LifeSteps® is a cognitive-behavioral weight loss and lifestyle change program grounded in five components: nutrition, physical activity, behavior modification, small group support and personal lifestyle change.
During 16 small group sessions, your clients learn about these components and create their personalized plan with small, achievable goals for weight loss and realistic lifestyle change.
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Two Pre-program Sessions: Group Orientation Session and Individual Interview
These two sessions assess the potential client’s interest and readiness for behavior changes that lead to weight loss and a healthier lifestyle. They’re a win for you and a win for your clients because they increase the likelihood of participants sticking with the program.
16 Weekly Sessions or 'Steps'
Each weekly session, or “Step,” introduces a new concept and key behavior for weight loss.
Interactive: Sessions are highly interactive and incorporate group discussion, role play, problem solving and more. Each session follows this general format:
Key behavior and concept review: Why this will help with weight loss
Self-assessment: “Where are You Now?”
Hands-on practice
Individualized action plan: Nutrition and physical activity behaviors
Facilitator:The LifeSteps® Leader serves as a facilitator for change while providing information, support and guidance. Participants adjust their personal goals and action plan as they gain new insights and practice new behaviors.
Sequential: Information and key weight loss behaviors are presented sequentially. Each “Step” builds on the previous one, and sessions are spaced to allow time to practice new behaviors.
Steps 1-5: The Basics Learning the basics of healthy eating, physical activity and moving more sets the foundation for developing a personalized plan for weight loss and lifestyle change.
Steps 6-8: Individualized Action Planning Using the information learned in the first 5 weeks, participants ‘put it all together’ to prioritize those behavior changes that fit with their lifestyle. They create a personalized plan and complete a mid-point interview to review and fine tune it. They also explore eating styles and identify those styles that impede progress.
Steps 9-13: Managing Lapses: Emotional, Environmental Issues and Eating From dealing with feelings to eating out, participants learn to manage lapses. Lapses can be small or large. What’s important for successful behavior change and weight loss is managing them to stay on track.
Steps 14-16: Preparing for the Future During these final “Steps,” participants learn strategies for maintaining their behavior changes, such as how to continue setting new weight loss and lifestyle change goals. These activities help participants feel good about the progress they’ve made and take ownership of making healthy lifestyle changes moving forward.
Maintenance Sessions
Eleven additional Maintenance Sessions extend the LifeSteps® Core Steps and provide additional small group support, skill building and practice.
LifeSteps® has been the go-to program for dietitians, nutritionists, and wellness professionals across the country for over 30 years and is used in a variety of settings.
We are proud to say it! “Not just anyone can teach LifeSteps®!”
Only Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs) and qualified health professionals can become LifeSteps®Leaders. It’s what sets LifeSteps® apart from other weight management programs and one way we maintain the integrity and quality of the program.
Non-RDN Applicants: All non-RDN applicants must demonstrate ongoing continuing education in nutrition through workshops, seminars, conferences, etc. within the last five years and meet one of the following criteria:
Hold a degree in nutrition from an accredited college or university, OR
Hold a 4-year degree in a related health field and have completed a minimum of one college- level course in human nutrition, OR
Hold a 4-year degree in a non-related field, have five years’ work experience in a health-related field, and have completed a minimum of one college-level course in human nutrition from an accredited college or university within the past five years.
Intellectual Property Rights
All applicants who are accepted into the course must sign and return a LifeSteps® Leader Agreement that outlines LifeSteps® intellectual property rights.
Accredited Provider
LifeSteps® is a Continuing Professional Education Accredited Provider through the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR #LS001).
Need more details about the LifeSteps® program?
This brochure is an overview of the program that you can bring to management and decision-makers to help build your LifeSteps® business.
LifeSteps® is designed for groups of 10-18. This size allows for a healthy combination of discussion, content review, sharing, accountability and group support. This size group is small enough to provide personal contact that supports successful behavior change, but big enough for dynamic and robust interaction.
Why Leaders Like Them
Cost and time effective
Fun and enjoyable to facilitate
Participants come up with answers and solutions, too
Two-way learning – The leader learns from the group and the group learns from the leader
Problem solving and accountability that is not available with one-on-one counseling
Peer modeling that makes your job easier and has a profound impact on the entire group
Why Participants Like Them
Everyone shares the common goal of lifestyle change and weight loss
Everyone works on similar challenges
Participants benefit from the shared experience and learn from others in the group
They’re “part of something bigger”
Find new support and feel understood knowing they are not alone in this challenge
Motivate and empower one another
Leader Training
What You’ll Learn
The course covers everything you need to know to launch a successful LifeSteps® program. It:
Develops your skills in behavioral techniques, behavioral feedback and group management.
Certifies you to deliver LifeSteps® in a variety of setting, including worksites, private medical practices, fitness centers and wellness and bariatric clinics.
Provides RDNs with 15 CPEs that can be completed on your schedule, in your home or office.
Course Objectives:After completing the Leader Training, you will be able to:
Identify all components of the LifeSteps® Weight Management Program.
Know how to use each component effectively.
Apply cognitive-behavioral strategies and group facilitation skills in a weight management setting.
Understand when and how to provide behavioral feedback to clients.
Apply goal setting concepts to specific client situations.
Function as an independent contractor of the LifeSteps® Weight Management Program.
Market and promote the program.
What’s Included
Both course options include the following:
Required, background reading
PowerPoint presentations
“Hands on” assignments using the LifeSteps® program materials
Review through quizzes and tests
Idea sharing
How It Works
If you’re qualified to become a LifeSteps® Leader, choose from two options:
Scheduled Course – Join in and interact online with others who are taking the course at the same time.
Individualized Self-study – This is a great option if scheduled course dates don’t work for you. Contact tracy@lifestepsweight.com for more information.
The course is taught entirely online. All you need is:
A computer
An internet connection and
6 weeks to complete the LifeSteps® Leader Training Course!
No matter which option you choose:
You complete the course at your own pace, on your own time, in the convenience of your home or work setting.
The course is open and available for you 24/7.
There is no set time to log-in and you can work when it fits your schedule.
Plan for about 3 hours per week to complete the tasks.
How Do I Start? Apply to Be a Leader
We are proud to say it! “Not just anyone can teach LifeSteps®!
Only Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs) and qualified health professionals can become LifeSteps®Leaders.” It’s what sets LifeSteps®apart from other weight management programs and one way we maintain the integrity and quality of the program.
All non-RDN applicants must demonstrate ongoing continuing education in nutrition through workshops, seminars, conferences, etc. within the last 5 years and meet one of the following criteria:
Hold a degree in nutrition from an accredited college or university, OR
Hold a 4-year degree in a related health field and have completed a minimum of one college-level course in human nutrition, OR
Hold a 4-year degree in a non-related field, have 5 years’ work experience in a health-related field, and have completed a minimum of one college-level course in human nutrition from an accredited college or university within the past 5 years.
(CDR #LS001)
LifeSteps® is a Continuing Professional Education Accredited Provider through the Commission on Dietetic Registration
Target Audience
LifeSteps® is appropriate for a wide ranging audience of people who want to lose weight for any number of reasons. It’s for people…
With medical conditions, such as prediabetes or diabetes, hypertension, knee and joint issues, sleep apnea or any condition where losing weight – even small amounts – can make a big difference.
Who suffer from “diet burnout” and have tried numerous diets without success.
Who simply want to look and feel better.
Readiness Is Key
Regardless of the motivation for losing weight, a person has to be READY for LifeSteps®. It is for the individual who WANTS to lose weight for personal reasons, not because someone has told them they “should” or “need” to lose weight.
They have to be willing to:
Commit to healthy, moderate eating habits and regular physical activity.
Be accountable and keep daily food and activity records.
Attend LifeSteps® classes and be part of a group that can support them.
Commit to healthy, realistic weight loss goals and take the weight off slowly.
Challenge their current attitudes and beliefs about food, physical activity and weight.
Engage family, friends and others who will support their lifestyle changes.
