Hi All
What an amazing week it has been here at the Green Apple!
First, the news everyone has been waiting for. We are happy to announce that Kristen’s bundle of joy has arrived! Baby Chloe was born at 3am on Monday 30th January weighing in at 3.4kg. Both mother and baby are doing well.
Second, have you noticed a buzz going around the gym? We certainly have — and that “buzz” is Healthy Weight Week. What a week it has been. Healthy Weight Week is a program devised by the Dietitians Association of Australia to encourage people to form healthier eating habits and to move more. Originally advertised in the RACQ’s motoring magazine “The Road Ahead”, it seemed right up our alley. After consulting with Victoria, a small team was formed, consisting of Libby, Cherryle, Shirley, Nessa and Janice. A few brainstorming sessions later we were ready to roll with our week long challenge. We asked for participants who would be willing to do an initial weigh-in, follow a meal plan and do 210 minutes of exercise over the week and weigh-in again. There were also two sessions of Maltron Tests during the week and all Healthy Weight Week Participants were given the opportunity to enrol in the HEAL course for half the usual cost.
Monday 23rd was our kick-off, and Alex, one of our Exercise Physiologists, talked to our 42 participants about being aware of portion sizes and how to get the most out of their week. We were also honoured to have member Larry Baker give a testimony about his journey here at the Green Apple. In seven months, Larry has quit smoking, lost 30kgs and has been given a 20 year guarantee on his heart from his doctors. Member Dale Slattery said of Larry that when she heard how well he was controlling his blood sugars now it gave her added incentive to keep her exercise going. Our finale was Monday 30th, and again to a packed room, our Dietitian Stina was our guest speaker, there to answer the questions of the group, followed again by supper by the pool. Our lucky prize winner was Maron Edwards, receiving a Green Apple embroidered towel and water bottle and 3 sessions on the Massage Chair.
A huge thankyou and congratulations goes out to everyone who took part. We are so proud of you. Your enthusiasm and efforts are so appreciated and made all the work behind the scenes so worth while. To the Healthy Weight Week Team—thank you, thank you, thank you for your support, enthusiasm and hard work. To the rest of the Green Apple Team — for your efforts in promoting the week, supporting our members and fellow team members as we worked to make it a success. To Victoria—for supporting this and laying the foundations to what was a wonderful week!
I’d like to share a couple of the comments we received about Healthy Weight Week. These are anonymously written on feedback forms. The first is “Thank you for giving me direction and a plan for both eating and exercise. I feel very motivated and plan to continue” and “Went very well. Lost 1.5kg. Adjusted meals sizes and cut out snacks that were not healthy. Felt good that I had risen to the challenge”.
We appreciated all of the feedback we received. Just a special mention to our W.A.G.S. Group. This is a group of our participants who have decided to keep themselves accountable by continuing to have regular weigh-ins together. What a wonderful way to support each other and keep accountable. Well done.
In fact, most of our participants said they would do the program again....would you like to join in too?
Our group of forty-two lost a combined total off......... 126.2kg......in one week! What a way to kick of 2012!
Below is a letter of thanks from a Healthy Weight Week participant congratulating everyone’s amazing effort. “Dear Victoria, I have just returned home from the final night of the Healthy Weight week; I just had to sit down and tell you what a great job your staff have done. Everyone was so excited about their results; some ladies did a fantastic job, one lost 6 kilos. That is just wonderful! I lost half a kilo and I thought that was pretty good. I much prefer to see my weight go down that up, by any amount. All of these results are thanks to your staff. I believe Janice was the inspiration and for that we thank her. Backing her was Shirley, Nessa and Libby. And of course the ever present photographer was there tonight, Cherryle pushing the HEAL course to us all as well.
I cannot commend them enough to you Victoria, they have done a first class job very professionally and with great
organizational skills. Plus they were very sensitive to all. It cannot be an easy thing sometimes to handle people and their
feelings about being overweight. You should be proud of them all, you are so fortunate to have such motivated staff.
Regards Joan Gregory”
Victoria is very proud of us!
P.S Social Club member Pat Gray writes “The Social Club is working on our
weekend away and we are going to Toowoomba for the Carnival of Flowers. Judy has just started so I can`t give you much more information. We will be staying the night somewhere and of course seeing other attractions. I have only spoken to a couple who have asked about our next trip and I think and hope it will be a popular one. The date is 22nd and 23rd September 2012.” Keep the weekend free!
