
Since the motivation behind losing weight is personal, Avera has several programs that can fit a busy professional’s needs for extra motivation. “Achieving goals and using success can keep you motivated toward bigger accomplishments.”Ī doctor’s appointment and conversation about how you can achieve better health in 2019 is a good place to start. “If you want to lose 100 pounds overall, just start by aiming to lose 5 percent of your current weight,” she said. Knowing your numbers, moderating diet, getting quality sleep and setting small goals can all be good first steps. “We look at all aspects of well-being, beyond traditional physical wellness, to things like grief, compassion fatigue – each participant faces different hurdles, but taking the first step can be hard for anyone.” It could be stress-related habits,” Harty said. “In our approach, we’re seeing people who face more than weight issues. The LiveNOW program focuses on well-being, not just weight loss. Over the past year, Harty and her colleagues have implemented an integrated well-being experience for Avera and other members of Avera Health Plans. As health coaches, we try to help people find what will intrinsically drive them to their goals.” “Or it could be the desire to have more years with grandkids.

People don’t want to be a burden to their kids,” Harty said. “For some, it is remembering how being overweight affected their parent or grandparent. If you apply this math to the individual or family level, you see that the financial facts in answering your “why lose weight?” question are important over the long run. “The CDC estimates that 75 percent of health care spending goes into treatment of these conditions, including obesity, yet only 3 percent is spent on prevention.” “Obesity connects directly to chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and cancer,” said Amanda Harty, director of well-being services with Avera Health Plans. Feeling and looking better, along with more energy and alertness, are good answers. Professionals often encourage those losing weight to “find the why” behind their efforts.

There’s nothing like a new year to make good on goals for health, well-being and the big one for many – losing weight.
