All students can receive help and tips for healthy living from the Cerritos College Health Services as it started up its Pound by Pound Program again at the beginning of September.

The program has been active since the fall 2010 semester, with a few changes being made to it since then with the purpose of getting more people engaged.

“Before, registered students had to attend all classes, the nutrition and the exercise, Student Health Services registered dietitian Hazel Ng said.

The purpose of the Pound by Pound Program is to help people on campus who want to lose weight and want to start living healthy lives.

Dance your way to healthy

The addition of Zumba classes to the program every Monday, Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. and Fridays at noon has registered dietitian Ng. very busy.

“Starting last semester, we started a Zumba class instead of a regular fitness boot camp.

Zumba is really popular and we find that people really enjoy it. Also it is a good aerobic type of exercise, cardio exercise and at the same time doing some muscle toning. So it’s a good combination of workouts.”

Fitting your routine

Individual Dietitian Consultations are also free; they are specifically designed for every individual.

Graphic design major Monica Jerez is excited about this benefit.

“It is a great opportunity for us students because you know sometimes we don’t have a healthy diet. So it’s a great shift, for us to keep up with our diet and our weight,” she said.

In order for students to take advantage of this benefit, they must be currently enrolled.

Ng encourages anybody who has any of the following problems to participate with Pound by Pound program:

• You have Diabetes, cardiovascular problems or high blood pressure.
• You are thinking of having or have had gastric bypass surgery.
• You have digestive problems.
• You’re pregnant or trying to get pregnant.
• You need guidance and confidence for breast-feeding your baby.
• You have issues with food and eating healthy.
• You’re caring for an aging relative.
• You want to improve your performance in sport.

All the services provided by the Pound by Pound program outside of school can cost you lots of money, like Pound Melters which charges $95 a month.

At Cerritos College, it’s free of charge for students, staff and faculty members.

According to Ng, if you are trying to solve any problems associated with your health or losing weight, working out is not the only thing to do.

“You can’t really lose weight by doing part of it, you also need to eat right and eat healthy.

“That’s why we have twice a month nutrition talk series that last 45 minutes long where healthy eating is promoted,” Ng said.

In addition to the exercise and the eating tips, the Student Health Services dietitians Ng and Mary Jean have been pairing up with the Culinary Arts Department by putting a pound by pound logo on the healthy choices available at Culinary Arts during lunch in the Student Center.

Not only the Culinary Arts Department works along with pound by pound, Ng said the Book Store now has a lot more healthy choices.

“They have fresh fruits, sandwiches and salads,” she said.

This program has been active for five semesters consecutively, and it will continue as long as the means are available and participation is active.

For more information on the program, contact Student Health Services at (562) 860-2451, Ext. 2321.