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Did you know you may be able to use money in your Flexible Spending Account to pay for the Vtrim Online weight loss program?

A weight loss program prescribed by your physician to treat a medical condition (such as diabetes, obesity, hypertension or heart disease) is considered a medical expense.

All weight loss program expenses submitted through flex spending need a doctor’s referral specifying the medical condition requiring weight loss. Once you are officially signed up for Vtrim, you can use the money from your 2010 Flexible Spending Account if your participation is approved as a medical expense. The referral must be reviewed by your HR representative for final approval. You can use the money in your Flexible Spending Account from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2010.  Click here to read more.

Please e-mail or call us at 802-656-1425 if you’d like more information or have questions.  We hope to “see” you online in 2010!

The November issue of Marie Claire, a hip women’s health and fashion mag, has just hit newsstands this week. In a health-related article titled, “Slim Pickings: Weighing Your Options,” Cynthia Sass, MPH, R.D., gives readers the lowdown on different weight loss programs and books that are now available.

In case you aren’t a Marie Claire subscriber, below is what Sass had to say about Vtrim:

THE PLAN Developed by researchers at the University of Vermont, Vtrim is a six-month, interactive online weight-loss program. It includes weekly chat sessions with 20 fellow dieters, tip posting, and round-the-clock access to exercise and nutrition experts (who give feedback on your progress journals).
THE COST $695 for 24 weeks
THE PROS “This plan is very comprehensive, and it provides a degree of anonymity for people who are self-conscious about starting the weight –loss process. It’s also a good alternative for people who may not have a nutritionist or health-food store nearby.”
THE CONS It’s a big monetary and time commitment. The average weight loss is 24 pounds-a pound a week-so if you’re looking for fast results, this isn’t your best option. That said, the gradual process makes it easier to maintain the results in the long term.

Sass is right – Vtrim is more than just a self-help weight loss website. It is a structured, interactive way to motivate yourself to lose weight and encourage others to shed pounds and get healthier too.  Isn’t that worth the time and money commitment?   We know from experience that it pays off in both categories.  As discussed in our last blog post, Putting a Price Tag on Obesity, the benefits of leading a healthy lifestyle may take time, but the long term results – like lowering disease risk and saving money on healthcare – make it a worthwhile investment. While others are searching for the next quick-fix diet plan, Vtrimmers are getting their money’s worth by continuing to practice what they learned through hard work and dedication that was fostered through 6 months of working with us.

All of us at Vtrim were thrilled to be featured in this article. We can’t wait to meet our next successful Vtrimmer who found us through Marie Claire!

We’re beginning a new series with our blog posts to occasionally include more in-depth spotlights about our Vtrim Certified Facilitators. And kicking off the series is a spotlight on Laura Biron, MBA, RD.

Laura has a Masters Degree and an MBA in Health Care from Boston University. She earned her undergraduate degree in Nutrition at Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois. She has a Certificate of Training in Adult Weight Management from the American Dietetic Association and professional training in Mindfulness Based Eating and Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction. Laura has been working in nutrition and health care for 26 years!

This week we talked more with Laura so you can all get to know her better:

Favorite form of exercise: Yoga, hiking/walking often with Nordic walking poles, snowboarding, snowshoeing, cross country skiing

Favorite meal or snack: It changes with the seasons.  Right now I love butternut squash risotto, canelloni or lasagne with a side of Swiss Chard or arugula.  For a snack: sunflower seed butter on apple slices with or without mini chocolate chips.

If you had to create a list of 5 top foods, what would you put on it and why:

• Sunflower seed butter – a tasty alternative to peanut butter that is high in protein, magnesium and Vitamin D.  Because it is calorie dense I use it sparingly and eat it slowly.

• Buckwheat groats or Kasha – an aromatic grain that I love eating for breakfast. It is a good source of dietary fiber and Magnesium, and a very good source of Manganese. Best of all it reminds me of my Ukrainian roots.

• Kale – Baked as crunchy chips, sauteed with carrots, cooked as a taco filling or added to soup.  I love the earthy texture and it is so packed with nutrients it’s silly.

• Flax seed – My husband and I grind it fresh every morning and sprinkle it on cereal, yogurt or salads.  Often I use it to replace an egg in baked goods.  Fiber, Lignans, Alph linolenic acid (an omega 3 fatty acid) does make this seed eXcellent for your health.  Mixing flax seed with sunflower nut butter and brown rice crispy cereal makes for a yummy energy bar.

• Eggs from free range chickens – they are a tasty, easy to prepare protein for breakfast, lunch, dinner or snacks.  If you have elevated cholesterol, speak with your physician or a registered dietitian about a healthy amount to consume.

If you could plan an ideal day to do whatever you wanted, how would you spend it? Living in Vermont, that changes with the seasons!  Right now it is foliage season.  I would wake early to look out my window and see the fall colors enveloped in clouds.  After yoga and sitting meditation I head to the kitchen for coffee and breakfast, enjoying every bite because I am eating mindfully.  Next, my patient Portuguese Water Dog, Minnow and I would take a hike to enjoy the foiliage now that the fog has lifted.  A huge salad for lunch from The Green Godess Cafe in Stowe and I am good to go for an hour or so of gardening.  Sitting on my stone porch, planted with thyme, while looking through my favorite cookbooks (currently The Splendid Table from the Public Radio show of the same name) for something delicious for dinner comes next.  A shower before the grocery store and home to cook while listening to Garrison Keilor’s Prarie Home Companion.  Of course my family is super appreciative of the candle light dinner and they are happy to clean up while I put an uplifting comedy in the DVD player for all of us to watch and laugh together before bed.

What is one of the most common hurdles you see people face in changing  behaviors and what are 1-2 things you find helpful for overcoming that  hurdle? The most common hurdle is the discomfort that comes from changing habits…even when you know the changes are good for you.  What I find to be most helpful is being patient and kind to yourself while going through changes.  Taking small steps and working on 1-2 things at a time rather than overhauling everything at once is important.  That is why I love the 24 week VTrim program; breaks weight managment behaviors down into baby steps.

Will you share with us a favorite anecdote or story about behavior change? Last year I got on the scale and weighed 10 pounds less than usual.  I felt svelt!  But then I was amazed at how I felt about my body the moment I discovered that the scale was broken; I hadn’t lost a pound.  I am now more convinced than ever that the number on the scale is only one indicator of health.  How I feel physically, my comfort level with what and how I eat and my overall health as assessed during my annual physical are important.

Think choosing healthy foods cost more than higher fat, higher sugar choices at the grocery store? Not convinced that a healthier lifestyle will save you money? Well a recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) would argue otherwise.

The CDC reports that national health care costs for obesity-related diseases have now reached $147 billion. The new report says that these obesity-associated costs make up 9.1% of total U.S. spending on medical expenses. The report shares further details that the average obese American spends 40% more on health care than the average normal weight American–$1400 more per year! Can you think of something better to spend $1400 a year on than health care?

The CDC estimates that drug costs alone are $600 higher each year for Medicare participants who are obese than for normal-weight participants. And research has well documented that weight loss helps to lower risk for high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and diabetes, all of which are common diseases with associated prescription expenses. Still not convinced? One of our past Vtrim participants shared his prescription drug profile from BEFORE and AFTER losing 70 pounds:

Prior to Weight Loss:

• BMI = 38.25
• 7 total medications for blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes
• Monthly co-pay (AFTER insurance payment) = $412.70

After Weight Loss:

• BMI = 29.13
• 4 medications DISCONTINUED, 2 medication dosages CUT IN HALF
• Monthly co-pay (AFTER insurance payment) = $40.32
• A 90% decrease in monthly medication expenses, saving over $350/month!

The cost of obesity isn’t always easy to see and unfortunately, the benefits that come from a healthy lifestyle aren’t always things you experience immediately. It takes time to build healthy habits and see the payoff in higher energy levels and lower disease risks. But lowering direct expenses each month in medical expenses is money you can put to better use elsewhere–Consider it investing in your health!

To check out a schedule of upcoming Vtrim classes, go to www.uvm.edu/vtrim. Start investing in your health today!