By: Kim Gaffney
USC's free Choose to Lose wellness program is helping student and faculty members fight back against obesity in South Carolina.
The nine-week program teaches participants how to maintain a healthy lifestyle through cardiovascular exercises and nutrition lessons.
Cheryl Sniegon is a USC medical staff member who started Choose to Lose for personal reasons. She found out she was at risk for high cholesterol after a recent doctor visit.
"The doctor said he'd like to see me lose some weight to avoid getting on prescriptions," Sniegon said.
The Choose to Lose program is offered only to USC students and faculty who fall under certain criteria. Women must have a body fat percentage over 30 percent and men's body fat percentage must be over 25 percent.
Cheryl said the hardest part is sticking with eating healthy and exercising when you have sore muscles and feel like giving up. But she said working hard in the gym pays off.
"Making the decision you're going to work hard at it and the harder you work I guess the better results you might get," said Sniegon.
Choose to Lose was recognized as the 2011 Outstanding Wellness Program for Higher Education Professionals by the American College Personnel Association. This award recognizes an innovative wellness program that encompasses physical, emotional, spiritual, occupational, social and intellectual dimensions.
Program coordinator Tina Devlin said she knows from experience the program works.
"I had a lot of success with the program… I lost thirty pounds and I've kept it off for about three years," she said.
So far it's working for Cheryl.
"My clothes are starting to feel a little differently… yeah," Sniegon said.
USC Dietician Kristen Tice said Choose to Lose is fighting against the obesity problem plaguing South Carolina.
"We're in the top ten states for highest obesity rates across the country," Tice Said.
South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control reported that in 2010 nearly three in five South Carolinians were overweight or obese. And, the number of overweight and obese people is increasing.
Tice said even the smallest change can make all the difference.
"But even if you don't lose weight… just making healthier behavior changes like incorporating exercise into your daily regimen rather than being a couch potato," Tice said.
Cheryl said now she tries to drink more water and less sweet tea. She also tries to stay away from vending machines at work.
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle isn't easy. USC student Lana Bogoslavsky is giving Choose to Lose a second try because she liked the results.
"It changed my body shape and the body fat percentage and stuff," said Bogoslavsky.
Lana said the best part about Choose to Lose is the great support system.
"It's fun to be around a bunch of people who really want to get better at what they're doing," she said.
Cheryl said she hopes to be in good shape for summertime after the program ends in April.
"Maybe a smaller clothes size or something like that," said Sniegon.
Cheryl Sniegon says she's seen results from the program.
USC Dietician Kristen Tice gives the class nutrition tips for a healthy lifestyle.
