Getting to a Healthy Weight
Getting to a healthy weight can have lots of benefits for your body and your mind. If you’ve tried to lose weight before, you know how hard it can be to beat cravings and stay motivated. To help you get started, we’ve put together some ideas and inspiration. With these tools, you’ll be on your way to eating healthy, knowing what might be getting in your way, and starting your new health goals.
What are you most interested in knowing more about today? Use the list below to pick a topic:
Understanding the risks of being overweight
Your weight may put you at risk for prediabetes.
Prediabetes is a serious health condition where blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but not high enough yet to be type 2 diabetes. Diabetes is harder to live with than prediabetes.
That makes prediabetes a big deal. It puts you at a higher risk for type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. You can have prediabetes and not even know you have it.
There are steps you can take to control prediabetes. The first is to know if you are at risk.
The quiz to the right can help you to know if you are at risk.
Do you want to know if you are at risk?
Take this quiz to see your risk level
Finding your motivation
Use what is important and meaningful to you as your inspiration. Focusing on what is important can be a source of encouragement and support in reaching your goal. Here’s a list to get you started:
- Being able to care for my family
- Feeling my best
- Reducing my risk of having problems with my heart
- Living my best life
- Being able to do the things that I enjoy
What should I consider doing?
Write down what is important to you and keep it in a place that you will see it every day. This could be:
- on your phone background
- a note on your refrigerator, with your medications, or with your toothbrush
- any place that you will see it everyday
Making a change and setting a goal
If you have prediabetes, you can delay or prevent type 2 diabetes by making some simple lifestyle changes and getting to a healthy weight!
Are you ready to make a lifestyle change?
Click on the 1 or 2 changes you are ready to make:
- Drink less soda, sugary drinks, and fruit juices
- Add a vegetable every day to one of my meals
- Eat less fatty foods every day at my noon or evening meal
- Walk for at least 10 minutes every day
Once you pick your goal, talk to someone who can help you reach your goal. This could be a friend, family member, or healthcare provider.
Eating Healthier
Drink less soda, sugary drinks, and fruit juices
Add a vegetable every day to one of my meals
Eat less fatty foods every day at my noon or evening meal
Use the 3 P’s (Plan, Purchase, and Prepare) for eating on a budget
Be a healthy role model for my children and family
Start your plan for healthy eating today!
Moving More
Get some tips and inspiration on ways to move more throughout your day, at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.
Watch the Step by Step: Moving toward Prevention of Type 2 Diabetes Music Video below
Help and Support
Intensive Care Management
Nurse care managers are here to help and support you! They will help you find out what is important to you, and find you the services that will help you feel your best.
To reach Intensive Care Management, call 1.800.859.9889 and dial extension 2023.
The 24/7 Nurse Helpline
Registered nurses are here to help you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
Do you have a question about your health or a medical condition? Call 1.800.859.9889 and follow the prompts to talk to a nurse who will answer your questions or help you understand a medical condition.
This portion of the HUSKY Health website is managed by Community Health Network of Connecticut, Inc., the State of Connecticut’s Medical Administrative Services Organization for the HUSKY Health Program. For the general HUSKY website gateway, please visit www.ct.gov/husky. HUSKY Health includes Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program, and is administered by the Connecticut Department of Social Services.
