EFM final results

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - For 12 weeks in summer 2008, NewsChannel 15 followed the Reneau family as expert coaches taught Mark, Amie, Riley and Chloe ways to make a healthier lifestyle. For the past five months, the family has been putting what they learned to use.

"We've been exercising more and doing stuff as a family and eating dinner together," Chloe said.

Riley has been practicing being able to tell when he's hungry and when he's not, and knowing when he's full, but not too full.

"If you look at where we were and were we've come, it's really good," Amie said.

From April 2008, when the program started, to December 2008 Mark and Amie both improved their exercise capacity from good to excellent. Mark's blood work also improved. He no longer needs to take medication for high blood pressure, high cholesterol or diabetes, which lowers his chance for a heart attack.

"I'm doing things now to combat my risk," Mark said. "I made my heart a lot healthier."

The family also lost body fat and Amie lost four inches around her waist.

"That confirmed we are going in the right direction, even if the scale doesn't say what I think it should say," Amie said.

One big lesson of the Extreme Family Makeover is that healthy weight-loss happens slowly.

"People tend to have an all or nothing attitude," Nutrition Coach Kathy Wehrle said. "You have to process that small changes will add up in a big way."

Behavior Coach Ann Reidenbach added that change is possible, even if it gets hard at times.

One of the key changes to make to get a healthier life is food attitude. Reidenbach said to slow down and examine why you are eating when you are. Often times emotions other than hunger are triggering eating.

"So many times those emotions go unexamined and sit on the shelf powerfully influencing what we're doing, but go unexamined," Reidenbach said.

Mindful eating is also key. It's the act of being aware of what and when you are eating.

"These skills are vital in achieving long term weightloss," she said.

The Reneaus have also been getting more active, and it paid off.

"We saw improvements in all their areas. Their pushups improved, situps were better and flexibility was better," Activity Coach Brian West said.

The Reneaus say they aren't to their final goals yet, but are making better choices every day to work toward them. Amie is training for a triathalon.

"It's not like I'm going to win. I'm going to do it to say I did it. I might be crawling in the end, but I'll do it," Amie said.

The Reneaus learned a lot about getting more active and choosing healthy foods, but they say the most important lesson they learned is to never give up.

"Keep going. Keep perservering. It does add up and make a difference," Amie said.

Mark added that the time to change is now.

"Start changing gradually. If you can make a diet change, a change in the way you eat, and add exercise at the same time, it doubles the effect and it's much more rewarding that way," Mark said.