Weight Management Inc. will host a free information session at its Plattsburgh Office at West Bay Plaza at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 16, and 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 17. Call 561-3913 for reservations.
PLATTSBURGH — Nancy Garrand enjoys mountain climbing.
She has plans on becoming a 46'er, a feat that focuses on reaching the summit of all of the Adirondack High Peaks that rise more than 4,000 feet above sea level.
It's a goal that just a year ago seemed as far from reality as any chance she had of climbing Mt. Everest, the world's tallest peak.
But, today, after successfully initiating a change in her lifestyle that promotes healthy eating, Garrand is seriously active in hiking to the tops of the Adirondacks.
"I've had a weight problem my whole life," she said recently, talking about the changes she has made with help from Weight Management Inc.
The highly controlled weight-loss program utilizes special diets and team support for success.
"I've tried various programs that always had success at the start but were not long term. Weight Management is a medically supervised program that emphasizes long-term maintenance. It's been very successful for me."
Garrand attended an information session hosted by Weight Management Inc.'s Plattsburgh office and was sold on the presentation that gave attendees with weight problems hope that they could succeed where they had failed so many times before.
At 309 pounds, the AuSable Forks Elementary School teacher was strongly in need of hope.
"I was looking at turning 50 and thinking about what I wanted to do with the next 20 or 30 years of my life," she said. "This program really stresses long-term maintenance, and I knew that's what I needed.
"You have to have the building blocks to maintain life-long healthy habits."
Garrand opted for the "Decision-Free Program," which provided her with a routine diet of shakes and entrees designed for optimal nutrition with optimal weight-loss results.
"It's a meal-replacement and behavioral-modification program," said Jasen Lawrence, information technology specialist for the Plattsburgh Weight Management Inc. office. "Our goal is to help people lose weight in a controlled, healthy partnership with the patient."
Dr. Edward Hixson of Adirondack Medical Center in Saranac Lake provides medical support for the program, while Sandra Gotthard works closely with clients as program director.
Besides the dietary choices, Garrand attends bi-weekly group sessions and stays in close contact with the medical-care providers.
The teamwork has proved immensely successful: She has lost 107 pounds since beginning in late January and has her sights set on reaching her weight goal of 170 pounds soon.
She has moved beyond the shakes and entrée portion of the program and now also includes fruits and vegetables as well as lean proteins in her 1,500-calorie-per-day diet.
"I don't see myself missing fried foods," she said. "But now if I have something special, it's fine as long as it fits into my 1,500 calories.
"I don't want to say I can't have anything," she added. "If I want some cheesecake, I'll take two or three bites. Portion control is the key to any successful weight loss."
The weight loss has also given her the energy to develop a regular exercise program. She walks routinely and has begun to fit in some jogging, as well. She has also recently gotten involved in Zumba dance and enjoys horseback riding.
Pain that used to constantly aggravate her legs and feet has all but disappeared as she continues to improve her active lifestyle.
But perhaps dearest to her heart is the improved energy she has in the classroom. Even her third-grade students have commented on her weight loss and energy gain, she said.
"I've become a role model for them," she said. "They bring in fruits and vegetables for snacks. It's really nice to see."
E-mail Jeff Meyers at: jmeyers@pressrepublican.com
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