Kaiser Permanente Southern California member Norma joined the Healthy Balance workshop offered by the Center for Healthy Living in hopes of improving her eating habits. She was motivated to join by a friend who participated in the program and suggested that she give it a try.
This was Norma’s first experience with a Center for Healthy Living workshop. She said, “When I first went through the orientation, it sounded so good, and it sounded so helpful to me that I signed up for the class with Danielle. They had a spot for me, so I’ve been going ever since.”
While the Center for Healthy Living’s workshops are available to attend both in person and online, Norma decided to attend in person. She chose the in-person workshops not only because it was something to get her out of the house but also for the interaction with the other participants. She said, “Everybody participates. Everybody has something to say.”
While explaining another aspect of the in-person workshop that she enjoyed, Norma became emotional and said, “Most of the people in the class look like me as far as age, and I think that’s what motivated me a lot also.” For Norma, to see other women “with hair that looks like mine, gray hair … it’s very motivating and inspiring.” She connected with another workshop participant in particular who she says has a very inspirational journey, and she fully enjoys their conversations.
The in-person workshop format also appeals to Norma because she learns new information not only from her facilitator but also through interactions with the other participants. “[The other participants] give you suggestions on what they did to change a certain thing.” For example, reducing salt in daily meals was one suggestion that Norma found helpful to improve her eating habits.
Being able to relate to other participants is extremely valuable to Norma. She finds that just hearing somebody else say, “that’s what helped me and brought my blood pressure down, and the doctor took me off the blood pressure medicine” is very motivating.
The strategy that stood out to Norma the most is the power of a positive mindset. She said,
“It’s all about the mindset. I have to set my mind up for what it is that I need to do for me, and [the facilitator] reminded me not to be ashamed if I felt like I fell off the wagon.”
She truly appreciated the way the facilitator, Danielle, presented the mindset information. She mentioned that Danielle is wonderful, adds humor to the workshops, and truly feels like she is concerned about her workshop participants.
One issue Norma struggled with initially was eating in the mornings. Sometimes she would wake up around 5 or 6 a.m. but would not eat until 2 or 3 p.m. Her facilitator suggested that she eat something at least 90 minutes after she wakes up, so Norma has been working on that and has been doing much better.
For Norma, taking a step back and remembering why she started her health journey was very important in improving and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. “You know, you think that you waited too late to try and get your health in order, or even your eating habits in order,” but, Norma tells herself, “I have to keep my mind focused and remind myself this is for you. It’s a lifetime thing that you’re doing, Norma. And you got to stick with it. One day at a time.”
*Photos show models, not actual program participants.
16
