While searching online, she found a map for achieving a healthy lifestyle change: an intensive, yearlong risk reduction program at Ohio University's WellWorks center that enrolls up to eight participants three times a year.  During the program, members receive ongoing feedback and guidance from an interdisciplinary team of health coordinators, exercise physiologists, dieticians, health educators and yoga instructors.

"I don't like taking medication, so I thought this was a good alternative," said Theodore-Shusta, a Human Resources librarian. 

Now a quarter of the way through the program, her blood pressure and cholesterol have improved, and she has maintained her weight through the holiday season.

The risk reduction program starts with a 100-day "kick-start" plan and ends with maintenance goals. Extensive physical assessments are completed during each of the program's four phases; individualized diet and exercise prescriptions then are updated.

Members have to commit to five hours of workouts, group meetings and individual meetings with a case manager.

So far, about 45 people have gone through the program since it started in 2006. And all have experienced improvements in the 100 days, ranging from weight loss to stress reduction, said Tom Murray, the HeartWorks director at WellWorks.

The fitness center, in conjunction with University Human Resources, designed the program for people with high-risk health issues. The goal is to improve employee health, which will lower health care costs and increase productivity, Murray said.

Employees and their spouses who are covered by Ohio University health insurance are eligible to participate.

Cost of the program is $300, but participants who successfully complete their wellness goals will earn the money back in $75 increments. A one-year membership to WellWorks is included.

Past participants praised the plan.

"I thought it was wonderful," said Maureen Weissenrieder, who joined with her husband in 2006.   "We thought we can do it, and they had such an offering. I can't brag about it enough."

Together, the couple lost weight as well as lowered their cholesterol and blood pressure.

"We feel so much better," Weissenrieder said.

David Holben had a similar experience. A professor of nutrition in the College of Health and Human Services, he had never fully committed himself to putting what he knew into practice.

Holben wanted to lower his cholesterol as well as his weight. When he ended the program, he had improved the numbers on his blood work tests and he had lost 32 pounds, which meant he had to buy new clothes to fit his newly slim physique.

His pride point, however, was mastering a challenge he had attempted -- and failed at  -- 30 years earlier in middle school gym class.

"I remember in 1975 being totally embarrassed because I couldn't do pull-ups in 7th grade," Holben said. "Now for the first time at age 45 I could do pull-ups."