After successfully treating thyroid cancer, Kelly Huffman, Nebraska Medicine patient resource manager, found herself with two concerns: extra weight and high blood pressure.
“My doctor wanted to put me on medication for blood pressure,” Huffman said. “I already take a thyroid medication. I didn’t want to be on another.”
She asked her doctor for time to lose weight.
“He gave me two months to show progress,” she said.
Huffman had recently seen the article about Nebraska Medicine Chief Financial Officer Stephanie Daubert and her success on the New Direction meal replacement program.
“I had no idea we offered such an incredible program,” Huffman said.
She registered in July 2018 and knew right away she made a good choice.
“The staff is amazing,” she said. “They are so supportive.”
In the New Direction program, there are two plan options: a low calorie diet (LCD) and a very low calorie diet (VLCD). Huffman is on the LCD plan and has lost 21 pounds to date, with a goal of losing 10 more. One of the things Huffman enjoys the most are the weekly meetings.
“Every week, we talk about something different,” she said. “We talk about managing stress, how to read labels, how to begin exercising. Then we share as a group, which is my favorite part. We share the highlights and the struggles of the past week. It’s a very supportive environment.”
Huffman returned to her doctor in November 2018 and he’s pleased with her weight loss and her blood pressure.
UNMC employees are eligible for a 50% off discount on the start-up fee and 10% discount on products. Once a UNMC participant’s weight-loss goal is achieved through active participation in the New Direction Program, they will receive a one-time InBody 570 and ReeVue Indirect Calorimeter testing at no cost. The InBody 570 body composition analyzer is a useful tool in measuring fat, muscle and water levels. The ReeVue Indirect Calorimeter directly measures the concentration of oxygen you breathe, which correlates to calories burned.
“I use my health savings account (HSA) to pay for all of it,” Huffman said. “I think the pricing is totally reasonable.”
Interested colleagues should plan to attend an information session that provides an overview and pricing of the program.
“The metabolic calculator will calculate your metabolic rate,” said Lauren White, physician assistant at the Bariatric Center. “That will tell us how many calories a person needs for weight loss or to maintain a certain weight.”
The inBody scale helps determine the weight of different parts of a person’s body and how you can achieve lean mass.
“Our staff is very skilled in what we do,” White said. “We are compassionate, inclusive and welcoming. You’re not in this alone. It can be scary, but we are here to help you in your weight-loss journey.”
You can learn more about the program here or call 402-559-9500.