Advertisement But the two Franciscan Skemp employees couldn’t find time in their day to attend a weight-loss program outside of work. So when Franciscan Skemp offered the WeightWatchers at Work program at the La Crosse medical center in March, they jumped at the opportunity to join.
Nelson, who works in patient financial services, has lost 31 pounds and is getting close to her goal. Chapiewsky, a nurse at Family Health Clinic, has lost 23 pounds.
“I needed to change the way I lived my life and I needed to lose weight, but I wanted to do it in a healthy way,” Nelson said.
“It made all the difference when the program was offered here at work,” she said. “I needed the group support, and it works.”
Katie Legler, Franciscan Skemp health promotion consultant, said 108 employees at the La Crosse, Arcadia and Sparta clinics have enrolled in the program. They have lost a total of 2,000 pounds in six months.
“This is something employees wanted, and they wanted to work it into their daily schedule right here at work,” Legler said.
“It has taken the excuses away because it’s not hard to work it into your day anymore,” she said.
Legler said the program is an important part of greater efforts to promote healthy living for employees of a health care institution.
She said Weight-Watchers is a more sensible approach than many other weight-loss programs.
“It’s a such a credible program for more than 40 years,” Legler said. “It’s also not necessarily a diet, but more about lifestyle changes and incorporating exercise and group support.”
Nelson, who will mark her 40th birthday Thursday, said she eats more fruits and vegetables and fewer fried foods now. She said she doesn’t eat at fast-food places and has cut down on sweets.
“I’ve changed the way I cooked so even my husband has lost some weight,” she said.
She also has added exercise to her daily routine. She walks during two 15-minute breaks at work and exercises for another hour or so in the evening.
Nelson said her co-workers have noticed her weight loss, and she inspired six others to join the program.
Chapiewsky said she joined the program because she wanted to lose some weight before undergoing knee surgery in November.
“I also didn’t like feeling the way I did, so I did this for me,” she said.
She now watches her food portions and has added more fruits, vegetables and fish to her diet. Chapiewsky also rides her bike regularly to work.
There are other businesses in the area that offer the WeightWatchers at Work program. It is a great way for employers and employees to partner for the health of a com-pany and its workers.
Terry Rindfleisch can be reached at (608) 791-8227.
