January 13, 2006

New Year's resolution? Be Fit offers support

Studies show that one of the most popular New Year's resolutions is to lose weight, exercise more and eat healthier foods. MGHers who have made this same commitment for the new year now have support to keep their resolution with the hospital's Be Fit program. Launched in January 2005, this joint-sponsored program with The Clubs at Charles River Park and MGH Nutrition and Food Services has guided 18 teams — with a total of 317 employees — to a healthier lifestyle in three phases of the program. Be Fit teaches participants how to eat healthier and exercise more with the guidance of registered dietitians and personal trainers.

Now as the program enters its second year, Be Fit is offering program features to employees who aren't members of one of the official teams. For example, MGH employees can purchase Be Fit meals from most of the hospital cafeterias, including the Eat Street Cafè, the Blossom Street Cafè and Tea Leaves and Coffee Beans. The pre-made meals are marked with a Be Fit sticker, and Be Fit daily hot meals — breakfast, lunch and dinner — are indicated with new signage at the front entrance of the Eat Street Cafè.

While access to advice from MGH nutritionists is reserved for Be Fit team members, any MGH employee can benefit from a broad range of information for staying healthy from the recently launched Be Fit website located at www.massgeneral.org/clubsatcrp/befit. The site features suggestions for healthy food choices, exercise tips and a feature called "The Be Fit minute," which covers helpful fitness advice such as the importance of eating a good breakfast, tips for holiday eating and integrating exercise into daily routines.

Be Fit survivor sessions, which are open to everyone in the MGH community, also are listed on the website. Some upcoming events include a massage class to be held Jan.19, from 12:30 to 1 pm, in the Yawkey Center's Satter Conference Center, Room 2220. In addition, the website features testimonials from Be Fit "survivors" that serve as an inspiration to others who want to get fit. And the website soon will introduce a fitness blog for members and nonmembers to use to share information and ask questions. For more information about the Be Fit program, call (617) 726-2900.

Did you know that in addition to offering Be Fit meals, the MGH Eat Street Cafè has a variety of healthy food choices that are in high demand? The most popular food items in the cafeteria are: turkey, tuna, chicken and the salad bar. Susan Barraclough, RD, director of MGH Nutrition and Food Services, notes that the popular American fast food of choice — French fries — doesn't make the top 10 list.