 15 months, Jennifer has lost 65 pounds and gained a heck of a lot of energy and confidence along the way. Persistence has paid off. The endorphins have kicked in and the compliments keep coming.

“In the beginning, although you may see the changes, other people may not notice. So you don’t get that external feedback of people saying, ‘Wow.’ After about six months, people start to notice. And then the things that you wanted to do but haven’t been able to do all suddenly become possible,” she said.

“There are no shortcuts. You have to do the cooking and the shopping and the exercise…you’ve got to fix it bit-by-bit. And when you do, it’s great! There’s no going back. You just feel so good.

“I’m not sure what my end weight will be. I still have lots of behaviors I can tweak that should lead to further weight loss. I expect I will find the weight I can live at when I have changed all the behaviors I am willing to change. But I am sure it will be at a weight that makes me look great in Armani and lets me play tennis and go cross-country skiing!”

How did H3@Home Coaching impact your success?
“I need some external accountability. The weekly discussions over Skype with Coach Linda made me plan each week in detail—what I would be doing and how I would deal with challenging situations. For me, that’s been the most important part of coaching is to keep that day-to-day, week-to-week focus. I know what to do. It’s the doing that’s the issue, and coaching forces me to think about what I will do in concrete terms.”

What advice would you give to others who are considering home coaching?
“Having worked with an executive coach in the business world, I’m a big fan of coaching, and I do think it works. I highly recommend it, and particularly for people who are here for a relatively short period of time. You can’t learn it all in a week or two weeks. You need ongoing support.”

[caption id="attachment_8824" align="alignright" width="200" caption="Jennifer After"][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_8823" align="alignright" width="200" caption="Jennifer Before"][/caption]

Get H3 Inspired: Kerry Seiberlich

There were times when I really didn’t think I could handle life anymore. It was almost normal for me on my way to work to seriously consider how much damage hitting the freeway barrier at 70 mph would do, and whether or not the impact would kill me. A lot of the time, I hoped it would. 

I never got to the point of actually following through on these thoughts (thank goodness), but the fact that they even existed were a serious indicator that I needed a change. It wasn’t until almost a year later that the truth of it hit me – I was extremely unhealthy, extremely unhappy, and so lost that I didn’t even know how to begin to fix it. A close friend of mine recommended that I get the heck out of dodge. “Blow this popsicle stand,” he said. We spent some time brainstorming and eventually the idea of a health retreat came up. We got online, and Health Head Health’s website was professional, informative, and well-designed; it immediately caught my eye. 

From there, it only took about three weeks until I was signed up and headed south for H3’s Extended & Intensive (E/I) program. I was terrified. I didn’t know… well, anything. What to expect, whether I would be able to last the full 14 weeks, or even what kind of a social life I would be able to find.  The fact that I had been pretty overweight since early childhood – I distinctly remember being called “a fat alien” by some meaner classmates the one and only time I ever wore pigtails to school – only made the idea of ever making friends that would understand my situation seem outlandish.

I moved in, met the staff, and gradually started to make friends. I won’t lie - the first few weeks were pretty difficult. My depression and obesity made waking in the morning a really difficult task for me, but by the time I hit my one month ‘anniversary’ at H3, I was springing out of bed in the mornings, actively looking for new things to try, and, for the first time in years, feeling good about who I was and where I was headed. I had finally made a good decision about my health. 

I began to open up about the darker parts of my recent past to Amber, H3 Fitness Specialist, who I had chosen as my coach and fitness trainer, and to Lisette, H3 Director of Behavioral Health, with whom I had bi-weekly personal counseling sessions. I told them about everything: the suicidal thoughts, the depression, the drugs, and the awful relationship I had with my family – particularly my mother.  Being able to talk about these things was so refreshing. I wasn’t lying any more. I didn’t feel guilty or ashamed, and in this liberation I found a new kind of recovery. It wasn’t only my physical being that convalesced, but my state of mind as well.

I journaled. I participated in workshops. I went to the seminars and cooking classes. I discovered and nurtured a love of yoga. I kept track of my weight loss. After a month at H3, my mother was inspired enough by my success to participate in the program with me for several weeks. Background: my mother and I had essentially been strangers living in the same house for almost ten years. Even just the idea of it was so intimidating - four weeks of living with just her and doing all the same things every day. I really was expecting the worst but the program ended up only bringing us closer together. Now, barely six months after I enrolled in the program, we get along and support each other rather than pushing and pulling in opposite directions.  

So, two months in – I was happier, healthier, and healing relationships I wouldn’t have ever expected to be able to fix.  Problems were bound to arise at some point, though. I ended a long-term relationship around this time, and a few weeks after that I injured my foot badly enough that I was completely laid up for a week, and in pain for more than a month afterwards. It was so frustrating. My weight loss plateaued and I began to doubt again – what was I going to do once I got home? Would I even be able to maintain the progress I’d made? This was where the friends I’d made within the E/I program and the H3 staff really kept me going. It was so nice to have a support system of people that truly believed in me and pushed me to do better—even if that sometimes meant actually resting my injury rather than pushing myself out of frustration and ultimately making it worse. 

By the time my 14 weeks were up, I had lost nearly 30 inches from my total measurements and 16% of my starting body weight. I was ready to go home and truly feeling confident about what I could accomplish. About a month after I left H3, I hit the 20% mark. Very recently, I got on the scale and, for the first time in years, saw a “1” at the beginning of the number. Words cannot describe how grateful I am to myself for making the decision and following through, and how grateful I am to H3 for helping me begin my journey.

-Kerry Seiberlich; Pewaukee, Wisconsin

Get H3 Inspired: Leigh

I am 49 years old. I have been overweight my entire life. This is very difficult to write about because it is very personal. I have been generally successful in everything I have done in my life that is important (such as, I have a wonderful family and a great career); the exception of my success has always been my repeated failure at weight loss. This has caused me enormous frustration and heartache over the years. Beginning in my early teens until I came to H3 last September, I tried every diet and failed miserably over and over again. Making it more difficult for me to succeed at weight loss is that my husband is a gourmet chef and everything he cooks includes butter and cream. Everything he cooks is so delicious and sadly, I loved great food and hated exercise.

Last September [2011] I went to Hilton Head Health. At that time, my only exercise was walking from my car in my office’s garage to my office. In addition, my lifestyle was very unhealthy. I have a stressful job and I worked about 70-75 hours a week, slept maybe 5-6 hours per night, and only ate one meal a day. This combination was my recipe for being overweight and unhealthy (and probably a recipe for an eventual heart attack). When I arrived at H3, all my blood tests (cholesterol, diabetes, etc) were in the high range, just a bit over, but still over the “high” mark. My doctor wasn’t overly concerned except that he was worried about pre-diabetes. I decided that I needed to diet and needed a “kick start” to a diet. All I wanted to do was lose 20 pounds since I understood from Adam in one of his seminars that losing 10% of body weight would result in significant health improvements. (Yes, I was over 200 pounds at that time, which is now very hard to believe.)

During my first week (of two that I stayed at H3) I met Jeff. He was leading Treading. I happened to select a treadmill in front of Jeff (he had not arrived when I selected my treadmill). I thought I was going to die in the class or at least have a heart attack. I asked Jeff if he knew CPR. I will never forget that hour … Jeff was yelling, in an encouraging way, at the class and doing all kinds of crazy stunts but between all that craziness, he was talking to me very softly and compassionately. He was encouraging and telling me what to do so I could keep going. By some miracle, I finished the class (albeit on a very remedial level). Because I took the treading class, I started training with Jeff. It was hard, he pushed me and he was very tough on me. It is what I needed. I decided to train with him two more times and never tried another trainer.I left H3 and Jeff was my H3 at Home health coach. Health coaching started in early October 2011 after I left H3.

Sharing Success: Chris Martinez

[caption id="attachment_8217" align="alignright" width="212" caption="Chris before visiting H3Chris after visiting H3Chris after visiting H3Chris after visiting H3"][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_8219" align="alignright" width="220" caption="Chris after visiting H3"][/caption]

Since December, I have been working with Chris Martinez through H3@Home and he has been a shining example of the “right” person for coaching. The fact of the matter is that not everyone is right for coaching, but if you’re one of those people who is you’ll absolutely be able to thrive within the relationship.

When I first started with Chris, I have to say he did not have 100% belief in himself. I noticed he was somewhat uncomfortable when it came to the exercise piece of the puzzle. Struggling with lifestyle change in the past, he just seemed quite ambivalent about the initial changes he wanted to make. As we progressed with the coaching, he quickly gained momentum, battled through obstacles and took every failure and turned it into a positive. The one shining example I have from working with Chris is when the number on the scale didn’t move for roughly 4 weeks. Chris was logging, eating right, exercising regularly and the scale continued to stay the same. I knew he had “Shifted Sets” in his wellness journey in that 4^th week when something special happened. He said, “As long as I continue to keep the behaviors it will move, I’m not stuck by any means, I just have to keep going.” You know what happened that next week? Chris lost close to 4 pounds. Incredible, right? A lot of us we would have given up and thrown in the towel. Chris didn’t because he knew all he had to do was get on the treadmill, eat right and believe in what he was doing.

I’ve learned a lot from Chris. Hearing him go from the guy who didn’t think he could run a mile to the guy who has now completed a 10K placing 2^nd in his age group (yes first 10k ever). Chris applied a lot of the strengths he uses at his job to his health and wellness. He’s regularly setting targets for himself now and focusing on the measurable improvements in front of him. I feel like his success has ultimately been a result of his ability to push through the plateau, while not beating himself up along the way. He truly continues to set accomplishments that are out there for him and I have no doubt that he’ll sustain this lifestyle for the rest of his life.

Now, hear it from him…

Many times in my adult life, I’ve found myself hitting rock bottom when it comes to my health and wellbeing. The tragic cycle has been one of gaining and losing weight over and over.  The feelings of shame and guilt always eroded my confidence and pulled me back into the spiral of self-disgust and overwhelming frustration. Each time I fell short, I felt less and less confident that I would ever be able to change my life for the better. I was almost ready to give up when I stumbled across Hilton Head Heath (H3) online. I decided it was worth a shot and booked my stay.

I celebrated my 33rd birthday at H3 on December 3rd. I now think of that day as my “re-birthday.” That is the day that started the journey that I have been on for the past seven months. Along for the ride, has been my coach, mentor and friend, Jeff Ford. I’m not sure exactly what has changed in the past several months that has allowed me to be successful but I know what I learned at H3, along with the support and guidance from Jeff, have been a large part of it. The best way to articulate the transformation I have undergone is to say that H3 and Jeff were the sparks that ignited the fire within me.  Ironically, though I give H3 and Jeff much of the credit, I now realize that the ability for me to be successful was inside me all long. It took someone else pointing out the possibilities for me to see them and begin to act upon them.

Certainly, it has not always been easy. There have been times when the fire within me has diminished and Jeff has had to turn up the heat. The “heat” has come in the form of positive encouragement, helping me to see things in new and different ways, and reminding me of my successes both large and small. And there have been many successes to speak of. In the last 7 months, I’ve lost about 40 pounds, have lost several inches from my waistline, have lowered my blood pressure to a healthy level, and have run 5K and 10K races. As an added bonus, imagine my surprise when I discovered that I placed second in my age group for the 10K!  Most importantly, I’ve regained hope for the future, something I was not sure I would ever know again. In order to get to a place of optimism, I had to learn to stop beating myself up when I didn’t reach goals that I set for myself. If I set a goal and I succeed, I celebrate! If I set a goal and I don’t succeed, I celebrate what I have accomplished towards that goal and set a new one. When I miss a workout due to a late work meeting, I don’t reach for a cookie to console my guilty conscience. Instead, I reschedule the workout and revel in the fact that despite the missed workout, I still managed to have a “healthy-eating day.”

I have learned so much from my time at H3, having Jeff as my coach and going through a personal journey that is much more healthy and complete than any ever before. I’ve learned the importance of getting enough sleep, maintaining a positive attitude and drawing upon my existing skills and abilities in order to be successful. Most importantly, I have learned that inside me is an athlete waiting to be unleashed.  I am capable of so much more than I ever gave myself credit for. I don’t beat myself up anymore for not being perfect. I take pride in my accomplishments and am already looking forward to what new adventure awaits. This fall I plan to run a half marathon with my father. In 2013, I will run the Chicago marathon.

Get H3 Inspired: Ken Gourley

It's been exactly one month ago today [Jan. 2012] that I left Hilton Head Health (H3) to fly back to San Francisco but the added time perspective gives me an even greater appreciation for all of the wonderful things that I learned while being at H3. I felt like the two weeks I spent there were like a gift of getting a small slice of my youth back.

The challenge now, however, is how to incorporate what I learned at H3 into how to apply those good habits back into my daily reality and routine here at home. My own self-assessment is this:  I've been doing much better (as compared to my horrible eating & exercise habits that were occurring prior to arriving at H3). Yes, I'll have to be honest and admit to recently gaining a couple of those lost pounds back; but whenever I've asked myself a few soul-searching questions, I find the answers encouraging...

Q:  Am I leading a more active lifestyle than before my two weeks at H3?

A:  Yes, most definitely!

Q:  Am I more aware of my eating habits, including being more conscious whenever indulging in "Unwise" food choices?

A:  Yes—in fact, sometimes I've been able to successfully change an "Unwise" food choice into a "Better" category decision by being more aware of what I'm doing.

Q:  Am I still having trouble with my portion control?

A:  Unfortunately yes, but here again there is still some good news to report in this area, too:  I'm at least not over-indulging as much or as often as before my H3 experience!

In other words, I feel I caught the "spirit" of H3, so-to-speak, at succeeding to make some modest improvements happen in my everyday goal of having a healthier life.

I never thought I'd ever say this, as prior to being at H3, I had little or no familiarity with the state of South Carolina; but here are my thoughts nowadays about your beautiful state: Do you know that famous old Tony Bennett song, "I Left My Heart in San Francisco?"   Well, after my two week experience at Hilton Head Health, I now feel like I've left a piece of my heart in South Carolina, too!!

-Ken Gourley, San Francisco, CA

Visit the H3 website for more weight loss success stories. If you have a story you’d like to share, please e-mail Alicea Glover at aglover@hhhealth.com. Put ‘Get Inspired’ in the subject line.

Sharing Success: Susan Oglesby

They said it couldn’t be done; or, rather, I think I had simply given up on ever getting it done.  

In the fall of 2011, contemplating my upcoming 65^th birthday, I had gotten, if not comfortable, at least used to my 100 extra pounds, clothes that looked decidedly not stylish, and a sluggish lifestyle in which a once-in-a-while walk on the treadmill counted as my entire activity.  I rationalized that having survived a serious bout with cancer, a brain tumor, a seriously fractured ankle, quitting smoking and miscellaneous operations, I was happy just to be alive to enjoy each day; but I knew that wasn’t true, wasn’t enough.  I really wanted to get more healthy and active to keep up with my active husband, to avoid dependency on others in my older years, and to get the most of my life which includes a second home in a dream location, including lots of travel.  

So, with the help of a friend, I found Hilton Head Health, enrolled in December 2011, and now – 7 months later – I have really changed things around.  Though I have really worked seriously on the healthy food aspect of the H3 program – and am 50 pounds lighter without any serious feelings of deprivation, much less starvation! The most amazing part of the H3 program, for me, has been the entire turnabout in my attitude toward energetic, fun and productive physical activity!  I have enrolled in the H3@Home program, which is so effective in keeping me on the straight and narrow path to success, and with the help of Coach Amy Kelderhouse, we been able to plan for challenges, celebrate successes, and build an exercise regime that takes into account every one of my 65 years, but also helps build intensity and stamina at a reasonable, achievable pace.  I truly feel stronger and now – incredibly, considering where I started from – find myself enthusiastically looking forward to my daily cardio/strength training, to energetic walks to town, and to athletic walks with my dog, Barone.   Especially helpful for the training has been Amy’s guidance in helping me build a micro-gym in Italy -- where I don’t have access to a regular gym or even a treadmill -- so that I don’t lose momentum when I’m away from home. 

One of my most daunting challenges has been learning good eating habits while traveling, and while eating in Italy – land of hearty family meals that include so much tasty olive oil, pasta, bread, and world-class deserts.   But with Amy’s seemingly bottomless bag of healthy tricks (have you ever taken your suitcase on a brisk walk along airport corridors?), I have learned not just some sneaky strategies for making wise food choices but also ways to help coax my friends and family to support my healthy eating regime.  The best part, however, is that I am building healthy habits to sustain this new lifestyle for years into the future.  I hope that my experiences at H3 and with H3@Home can help motivate other Golden Girls and Boys (we don’t call ourselves seniors, do we?) to take on the challenges of building healthy lifestyles for all the coming years!

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.