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African American Women Staying Fit

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This group is for African American women who want to stay fit and offer tips to other women trying to stay fit.

Website: http://www.blackdoctor.org
Location: Everywhere
Members: 82
Latest Activity: Dec 7

Why Some Doctors Are Paying Patients To Lose Weight

BlackDoctor.org) -- If your doctor is like most internists, he spends part of each day gently reminding patients they need to eat less and exercise more.
Think of his day and you get the whole, frustrating picture. No matter how many times he repeats these messages, statistics grimly remind him that he has his work cut out for him. After all, 30 percent of Americans age 20 and older are obese, and only 45 percent of adults are as physically active as they should be, according to federal statistics.

Yet a small but growing number of doctors are coming up with novel -- and successful -- ways to remind you that proper weight and exercise are key components of a healthy lifestyle.

For instance, Dr. Joseph Chemplavil, a cardiovascular endocrinologist in Hampton, Va., pays patients to lose weight -- $1 a pound.

And Dr. Charles Brackett, a physician at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, N.H., and his colleagues actually write prescriptions to exercise. Right on the prescription pad, he tells patients to get moving, tailoring the prescription to their condition, their health status and their capabilities.

"We're trying to get everyone to exercise," said Brackett, a fitness enthusiast whose passions include cross-country skiing and hiking. A poster in his office touts the value of exercise, and Brackett asks each patient if he or she is physically active.

If they are not, out comes the prescription pad.

"The idea of putting it in writing might make it more tangible to people," Brackett said. So does tailoring the prescription to the person's condition. For instance, he said, he might suggest that a patient who has had a heart attack walk a half hour a day, and share the news that studies have found that doing so could reduce the risk of another heart attack.

But before he writes the prescription, Brackett asks a series of questions that he hopes will motivate the patient to say, "I should exercise." If he can get them to acknowledge that out loud, he said, they are more likely to follow his Rx.

Brackett also has guidebooks available of nearby hiking trails and pedometers that patients can buy -- for $4 -- to track their progress. He conducts the program with help from the Upper Valley Trails Alliance, a project to promote physical activity supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

Chemplavil asks his overweight patients to enroll in his "Dollar for Pound" program. They pay a $10 annual membership fee, and then get busy losing weight. At each visit, there's a weigh-in -- and maybe a pay-off.

The financial reward is small, he admits, but the health benefits aren't. He tracked a group of 150 patients who started the program in 2002, and 80 percent of them lost an average of nearly 9 pounds during the year.

What's the program's secret? "Any kind of new system (to motivate individuals) works in human behavior," Chemplavil said.

Perhaps many doctors don't realize the power the written words can convey.

Numerous studies have found that a simple suggestion from a physician to lose weight or exercise can have a big impact. In one recent study done in New Zealand, researchers assigned half of nearly 200 patients, ages 65 and above, to an activity program written in prescription form; the other half did not get the instructions. Those assigned to the prescription group also got follow-up telephone support for three months. After a year, members of the prescription group had increased their activity levels by about a half hour per week, compared to the control group. And, they said they felt better, too.

Brackett and Chemplavil are big believers in their programs. And the real payoff, Brackett said, is encountering patients who have taken his advice and reaped the health benefits.

"I get excited when I see patients who have lost 20 or 30 pounds and they are able to come off medications" for blood pressure, cholesterol or other conditions, he said.

By Nicole Smith, Contributing Writer

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Comment by Kisha on September 19, 2009 at 10:17am: Hello ladies. I have already lost 15 lbs doing Atkins but need to get moving a little more.ha ha. It'll be great talking to you ladies.

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Comment by Mahogany Momma on April 21, 2009 at 8:00pm: Would you like to participate in the Black Moms Club first Contest and Conversation event? For Earth Day 2009, the Black Moms Club has teamed up with Yummy Spoonfuls so that you can find out how to keep your family healthy and happy!

Yummy Spoonfuls, is an organic baby food company created by Agatha Achindu, who has graciously decided to sponsor the first Black Moms Club Contest and Conversation event! We are having a Healthy Choice Webinar and Giveaway tomorrow, Wednesday April 22, 2009 at 7pm est. Agatha will be answering questions regarding organic eating, healthy food tips, how to start living green. As the group that is most adversely affected by obesity, heart disease, and hypertension, we are the ones that tend to eat the least healthy foods. Let’s change that together!

Join us on the Healthy Choice Webinar tomorrow. The first 5 people who join will receive gift certificates to Yummy Spoonfuls, www.yummyspoonfuls.com.

Register for the Healthy Choice Webinar
You can call in over the phone or join us online via your microphone.

Space is limited.
Reserve your Webinar seat now at:
https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/734689818

Date: Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Time: 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM EDT

After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar.

LaShanda
To Stay Connected Find me On Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/sistasense

Comment by Yetpraiser on March 30, 2009 at 11:36pm: Hey ladies, Im in the central florida area and wondering if there is any sort of dance class or something I can start getting physical with.

Comment by Rfuaw Diarra on February 15, 2009 at 12:04pm: Mom's in the Houston, Texas Area
All New African Dance Classes
Class Attire Loose Fitting Pants and T'Shirt or Lapa's (wrap skirts) and T'Shirts

Friday Classes
Starting – Friday - February 20, 2009

Children’s Traditional African Dance Class
Offered by: Laini Kuumba Ngoma Troupe
Ages 3 to 13 years old

Every - Friday
6:00 to 7:00 pm
$25.00 Registration Fee/ Membership Fee
$40.00 Per Month

Adults and Teens Traditional African Dance Class
Offered by: Laini Kuumba Ngoma Troupe
Ages 14 and up

Every - Friday
7:00 to 8:30 pm
$35.00 Registration Fee/ Membership Fee
$40.00 Per Month

Where:
The Houston Metropolitan Dance Center (Fridays)
1202 Calumet Street
Houston, Texas 77004
For Early Registration Call:
Sistah Rfuaw Diarra at 713-523-4911

***********************************************

Starting Tuesday - March 3, 2009
Weekly Classes

Children's Traditional African Dance & Drum Classes
Tuesdays and Thursdays Ages 3 to 13 years old
6:00 to 7:00 pm
$25.00 Registration Fee/ Membership Fee
$40.00 Per Month

Teens & Adults Exercise and Traditional African Movement Classes
Tuesdays and Thursdays Ages 14 and up
7:00 to 8:30 pm
$35.00 Registration Fee/ Membership Fee
$40.00 Per Month

Class Location (Tuesdays and Thursdays)
PABA (Enter thru the side entrance)
3212 Dowling Street @ Elgin
Houston, Texas 77004

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Comment by Trula on January 29, 2009 at 9:32am: Does anybody here run? I am training for a marathon in May. well actually half-assed training now (excuse my language) because it is icy and snowy out! and I hate to run on a treadmill. But I have got to so something, May will be here in a hot minute. My fitness/weight loss blog:
http://supplemama.com

Comment by LaKeisha Baker - Hankins on January 23, 2009 at 6:57pm: He Ladies, please feel free to join my group.

http://blackmomsclub.ning.com/group/healthierlife

Comment by LaKeisha Baker - Hankins on January 5, 2009 at 11:58pm: Hi girls!

I am starting a Lose Weight Feel Great Weight Loss Challenge in Feb. if any one is interested please visit my site at www.4mybodyandsoul.com for more information.

Please contact me if you have any questions.