Combination Class Idea from Indiana.

Be sure to review Section 6 in the Manual for Contacts After Core:  Guidelines for Conducting Lifestyle Classes after Core, before conducting this or other after-core classes.

Note:  All after-core classes should be considered a time for participants to “restart” (resume behavior changes toward their weight loss and physical activity goals).  To accomplish this, all classes should include weigh-ins, encouragement to self-monitor, and collection and review of self-monitoring records.  At Session 1, participants should set goals for fat grams/calories, exercise, and weight loss to achieve during the course.

Class Overview

The attached outline is for a four-session after-core class developed by John Guare, PhD, behavioral consultant to the DPP in Indiana.  The class includes one session on activity, one on nutrition, and two on behavioral topics (cognitive restructuring and relapse prevention.)  

The Lifestyle Resource Core has the following additional suggestions for conducting the class:
C	Emphasize with the participants that the topics were all presented in the core curriculum but now is the time to get some group support and do some advanced problem solving related to the topics (including how best to use the group and other participants as a source of support).
C	Feel free to use any existing handouts that are applicable (e.g., during the session, “It’s the Thought That Counts,” you may want to include a discussion of positive thinking and behavior chains, and provide some of the related handouts from the core curriculum).
C	In the session on physical activity, use the Activity Pyramid to reinforce the DPP activity goal as well as lifestyle activity.
C	Code the class as 698 (Combination Class) on the Group Session Log (L05).

Group Activity (for It’s the Thought That Counts session):   Focus on the link between B and C (e.g., thinking “I’ll never succeed” and overeating).  Have participants problem-solve and role-play what to say to themselves and do at the moment of “giving up.”