Module 26: Prevent Type 2 for Life! Participant Guide
Session Focus
In this session, we will talk about:
How far you’ve come since you started this program
How to keep your healthy lifestyle going once this program ends
Your goals for the next 6 months
You will also make a new action plan!
Tips:
To stay on track after the program, try to get support with an accountability buddy.
Find fun ways to continue eating healthy foods, like joining a cooking class.
Remember to continue tracking your food and activity.
Become a Program Champion and share with your community what you’ve learned about preventing type 2 diabetes.
Keep Up the Good Work!
Rita’s Story
Rita is at risk for type 2 diabetes. So, she joins the PreventT2 program. The program helps her adopt a healthy lifestyle. Rita starts eating a healthy diet and taking walks each day. She works up to being active for at least 150 minutes a week at a moderate pace or more.
Rita’s efforts pay off. One year later, she has reached her weight goal. And she feels better than she has in years.
But once her program ends, Rita finds herself slipping back into her old eating habits. She also starts skipping some of her daily walks. As a result, she gains back 5 pounds.
Rita knows she needs to find new ways to get support. So, she invites one of the people she met in her program to walk with her. She also signs up for a healthy cooking class at her local food co-op.
Rita knows she needs to stay motivated. So, she sets a new weight goal. She decides to try a new recipe each week. And she and her walking buddy agree to try new routes. She could also take a “Mommy and Me” exercise class or offer to talk to other PreventT2 classes. These strategies will help her stay connected to others working on healthy lifestyle changes and keep her motivated.
These days, Rita is eating well and staying active. Her weight is healthy. And she’s no longer at risk for type 2 diabetes.
How will you get support and stay motivated once this program ends?
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Become a Program Champion
You can become a voice for the PreventT2 lifestyle change program. The following resources are designed to help you become a Program Champion.
Menu of Activities for Program Promotion and Outreach—lists activities Program Champions can choose to promote their lifestyle change program, from easy to more complex.
Talking Points—helps Program Champions tell their story, describe the lifestyle change program, and answer questions.
Communication Tips for Outreach Activities—gives Program Champions suggestions on how to talk to potential participants, active listening, and managing the conversation.
Handling Tricky Conversations: Tips for Program Champions—gives suggestions on how to answer questions that are too personal, deal with doubters, what questions they should refer to others, and how to stay on topic.
Your Goals for the Next 6 Months
Activity Goal
In the next 6 months, I will get at least 150 minutes of activity each week at a moderate pace or more.
Weight Goal
I weigh _______ pounds.
In the next 6 months, I will:
Lose weight
I will reach _______ pounds.
Maintain my weight
I will stay at _______ pounds.
Here are my new and revised personal goals for after the PreventT2 program:
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Skills To Live By
You’ve learned many healthy lifestyle skills in this program. Keep using these skills in the months and years to come.
Track your food, activity, and weight. Tracking tells you if you are meeting your goals. Plus, it helps you see where you are doing well and where you could improve.
Get back on track. It’s normal to get off track with your eating and physical activity goals over the course of your life. The important thing is to get back on track and prevent similar lapses in the future.
Update your action plan as needed. Keep thinking about what you can do to be as healthy as possible.
Get support from family, friends, and others. They can help you stay on track with your eating and physical activity goals.
Overcome challenges. You will need to deal with many challenges over the course of your lifetime—time crunches, sources of stress, triggers, and more. So, prevent challenges when you can, and overcome them when you must. Be creative!
Stay motivated. Set new goals. Celebrate your successes. And keep trying new recipes, cooking styles, and ways to be active.
If you need a refresher on any of these skills, review all the information we have covered in this program.