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About Wallowa County chieftain. (Enterprise, Wallowa County, Or.) 1943-current | View Entire Issue (May 18, 2016)
CHIP Program helps guide local residents through lifestyle changes our age, we recognize we have to take better care of ourselves.” For Ted and Sharon, CHIP Stephanie Williams of Joseph provided a key missing piece — had been eating pretty healthful, education. avoiding processed foods and “We were blown away by the white bread and staying physi- education it provided,” Ted said. cally active. The same could not “It trained me on how to really be said of her husband, Bob. For understand food labels, and to Bob, grabbing a quick candy bar see food as medicine.” or some potato chips as a snack Ted’s lifelong cravings for was pretty common. Making sweets went away. He no longer time for exercise was a struggle. desires the cakes, cookies, pas- Les and GG Johnson had a tries and pies that he had enjoyed, freezer full of meat — beef, elk, but that had cost him his health. deer — and enjoyed hearty meals. “I do not feel deprived,” Overweight and out of shape, their he said. “We made it through doctor warned them changes would the holidays — Thanksgiving, Scot Heisel/Wallowa County Chieftain have to be made or more severe Margaret Lamm, director of the Dietary Department at Wallowa Christmas — and we did not health consequences would follow. Memorial Hospital, often teaches healthy cooking classes as part deviate from this lifestyle. We Ted and Sharon Hays had tried of the local CHIP program. brought vegan dishes to share, all kinds of different diets, but inev- and even when my old favor- itably Ted went back to eating the to me it’s just breaking bad habits.” sion. She started to feel better after ite things were presented, I just way he had always eaten — poorly. Those bad habits had led to being WKH ¿YHGD\ ³MXPS VWDUW´ WR KHOS didn’t miss them.” On the recommendation of overweight and dependent on four remove toxic build-up in the sys- Ted’s results include a their doctors, Bob Williams (with medications to manage blood pres- tem and reduce cravings for salt 45-pound weight loss since Stephanie as his support person), sure and cholesterol. Today, Bob is and sugar. January 2015, when he started Les and GG, and Ted and Sharon down to one medication, and feels As they gradually went through WKH SURJUDP +LV LQÀDPPDWLRQ signed up for one of the Complete better across the board. the program, GG realized she had markers plummeted, as did his Health Improvement Program “I’m more productive at work, never really felt good. With high cholesterol. Blood pressure re- &+,3VHVVLRQV6NHSWLFDODW¿UVW more able to deal with tasks as they cholesterol, excess weight and os- turned to healthier levels, and and dreading the idea of cutting out come up, and less likely to procrasti- teoarthritis, there was a lot of room Ted’s physician took him off his foods they loved, they nevertheless nate,” Bob said. medications. for improvement. decided to try the program, which Stephanie has adapted the life- “I haven’t looked back,” he Since completing the CHIP pro- was offered by Wallowa Memorial style changes at home. But with a gram last fall, GG and Les have said. Hospital and led by local general teenage daughter to feed, there were completely changed their dietary Ted’s goal for 2016 is to in- surgeon Dr. Ken Rose, with help some challenges. habits, which now includes healthy crease his exercise levels. from Dr. Emily Sheahan and hos- “Vegan burgers are now a regular portions of lentils, beans and plenty “That’s the one thing I still pital Dietician Margaret Lamm. staple, and our daughter has learned of fresh fruits and vegetables. struggle with, and I’m working to like them,” Stephanie said. “I keep my husband full, and he’s to improve.” Bob and Stephanie Williams The Williams’ two older daugh- happy,” GG said. “I’ve learned how For more information on Bob was a part of the pilot pro- ters, who both have their own to use spices instead of salt, and we the next CHIP program offered gram in spring of 2014. Today, homes, have accommodated their OHDUQHGKRZEHQH¿FLDOVSLFHVDUHWR through Wallowa Memorial Hos- nearly two years later, Bob’s weight parents’ changes. pital, call Kari Carper at 541- your diet.” is down 60 pounds. He has success- “When we get together, they pro- Today, Les is 27 pounds lighter, 426-5301. fully incorporated many of the CHIP vide options for us,” Stephanie said. and GG has lost nearly 20 pounds. lifestyle changes into his daily rou- Tips from CHIP participants: Their cholesterol has dropped — tine, breaking bad habits and replac- • Clean out your pantry and re- Les and GG Johnson and so has their grocery bill. ing them with good habits. Among GG Johnson was worried about “It’s a myth that it’s more expen- frigerator — remove temptation the permanent changes: beef, milk giving up the staple of their diet — sive to eat healthier,” GG claims. • Do the CHIP program with your and cheese are no longer a regular meat. With the absence of meat, dairy VSRXVHVLJQL¿FDQWRWKHURUDIULHQG part of his diet; exercise is now a pri- • Be ready to unlearn everything “Les was raised on a ranch with and processed foods, grocery bills ority, with morning walks, frequent beef and dairy cattle,” she said. “He DUHRIWHQVLJQL¿FDQWO\ORZHU you’ve learned about what to eat and bicycle rides and town team bas- got his degree from Oregon State “I realized I can cook this way,” why ketball. Candy bars and chips have University in dairy science and food said GG, who invested in new cook- • Invest in good cook books for been replaced with fresh fruit and technology in 1965, and in those books to stay inspired and motivated. variety and inspiration multi-grain crackers. Adding salt is days the food pyramid was the end- • Invest in a pedometer to track no longer a habit. your steps all and be-all of nutrition.” Ted and Sharon Hays “So much of it is mental,” Bob • Replace all liquid calories with Within two weeks on CHIP, GG Ted and Sharon decided to try said. “They call it lifestyle habits, but knew they had made the right deci- CHIP because, as Ted said, “at water and herbal teas By Stacy Green For The Chieftain 14 || Family Health Guide 2016