• Messaging
• Tracking member success (of which there are many)
• Inputing tracker information
• Program curriculum to focus on weekly topics (this week is stress and eating)

More on the updates here.  Take a look and let us know what you think.

The answer is that there is a direct correlation between lack of sleep and increased hunger but there haven’t been enough studies to show a causal relationship (meaning that lack of sleep CAUSES increased hunger, and therefore weight gain).  The Washington Post does a nice job covering where research is on the subject here.

However,  just because the scientists haven’t yet designed a study to show that sleep deprivation isn’t a direct cause of weight gain doesn’t mean it isn’t true.  Most nutritionists we speak with have ample anecdotal evidence that there is a causal relationship and the belief seems to be penetrating mainstream medical thought.  Dr. Michael Aziz,  doctor of internal medicine and founder and director of New York City’s Midtown Integrative Medicine and author of The Perfect 10 Diet points to proper sleep as an important aspect of weight loss.  Some of his tips from the Washington Post article:

– “Go to sleep and wake up at the same time most days.” We can perhaps slide a bit on weekends, Aziz says, but usually we should aim to be in bed at — are you ready? — 9:30 or 10 on weeknights.

– Eat your last meal one to two hours before going to bed.

– Avoid what are commonly called simple carbohydrates and “sugary stuff” at that meal or at bedtime. Such foods will bump up insulin production. “When our insulin is very high, we can’t get to sleep,” he says. Instead, choose whole-wheat crackers, which can control insulin. Or eat turkey or bananas, both of which contain tryptophan, which is believed to trigger sleepiness. Lettuce, too, has a “long history of helping people get to sleep,” Aziz says.

– Avoid caffeinated coffee, tea and soda. And alcohol, which Aziz says “can make us go to sleep, but it’s not the deep sleep” that we need to produce growth hormone (which in turn helps regulate insulin).

– Practice good sleep hygiene. That means turning off all electronics, including the TV, and creating as quiet a sleep space as you can. Lower blinds and turn off lights so your room is as dark as possible. Make sure the room temperature is comfortable. Consider taking a warm bath or doing some gentle stretches — but not heart-pumping exercise — before turning in.

So sleep tight and don’t let the bedbugs bite.

Welcome to the Community

We had an interesting forum discussion on iChange about Weight Watchers Online bullies.  One person’s comment:

“Not a reflection on WW themselves, but I was in the online community there and there were a group of bullies that seemed to make it their goal to make fun of and point out the weaknesses of others. They would get kicked off but then make a new user profile and be right back on again. I don’t know if that’s still happening but it was a major reason why it didn’t work for me to do the online program with them.

Community is definitely important. Encouraging folks to lean on each other and form support groups is crucial-especially because some of us are in situations where we have saboteurs in our home environments.”

Others chimed in that this is a problem they also have seen on Weight Watchers Online.

iChange  is structured so that our experts and Group Leaders ensure that the online conversations are productive and encouraging.   As we grow, we will continue to refine our systems to keep iChange a safe place to control weight and stay healthy.  Our hope is that we can keep the bullies at bay.

We launched our new nutritionist-led weight loss groups at the beginning of the year, and judging from the weight loss, they are doing really well.  Diana Young, RD, is leading our first three groups of ~10 people each, and across the board, participants are losing > 2 pounds per week, and seem to be feeling good while doing it.  Our goal is to help our members lose weight at a healthy rate and to help build habits to keep it off.  The group goal of 100 lbs in 30 days is definitely within reach.

Over the next few months, we will be experimenting with different size groups to see if we can identify an optimal number of people.  The goal is to get enough people in a group to create the buzz and activity to provide motivation, but keep it small enough to build trusted relationships among members.

The first is a $9.99 30 Day Weight Loss Program with Diana Young. The session starts the day after New Years Day, January 2, and concludes on January 31. For the month of January, you will be guided as part of a small group of people online (no more than 10), by Registered Dietitian Diana Young. She will give meal plan guidance and provide daily check-ins with the goal of helping the group lose 100 pounds. Sign up today as space is limited.

The second is an intensive One-on-One Counseling Program with Registered Nutritionist Linda Miner. In this program, Linda gives you her full nutrition workup, including the advanced Metabolic Typing Assessment, to create a plan that is highly customized to your body’s specific needs. Linda’s program is suited for people looking for a high degree of direction, support and nutrition expertise to make a major change in their lives. She’s pricing the first 60-day phase of the program at only $99/month (50% off the regular program price). If you choose to stick with the program, later phases run as low as $29/month. She also offers a 100% money-back guarantee.

Happy Holidays!

The iChange technology platform gives nutritionists, registered dietitians and weight loss counselors a set of tools to recruit and manage clients online.  The tools allow practitioners to build their practice quickly and work with clients anywhere in the world.  We launched the system in June and have had excellent feedback both from practitioners and individuals using the service to manage their weight.

We are now looking to partner with a small handful of practitioners to participate in the rollout of the service.   If you are a weight-loss expert who would like to learn more about iChange, please send us an email with a short bio or link to your website at partners@ichange.com.

Please make sure you meet the following criteria:

• Formal nutrition training
• Certification with qualifications to give nutrition advice
• At least 5 years weight and nutrition counseling experience
• Strong, proven track record of success with clients that we can call for references
• High comfort level with the internet and social media (such as Facebook and Twitter)

In addition, we strongly prefer working with individuals who have a following of people to whom they could introduce their iChange counseling program.  If you have a popular blog, website, Twitter or Facebook following, or book or DVD properties, we would be interested in meeting you.