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Weight
loss challenger finds computer log a helpful aid
By MIRIAM MOELLER
Journal Staff Writer
Jane Hutchens joined the Healthy Weight Journal Challenge for
two reasons. One, she knew that if she would go public with her
weight loss program, she would stick with it. Two, she wanted
to encourage other people to start living healthier.
"People get ashamed about their weight," she said. "I
wanted people to know to not let that get in the way of getting
healthy."
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Jane
Hutchens, a participant in the Healthy Weight Journal Challenge,
demonstrates how she enters her calorie intake and logs
her exercise in the Balance Log program.
(Journal photo by Miriam Moeller)
Jane
Hutchens, 46,
advertising representative
Starting weight on April 12:
283 pounds
Current weight: 244.5 pounds
Pounds lost: 38.5
Height: 5'9" |
Hutchens
said she had always been chubby as a child, but that her real
weight gain happened when she was in her twenties. It was then
that Hutchens discovered she has colitis, and the steroids she
takes to fight the condition dramatically increase her appetite.
"I gained literally over 100 pounds through that period,"
she said.
Hutchens said that in the last four years she has weighed as much
as 330 pounds. She has tried several different diets, but that
they usually failed her when she had to go on steroids for her
condition. In fact, Hutchens is on steroids right now, but this
time things are different.
"Truthfully, it would be really easy to use the steroids
I am on as an excuse, but because I made this commitment to do
this program I am bound and determined to make it work,"
she said.
And although she thinks she may see a weight gain at the next
weigh-in, she is proud that she is sticking to her program.
"Before I would have just given up until I was done with
the steroids," she said.
Hutchens favorite part to stay on track is the balance log. All
participants in the Healthy Weight Journal use this computer program
that helps control diet and exercise.
The balance log stores each participant's profile such as age,
height, frame size, and resting metabolic rate and then calculates
what diet and exercise would help to maintain or lose weight.
Hutchens has to enter every item she eats and every exercise she
completes. For instance, if she eats salmon, she has to specifically
record whether it is cooked, baked or canned and exactly note
how much she eats. The program will then calculate calorie intake.
"You don't realize till it's in black and white what you
eat and how it all breaks down," she said.
The exercise log works the same; if Hutchens mops the floor for
30 minutes, the program counts it as 198 lost calories. For washing
and waxing her car, Hutchens would lose 255 calories in 30 minutes.
The program gives Hutchens daily reports on her progress toward
her goal.
"I really think this has made a difference," she said.
The balance log can be obtained from Donna Marlor, director of
Weight Management
at Marquette General Hospital. She can be contacted at 225-6955
or by e-mail at djmarlor@mgh.org.
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