For most of your members, weight loss is the number-one goal. Help them get the results they really want by focusing on the whole person.
Many of your members walk in the door of your club hoping to shed pounds, but as every good club owner knows, one-size-fits-all weight loss programs seldom do the trick. In order for a weight loss program to be successful, it needs to address your member’s individual needs, taking into account not just how much weight a person wants to lose but also her past and current health, social lifestyle, workload, emotional readiness, sleep habits, ability to handle stress-the list goes on and on. And nutrition- despite the fact that health club’s aren’t synonymous with nutrition guidance-plays an integral role in successful weight loss; if your club doesn’t have a registered dietitian, it’s worth considering adding one to your staff. A carefully planned mix of diet and exercise tailored to meet your members’ individual needs is the key to ensuring your members get the results they want. Bring together members who have weight loss as a goal for weekly meetings where you go beyond diet and exercise to address your members’ whole lives, including:
PHYSICAL: This seems like a given in a health club, but the truth is, many clubs fail to introduce sufficient variety of exercise to keep their members motivated. Take the opportunity to engage your members with new kinds of workouts-focus on stress management one week, and introduce yoga mat exercises.
EMOTIONAL: What is going on in the individual’s life that may be causing stress? How are they handling it? The weight loss program should include discussing stress management-learning the different techniques such as journaling, progressive muscle relaxation and guided imagery-as well as yoga or anger management.
MENTAL: Is this person exercising his mind? What are they doing to keep themselves informed? Perhaps you provide a recommended reading list for your group to encourage them to read.
SOCIAL: During the program, offer contests to keep it competitive. At the end of the program, you may have a graduation or awards ceremony so members can invite family or friends to help celebrate their success. Go to a restaurant and use the skills members have learned to make healthy choices while dining out.
ENVIRONMENTAL: Most people don’t think about green living as part of wellness, but our environment truly impacts how we live.
SPIRITUAL: Having purpose and meaning in one’s own life while remaining consistent in one’s beliefs and values is an important part of balanced living. One way we can teach this in a weight loss program is by encouraging journaling. By journaling their workouts, meals and weight loss challenges, members can assess where their issues may lie. You can also use the last 10 minutes of a discussion as quiet time for personal reflection and meditation.
OCCUPATIONAL: The ability to balance work and life can be a major stressor in today’s society. Being able to teach clients to take time out from work and be proactive about their health is important for their success at weight loss.
Creating a weight loss plan works best when you address your members as whole people and not simply as carbon copies. Though this may require a little more effort and creativity on your part than simply pointing a member toward your treadmills, the extra effort pays off in the long run with members who feel valued and successful-and, ultimately, loyal to your club.
Jasmine Jafferali, MPH is the Program Coordinator and instructor for Educational Fitness Solutions, Inc.
