Weight management program helps university staff

“Dr. Ray has been my inspiration,” Spears said. “He motivated us by regular meetings and guidance.”

He provides the same instruction for the college’s staff, but he said he wants to expand it.

“[I’m] planning to offer it to community members and business employees by online delivery,” Ray said. “I am going to encourage faculty to participate in the program.”

Ray said students and faculty had high success taking his course. 

Spears said she eats five small healthier meals a day instead of three.

“I eat yogurt, whole-grain cereals and fruits in breakfast and don’t eat carbohydrate after 3 p.m.,” she said. “I drink at least 70 ounces of water a day.”

Spears feels more energetic after losing weight, she said.

She uses a pedometer to keep track of her activity and diet. Last semester, she used an accelerometer, a device measuring the acceleration and gravity to tell how something is moving.

The online course’s enrollment has increased compared to the last semester, Ray said.

College staff members are planning to meet with Ray next week to learn how to survive the holidays without gaining weight, Spears said. Generally, people underestimate intake and overestimate exercise, Ray said. When they exercise a lot they try to eat a lot and that doesn’t help, he said.

Patsy Rangel, the college’s senior office assistant, lost weight last semester, but this semester she has just maintained her new weight.

“I limited my exercise,” Rangel said. “I couldn’t work out much because of knee replacement. However, I am planning to start doing it soon.”