For Phil and His Family

 

Many Have already heard but I think it should still be said. Yesterday a 65 year old woman was driving a van and for some reason she crossed completely over the white line. In doing so she hit and caused the death of Monticello's very own Phillip Gregory LaVallee. Phil Graduated with me last year and he was one of the most amazing athletes I have ever seen or had the chance to know.

He said once, in an interview that one thing he thought would be kind of cool to do before he passed was to win our hometowns 5K. Earlier this summer Phil did just that! He even set a record for fastest time! I remember seeing him there and thinking, "holy cow he's amazing". My mother and I were excited that someone from Monticello had won this year and she remembers seeing him jogging back after finishing while she was still running. She also thought that he was amazing.

Best wishes to Phil's family, goodness knows how hard it is to lose someone. especially someone who was so young and full of promise. 

To read the original story follow the below link.

http://monticellotimes.com/2013/08/09/van-hits-kills-mhs-graduate-out-for-a-run/

Thank You,

Haleigh

Plans Underway for Annual Driver Training

We have been doing our annual driving training in a one-on-one setting for the last few years so we would have the opportunity to talk one-on-one with each driver.

We're shaking things up this year.

On August 20, 2013, we are going to run two sessions.  The first begins at 8:00 am and runs until 1:00 pm, and the second begins at 12:00 and runs until 4:00 pm.  Each of the two sessions will be identical; it's up to bus drivers which option to choose.

We're going to set up a bunch of booths and training stations in the parking lot.  Drivers will be paired in groups of two or three and will be assigned a starting point and assigned a path.  They will collect a token at each booth, and will be able to enter a drawing for a marvelous (REALLY MARVELOUS) grand prize drawing at the end of the day.

So far we have planned the following stations (a minimum of twelve stations will be set up and a maximum of twenty-five), and have contacted a few area vendors and businesses to (we hope!) get a few unique learning opportunities for our staff:

• Jami will meet with the small team of drivers to give them their routes and Opening Day information packets.  She will update them with some staffing changes made over the summer.
• A trainer will demonstrate several different versions of our No Child Left Behind Devices, wheelchair securement, and miscellaneous items relating to pre- and post-trip inspections.  EACH driver will have a chance to secure a wheelchair.
• A local expert will observe drivers securing car seats, vests, and other restraint devices, and will make corrections where necessary.
• Shelley will have packets of annual forms, including tax and employment forms, DOT forms, personal information updates, and MVR reviews.  She will also be handing out revisions of three important publications we haven't revised for five years.
• A local business will offer chair massages and health and wellness information.
• A local health expert will offer information about dealing with common special circumstances, like choking, seizures, epipens, and general student information.
• Matt will offer a mirror adjustment clinic so EACH driver will learn about adjusting mirrors in an unfamiliar bus for the proper positioning to minimize blind spots.

The list is already exciting, but the final five spots haven't been confirmed yet.  I guarantee they will top off the list in STYLE and SUBSTANCE!

We've also contacted a local food vendor to create a fantastic menu so the morning attendees can end their day with a meal and the afternoon attendees can begin their session with a meal.  We're hoping that creates an opportunity to introduce new employees and perhaps some school administrators and staff.  

We have started working on contacting some local businesses who might be interested in providing some coupons or giveaways for our BUS DRIVER GOODIE BAGS, which are always a big hit and which generate some extra business in our community.

This should be a fun event and a great kick-off to the school year.  

Y'all should stop in for a peek.

Safe Driving!

Kari

If it's Sunny...it must be Summer!

It's so close to the end of the year and all of us here at Hoglund Transportation look forward to finishing this school year off well!  We hope that all of our students return to us in the fall and have a blast this summer. Remember to finish strong and be safe during this well earned vacation!

Find the Fish!

    As a promotion for one of our "Hoglund Companies"- U-Save Auto Rental- we have begun a fun little event. When you rent a car/van you will find a note inside telling you that you have become part of an involuntary scavenger hunt. It's pretty simple though so no worries. All you have to do is find the Swedish fish hidden in the car!

   We are not professional hide and seekers so the task is easily accomplished and your reward is sweet! When you find the fish you will also find a note with them. This note gives you the background information on why we have hidden the fish in the first place! Aside from the note and the fish, you will find an otherwise clean and ready to roll car! We enjoy our jobs while you enjoy our business. We look forward to seeing you soon!

Hoglund's 13 in 2013 Program!

     Starting this month Hoglund Transportation is holding a program for its employees!  This program is focused on 13 areas that an average adult can improve on.  As well as providing the employees with gym passes, this event also gives every participating member (13 in '13 is not mandatory but it's recommended strongly) a pedometer, water bottle, and a 13 in '13 journal! This journal provides you with all 13 improvement methods, and allows room to keep track of your progress. Before I go too far, here are the 13 improvements:

• Going to the gym and finding new ways to physically challenge and improve your body.
• Drinking enough water.
• Eating the right amount of fruit.
• Making sure you are getting enough sleep each night.
• Finding a way to challenge your mind.
• Eating the correct amount of veggies.
• Working on stress management.
• Keeping a positive attitude.
• Contributing to the community.
• Making sure that you are not a couch potato.
• Using daily affirmations
• Planning your meals in a healthy way.
  
       Now for the nitty-gritty, during this first week we have used the gym time to help new gym goers figure everything out. For the first two day the employees where introduced to the machines and could randomly hop from machine to machine. The third day we broke any employees who wanted to into groups and did a set work out plan focused on lower body strengthening. The fourth day we broke into groups as well and focused on upper body. Today we are going to do a tabata.

     For those who do not know what Tabata is, I will explain it here. Tabata is where you pick 6,8,10,or 12 different exercises, and do them in 20 second intervals with 10 second breaks. You do 8 intervals of each exercise you choose. This is a super fun way to work out because the Tabata music always has a quick beat and fun music (music can be bought online or through itunes). Starting next Thursday, there will be a Tabata class led by one of our staff members every week.

     Improving yourself is something all of us can work towards! It isn't hard to increase the amount of water you drink by one cup, or snack on an apple on your way to work. The goal of 13 in 2013 isn't to have everyone lose an extreme amount of weight because that's not realistic. The goal is for the employee to notice change, and know they're able to accomplish their goal with a little determination, effort and support.

Check out our Facebook page for update on work outs, what charity we are donating to this month, and healthy recipes and meal planning tips!

Thank You,

Haleigh

We Need the Students Help!

Dear parent and students,
 We are looking for students ranging in ages from six to twelve years old to be a part of our new rules of the week photos! This little photo session  would be taking place on the 15th and 16th of august and with last from 2- 4:30 both days with a picnic afterward on the 16th! We will be needing about 20 students and would also like them to bring their back packs and minimal supplies with them!

If you are interested in helping us out please call us at 763.295.3604 or leave a comment on either this post or on our facebook page! We look forward to having as many students as we can helping us make this process a success!  Thank you for your help!

The Summer Games

Aren't we excited about the upcoming Summer Olympic Games?  Sure, we see many of the same things every time there is an Olympic event - we see amazing feats of athleticism, bitter disappointments, and there is always that one underdog we all cheer.  Still, the Olympics always feel new, fresh, and exciting.

Here at Hoglund Transportation, we get the same feeling about our own version of the the Summer Games.

Don't get me wrong:  there is very little about what we do that we take as lightly as a "game" and we don't joke about student safety.  While keeping safety and  efficiency uppermost in our minds, we think it's important to approach our work with a spirit of excitement and fun in honor of the people we work hardest to protect: our students.

So it is during the summer that we renew our commitment to providing safe and efficient rides for all our students, clean and organize every space in our offices, develop new and better driver training tools, and generally plan the year to come.  This year we're making an extra effort to get things ready for the fall, and we're doing it now, in June.

Here's what's happening:

1. We have a new routing software upgrade that offers a better, digitalized map.  Jami and I are taking the time to review EVERY SINGLE BUS STOP in our District, and configuring our map so we know we are meeting very specific needs.  Some of the things the routing software can help us remember include medically required accommodations for our most vulnerable students, right-side (crossing) restrictions in those places where a student should never cross the road to board or deboard the bus, and how roads are configured in terms of passing and turning lanes, speed zones, and other specific information.  Routing software is amazing and, when it is properly implemented, makes what we used to do painstakingly by hand so much more simple and so much more beautifully produced.  Let me tell you, this is the most fun we've had in a few years!
2. We have summer school routing to prepare and present to drivers.  We should be finished with next week's routing plan by Thursday, so parents can expect to get a call by 2 pm Thursday.  
3. We have Kindergarten students to plot and separate into AM and PM groups.  It's not as simple as it seems.  We first plot every half-day Kindergartener on our map.  Once they're there, we color-code them so we can see what preferences their families have for AM or PM designation.  Then we start playing the "what-if" game:  "What if we drive this way?  Can we meet every single request by a parent?  If we can meet every single request, are there equal numbers of boys and girls in each division?  Have we met the needs of the families with shared custody?  Does this work for the greatest number of people?  If it does, have we met every single safety criteria?"  Surprisingly enough, once we hit on the right solutions for routing, it almost inevitably follows that we have met our safety criteria and we have divided the students the right way.  It's almost like magic when it works out that neatly and precisely accurate.  Considering we cannot ask parents to produce their children in a geographically organized fashion, routing half-day Kindergarteners can be a challenge.  It's one we greatly enjoy!
4. We have student records to update.  We've been receiving updates from parents by the armful!  We sure appreciate those who have sent them already.  The sooner we know who is riding and where they are, the sooner we can finish routes for the 2012-2013 school year.
5. We have routes to dissemble and reassemble.  Did you know that it is a failure by a transportation organization to leave routes unchanged from year to year?  The world changes every year - new vegetation appears or gets bigger, road configurations change, student populations age and new pockets of younger students appear.  We need to look at every single thing we do every single year (in fact, multiple times during the year) to make sure we are creating the safest program we possibly can.  The time to do that is not the middle of winter!  It's now.  
6. We have driver training programs and health initiatives we are planning.  Basically, each year we offer a new health initiative aimed at having the most healthy drivers we can behind the wheels of our vehicles.  THIS IS CRITICAL!!!!  Healthy drivers who come to work every day are the greatest safety feature we can offer our students.  We also present our drivers with the opportunity to accumulate a minimum of eight hours of safety training each school year.  They need to spend only minutes each week on our safety site completing assigned tasks and another handful of minutes reading our weekly newsletter and completing an additional assigned task.  They round out their safety training by attending safety and nutrition meetings (one of each every month), and participating in company functions.  This year's health initiatives include continuing our WALKER TRACKER PROGRAM and a new FRUIT AND VEGETABLE program.  Should be a colorful year!  Our safety focus this year will be HANDLING EMERGENCY SITUATIONS APPROPRIATELY (one of the six competencies the State of Minnesota requires school bus drivers to meet).  It's going to be a busy year for our drivers!
7. We have completed organizing half of our storage areas in the office and will finish the second half by the end of the month.  Organization is key to our business because of the number of things we offer our community.  Knowing where everything is, having everything in its place, and using our space efficiently is part of what makes us best able to serve our customers.
8. We have started a new business!  After providing transportation in this community for sixty-five years (since 1947), we feel like the local transportation professionals.  We expanded our offerings to include rentals cars two decades ago.  This year, we've added a line of TAXIS, A+ Taxi of Monticello, Inc.  This is not your average taxi service, my friends.  This is a full service offering. We will unlock your vehicle when your keys are inside it or jump start it when it's dead.  We will deliver packages for you.  We will help our elderly with groceries and medical appointments.  Eventually, we plan to offer bilingual staff.  This new endeavor has infused our staff with energy!

So, yes, we are busy in the summer.  Yes, we enjoy every minute of it (almost!).  Yes, we get shorter days and even have Fridays off.  So, yes, this feels a little like the Summer Games.  

Interested in joining us in our efforts?  Call now!  We can fully train a new driver well in advance of the start of the school year, and can always use extra help.

Safe Driving,

Kari

We Have.....Websites!

I know that to some people what you are about to read might be a bit of a shocker but it must be read! Hoglund Transportation is not the only company we run. There is still U-Save Auto Rental, Ninety-Four Services, Attic Mini Storage, and our latest addition A+ Taxi! Are you ready for the run-down?

U-Save Auto Rental is a car and van rental business that is (and I know I'm a bit biased) friendliest and most convenient rental place in town. We offer a variety of vehicles to choose from and have both walk-in service and reservations. Plus you can go online to our website and print a coupon for a discount; you can even make your reservation there! Also online is our vehicle listings and what they cost to rent. If you ever need a rental just click here and we will be more then happy to help you out!

Ninety-Four Services 94 Services Inc. is a C-Corp, initially incorporated in 1970 to function as an over-the-road trucking operation and vehicle dealership.  Ambulance sales and service were added to the company’s roster of services in 1991, and we added Life Line products in 1992.  94 Services Inc. is sister company to a second C-Corp, Hoglund Transportation, Inc., incorporated by the same ownership in 1947.  Currently all sales and service are conducted by Joe Kounkel or his designee.  Joe has been employed by the company since 1987, and was the first ambulance salesman employed by 94 Services Inc.  Both the company and Joe are dedicated to providing the best service possible at all times, which is why “Service is in our Name.”  More information is available to customers, and all customers and potential customers are welcome to visit our organization at any time.  Four references are available as an attachment, and more references can be provided upon request

Attic Mini Storage is a storage facility located right down the road from our office making it quick and easy to use! This company has been under new management as of early April and is currently in the process of being renovated. We are Fixing the gate, adding cameras and many more exciting things!  Click here to look at our new web site for pricing contacting our office and updates as they happen!

A+Taxi is our newest company and is also being run out of our main office. This is an, as you guessed, taxi company. Where all you have to do is call and we come and get you! All our drivers are experienced and undergo background checks. For more info check out our website here. We await your call!

Thank You,
Haleigh

On Privatization...

I recall teachers and professors frequently (please note I didn't say "always") commenting on the danger of using sweeping generalization. "A sweeping generalization," according to San Jose University professors, "is one in which there seems to be sufficient evidence offered to draw a conclusion, but the conclusion drawn far exceeds what the evidence supports."

It often occurs to me that many people, including many journalists, missed those sweeping generalization lectures. Today I read an article in the Minneapolis Labor Review (No. 11, March 23, 2012) about the Robinsdale School District voting to outsource their transportation to a private company. The decision was made because the school district's skyrocketing costs are out of line with what other districts are paying for transportation. Apparently, the community is in an uproar. I think that's typical of any community facing a massive change that affects students.

However, I would imagine, as is the case in most similar situations, that drivers will be offered employment with the new private company. And lest we get caught up in the debate about the quality of the private company, I assert that the company will be as good as the local manager. If that person cares about the community, and is good at running school bus operations, the community is going to have a positive experience. If the reverse is true, the community will not have a positive experience. In my opinion, the quality of the transportation operation rests on the shoulders of all Transportation Managers, whether employed by School Districts or by private contractors, nation-wide.

What I don't care for, and always object to, is the people who paint all private companies with the same brush, the brush of sweeping generalizion. It's very much like what happens when fanatics start dicussing evil corporations (all corporations are bad and all corporations are destroying the fabric of our country - to which I always interject, "Mine isn't.) Consider the following comments from the article:

• Speaker after speaker expressed fears for student safety if transportation is handed over to a private contractor.


• Privatizing is bad for students, parents, taxpayers...


• Busses [sic] currently operated by private contractors are regularly late and students tell her stories of those private contractor's drivers stopping to smoke or talk on cell phones.

I'm offended by the article.

We are a private company.

We operate every day with student safety as our first, though not only, priority. We also care about accountability to our School District, our community, our customers, and our employees.

Our drivers, though non-union employees, care about their students, often going to great lengths to make a student's day better. We are not regularly late, although we have had the rare situation that results in tardiness. Our drivers don't stop to smoke, leaving kids unattended or in unsafe situations. We have disallowed cell phone use while our vehicles are in operation long before the law disallowed it. I have many other examples of this particular private company leading the way along safe paths (implementing drug and alcohol testing before it was mandatory, requesting improvements to bus design, leading the way in student and public education, and belonging to our community...).

I don't think that was the point of the article.

Really, the crux of the matter has nothing to do with student safety or the contributions of private contractors to student transportation in the state of Minnesota. The crux, I believe, appears in one of the final paragraphs of the article:

If the district contracts out for its school bus operations, school district dollars will become a source of profit for a private bus company, instead of going towards [sic] union wage jobs and benefits.

First, when did "profit" become a bad word? Profit, essentially, is ending the month with a little cash left in the bank after all the bills and expenses are paid. And honestly, don't we all want to make a profit? And understand, I am referring to modest, reasonable profits; I think multi-million dollar packages for CEOs of corporations are ridiculous and insane.

Further, if that private bus company can provide safe and efficient transportation services and if they can offer those services for less than what the district is paying currently (even including their nasty profit), why wouldn't tax payers be in favor of reducing costs?

Seems like a no-brainer to me.

Safe Driving!
Kari

Kindergarten Here We Come!

Tonight we meet with the new kindergarten students starting school in September.  Please view our presentation and see what we have to say to the students and their parents.
This is the most exciting time of the year for us! 
Kindergarten Students

Teen Pulls Bus Over After Driver has Heart Attack!

Graceann Rumer is pictured above.

17-year-old Graceann Rumer possibly saved not only her life but the lives of dozens of other children when her school bus driver had a heart attack. Rumer's quick thinking got the bus off the road and out of traffic. 51-year-old driver Charles Duncan passed out while driving his students home on January 26, losing control of the wheel.

Rumer immediately jumped into action, taking the wheel and turning the bus away from the oncoming traffic. With Duncan's feet still blocking the brakes, she pulled the bus to the side of the road and put it in park. None of the students were injured, but the driver passed away shortly afterward.

We at Hoglund Transportation would like to applaud Rumer for an excellent job! For showing such control over herself in a fearful situation and protecting the lives of others! Good Job!

Thank You,

Haleigh

We're Walking Fit!

* * * * * * * * * * * *
* *BRAND NEW* *
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We are starting a new get fit program here at Hoglund Transportation! This one is called Walk Fit. The goal is to take at least 10,000 steps a day, and 35 people are now participating!

Since we had such good success with our Driven Driver Challenge, we decided to give it another go. Just like with our other program, we have journals to record any and all exercise. We rent a pedometer to help track our steps and make sure everything is fair.

Other than walking, we have a converter on our progress site so we can keep track of our other activities as well. We will be doing this program for eight months. With so many people participating I cannot wait to see the outcome! Time to get walking so we can get fit!

Thank You,
Haleigh

Hoglund's Heros Issue 1!!!!

This is a copy of the very first issue of Hoglund's Heros!!!

Hoglund's Heros is a weekly newsletter made by Rachel and it incorporates all things happening in and around Hoglund! There is a calendar section, an employee assignment section, rule of the week and weekly meetings! I know I am a little biased on this, but my favorite part is the exerpt about our blog!

Unfortunately we will only be posting these little pictures of the issues and you will not be able to read the whole thing. The good news is that I will be pulling out the highlights for you!

For this weeks meeting we discussed our idling policy, discipline, pre-trips, our communication forms and how they work, and our time and mileage reports! Not a bad way to kick off our first meeting of the year!

Thank You,
Haleigh

Back to School!!

Alright all you drivers, it's that time of year again. Time to pay even closer attention to the roads and start spotting those big, bright yellow school buses! I know they are hard to miss, but you are also looking out for all the thousands of children that are going to be riding around on them.

The beginning of school is one of the busiest times for our company, mainly because there is always so much to do! About a month before school actually starts is when we start all the big projects like: making routes, putting together all the kindergarten packets, and double checking that all of our buses and drivers are ready to go!

During the first to second week of school, some of the bus drivers will learn two or even three variations of the same route to make it quicker, easier, or just because a student stop has changed. So many things impact a route and we ask that if you, or your child's route does get changed that you or your child will help us make sure that route runs smoothly.

Summer is over in Monticello, school is about to begin, and the Hoglund Transportation buses and staff are ready to take you there!

Thank You,
Hoglund Transportation.

Getting Ready for School

School is almost here and that means that our school buses need to be ready. For the last two weeks we have been busy making routes. Today we finished them, put them in envelopes and we are sending them out in the mail within the next two days!!! Yay!

This last month has been so busy. Honestly, it is the most difficult and most exciting time of our year! Well, that's what I think anyway. With so much going on, and with so much that still needs to be done, I am always surprised when the last item on the list has been checked off.

Here is a small portion of what we have been up to:

• Making sure that around 4,000 students have a bus pick up and drop off location


• Introducing new kindergartners and their parents to school buses and the safety measures to take around them


• Making sure all the school buses pass their inspections


• Training the drivers so they are properly certified to drive them.
  

It can get a little crazy sometimes but, we have fun and
enjoy getting ready for a new school year.

I hope everyone is as excited about it as we are!

Thank You,

Haleigh

Class is in Session!

Here at Hoglund Transportation we are starting classes for new drivers!!! The first class was held on Monday, August 8th at 9:00 am. This class is for Hoglund employees or people who are in training to get their School bus driving license!

During the class, future drivers received the guide manual, a sample of possible test questions, and some study guilds for the real test. The class is taught by a hoglund employee who has already had her license for ten years. She went over the manual with the attendees for two and a half hours, two days in a row, gave them the practice test, and reviewed the answers with them.

They were also taught about the different types of buses we have here at Hoglund Transportation. They were shown pictures of the engine compartments that were labeled. Those pictures also showed what they needed to check each part for during the pre-trip inspection.

All in all the class was a big success. We already have new employees with their permits and some even went and got their licenses already. I cannot wait to see what kind of fun things Hoglund Transportation will come up with next!

Thank You,
Haleigh

Driven Diver Challenge

Noticing the national trend toward higher body weights and less physically active lifestyles in the results of our employees’ regular School Bus Physicals, we tried to think of way to improve health at our company. We created a Biggest Loser-style program.

We used our Driven Driver Challenge (DDC) as a motivator to encourage Hoglund Transportation employees to live healthier lifestyles. Over the span of four months, the participants learned how to live in healthy ways, starting with the basics of eating right and how to exercise. Professionals led weekly sessions in diet and nutrition, and in the gym. After being taught, participants were tested on what they learned, in one way or another. At the end of the four months we hoped to see improvement in each of the participants’ overall lifestyles.

To be a part of the DDC the employees signed a written contract stating the terms of the challenge. Some of those terms included the cost of joining, $20.00 once a month (1/2 the cost of the monthly gym membership), and agreeing to commit to the program. Attendance at weekly nutrition meetings was mandatory. The only people not allowed to participate were those with to poor overall health and people who’d undergone digestion-altering surgeries in the past five years. The contract also listed the award for the winner: a trip for one week to the winner’s choice of destination, a $300.00 voucher for airfare, and the “pot” of cash collected over the weeks for various activities.

After signing the contract, participants received a journal to document their eating and exercising habits. We used the journal to award points at the weekly meetings. The person with the most points won the weekly prize donated by generous local businesses. Participants earned points for how they ate, the number of times they visited the gym, and for how much weight/overall body weight percentage they lost. Participants who set goals also received points.

During the weekly mandatory meeting, participants weighed in ($1.00). Extra dollars were collected for any pound gained, for missed meetings, and for refusals to weigh. At meetings we listened to a certified nutritionist (Jen) who was always in attendance. Participants could go over meal ideas and discuss what was working-and what wasn’t. Also, we often consulted with one another to gain ideas for new recipes. We kept approved recipe copies on a table in the meeting room throughout the four-month program along with nutrition booklets so participants and other employees had unrestricted access to them. During our meetings, participants asked any questions of the nutritionist and received quick and clear answers. The participants used the information obtained at these meetings to help lead them toward improved health.

At The Rink participants went over all the basics of exercising with Eddie. He taught us about how good nutrition increases our workout productivity. He offered constant examples of good eating habits for before and after workouts. He taught the proper way to use each of the many exercise machines available at The Rink. Participants learned about exercises that would push them, but not overwork them. Eddie taught us how to rotate our focus area each day so as to not overwork the muscles and cause damage. On Sundays at noon Eddie would host a “Boot Camp” for one hour, during which he created a variety of stations for the participants, each time showing us new ways to get active either alone or with a partner. The sessions were open to anyone, and it only cost $10.00 each time.

Our DDC resulted in not one, but two winners and our winners are Melissa and Shelley. Melissa says she learned two major things from this program: it’s not just about how much she eats, it’s about what she eats, and that exercising is more than losing weight, it’s about getting stronger, healthier and enjoying life. Overall she lost 40 lbs, meeting her initial goal.

Shelley said, “The best thing I learned is I don’t have to starve myself to lose weight.” She stated she was very happy to learn she could eat good fats like peanut butter and almonds that she wouldn’t eat before. Overall, she lost 17.6 lbs. Both winners won the grand prize.

Our consolation winner is Rachel who said, “My favorite part about this was Jen. Her information every week has been so valuable and helpful.” She also said she really liked learning how to put together a meal plan, and how she plans to continue using all she learned even after the program ends. Overall she lost 26.3 lbs. in total, and in the end won a make-over, a haircut, and $40 from the pot.

Our actual food plan looks like this:
Breakfast: 2 grains, 1 dairy, 1 fruit
3 Hours Later: 1 grain, 1 fruit
Lunch: 2 grains, 1 dairy, 1 fruit, 1-2 vegetable, 3 oz. protein
3 Hours Later: pick 2 groups, about 200 calories
Supper: 2 grains, 1 dairy, 2 vegetable, 3 oz. protein
















Each person wrote a statement about what most mattered to him or her during the four-month program. Some of what they wrote is exceptional:

• “…I’m very proud of EVERYONE involved in this…”
• “…I can teach my new habits to my family and keep them healthy…”
• “…learning to eat more natural versus using so many substitutes or fat frees…”
• “…eat more fiber bread rather than low-calorie bread…”
• “…her motivation is just astonishing and makes me just want to follow along…”
• “…I’m playing with my children, not just watching…”
• “…it has helped improved my mental health and self-esteem…”
• “…even at my age I can do a lot of things to be strong and healthy…”
• “…these ‘food rules’ work to create a healthy body…”

Because of DDC we were not only able to learn how to lose weight, but how to live a healthier lifestyle. Considering that was our initial goal, DDC was a very successful program. Learning how to live in a healthy way has benefitted each participant in a different way, all of which are positive. More than a challenge to get into shape, this was a challenge to change our lives for the better. In the end this program has made a big difference in the participants’ lives, and like Jen said, “Once you know this stuff, you can never unlearn it. It’ll stay with you a lifetime!” We think she’s right.