We’re hosting an online conversation this week on our Healthy Memphis blog with Dr. Manoj Jain, a board-certified infectious disease physician, medical director for quality improvement at QSource and leader in the Memphis Quality Initiative for the Healthy Memphis Common Table.  He will answer questions about infection control through good hygiene.

Got a question? Ask it here

We’re hosting an online conversation with Dr. Marion Hare, a board certified pediatrician at UT Medical Group and assistant professor at The University of Tennessee Health Science Center.  She has a special interest in early childhood development and childhood obesity.

She will answer questions about ways to protect the health of children.

Week one of the Memphis Health Center’s Lose to Live weight loss challenge and Deborah Golston’s off to a slow start.

She lost a pound, dropping from 193 to 192.

Golston, 50, was pleased. She arrived at the health center in South Memphis on Thursday for the second weigh-in of the 12-week contest fearing she’d gained weight. After a good start, Golston’s appetite got the better of her and started eating more, including more meat. Cutting down on beef and pork was part of her strategy for dropping eight to 10 pounds a month during the challenge.

She made some strides. Golston fulfilled her pledge to stop the middle of the night meals. She still wakes at 2 or 3 a.m., but now fills up on raw vegetables. She’s also eating smaller portions, just too many of them, she said with a laugh.

Her goal for this week? “Get more exercise,” she said. The center staff recommended 15 to 20 minutes a day.

Golston is one of roughly 150 health center patients and staff who signed up for the competition. The winner will receive $300 and a year’s membership to the Hope & Healing Center.

 We’ll check in with Golston regularly during the challenge. 

You can also join share weight loss goals and struggles with other Commercial Appeal readers. Sign up to post your pictures and share your goals at focus.commercialappeal.com.   

Talk to the expert

We’re having an online conversation with Dr. Teresa Cutts,  a licensed clinical health psychologist at the Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare Center of Excellence in Faith and Health.  She was recently chairperson for the Tennessee Psychological Association Psychologically Healthy Workplace Award. Dr. Cutts will answer questions about presenteeism and workplace wellness.  

Enrollment is underway for a free weight-control program targeting adolescents and their families.

The 12-week program, called Strong Me, is designed for those age 6 through 15. At least one parent must also participate. It will be offered beginning in October at Shady Grove Presbyterian Church, 5530 Shady Grove, and at Caritas Village, 2509 Harvard.

Developed by Dr. Janice Pride Boone, a Memphis pediatrician, the program is designed to help families change their daily routine, particularly their eating and exercise. The goal is to help participants increase their exercise and stabilize their weight. Each session includes exercise and a healthy meal as well as other activities. “We walk participants through what change looks like,” explained Boone, who is also a licensed family therapist.

The Caritas Village program is funded with a grant from the United Way of the Mid-South. The East Memphis program is a ministry of the church. Enrollment is limited to 25 families at each location.

For more information, call (888) 495-6555.

Get Fit Tennessee, the state’s online health promotion Web site, just expanded its nutrition section. The site now offers users an online food journal and calorie calulator. Folks can also enter the site’s Weight Loss Challenge. The calculator includes information about more than 7,500 foods and beverages.

Since it was launched in February, the site’s attracted more than 1,000 new users.

Anyone can log on to getfittn.com to create an account. The site also allows individuals to set and track fitness goals. It also features a health tip of the day, events calendar and other information.

The Commercial Appeal is preparing a story about the popluarity of weight loss contests. At work, the gym, the health clinic or even in places of worship, Mid-Southerners are squaring off to see you can drop pounds the fastest.

We are collecting reader stories about the strategy. In your experience, does it fuel healthy competition or lead to fad diets and furtive snacking in stairwells?

Send your stories and comments to powers@commercialappeal.com.

Talk to the expert

We’re having an online conversation with Pam Sere, maternity care coordinator at Baptist Memorial Hospital for Women. Ms. Sere will answer questions about health before pregnancy and prenatal care. Ask your questions here, she will monitor the blog and answer them.

Jazzercise is marking the end of summer with a variety of free offerings the week of September 2. Organizers want folks to know they are welcome regardless of their fitness level. For more information, or to find a convenient class, call toll-free (800) FIT IS IT or 348-4748 or visit the Jazzercise web site.

Know of an upcoming health or fitness event? Send the information to us at powers@commercialappeal.com and we’ll post it online.

Learn fitness walking at a clinic set for 9 a.m. Saturday (August 9) at Yale Road Park in Bartlett.

The hour-long event is sponsored by Major Body Worx Fitness Center. Grace Major, the clinic coordinator, said persons from all fitness levels are welcome as well as folks interested in training for marathons and other races.

The cost is $18. For more information or to register, call 385-9725 or e-mail majorbodyworx@gmail.com.

Are you planning a fitness event? E-mail us at powers@commercialappeal.com and we will post the information on The Commercial Appeal’s Healthy Memphis Web site.