Formerly the League for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and the EAR Foundation
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Donicé Kaufman, Bridges’s Director of the Living Well Program, is this week’s guest blogger.
The other day I was in my office trying to figure out a better name for my wellness class. When I called it “Weight Loss Challenge,” about 10 people signed up for the twelve-week class. They learned a lot about nutrition, fitness, and the importance of rest, spiritual health, and fiscal health. At the end of 12 weeks some of the participants lost weight and others lowered their blood pressure or waist size. But all had learned the importance of balance and long term health——not just “quick” weight loss.
It occurred to me that the name “Weight Loss Challenge” was misleading and that people would take the class with hopes of quick weight loss. The next class series I changed the name to “Live Well Forever” and reduced the number of classes to 10 weeks. Again, about 10 people signed up for the classes and basically learned the same thing as the first group.
The next “Live Well Forever” series only had two people registered, Kimwanis and Jimmy Jordan. I decided to teach them one-on-one in my office. Of all the classes I’ve taught before, it was this tiny class of 2 in which I am most proud. Again, I focused a lot on balance and how health is wrapped up in nutrition, fitness, rest, spiritual and fiscal fitness. As a result of that 10-week series of classes, Kimwanis and Jimmy stop in my office often to discuss budgeting and recipes or just to weigh-in.
For anyone who knows Kim, getting her to do any exercise would take a miracle! Well, we got a miracle; because Kim started increasing her exercise and changing her diet gradually. Not only did she lose 50 lbs., she increased her energy level and decreased her back and joint pain. Kimwanis even won a Wii when she competed in the Wii Challenge January thru March of 2010.
What does Kimwanis have to do with the name of my wellness series? I realize that whatever I call my class truly doesn’t matter in the long run. What matters is that those who take the class win a lifetime of health.
- Donicé