Why Fit-Nut?

Excess food consumption and lack of physical activity are global problems, and there is no “one size fits all” when it comes to diet or exercise. Some people do not understand proper portion control, or realize that you can still eat too much “good” food. And they struggle with putting together a practical exercise regime.

The daily challenges that stop patients from eating appropriately and exercising regularly vary between age groups. These challenges become even more difficult as one grows older.

Fit-Nut can help by giving you the opportunity to meet, in small groups, with a dietitian, personal trainer and physician to gain an improved understanding of the exercise and eating habits that are right for you. A customized fitness routine and nutrition plan will be created for you to target—and help control—variables such as weight, high blood pressure, high sugars and high cholesterol.

Women are encouraged to participate in Fit-Nut for as much time as they would like, ideally long enough to grow comfortable incorporating any dietary and exercise changes into their everyday routines.

The Truth about Obesity

Obesity is defined as a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or greater. Currently, our nation’s obesity rate is roughly 34 percent. Our recent efforts and investments to prevent and control obesity have been inadequate, and Harvard researchers have just issued a concerning prediction that, eventually, 42 percent of our population will be obese.

The underlying causes of obesity are multifaceted and often involve emotional and behavioral issues. In general, these causes can be simplified to a combination of an excessive intake of food and an inadequate amount of exercise. And, obesity data supports that people are “dieting” and “exercising” in an inefficient fashion.

The knowledge and experience of fitness and nutrition experts is often needed to help patients effectively tackle the topics of weight, exercise, high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels and weight-related diabetes. Your Fit-Nut team will work to institute small changes in your current exercise and eating regimens, based on a clear understanding of your time, financial and physical limitations, if any.

What to Expect During Your Fit-Nut Group Visit

The Fit-Nut group is scheduled to meet on Thursdays from 9 to 11 am in General Internal Medicine, Station 6, located on 4 Central at Lahey Clinic Medical Center in Burlington. Please note: Fit-Nut does not meet in July or August.

A maximum of 12 patients will be scheduled to participate in the two-hour session. This group will then be divided into three sub-groups, according to age, as each decade poses its unique problems and challenges. The groups will rotate through 30-minute sessions each with the personal trainer, dietitian and physician.

Each member of the group will be taught how to perform specific exercises that they can do at home, creating a working exercise program including stretching, cardio and toning. Group members will also discuss their current diet and eating patterns, and changes will be suggested and reviewed.

Your weight, BMI, blood pressure, and recent glucose and cholesterol values will be reviewed. This data will be tracked and followed each visit, demonstrating the positive benefits of your time with the trainer and nutritionist. You will also have the ability to contact the trainer and dietitian through e-mail to address any additional questions.

Our Vision

Fit-Nut has the tools to teach patients how to be healthier, at any age. Through group visits, Fit-Nut provides information and guidance to female patients regarding age- and health-appropriate fitness and nutrition. Women will learn how to exercise and which nutritional requirements are best for them.

Each patient will receive individual attention from a personal trainer, nutritionist and physician, assisting them in creating a fitness routine and nutrition plan to target and help control variables such as weight, high blood pressure, high sugars and high cholesterol.

Contact Us Today! Call 781-744-2960

Fact: Heart disease kills more women than all other cancers combined

Fact: You can help prevent heart disease

Fact: February is Healthy Heart month

For all the reasons listed above (and more!) we hope  you will join us tomorrow at Lahey Clinic in Burlington, from 10am – 2pm, for a FREE mini heart health fair in the main lobby.

Members of Lahey’s Cardiac Rehab team will be on hand to chat with you, answer questions, and provide valuable information about preventing heart disease.

For more information, please contact Patricia Toye, RN at 781-744-2460.

Call 1-855-CT-CHEST to learn more

At this time, Lahey Clinic is the only known hospital currently offering low-dose CT screenings at absolutely no charge to the patient

You may qualify for a free CT lung screening at Lahey if you meet the high-risk critera in one of the following recommended categories:

Category 1

• 55 and 74 years old
• Currently a smoker or quit within the past 15 years
• Smoked at least a pack of cigarettes a day for 30+ years

Category 2

• Over 50 years old
• Smoked at least a pack of cigarettes a day for 20+ years
• Have one additional lung cancer risk factor (not to include secondhand smoke exposure)

A truly special day today at Lahey Clinic where the Lahey radiation/oncology department hosted a wedding ceremony. Long-time Lahey patient and Bermuda resident Wendell Scraders wed Carol, his companion for the past 30 years. Wendell and his bride decided to say “I Do” at Lahey, because the radiation/oncology team has become their adopted family over the years.

We wish the lovely couple a long and happy life together!

Truth is we like you  more because we give you stuff.  It makes us happy.

Okay, we’re in a weird mood… here’s the deal.

Just visit www.lahey.org and find videos of primary care doctors currently accepting new patients.

Name at least two of them in the comment thread on the official Lahey Clinic Facebook page and you’re automatically entered to win this nifty t-shirt.

What are you waiting for?

The contest ends this Friday (1/20/12) at 4:30pm.

Happy hunting!

Learn more about the Community Youth Orchestras of Boston

If you’d like to commemorate the memory of MLK, there are some interesting activities happening in our area.

• At Acton’s Discovery Museum, you and your kids can join in on a fun friendship bracelet making activity.
• Winchester is planning a Day of Celebration which includes musical performances,  an art show by local children, and other fun family focused events. These festivities take place at Metcalf Hall.
• In honor of MLK Day, admission fees will be waived on Monday at Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts. Visitors can enjoy complimentary admission to the MFA’s galleries, family activities, films and performances.
• And in Rockport, the Unitarian Universalist Church will be hosting its annual Martin Luther King Day March for Peace at 10:00 am.

No matter how you spend the day Monday, we hope you are happy and healthy!

FACT:  There is no routine screening for lung cancer

FACT: Lahey Clinic is trying to change that

If you are between the ages of 50 and 74, currently a smoker (or have quit within the past 15 years) and have a history of smoking at least a pack of cigarettes a day for 20 years, you may qualify for a free low-dose CT lung screening.

The screening is quick and painless and you do NOT have to be a Lahey patient to receive this free screening. However, your primary care doctor must order the test.

To learn more, please call 1-855-CT-CHEST between 8:30am–4:30pm, Monday through Friday to complete a screening questionnaire.

Thank you!

The Sophia Gordon Cancer Center at Lahey Clinic

This morning, Lahey Clinic quenched an older 1.5 MRI to make room for new, state-of-the-art 3T system at the Burlington facility. The scheduled quenching went off without a hitch.  Non toxic cold helium vapor was released into the air for approximately one minute… that’s the large cloud of white smoke you see in the video.

The new MRI unit should be available to patients within 12 weeks. As always, we strive to provide all Lahey patients with the best technology available.

Dr. Bilodeau proud to be part of the International Medical Alliance of Tennessee team, which consisted of a group of 11… including four doctors, two nurses, two medical students and three non-medical workers.

The team saw up to 500 patients per day treating a wide variety of illnesses. All patients with chronic conditions were given a full year’s worth of medicine others were referred to specialists in nearby facilities.

Below are a few photos from the mission.