MedWatch: When Losses Are Gains

The new year has come and gone and so many people choose this as the time to make big health changes.

Other times, it takes something a bit more serious to get someone to take charge of their diet and fitness.

No matter the scenario there is help and information out there at .

Jim Teahen has always been an active guy. He’s a farmer and that keeps him moving.

But a health scare and bypass surgery was enough to convince him that he needed to make some changes.

“Pushing myself away from the table would probably be the first one, and then just more activity, more exercise, trying to eat healthier foods,” He says.” “I just feel healthier, fit into a size smaller pants, things like that. You just feel better. You’re more active, you’re prone to be active to do things.”

Jim had plenty of help and support from the team at Munson’s Healthy Weight Center.

Ben Watson is the weight management coordinator who helps countless people like Jim.

“For individuals who are kind of starting their New Year’s resolutions, the biggest thing we need to look at is just being consistent with it,” Watson says. “It’s going to take longer than what you think it’s going to take, but you just have to be persistent in whatever goal you’re trying to achieve.”

Patience, persistence and planning.

Another tip from the team—know how your day is going to unfold.

Schedule your exercise, the healthy choices you will make, and where you might splurge.

Another piece of advice: slash added sugars.

The American Heart Association recommends no more than 6 teaspoons a day. That’s 100 calories worth.

Jim says he was no stranger to the love of sugar.

“I’ve changed my diet quite a bit. Sugar is a terrible enemy of mine,” he says.

Try using fruit to add sweetness to oatmeal or yogurt and ditch those sweet drinks.

Another tool that’s available to help: the InBody scan.

“We are able to dive a little deeper into the nuances with weight,” Watson says “So we’re able to take the frustration out of talking about muscle content, fat content, hydration status. I think a lot of people forget that weight is just one factor, or one number. If we’re able to separate those pieces, we’re able to look at minute changes, the smaller changes, to eliminate frustration for a lot of people.”

The print-out provides valuable information that the person can take with them and use to tailor their program towards their goals.

“We have a lot of individuals using the InBody for sports performance; tracking how they’re training for a 5k, 10k, marathon. We have a lot of individuals that are just looking for general health. Let’s say you want to lose 5 lbs. Well, most individuals want to lose 5 lbs of fat, so we can quantify that information to show them ‘Am I reaching that goal?’ Am I doing it in an effective time manner?” Watson says.

It’s certainly one of the tools Jim uses, along with his own advice.

“All the things that are provided here are good and helpful, but it all boils down to your own determination to do it and stick with it,” Jim says. I’ve been doing it now for 20 years. I enjoy it, it’s good to get out. I don’t mind exercising, I enjoy that. But you have to come regularly, you have to stick with the program.”

For more information, check out .