Learn How to Eat Well and Feel Good with Our "Healthy Habits" Program
August 2003 - Making the right food choices with today's busy lifestyles can be challenging. Main-taining a nutritional balance can be even more difficult. That's why the Memorial Regional Hospital Fitness & Rehabilitation Center and the Memorial Hospital West Fitness & Rehabilitation Center offer "Healthy Habits for Life," an eight-week program designed to create positive eating habits through education and professional guidance.
Healthy Habits and You
In a day and age where new 'miracle' diets are touted every week, Healthy Habits focuses on helping individuals develop healthy eating habits to last a lifetime. While certain diets may deliver short-term results, the probability of long-term success is unlikely. Making educated choices and lifestyle modifications will produce long-lasting results.
"When you understand the components of a healthy eating plan and put that plan into practice, you're more likely to succeed at achieving your goals and making positive lifestyle changes," says Sharon Sokolow, MS, RD, LD/N, and dietitian at the Memorial Hospital West Fitness & Rehabilitation Center.
It Starts with a Plan
Healthy Habits participants meet with a registered dietician one hour per week and together they develop a healthy meal plan. "To help participants better understand their own eating patterns and behavior, they are asked to maintain a food journal," says Sokolow. "This is the starting point for modifying eating behavior and adopting positive habits."
During the weekly group meetings, discussions are led by a registered dietitian in an open environment. A variety of topics are covered in the eight-week program, including:
- Balanced nutrition
- Portion control
- Stress management
- Eating out - making healthy food choices
- Exercise and behavior modification
- Food nutrition labels - how to read them
A visit to a local supermarket is included in the class schedule to help participants find the healthy foods they need.
Discovering Healthy Habits
While classes are offered at both Memorial Fitness Centers, participation is not limited to members only. "Most people that attend the classes are not Fitness Center members; however, they still can take advantage of the program," says Sokolow. "Our professional staff screens all participants for their exercise and health history to ensure a safe approach to attaining their goals."
Class sessions are scheduled according to demand, with the next series scheduled for September 2003. Classes are $150 for members and $175 for non-members. If you are interested in enrolling or learning more about Healthy Habits for Life, call the Memorial Regional Hospital Fitness & Rehabilitation Center at (954) 265-5800 or the Memorial Hospital West Fitness & Rehabilitation Center at
(954) 844-7125.