HMH partners with Diet Free

Hardin Memorial Health has partnered with a wellness program that denounces diets in favor of common sense and practical solutions to weight loss and health.

The program is called Diet Free, created by registered dietitian Zonya Foco. It details eight life-changing habits through 10 weekly seminars sent to a user’s email, said Lisa Murphy, a registered dietitian and wellness coordinator at HMH.

HMH is registering participants through Jan. 10 at www.hmh.net or by calling (270) 706-5540. The program starts Jan. 21, Murphy said.

The health system learned about the program during a wellness conference, which sparked the partnership, she said.

Unlike other programs offered by HMH, this program exclusively is online, allowing individuals to move through the seminars at their own pace without the need to attend classes. Murphy said this accommodates residents with busy schedules who may not be able to attend because of work and extracurricular activities.

The regular price for the complete program is $185 and $145 for the online program. HMH is offering a discount with an individual fee of $90. Murphy said an individual can add a member of their household for $40, which may be beneficial to many who want to get healthy in lockstep with family members.

HMH also will offer two informational sessions in the hospital’s fifth-floor auditorium at noon and at 5:30 p.m. Jan. 10.

In addition to the 10 online seminars broken down over a 10-week period, participants will receive supplemental materials, including a lifestyle guide with health and wellness tips, a fitness tutorial, habit tracker and cookbook.

Each habit is broken down one at a time with a focus on attainable goals, such as the benefits of breakfast and the need to find fat in one’s eating routines. Users cannot skip ahead in the program but can refer to the seminars as many times as they want, Murphy said. This is preferable for those who may have obstacles that force them to put the program on hold, she said.

Also, the online Diet Free portal offers a community message board so local users can interact with others around the country, swapping advice and tips on ways to be healthy, Murphy said.

The Diet Free program was built by Foco as a way to help users lose weight, increase energy, lower cholesterol, blood sugar and blood pressure, or boost optimum health without resorting to trendy diets that do not work.

“If it feels like a diet, it’s worthless,” Zoco said during an introductory video on the Diet Free website, www.dietfree.com.

Marty Finley can be reached at (270) 505-1762 or mfinley@thenewsenterprise.com.