Eulalee Thompson - BE WELL

To say that Tuesday, March 10, was a busy day for Tanica Plummer, winner of The Gleaner's Health section weight-management challenge, is nothing short of an understatement.

Tanny (her pet name) was shuffling between consultations with consultant nutritionist Dr Suzanne Soares-Wynter, exercise physiologist Dr Kenneth Gardner and consultant psychiatrist Dr Wendel Abel. These consultations were in the prize package promised to Tanny when she emerged winner of the weight-management challenge. In addition, she is getting almost daily supportive counselling and coaching from yours truly.

At the nutritionist

But Tanica is up to the task. She moved confidently and smoothly through her consultations. The stop at the nutritionist chewed up the largest portion of Tanica's day. Soares-Wynter, with the assistance of Kimberley Rudder, MSc nutrition student, took Tanica's height, weight, waist, hip and thigh measurements. She explained to Tanica that the measure of her body composition (the indication of body fat) would be done at another session when her nutrition plan would be presented.

She was presented with a questionnaire on eating and other behaviour and lifestyle patterns, shown the body mass index chart and told her about healthy and unhealthy weight-loss expectations.

Three-month challenge

Soares-Wynter explained, for example, that over the three-month challenge, a reasonable weight-loss target for Tanica would be five per cent of her current weight of 225 pounds which she carries on 5'4" frame. The nutritionist is also interested in change in body fat. Tanica was told not to focus on the number, however, but on maintaining good health.

She was also told of some tricks in the 'eating-less trade' such as:

1. Drinking water before dining.

2. Making sure that most of the plate is vegetables.

3. Eating slower.

At the exercise consultant

Next stop was at the exercise physiologist's. Gardner wanted to get an idea of Tanica's current exercise and physical activity regime and what she enjoys doing for physical activity. Tanica said that she likes to jog, though she doesn't do much of that activity these days for safety reasons. She walks around her school campus (The Mico University College) and Gardner wanted to know how far and how fast she walked.

Gardner asked Tanica, "Do you enjoy exercising?" And he was happy with her answer. She said, "Yes, I like abdominals and I have tried aerobics but I don't have good coordination."

The important thing is that Tanica enjoys exercising and is motivated to follow the experts' advice to enhance her current regime to achieve her goal. Gardner sent Tanica her exercise prescription a few days later. (See Gardner's exercise prescription for Tanica in this edition of Health).

On the therapist's couch

Tanica's final stop was her counselling session. Abel put her at ease and chit-chatted with Tanica for a few minutes about her weight and how she felt about it. Realising that she had already had a gruelling day, lapping up all sorts of new information, Abel asked Tanica to reschedule the formal therapy session for another day.

Phew! Talk about information overload.

Eulalee Thompson is health editor and a professional counsellor; email: eulalee.thompson@ gleanerjm.com.

Tanica Plummer, Health section's battle of the bulge winner, in a counselling session with Dr Wendel Abel, consultant psychiatrist and head, University of the West Indies' Department of Psychiatry. - photos by Ian Allen/Staff Photographer

Tanica has a chat with Wendel Abel.

Dr Suzanne Soares-Wynter (left), consultant nurtitionist, takes Tanica Plummer's waist circumference. Kimberley Rudder, MSc nutrition student, takes notes. Tanica is the Health section's battle of the bulge winner.

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