Success Secrets

The following Success Secrets were taken from suggestions received from other teams. If you would like to add a Success Secret, please email: info@n-lightennebraska.com

I am planning to retire at the end of this year and want to pass along some good news so I don't forget to do so.  As you know, I participated in N-lighten this year as a member of a team.  I encouraged myself to lose weight by making a report of my progress to my fellow directors at our monthly meetings in March, April and May.  I am proud to tell you that as of yesterday, I have lost a total of 30 pounds since February, 11% of my weight.  I still have a way to go, but want you to know that it all started with N-Lighten.  Regards, Bob Bonnell

I had been doing all the "right things". Walking, eating my healthy choice dinners, apples and all. I made two very small changes with good results. I was walking 20 minutes. I upped that to 22, then 24, then 25 then 30 minutes three days a week. And I ate a bit more fruit: an apple for lunch once a week instead of a sandwich. So far I'm down 17 pounds since N-Lighten Nebraska started.

My daughter who is a Diabetes Specialist(Endocrinologist) at the University of Nebraska Medical Center tells me that every diabetic( or not) that she has ever seen that loses a lot of weight has two characteristics: They changed the way they ate and they moved more. That is what it takes to be successful. Dr. Wm Schlichtemeier

Our N-Lighten teams are way down on the list, but we have been having fun. Last week we had our first company marathon. Well, actually only one person here could finish a normal marathon....but we don't claim to be normal. We bought a treadmill for the company at the beginning of the N-Lighten program. For our marathon, we did it in one-mile increments. The first person walked or ran a mile and then tagged the next person and we went all day until we had completed 27 miles. We only have 20 employees, so some people went twice. One guy missed it and was so sad that we let him run the next day (making it a very long marathon!). Everyone who participated got to enjoy the healthy training snacks I brought in and got a marathon t-shirt. I am happy to report that we had 100% participation...even those who aren't on one of our N-Lighten teams helped.

The "Lite 'N Fast" team from Lincoln (pictured on the left) had a team meeting and planned their walking route to Las Vegas. Team member Janice Spicha said "It was fun to get together and plan our route to Las Vegas and to better health! I think that together we can encourage/coach/nag each other to success the next three months."

"Tie-in a public service project to your team's weight loss - an example might be to collect one pound of food for each pound lost and donate it to a local food pantry or tally miles walked as you go from door to door collecting donated food items."

"Schedule a group walk."

"Support local fitness events (even volunteering can add mileage)."

"Select a GOAL for the week - examples might include....drink eight glasses of water a day, share a health article or healthy recipe with the group, take an extra five minutes every morning to stretch, etc."

"Propose a 'challenge event' - challenge team members to reach a certain mileage for the month/week or strive for five servings of fruits and vegetables over a defined time frame."

"Track team mileage on a map and reward yourselves when you reach a certain location - for example, walk to New Orleans and hold a Mardi Gras party when you arrive."

"Build team unity with a monthly gathering of your teammates - hold a potluck and have team members bring low-calorie dishes along with the recipes or plan an activity based event."

"The NHA staff had such a fun time doing the N-Lighten program last year, that we are doing it again this year AND about half the staff are going to do the Lincoln Half Marathon. N-Lighten is a great motivator for getting in shape and living healthier."

"I had not intended to lose weight, simply get moving. I dropped eight pounds from 146 pounds to 138 pounds simply by walking with a partner at work during our breaks. We're both in our 50's and appreciated the gentle reminders and positive e-mails we received from our twenty-something team leader who championed our successes. We have continued our walking routine after 'NLighten. We call them our "nutrition power walks" because we share nutrition ideas (we both teach nutrition) as we walk...and we not only "keep moving" physically, but mentally and emotionally as well!"

"Don't get overwhelmed by your responsibilities. Delegate various duties along to other team members. It encourages ownership and fosters creativity among teammates."

"Take measurements - once a month take selected measurements. Many times measurements change before the scale does."

"Focus on the process, not the outcome. Instead of focusing on losing a certain number of pounds...focus instead on getting out and walking five times a week."

"Utilize a pedometer as a training partner - 10K a day, strive to reach 10,000 steps a day (approximately 5 miles)."

"Post your monthly log where you see it daily - Out of sight, out of mind."

"Set smaller goals and reward yourself when you reach them - when you've reached a certain mileage, treat your feet to a massage, pedicure or even some new shoes."

"Visit your local library and check out books on tape/CD - when walking by yourself in a SAFE environment, this helps pass the time and can provide motivation to exercise if you only allow yourself to listen to the book if you're moving."

"If your place of employment has multiple floors, post a chart at the top to track number of flights walked (place children's artwork in the stairwell to add cheer)."

"Don't become disillusioned if you hit a plateau - think of it this way, you didn't GAIN weight, you've stemmed the tide."

"Get out of your comfort zone - sign up for a class in something you've always wanted to do (i.e. tap dance, yoga, swim lessons, etc.), have teammates join you."

"Find a short box and place it in front of your TV, now you can be stepping up and down while catching a favorite show."