Millions of people are starting the New Year making resolutions to eat healthier, exercise more and lose their excess weight. But how do they know how many calories they should be eating in a day in order to effectively and healthfully lose weight? No two people are alike, and no two people’s daily caloric needs are alike, either.
The Karen Yontz Women’s Cardiac Awareness Center at Aurora St. Luke’s has the answer.
The Center offers a screening that measures a person’s resting metabolic rate using a testing device called the BodyGem, which is used on the hit TV show, The Biggest Loser. Throughout January and February, the Yontz Center will offer BodyGem measurements for a reduced price of $30.
“The test is simple and incredibly accurate, and it gives women a personalized goal for the amount of calories they should be taking in each day,” said Heather Klug, registered dietician at the Yontz Center. “Knowledge is power, and knowing that target number is a huge step in a person’s weight loss or maintenance efforts.”
The BodyGem screening requires about 20-30 minutes of a person’s time, and an additional 30-45 minutes if the person wishes to sit down with Klug to discuss a personalized plan for losing or maintaining her weight. Those being screened must fast for four hours prior to the test, and the test entails breathing through a mouthpiece for 5-10 minutes.
Using the results of the test, Klug then uses a software program that takes into account a variety of other factors, from a person’s age to her daily activity level, to offer an accurate caloric intake goal.
The BodyGem promotion will run through the month of February, which is National Heart Disease Awareness Month. Heart disease is the number one killer of women in America, claiming approximately one in every three lives.
The Yontz Center is a nationally recognized resource center that is open to the community and offers resources such as heart disease risk assessments, books and other literature, classes and other special events, and a staff nurse and dietician who are available to sit down and talk with women about their own personal risk factors and plans for reducing their risk for the disease.
The Center will host an Open House event on Friday, Feb. 1 from 9:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. to kick off Heart Disease Awareness Month. Everyone is welcome to stop in and explore the resources available, enjoy heart healthy refreshments and learn about simple steps they can take to reduce their risk for heart disease.
Visit www.karenyontzcenter.org to learn more.