Vtrim Community Blog      Vtrim Online

Vtrim will offer a free online info session for anyone who wants to learn more. In the session, our researchers will discuss the 17 years of research behind the Vtrim program, why the program is so successful, how it compares to other programs, and best of all, how it works.
The two free info sessions are:

Monday, December 29th at 6:00PM
OR
Tuesday, January 6th at 12:00PM

To RSVP for this event, call 802.656.1425 or email andrea.ziga@uvm.edu.

According to Franklin Covey’s annual New Year’s Resolution Survey, losing weight is one of the top 3 resolutions. The other two were to get out of debt or save money and develop a healthy habit such as exercising or healthy eating. This survey of about 15,000 people found that in 2008, 35 percent of respondents broke their New Year’s resolutions by the end of January. Nearly 40 percent of those surveyed say they fell short because of too many other things to do and 33 percent say they are not committed to the resolutions they set.

If you know that you want to lose weight for a variety of reasons, none being more important than decreasing your health risks. And, if you don’t want that horrible feeling of desperation in March when the great intentions of Jan. 1 have gone by the wayside, check out Vtrim.

Vtrim teaches you a way of life. The 24 week program guides you through the behavior changes necessary to succeed at weight loss. And, research shows this format provides the best chance of long-term success. With the support of other group members and a trained certified facilitator, the possibility of real change is not fleeting. Choosing a path that has a framework for change is in stark contrast to saying you’re going to do something and this is going to be your year to lose weight. Ditch the false hope for the possibility of real change. In order to succeed at weight loss, you need a roadmap, you need support and you need goals. Yes, you can go at it alone and hope for the best or you can join our community and begin to realize your true potential to manage your weight.

Let 2009 be the year you turn the corner on broken promises to yourself. At Vtrim, we think willpower is not the answer. Instead, we know that a plan supported by your peers and an expert in combination with the desire to succeed is the best way. Vtrim will give you the framework you need to achieve your weight loss goal.

This year instead of gaining weight, gain control. Vtrim wants to be your facilitator of change. Check us out at www.uvm.edu/vtrim. And from all of us at Vtrim, Happy New Year!

Recently Oprah went public with the story of her recent weight gain, how her weight has increased over time from 160 pounds to 200 pounds. Over the years, Oprah has shared her weight loss journeys and programs with the public through her talk show. And now she has been open about “falling off the wagon” and regaining the weight.

At Vtrim, we think there are some interesting lessons to be learned in Oprah’s story. First of all, weight management takes work. In her story, Oprah talks about how she let herself slide right off her priority list–she quit making time to take care of herself. This is probably one of the hardest lessons for weight managers to learn: weight management takes ONGOING work. You don’t just lose weight and you are done. You have to continually work at maintaining those healthier habits. And falling into the trap of letting everything else be more important than you, can happen easily. But in order for you to feel good, be healthy, and effectively help others, you need to take care of YOU!

Second, nobody is immune to setbacks in their weight management efforts…even Oprah. It’s easy to think “oh if I had my own personal trainer, my own chef, my own therapist like all the stars do, I could lose the weight, too!” But the reality is, NOBODY can do it for you! And NOBODY but YOU can MAINTAIN the weight for you either. No matter who you are, weight management takes effort and work. It’s a lifestyle, not a temporary diet. You have to get rid of the “on a diet/off a diet” mentality. Oprah has taken a big step opening up to the world about her own struggles with weight and health. We all “fall off the wagon” at times…the true test is whether or not you get back on.

Third, being healthy is about more than just a number on the scale. Your health is impacted by more than just your weight. Getting enough sleep, exercising regularly, and managing stress are just a few examples of other areas in life that impact your overall health. Oprah set a good example opening up about how those other areas of her life have slid and how she is making a new effort to look at all areas of health in her life.

So as you consider your goals for the new year, and set about to improve your health, remember that January 2010 isn’t time to plan a new diet. It’s time to plan for a new YOU. Make 2010 the year that YOU matter, that YOU become a daily priority in your life.

Are you ready for a Healthy New You? 2009 is quickly approaching and if you have a resolution to establish healthier habits in the new year, Vtrim may be just what you are looking for.

The Vtrim program was recently featured in the University of Vermont’s magazine, The View. The article, “World Wide Weight Loss” features the story of Kathy Lara, an online Vtrim participant, and her experience in the Vtrim program. To read more, click here:

http://www.uvm.edu/theview/article.php?id=2864

If you are interested in starting the Vtrim program in the new year, enroll now using our $50 off discount code (FRIEND1108). Classes for January 2010 are available now! Go to www.uvm.edu/vtrim to learn more and get started.

Vtrim was one of 4 university-based weight loss programs profiled in this month’s issue of Prevention Magazine. The article featured a success story from each program and highlighted Nancy Rabinowitz of Vtrim. Great job Nancy! It is fun to see our participants get press and kudos for all of the enormous lifestyle changes they have achieved.

Vtrim, a University of Vermont program, is in good company with this list. Duke University, University of Alabama and the University of Colorado were also featured. All of these universities are home to obesity research programs that inform their community offerings. Jean Harvey-Berino, PhD,RD Chair of Nutrition and Food Sciences at UVM and Vtrim Founder has been conducting behavioral weight loss research at UVM for the last 17 years. Of those 17 years, the last 11 have focused on delivering weight loss and weight maintenance treatment over the internet. This research formed the basis of the Vtrim online program which is now available nationally. Our online program differentiates us from the others in this article because we have removed the need to be local to a university in order to receive high quality research-based weight loss treatment. Participating in a highly successful and clinically effective program is now only as far away as your nearest internet connection!

You can check out the article by following this link (Vtrim review begins on page 4):

Vtrim Featured in Prevention Magazine

Following close on the heals of the CDC’s announcement of Burlington as the healthiest city in America, a new report names Vermont the healthiest state in the nation. One contributing factor to the designation is Vermont’s obesity rate of 22%, four points lower than the national average. Low smoking rates and the third highest public health spending, Vermont is leading the way for healthier lifestyles.

Vtrim is doing its part to help lead the way as well. As the only ONLINE behavior modification program for weight loss, Vtrim is providing to the American public years of university research on how to live healthier lives through better diets, more activity, and behaviors that promote weight management. Be a part of the program that knows how to help shape lifestyles, not only for a healthier today, but a healthier tomorrow.

To learn more about Vtrim, go to www.uvm.edu/vtrim. Or join our online webinar about the Vtrim Online Weight Management Program. We’ll be showing you around the Vtrim website, how it works, and what you will experience in an online class.

Vtrim Webinar: Learn more about how Vtrim online works!

Thursday, December 11th

1:00 PM, EST

To get more information or to sign up to attend, please send an email to vtrim@uvm.edu.