Fredericksburg Parent

www.FredericksburgParent.NET 19 Join us for the live conversation on Stay tuned to the Fredericksburg Parent & Family YouTube and Facebook channels this month for a video interview featuring Fredericksburg Academy. Facebook: @fredericksburgparent • Twitter: @FredParent Instagram: @fredparentmagazine a sk t h e e x p e rt Sponsored Material ... long-term success still depends on changing behaviors. But the magic of the program lies in the fact that we build a community around our par cipants, showing them that they are never alone on their journey. We highlight the successes that o en go unseen that can help keep par cipants mo vated to do this hard work. Par cipants have access to our weekly support group, and virtual mee ngs ensure that traffi c and transporta on constraints won't get in the way of these valuable sessions. We also have monthly nutri on classes, a weekly walking group called Sole Mates, and many other educa onal and mo va onal tools. Our par cipants are huge cheerleaders for each other. Q: Who is a candidate for Moving Forward, and who is a candidate for bariatric surgery? A: Anybody who wants to lose weight is a candidate for Moving Forward. For surgery, a pa ent must have a body mass index (BMI) of 35 or higher with other comorbidi es. These include obesity- related condi ons such as sleep apnea, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. With a BMI of 40 or greater, no comorbidi es are needed to be a candidate for surgery, but at that point, it is likely that a pa ent will have developed some of these condi ons. Mary Washington Healthcare Q: Why is the comprehensive approach so important? A: Whether you are having surgery, or whether you are working through our medical weight loss program, your long-term success s ll depends on changing behaviors. Our approach is an educa onal program that helps you change your life and change your ea ng habits so that you can decrease your health problems. So many people who struggle with their weight are ruled by the reading on the scale. This can be problema c, because you can work hard for a week and not see the number you want to see—we don't want that to set you back. We focus on helping pa ents see the "non-scale victories" that are happening as they proceed with making these changes. It could be something as simple as having more energy on your regular shopping trips, or si ng more comfortably in an airplane seat. People need to come in and be willing to change their thinking, that is the key. And if they are willing to do that, we have the resources that can help them change their life and actually make their life longer. Q: How did you become a member of the team at Mary Washington Weight Loss Center? A: To be able to help people along this journey is truly fulfi lling for me, because I have been there. I was a life- me member of Weight Watchers at 240 pounds, and while I was eff ec ve at losing weight, I could never keep it off . I had bariatric surgery with Dr. Halmi in 2017. When I had the surgery, I was wondering, 'What was going to make this me diff erent?' I realized this couldn't be a diet—it had to be a total lifestyle change, which involved ge ng rid of all of my old ideas and ge ng away from the scale being my higher power. I had to just follow the guidance of my die an and exercise coach, and I had to follow all the instruc ons—especially the ones I didn't want to. I just had to make a decision that this was my new way of life. It was my commitment to myself. And the more support I had, the more I felt like I wasn't the only person out there who struggled with this. It's not a diet. It's a way of living. To learn more about the Moving Forward Medical Weight Loss Program, visit weightloss.mwhc.com, or call 540-741-2955.

• Cover