VTrim™ FAQ

Is Vtrim™ Weight Management Program different from Weight Watchers?

How do I know I will lose weight on the Vtrim™ Weight Management Program?

How is the online class different from the classes that meet on campus?

Do I have to attend every class?

How do I know if Vtrim™ is right for me?

What is the best time to start Vtrim™?

Do you offer scholarships?

Does Insurance cover the cost of Vtrim™?

What happens when the class ends?

Can I take Vtrim™ more than once?

Is there a printed diet I have to follow?

What percent of people who join Vtrim™ stick with it for the six months? 

What happens at a Vtrim™ class?

 

How is Vtrim™ Weight Management Program different from Weight Watchers?
Vtrim™ was developed at the University of Vermont and has sixteen years of research behind it. The results of the research studies have been published in peer review journals. Click here to read the abstracts.
Vtrim™ requires that you make a financial commitment up front for the 24-week program. You will be assigned to a group and a facilitator and you will meet with the same 20 or so people at the same time each week. Our facilitators are trained and certified by the University of Vermont. They are all registered dietitians or master’s level nutritionists, nurses or psychology professionals.

How do I know I will lose weight on the Vtrim™ Weight Management Program?
Although we offer no guarantees, the research shows that participants who stick with the 24-week program lose an average of 21 pounds.

How is the online class different from the classes that meet on campus?
The Vtrim™ Weight Management Program has been standardized so you get the same experience on line and at in-person classes. Research has demonstrated the same results in both venues.

Do I have to attend every class?
Attendance at every class is not mandatory. That said, the research shows that the more classes you attend, the better you'll do. The program runs for six months, so lots of things will come up for you and your group mates while you’re enrolled. That's life. Learning how to cope with missing a meeting or how to deal with other events in your life that might make staying on your weight loss plan difficult, is part of the learning.  

How do I know if Vtrim™ is right for me?
One of the reasons that so many people have had success with Vtrim™ is that it is all about you. You will learn how to tailor and personalize the program to assure your personal success.

What is the best time to start Vtrim™?
When you’re ready. However, some life changing events are so stressful, that we suggest waiting to enroll until you’re in a less challenging place. For example, we discourage starting Vtrim™ if you are in the middle of a divorce, have lost a job, just relocated or have a similar major life event. 

Do you offer scholarships?
No.

Does Insurance cover the cost of Vtrim™?
We cannot bill your insurance company for your Vtrim™ tuition.  We suggest you check with your plan’s administrator directly to find out if you can be reimbursed. People who have Health Savings Account may more easily have their tuition covered.

What happens when the class ends?
We offer a maintenance plan that lasts six months.

Can I take Vtrim™ more than once?
Some people who have more than 20 pounds to lose (the average weight loss turning the 24-week program) take a second or third round of classes. Although the lessons are the same, we will do our best to place you with a different facilitator so you can get a fresh perspective. 

Is there a printed diet I have to follow?
There are no special diets or points to count. We do help you establish a calorie goal and and exercise goal that will result in a weight loss of one to two pounds per week.

Vtrim™ is not about the food. (Although we do help you determine an appropriate calorie level to achieve a one to two pound weight loss per week.)  Past participants will tell you that learning to deal with real-life situations while maintaining their weight loss plans is one of the key elements that makes Vtrim™ so successful.

What percent of people who join Vtrim™ stick with it for the six months? 
We see about 10 to 15 percent dropout over the course of the six months.

What happens at a Vtrim™ class?
Classes generally runs like this: You will weigh in, privately, with your facilitator. For ten to fifteen minutes you'll discuss last week's lesson and any problems or triumphs. Then, 30 to 40 minutes are spent on the current topic presentation and discussion. (Our facilitators are not there to lecture; we want you to apply the topic to your own life.) We end with a homework assignment. Between classes, you'll track your calories and exercise. Your facilitator will review your journal and makes comment that will help you in the following week. On line classes follow the same format, except weighing and reporting your weight is done by you.