Issue 1 - August 2007
Welcome to Our First Issue of Healthful Insights
Our Center has been open since November 13, 2006, and as of July 15th our clients have lost a total 923 pounds and 1,225 inches. We appreciate the commitment our ladies have made to improving their health and well-being by becoming members of Richmond’s premier weight loss center. We provide a safe, inviting, friendly and fun location in which women of all ages, shapes and sizes can feel comfortable while reaching and maintaining their personal weight loss goals.
We want to stress that this is a client-centered program in which the Inches-A-Weigh staff provide the tools, instruct, guide, support and promote a healthy lifestyle program that will remain with our clients indefinitely.
We have weekly and monthly “Big Loser” contests, and monthly drawings with great prizes! Since opening we have had several events and opportunities that highlight and celebrate our successes:
- In recognition of February as “National Heart Month” we held our first "track your miles" contest. Our grand prize winner, Carol, logged the most cardio miles for the month and received a $50.00 gift certificate. Carol is an avid gardener and chose to use her certificate in the garden section at Lowe's . Also in February our routine blood pressure checks identified 2 members with high blood pressure who were referred to their personal physicians for treatment of this silent and serious condition. At the other end of this spectrum, we have also seen blood pressures normalize, glucose levels fall, and cholesterol levels decline.. Several members have come off their blood pressure medication and/or decreased their insulin need (under the care of their own doctors, of course) because of their commitment to the Inches-A-Weigh program!
- We had a March Makeover Madness day in which we hosted Aayana, a massage therapist and hand treatment specialist, two Mary Kay representatives provided facials and make-up, and two students from Empire Beauty Salon offered manicures. It was a pamper ourselves kind of day with healthy snacks, prizes, fun and friendship.
- In May, in conjunction with RediClinic, we offered the opportunity to have screening blood tests at a discounted price. Many members and several of our Merchants Walk neighbors took advantage of this great opportunity.
- In June we ran a one week “Jump Start Your Weight Loss” contest. By following certain criteria our winner, Deborah, dropped 6.2 pounds and received a beautiful gift basket with a value of over $120.00!
- In July we have been enjoying Saturday morning aerobics with Christina. Check our website for the next scheduled class.
- As August begins, so does our first Inches-A-Weigh OLYMPICS. Over the next 8 weeks we will GO FOR THE GOLD as we track our success in several catagories such as: weight lifting, the triathlon, shot put, the hydration challenge and more...
Hmmmm, wonder what this is all about? Come and see for yourself. We have fun while we get healthy and lose weight at INCHES-A-WEIGH, Richmond!
This Newsletter
In this newsletter, entitled Healthful Insights, we plan to offer recipes, general health information, center news, member highlights, in house product specials, and a question and answer section for members, called “Ask Dr. Bob.” It will be for GENERAL medical questions since only your personal Physician can answer your specific questions. Even though this newsletter can be accessed by the general public, it will be focused on our members.
Members Only Website Enhancements
The Members Only section of our website has been updated and has become more interactive over the last several months. With it, a member can track their blood pressures, weight and key lab tests. The Nutritional Tools allows them to calculate their BMI and find out the nutritional content of any of over 6,000 foods.
Before August comes to a close, we'll be introducing an online Learning Center to help members better understand how to change their eating and exercise habits so they can attain and sustain their weight loss goals. The Learning Center will have about 6 Modules that will focus on topics such as Nutrition and Grocery Shopping. There will be a short Lesson on the topic, Practice Tests and a Final Exam for each Module. With a score of 80 or better on each Module Final Exam, members will win Center Bucks. We think they'll find the Modules educational and fun.
If you are a member of Inches-A-Weigh Richmond and haven't received your Username and Temporary Password so you can access the Members Only section, just let someone at the Center know, and we'll e-mail them out to you. We'll just need your e-mail address.