Getting in shape for all the right reasons
At age 59, Maureen Anderson was a diet veteran. A sporadic exerciser, she'd tried many of the latest miracle diets with disappointing results. Often, she'd drop a few pounds only to regain them, or lose weight very quickly but feel terrible in the process.
The constant yo-yo dieting was more than a source of frustration. As a retired nurse, Anderson was also aware of the very real dangers of being overweight — she already suffered from high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes. Most importantly, with a strong family history of heart disease, she knew she needed to make some permanent lifestyle changes.
When Anderson joined
FitSmart, Virtua's Center for Weight Management & Longevity, she had some very specific goals in mind: lose weight, develop healthy eating habits and start an exercise program. Together with FitSmart's team of degreed health and fitness professionals, she created a customized plan to help her meet these goals.
"Our role is give people like Maureen the tools and knowledge they need to succeed," says Paula Konstantinides, RN, the director of FitSmart. "This includes nutritional counseling, lifestyle coaching, exercise instruction, emotional support and encouragement."
Although Anderson figured she had pretty good grasp on healthy eating, she learned a lot about nutrition from FitSmart nutrition manager Lynne Nugent, RD. "Our FitSmart trip to read food labels at the grocery store was amazing," she says. "It's mind-boggling when you see how small a portion size really is."
And with the help of FitSmart's certified trainers, Anderson has become comfortable with the equipment at Virtua's state-of-the-art
William G. Rohrer Center for HealthFitness. "Before FitSmart, I exercised sporadically. Now I'm up to 90 minutes of cardiovascular exercise and strength training, four days a week," she says.
During her 12-week FitSmart enrollment, Anderson lost 16 pounds and greatly improved her glucose levels. She's also drastically reduced her risk of developing heart disease. Anderson still takes medication, but her blood pressure is well controlled, and she feels stronger, sleeps better and has increased energy. Plus, as a certified massage therapist, she sees improvement in her flexibility while working with clients.
In addition to enjoying better health, after losing two dress sizes, Anderson is looking forward to showing off her new figure. "I used to shop in the plus-size section," she says "This year, I can buy regular sized summer clothes feel good about myself as I sit by the pool."
While Anderson, who continues to receive professional follow-up support through Virtua's AfterCare program, will certainly feel pleased as she sits by the pool this summer, she has achieved much more than looking better in her bathing suit.
"Of course it's wonderful for people to look better after FitSmart," concludes Konstantinides. "But what really makes us feel good is to see the vast improvements in overall health — loss of body fat and reductions in medication and blood glucose levels. These are the really huge successes."
For more information, or to sign up for an assessment, call
1-888-Virtua-3.