Wellspring is a weight loss program spread throughout the world. It is the leading organization of weight loss camps for kids, teenagers, young adults, and women. Unlike fat camps, Wellspring’s scientific approach to diet and activity management helps those who participate live a healthier lifestyle.
I worked with preteen girls who were between the ages of 8 and 12. Some of the girls lived with me for upwards to nine weeks. I would wake them up in the morning and put them to sleep at night. Each day, we would begin by stretching in a circle while each child camp up with their own SMART (realistic measurable attainable realistic and timely) goal. Next, we would go on a morning walk until breakfast. Campers learned to enjoy low-fat, low-density food that was nutritious and delicious. As their counselor and “mother” for the summer, I was their role model and their example. We all carried a self monitoring journal to write down the calories and fat grams at every meal and wore a pedometer. Although the fruit and salad bar were always available for seconds, the campers could only go through the main entree line once. We also carried a calorie king with us when an item was not listed on the board. We would have two blocks in the morning with different activities scheduled and two in the afternoon. I would be in charge of taking them there and most of the time, leading the fitness class. Every night, I would bring all of my girls into the living room to talk about the day, their highs and lows, and assign the “leader of the day.”
Not only was I their counselor, I became their leader and the person they came to talk to. Although they had a behavioral coach to talk to them about their progress and their feelings, the girls would come to me to talk about all of their personal problems and how they truly felt. They were often homesick and had problems getting a long with the other eleven girls in their group. Because we all worked so closely together, it was important to keep the group dynamic close and positive. Many nights, I would stay up talking to the girls one-on-one to keep their spirits high to allow them to stay with their program to ultimately reach their weight loss goal.
