Weight-loss regimens may come and go, but one local weight management program has changed the lives of more than 400 southwest Michigan residents over the last five years.
The Fitness and Lifestyle Improvement Plan, or FLIP, was introduced by Lakeland Nutrition Counseling and Lakeland Orthopedic Physical Therapy in June 2005.

The program was developed to show participants how good nutrition and exercise can help create a solution for successful weight management. Led by registered dietitians and athletic trainers, the eight-week program includes pre- and post-program assessments, small group nutrition education, and personalized exercise prescriptions and meal plans. Classes are held in both Niles and St. Joseph.

“The idea behind FLIP is to encourage not just weight loss, but a healthy lifestyle,” said Pam Kurtz, Registered Dietitian, Lakeland HealthCare. “Our professional support gives participants the tools they need not only to meet their short-term goals, but also to make healthy eating and exercise a part of their life.”

Linda Bennett agrees. One of the first FLIP graduates, Linda has lived by the program’s principles for five years. During lunch time, she steps away from her office in the Lakeland Center for Outpatient Services and works out in the facility’s medical fitness area or walks laps around the building. In addition, Linda shares FLIP’s philosophy with friends and family members when she treats them to healthy meals such as baked salmon and salad drizzled with her own homemade, fat-free dressing. Linda says that she is sometimes asked why she makes good nutrition and exercise such a priority.

“I tell people that it’s not about how I look, it’s about how I feel – being healthy and having energy,” Linda said. “I’ve had family members affected by conditions that could have been prevented by making healthier choices, and I want to make sure I do everything I can today to enjoy the best quality of life tomorrow.”

The focus on long-term health is what separates FLIP from the typical weight-loss regimen. Even after the program ends, its graduates continue to meet monthly for a free FLIP support group, in which they discuss their ongoing challenges and accomplishments. Over the years, the group has swapped so many healthy recipes and meal-planning ideas that a FLIP cookbook is in the works.

Susan Janeschek of St. Joseph was thrilled to recently discover that she had lost more than 50 pounds since completing FLIP in August of 2009. She says that she was ready to become healthy before starting the program, but FLIP brought all the elements of weight loss together.

“FLIP was the right balance of nutritional information, calorie tracking, and exercise to get me moving in the right direction,” Susan said. “Most other programs encourage exercise, but by providing the gym and athletic trainers, FLIP actually makes it happen.”
Dr. Sherry O’Donnell, of Rappha Medical Center in St. Joseph, has seen the positive impact that FLIP has had on patients she referred to the program, including weight loss and lowered blood pressure.

“If FLIP can assist me in making lifestyle changes in my patients, that’s all the better,” Dr. O’Donnell said.

Classes for the next eight-week FLIP program will take place on Wednesdays, July 21 through September 8, and will be held at Lakeland Nutrition Counseling at the Center for Outpatient Services, 3900Hollywood Road, St. Joseph. Participants may choose to register for either noon or 5:00 p.m. sessions.

Total cost for the eight-week FLIP program is $250 per participant. Space in FLIP is limited, and preregistration is required. For more information or to register, please call (269) 556-7171.