OSF Saint Francis Medical Center

Pathways to Health

At your first Pathways to Health appointment, you'll undergo a SECA test, consult with an APRN, Registered Dietitian, and Exercise Physiologist, and plan your personalized weight management strategy. Follow-up sessions and group meetings will support your progress.

First Visit

The Pathways to Health program involves making changes to your habits such as sleep, hydration, nutrition, exercise, and stress management. At your first appointment, you will

  • Complete a SECA test to measure your body composition and estimate your resting metabolic rate.
  • Meet with the Advanced Practice Nurse (APRN) for an assessment and to decide the best path for you. If you are a candidate for weight loss medication, this will be discussed at your first visit.
  • Meet with the Registered Dietitian (RD) for a nutrition assessment and recommendations.
  • Meet with the Exercise Physiologist to review your SECA test results and
  • Schedule monthly, small group, follow up appointments, or individual appointments as available.

Monthly Shared Medical Appointments

Attend your scheduled follow up visits with the Advanced Practice Nurse (APRN) and team, once per month for 6 months. This visit will be conducted in a small group setting. Group times are available on Mondays and Thursdays at 9:30 and 4:00 p.m.

During these meetings you will:

  • Have your vital signs checked by the nurse.
  • Discuss any successes and challenges you have with your goals.
  • Monitor your weight loss medication prescription (i.e. dose changes, refills, etc.), if applicable.
  • Learn about a variety of weight management topics, including:
    • Activity vs. exercise
    • Building a balanced plate and using the hunger scale
    • Smart snacking
    • Identify your lifestyle patterns, related to nutrition, exercise, and coping
    • Build your exercise routine
    • Managing challenges and plateaus
    • Tips for dining out
    • Using meal replacements
    • Stress reduction and positive mindset
    • Using resistance bands
    • Simple meal preparation
    • Lapse, relapse, and maintaining success

Getting Started (Videos)

Watch this series of short videos to help you get started.

These are presented by Jenny Reay, RD, LDN, registered dietitian, and Jenny Neal, exercise physiologist.

Welcome to Pathways to Health

Hydration

Meal Planning Part 1 - When, Why and How?

Meal Planning Part 2 - Who, What and Where?

Safe Exercise

Getting Started with Exercise

Not Able to Attend Class?

Your schedule may not match ours. If you cannot attend a group class, check out the One-on-One Counseling option instead.